Patched Jeans
It is safe to say that I am OBSESSED with patches!
Back in 2009, I visited Paris for a few day’s break with a uni friend. While I was shopping through a tourist type shop on the Champs-Elysees, I found an ‘I heart Paris’ patch. I obviously snapped it up and this is where the obsession started. I had the thought of collecting more patches to create a jacket of memories and things I love. Over the years I collected more and more and MOOOOOOORE patches, from everywhere; a holiday to scrolling through eBay and Esty. The collection had to be used as it kept growing and growing. I eventually stopped being so precious over the patches and made the purchase of an oversized denim jacket to cover in the patches. I have been adding, removing, and re-adding the patches to the jacket and I have now run out of space on it………….. so now it is time to create a pair of jeans to add the new patches to!
What I used to create these beauties:
a pair of good fitting jeans (I went for an ASOS pair)
a good selection of patches
thread (I like to use invisible thread)
a needle
dressmaking pins
After much hunting online for patches, I came across www.labarbudashop.com. La Barbuba is based in Northern Spain, so deliveries can take a little time to arrive………. but it is well worth it! They don’t just stock the most insane patches, they stock t-shirts, sweatshirts, pins (another one of my loves) keyrings, and prints. Their products are inspired by cinema, retro computer games, and comics. No matter how many times I go on to the site I always manage to find something based on something I love. From Disney, Jumanji, The Gremlins: they just get it so right.
The quality of their patches really is second to none, I could not fault them, and are well worth the small price tag. Following them on social media is the best way to see new products as they post regularly.
I had noticed on Instagram that they were going to be doing a stock clearance and I instantly jumped on the site and filled my cart!!! They had items that they had stopped selling online for a fraction of the price (the prices are usually incredibly reasonable anyway) and even items that were just reduced.
Scrolling through eBay and Etsy is one of the best ways to build your patch collection. You can find some real gems but be careful as some can be a little naff and pretty low quality. I tend to find the best patches on eBay are in America so the postage can be a bit high and will eat up the money where you could have bought more patches.
It is really important to choose a pair of jeans that you love as there will a lot of work going into creating customized jeans. I went for a pair from ASOS. I already have a pair of these jeans and as the fit is so perfect with a high waist and a wide leg, perfect for throwing more patches at.
The first thing I like to do is place the patches on the piece I am going to cover. I find this is the best way as you can move everything around until your happy with the layout without wasting your time stitching and unpicking each patch to reposition it. I tried the jeans on and placed pins at the creases when I sat down to avoid placing large patches there as they would be pretty uncomfortable. This is why the layout differs from the final outcome………. well, kind of final. I tend to keep patches of a similar colour away from each other and spread the colour evenly through the piece. I do this because I prefer a quite random look with the patches. Also putting a more pricey patch among cheaper patches makes the less pricey ones harder to spot. Taking a picture of the layout is a good idea so you have something to look back on and to save you having to pin each patch in place then sew each patch one by one. The thread can get caught around the other patches and pins and can become a bit of a mess and a little stressful to sew them on.
Now an important thing to remember is that you can always unpick a patch if you’d like to move it, yeah it can be a bit of a pain, it just saves you being so precious over stitching them in place. I am really precious over everything LOL! This is a great project to add new additions to really easily too. Keep hunting for patches and entirely cover the item with patches! I love taking my time to create a patched masterpiece by adding and taking off patches to mix it up and make room for patches you like more. So a project like this may never be finished and this is one the reasons I love making a patched project.
From past experience, a day of hand sewing patches to denim can be a LIIIITTLE tiring on the old fingers. Some patches can be pretty easy to pass the needle through the denim and patch, yet others are real bleeders. If you wrap some sticky tape around your thumb and index finger it can make pulling the needle through a tiny bit easier! A thimble can be your best friend also. If your more patient then I am just take your time, stick a series on, and binge-watch while sewing away and enjoy it!
Hat - Vintage, Universal Studios
Oversized PU Jacket - ASOS, Collusion
T-Shirt - Primark
Belt - YSL Rive Gauche (2005)
Rapper Ring - Versace
Bracelet - Links of London
Watch - Marc Jacobs
Bag - Moschino x Magnum
Jeans - ASOS, https://www.asos.com/asos-design/asos-design-high-waist-relaxed-jean-in-mid-wash-blue/prd/20071460?CTARef=Saved+Items+Image
Shoes - Dr Martens x Mark Wiggin