Saturday, June 19, 2010

Fitting pants

My last pair of pants were a bit high waisted, and in general felt a bit too wide. Could be the linen, as that fabric tends to get bigger, but I was not completely satisfied and convinced that I had the right pattern.

I had spent a lot of time and muslins (didn’t blog about those this time) and still the end result was not quite what I wanted. Then I realized I have one pair of linen pants that I continue to wear in summer, it’s wearing/washing/wearing and I just feel very comfortable in them. It’s a pair I copied from RTW a few years ago. I put it on and evaluated it more critical: fit was good, fabric still in good shape, so not to be taken apart, only the back was perhaps a bit too high in the waist (which does not keep me from wearing it). The back in general seemed allright, with no strange wrinkles.

Conclusion: time to make a copy again. Unfortunately I had thrown the pattern away in a cleaning frenzy, so I had to make a pattern of the pants itself.

I started this before my little vacation, and finished it today. Think it’s one of the best I made. The first picture shows the color the best. It’s a linen too, a fabric I simply love in summer, the wrinkling is just a part of it.

For the waistband I used Petersham that received from Veronica: a big thank you again!

I didn’t interface the front side of the waistband, it’s not very firm, but just the right thing for these pants.

Before inserting it I put it into hot water to make sure it wouldn’t shrink any more and then pressed it in shape, as described by Sandra Betzina in her book Power sewing. A great way to finish the waistband.

13 comments:

  1. Definitely great fit. I like the cut of them better than the last pair though those weren't bad, these are just better. Make them again, and again etc. I spent the last 3 days looking at every pants fitting book and article I've got and made two muslins. The pants are about half finished and they fit really well, finally. But, you know the fabric really seems to make a major difference. The softer, more drapey the fabric the fewer weird wrinkles.

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  2. You did such a great job on your pants! They fit you so nicely and linen is so comfortable for summer.

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  3. You have achieved a lovely fit on those pants. I am wondering if you should take the outer leg in a smidge below the hips?

    I aspire to achieve as good a fit as these!

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  4. what a beautiful fit! These pants look great on you.

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  5. Great job! These are very flattering and the fit is perfect

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  6. These are nice looking pants with a great fit. I'm a summer linen lover, too. Linen makes such cool, comfortable garments. I bet you'll get a lot of wear from these pants.

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  7. Awesome slakcs and fits perfectly.

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  8. Beautiful pants. I agree with the person who suggested that the outer leg could come in a smidge, but that is entirely dependent on your preference.

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  9. Great fit and I like the colour - very summer but a change from white.

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  10. Great fit - yes Linen is lovely to wear, though it doesn't always behave during the sewing process - it's alive!!

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