disclosure: There is an affiliate link (labeled as such) in this post, actions taken when clicking through that link, may result in more fabric money for me.
To be honest, I’ve been avoiding this post for weeks, and I would just not post at all except I promised I would. So here goes.
For my February #scaredypants2014 project, I made myself a pair of Jalie 3243 pants – an elastic waist, pull on pant.
I hate them.
I had thought making a pair of looser fitting pants would be easier. However, as it turns out, it made it more difficult to identify fit issues. I think these pants could really cute, but I think I need to learn more about fitting my body before coming back to this pattern. In my TWO muslins, there was a tightness in my inner thighs, so I added more there. I thought I had fixed it, but in my real fabric it is way to baggy saggy now, even after I took the seams back in.
Combine the fitting problems with my unfortunately fabric pairing, the result is the equivalent of medical “scrubs”, or pajama pants. It’s far too stiff, even after a couple of washes. A looser pant needs good draping to be flattering.
The construction of the pants themselves were incredibly simple. I could see myself banging one out in just a few short hours once I have the fit right.
I’ve already gotten over the disappointment of these pants. This is supposed to be a learning experience and every failure is a step closer to mastery. My goal for March is to have at least my first round of muslin tweaking for Sandra Betzina’s Craftsy Pants Fitting course (affiliate link) completed. That and I am joining in the Ziggi Jacket sew-along. It’s looking to be a good month!
Also, this photo? It sums up my life right now – legos, diapers, and a pendant broken off my necklace by a certain mischievous little monkey.
Funny how it sounds strange to actually have to make muslin for loose fitting pants! I’ve also enrolled in this same class hoping to have a better understanding of pants fitting
I’m a newb, so i made just the shorts version out of old sheets to check the fit.
This right here is why I don’t know that I will ever attempt to make myself a pair of pants. I know you sew way better and understand fit way better than I do, so if you can’t make it work, then yeah, I don’t have a chance. I’ll stick to bags, they don’t have to fit anyone, if what you wanted to put in it doesn’t fit, that’s ok, just find smaller stuff to keep in that bag.
Noooo! Don’t use this post as an excuse! I’ll rope you into clothing sewing one of these days!
I have some knit I love that I want to make a drapey cardigan out of and another knit that I want to make either a wrap top or drapey neck shirt out of, but haven’t been brave enough to sew with the knits yet. But I only have 10 days left to make 2 Minion costumes which are using knit for the main body so hopefully I’ll get somewhat comfortable with knit this week. I just wish I had a serger.
For fitting issues, check out Sarah Veblen’s book. Here’s a link to it on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Photo-Guide-Perfect-Fitting/dp/1589236084/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393881332&sr=1-1&keywords=sarah+veblen
No Affliation, yada yada. I have had the opportunity to take a few of her classes in person and she really knows fitting. Often the issue is not the body circumference, but the depth of the body front to back. You add to or take from the crotch extensions. Sarah has also been a major player in the development of the Eureka, Pants that Fit pattern: http://shop.fitforartpatterns.com/trouser-details.aspx Multiple backs for each front. Again, no affliation, yada.
Hope this helps you be successful!
I’m glad that you are still going strong in your scaredy pants project! I think there are just some styles that don’t work for some of us. Maybe this is one of them, but maybe it just needs the right fabric? I look forward to your craftsy class pants, too!
I still think you’re incredibly brave. I’m still not ready to try making pants for myself.
Hey! Thanks for sharing this. No getting around it, pants are hard! I’ve only had luck making pants using fabric with some stretch to it.
🙂 Chris
LOL! Sounds like u r 1 busy gal from your last paragraph! I have trouble fitting pants too! I have tried adjusting a couple pair of store-bought pants only for them to end up too small. I have taken a pants fitting course that was written but think I need to take one that has video lessons. I do believe that having the ability to make or alter pants to fit your own body will make a huge addition to the wardrobe.
So I plan to pursue that skill. Thanks for posting even though you did not feel comfortable with it.
Do you have any sewing friends nearby? Maybe try to fit your own pants block right to your body. Use a marker to draw grainlines on your muslin and then pin and fit, pin and fit…making sure to keep the grainlines running straight up and down…you can do just one leg. Also, look up how to take your front and back rise measurements. That could help with fit issues.
I have a pair of pull on pants that fit me well, it is the Petite Plus pattern for Tapered Pants by Kathleen Cheetham.
So I compared that pattern with the Jalie one to see what size of Jalie I should cut. I was surprised to see that the Jalie crotch is way longer than the Petite Plus pattern, which would mean I would have a ton of fabric between my thighs. So I cut the Jalie pattern down to resemble the PP pattern more.
Besides altering the back crotch (by at least 2″) I also narrowed the legs on the Jalie. Being short, I don’t need full legs in elastic waist pants, unless I want to look completely square.
One could ask then why bother with another pattern? but the Jalie one has simpler pockets and a different waistline finish. Plus I heard some people say they were really good.
I am hoping that these alterations will work. We shall see.