Both of these are based on a combination of the crotch from Style Arc Elle pant, tweaked with the process from the Fit Nice Pants drafting system.
One pair is a floral crepe, the other is navy ponte. The floral is fun, but I only have a couple of tops that go well with it colorwise. I needed more and had a coordinating solid knit fabric, but I didn’t want a plain old T, so I used an old favorite, Simplicity 1716. But, that top is the topic of a different post.
Both leggings boast extra length, so they naturally bunch up around the ankle.
I cut the ponte pair out first. I sewed it up on the machine with a narrow zig zag stitch, and tried it on. I realized, with slight horror, that I had omitted the seam allowance on the outside edge! Luckily, the seams I sewed up had a 5/8″+ allowance. I was able to gain the extra space I needed by reducing the seam allowances to a narrow 3/8″. I knew letting out the inseam was useless, as that would add width to the legs only, when I needed width across the rear. Reducing the side seam allowances from 5/8″ to 3/” added 1/2″ to the leggings. Letting out the front and back crotch seams added another 1/2″. That 1″ difference made all the difference in the world. As in, the difference between Trashed and Success!
I promptly marked Add Seam Allowance to the pattern pieces.
I sewed the leggings up on the serger. I tried them on, and cut the waist down
Then I cut the floral leggings, accidentally adding extra seam allowance to the front crotch.
Lucky for me taking in a seam is easy peasy! Double lucky, because I didn’t take the time to machine stitch the floral leggings. Thinking I had accounted for everything when I tested the navy ponte pair, I brazenly sewed the side, inseam and crotch seams on the floral leggings directly on the serger! It only took a few seconds to take the front crotch seam in on the machine with a narrow zig zag.
<b>Pattern Description: </b>
Pants pattern made from the Style Arc crotch, tweaked to fit with the Fit Nice System
<b>Pattern Sizing:</b>
Just for me!
<b>Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?</b>
No drawing, but hey, I’ve seen leggings before
<b>Were the instructions easy to follow?</b>
No instructions
<b>What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?</b>
It fits me!
<b>Fabric Used:</b>
Ponte knit and crepe knit
<b>Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:</b>
Well, it is tailored to me
<b>Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?</b>
Yep I’ll be sewing it again. I totally recommend the Fit Nice System and the Style Arc crotch. But, crotch shape is so personal. Each body is different.
sewingroomcafe 