Jeans for my boyfriend and confession about not ever using a muslin

I was playing with an idea to make a pair of jeans for my other half for a while, as he always struggles to find a pair to fit, having a little bum a skinny legs. So I came with an idea to make him a pair for Christmas. Then I spend a lot of time looking for the right fabric. Unfortunately it couldn't have been too thick as my poor old sewing machine would definitely not manage, but not too thin either. I ended up finding fabric on Etsy. It's pretty good, not as good as on shop bought jeans, but good enough. As I ordered it from Korea, I bought enough for two pairs of jeans. And then my lovely boyfriend decided he would love his second pair to be lined, so he doesn't have to wear long johns.

I cut an old pair of his Levi's jeans up and copied them to create a pattern. I knew they needed little adjusting, but decided to do it while making them. Many of you probably think it's a bit strange approach, but I've never used a muslin.

To be honest I only recently discovered reading sewing blogs how many of you actually do it. That must sound really weird coming from a person who's been sewing for 20 years (I can't believe it's been that long). I only wished I used it on only about handful items in all those years. Mostly not due to a bad fit but generally an item not being suitable for my body shape. I might sound a bit stupid, but would like to ask what fabric do people use for a muslin? I am really not a beginner, I've made everything from tops and dresses to trousers and jackets and handbags, waistcoats, coats, skirts and shorts, fleeces and rucksacks and suits and shirts. That's as much as I can remember. I have finished all of my sewing projects apart from one dress, which has been sitting in my sewing box for few years, because it does not fit me anymore )-:.

But to get back to my jeans project, I thought I could show a bit more than just the finished item, so this is how my jeans project started, I took jeans apart.....

... and copied them to create pattern.

 

And ta-dah... finished jeans, at first the unlined ones, my boyfriend prefers this pair, I shortened the bottom area, made them tighter at thighs and hips and widen the leg bottom.

 

This is the pair he got for Christmas, apart from the fact, he got it week or two before Christmas. I really paid attention to all the details, even the leather detail on the back of waistband, with cut out initials of mine and label on the back pocket. Hope you like it.

The second pair is lined, it's nearly the same, apart from having straight leg. I used the lining from his old work trousers, which I didn't even have to alter.  And I changes the stitching on the back pockets and the colour of the top stitch threads.