Hello friends! It's been awhile since there was a new SBCC pattern. I've made plans and samples, but life has gotten busy and momentum frequently wavered. There are a few new styles that I've made that have had heavy rotation in my closet and one of the most worn has to be the Berkshire Barrel Jeans. I decided that I just couldn't keep this one to myself any longer and had to share it with you, because there really are no good petite options out there....until today!
The barrel leg silhouette is definitely having it's moment. If this is your first time hearing about barrel leg jeans, typically they have a looser/boyfriend type fit around the waist and hips and slightly curve out at the knees. However, I've been in search of a unicorn for this type of style. I wanted something that wasn't too high rise, and still had a feminine fit around the waist and hips, with a subtle bow out at the knees. Unfortunately whenever I went to purchase a petite version from a RTW retailer, the results were comical. I felt like I was wearing clown pants. That's when I knew if I wanted something specific, I'd have to make it myself!
Even if you thought barrel jeans were not for you, you may want to rethink that with the Berkshire Jeans. The bowed silhouette is slight and only noticeable from specific angles--basically it reads as an exaggerated utility pant. Yup, gotta love a lot of seaming and pocket details!
I've made these in a few different fabrications, generally around the 10oz weight range in denim and 8 oz twill. My favorite pairs are the ones pictured. The brown/tan ones are made in a cotton twill, from Nick of Time Textiles (no longer available :() and the white ones are a brushed bull denim from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club fabrics.
Now this is important: Always pre-wash your fabric. But after that, I think the key to getting the look is to sew them up, finish them, and them wash them a few times before you wear them. Once they start to get worn in and the seams settle in, that's when they come into their own as a utility pant.
There are a lot of seaming details on the Berkshire Barrel Jeans. I know that could be intimidating for new sewers or for anyone worried about grading between sizes. However, I have included how the pieces align in the sewing directions so you can see it's actually going to be a lot easier than you think! I've even included the sewing line on the pattern pieces this time, so it's easy to align and adjust as needed.
As per the usual, these come in only a digital format. Your purchase comes with a tiled PDF, copyshop, or projector file to choose from. The sizing is pretty extensive also, as it ranges from 00-32W and there are lengthen/shorten lines on specific pieces to help you make adjustments. Speaking of, remember, for pants, it's always best to choose your size based on your hip and then adjust for the waist.
Now, you may have noticed the name doesn't sound like a cocktail- the traditional SBCC naming method. (As far as I know, there isn't a cocktail named the Berkshire). I figured it was time to change things up. Instead, I was thinking about travelling and specific places that I have been or want to go to. The Berkshires have been on my list for awhile!
But the naming isn't the only new and improved part of the Berkshire Jeans---The sewing directions have a new look! As the cost of printer ink has increased and the volume in which printers seem to suck the color cartridges dry, I wanted to switch to an all black and white format that uses less ink. For those of you who are printing the PDF pages, I know you already are using up a lot, so I wanted to make sure I'm being a little more considerate.
Let me know what you think of the new sewing direction design and I hope you love the new Berkshire Barrel Jeans!