Sewing Workship Plaza pant

Reviewed by:	Ann Smith	About Ann Smith CA USA Member since: 8/24/02 Reviews written: 155 Sewing skills:Advanced Favored by: 186 people patterns reviewed: 152 Bio: I love to sew for fashion, especially unusual designs. I own way too many patterns and fabric! I hav...full profile
Posted on:	2/2/04 1:22 PM
Last Updated:	2/2/04 10:47 PM
Pattern Size:	Regular
Project Photo:
Pattern Photo:	Pattern Information provided by Ann Smith
Pattern Rating:	Recommended, but with modifications
Pattern Description: The pattern includes a loose fitting unlined jacket and a semi-fitted, straight leg pant with a flat front waistband and back elastic with a tucked front seam detail. There are no side seams on the pant. Pattern Sizing: The sizes are Xs, Sm, Med, Lg, XL, and XXL all included in the pattern. I cut the medium which includes size 12 and 14. My measurements fall under the 12 which is the size I usually cut in pants or skirts. However, I found since these are loose fitting that I needed to take in the back seam so I ended with a size small. The back seam is really the only place to alter unless you add darts as there are no side seams. Also I took up about a 1/2 inch to shorten the crotch. This is an easy alteration in mid-construction. I shortened the pants only 1 1/4 for my height which is less than I usually do so watch the length if you are tall. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes. I'm sorry that it is hard to see in the photo Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes they were easy to follow but I needed to make a few changes. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I think the front tuck is a nice design detail that is slenderizing. I didn't like the method used to construct the waistband and the amount of fullness at the waist. Fabric Used: I used a wool jersey that I washed and dried once so it felted slightly, giving it a bit more body and a nice softness. Pattern Alterations or any design changes you made: After a lot of fussing trying to get the waistline to work as it should I decided to take it apart and start again. This is the problem: the pattern has the elastic applied from one front tuck around the back to the other front tuck. This leaves the front area, which is supposed to be flat, without any support in the waistband. Now this might work out okay in a very firm fabric, but in my jersey which is a recommended fabric, the elastic pulls and distorts at each tuck where it is attached. Also the front that has no elastic stretches. So what I did was to simply cut a longer piece of elastic and have it extend all the way around the waist. Then I just kept most of the fullness away from the front and stitched the band at the 2 tucks to hold it. This works. Also next time I will add a few darts at the sides to remove a little fullness. Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? Yes I will sew this again. It is a simple to make pant with an extra bit of style to it. I recommend as long as you take the precautions I described.