How I did it: Bought a too big pattern at a thrift store for something like a quarter. Had a Tim Gunn moment where I thought I could "make it work". Bought ridiculously loud fabric at Jo-Ann Fabrics, forgetting I feel most comfortable in gray clothing. Set to work sewing. Upon completion, realized I could invite a friend over for a pants warming party; my new pants had room for two. Cut down the pattern. Resewed. Cut down the pattern some more. Resewed. Cut down the pattern a third time. Resewed. Finally, success. Although in my fervor, I cut down a little too much from the top, leaving not enough fabric for an adequate drawstring casing but I made do. Read how I did it… 7 months ago
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My pants aren’t perfect, but they are perfectly wearable and comfortable.
I did an incredibly simple pattern, which is just getting one piece of fabric, and cutting it so that when you hold it at your waist, it is loose enough to slide over your hips, and the length you want plus two inches (to allow for a hem at the top and the bottom).
Then you cut it in half, so that each half forms a pant leg.
The flaw with this is that often, the pant leg will be too tight at the thigh. I had to add a little piece to the inside of each leg. The next time I try, I will make the leg tapered wider at the top.
Sew the leg up to the length of you inseam, and then sew the two pieces so that it forms the top of your pants. Then you can put in a drawstring. I just hemmed the top, and since it was quite loose, sort of folded it, and make a belt out of the same cloth to hold it. Hard to explain, but it worked, and looks fine.
Now that I have a general idea of how to do it, I’m going to try some more. I’m sure I can make something a little more polished after a few tries. 12 months ago
I look like the “after” pic in a weight loss ad, holding up my huge clown pants. Oh well, back to the drawing board. 14 months ago
I’ve had this lying around for years. Time to see if it really is “quick and easy” after all. I already have Friday off from work; so, time to do a little fabric shopping… 14 months ago
How I did it: My sister brought me this FABULOUS silk outfit from Thailand the pants of which were just so... FUN! Amazingly comfortable, flattering, versatile and with a decent amount of flair, depending on how they're worn. The following year I found a pair in Nicaragua, and I tried to make them, but my on-the-fly pattern kinda sucked. Finally in AZ my sister-in-law had on a pair (!!?!), and she had MADE THEM! (!!???!???!??!?!?!!?!) The key was a round curve instead of a right angle, and now I've made well over 20 of them. The pattern is SO simple, and they can be PJ's or formal enough to wear presenting at a conference (I wore them in clinic or at the hospital all the time, and every time patients would rave about them). I LOVE THEM, and apparently so does everyone else: I've drawn the pattern out for people in grocery stores and at Disneyland and in the hospital... I love sharing them with others! All the women around me, whether they're seamstresses or not, have made themselves some! (One GF's mom made herself a pair for her mother-of-the-bride outfit!) OK, so now I have to find a picture of them and post a pattern (that picture's one I ganked off the internet -- flip flops? Really? Ew. And they never show that much leg unless you make them show that much leg). Read how I did it… 21 months ago
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