I just learned a lesson to always use good pocket lining materials for jeans. When I made these pair of jeans for my husband in 2011, I used quilting cotton for the pocket lining because I liked the print. They didn’t last the abuse that my husband put them through and torn apart after a year. I guess I forgot that men do use their pockets! Unlike me who occasionally put a coin in my coin pocket and put everthing else in my bag.

Before fixing the pockets, I have offered to make him another pair of jeans (wohoo because I love sewing jeans), but he kept wearing this pair. He said they are his favorite jeans and have become very comfortable.

After his phone slide down his leg one day, I decided to face this matter seriously. I unpicked the waistband and side seams around the pockets and then dismantled the pockets completely. All the pieces were given a good press, then I cut a new pocket lining with suitable fabric. I also overlocked the pocket pieces as the edges were merely zigzagged. I still didn’t have a serger at that time.

The great thing about making the jeans yourself is that you still have the pattern pieces and can recall what kind of materials that you used. I happen to still have the topstitching threads in my stash. It also helped that I used bar tacks instead of rivets on these jeans.

Everything is attached back together and it turned out to not taking as much time as I thought! Should have done it ages ago!

This experience got me interested to looking more for denim repair. I found this company website who does traditional denim repair. The gallery is full of beautiful images of handsewn denim repair! More on their Instagram account. Maybe I can try doing the same when my husband’s jeans has deteriorated some more.