Pattern Comparison (Megan Nielsen Ash & Closet Case Ginger)

If you didn\’t see these photos–first start at my post for Harts Fabric!

For this post, I\’m comparing the Megan Nielsen Ash Jeans and the Closet Case Gingers, both made out of the same fabric–the Telio Allego stretch denim in black. These are my third or fourth pair of Gingers, so they are starting with a bit of an advantage–I\’ve tweaked the fit each time I\’ve made them, improving it slightly each go.

The Gingers are view B, the high-waisted skinny, and the Ash are view 2, the skinny leg (all views have the same rise). Gingers on the right (slightly faded), Ash on the left (distressed)–you can click to see extra big versions:

Here are the technical details!

Closet Case Ginger
Price: $18 USD
Views: a low-rise slim leg, and a high-rise skinny are included in the pattern, plus a flare expansion ($7 extra) and a separate mid-rise pattern ($12).
Size range: waist 24-39\”

Megan Nielsen Ash
Prince: $20 USD
Four views included, all with the same mid-rise: skinny, straight, flare, and wide leg. Three lengths: crop, regular, and tall.
Size range: waist 24-36\”

My sizing: I am 5\’7\” and my measurements are a 26/27\” waist and a 38/39\” hip. I grade between an eight and a ten in the Gingers and then take the waist in a little extra bit. For the Ash, I originally graded between the 27 and 28, and took the waist in to about the 26. I ended up sizing up to the 28 waistband and squeezing an extra half inch out of the side seams (3/8\” seam allowance instead of 5/8\”). The only style change I made to the Ash was to cut the waistband along the stretch of the fabric (as suggested by Lara) and to add 3/4\” to the rise, to match the rise I like in the Gingers. (The Gingers\’ rise as written (for the high waist) is 9 1/2\” and I prefer it with an inch added, and the Ash is 9 3/4\”, so I just added 3/4\” here for the same rise overall–although they still ended up a little shorter, not sure why).

Thoughts:
– The Ash jeans fit really well out of the envelope–I really like the shape–but were quite small all over!
– The Gingers have those genius pockets that go into the zip and suck everything in. Lovvvve those.
– The Ash jeans have a great way of applying belt loops that I will steal in the future.
– The Ash jeans have a better fit through the small of the back for me–I usually have to scoop a little out of the yoke of the Gingers (vertically and horizontally). Could be just because they are tighter overall.
– Something is weird with the Ash sizing–especially the waistband, I\’m not the only one who thinks it is really wildly tight.
– I prefer the zipper installation for the Gingers. I have heard a lot of people prefer the Ash instructions though, so it might just be that I am accustomed to the Ginger method.

Which should I buy?
Although the Ash Jeans are slightly more expensive, you get more leg views for the price, so if you aren\’t going to be disappointed to find yourself in a larger-than-RTW size, and a mid-rise works for you, go for the Ash. If you anticipate fitting into the largest size, be warned: cut large seam allowances for the outseam or you risk not fitting into the size range. If you really want a low and high-rise and don\’t anticipate making flares or wide leg jeans (or don\’t mind paying extra for a flare leg), go for Gingers, which also have a slightly larger size range.

When I make my next pair of jeans, which pattern will I use?
Wait and see! aka I don\’t know. It\’s a close call, but I\’m leaning toward Ash to try and nail the fit.

xoxo,