Well, my pieced-together pants are finally finished. Here’s the front.
Y’know, I took about 15 pictures of these darn pants. I don’t know what it is about the fabric, the pants or me, but I just couldn’t get a decent (publishable) picture that I was willing to show you. This is the best of them. Does anyone else have such a hard time shooting pants pics? I mean, from this picture, you’d think the pants don’t hang properly, yet they do when I’m wearing them!
I lined these, although the pattern doesn’t call for lining. I just like to have lined pants because I feel they hang better and, with a drapey fabric like the RPL I’ve sewn used, the lining helps the garment fit properly over those famous problem areas we all know about.
I have one caveat with this pattern: the crotch front is really long. See?
I had to trim the pants a good 1.5” at the centre front, tapering to the side seams, to get the crotch to sit at the right level. Maybe this was a deliberate design feature for the “mature figure” that Vogue Woman patterns are meant for? I have not had this problem on pants before, so I was a bit surprised to have to alter them.
And here’s the back centre zipper. Lovely and simple to put in without any fussing with facings, yadda yadda bladda like you need to do with a front fly zipper. Sometimes you just want something simple to sew up, and forgo the endless fussing of tailoring (although my next pair will involve said tailoring).
The pants waistline sits high – right smack at the natural waist. I added a waistband of 2” in height (depth? width?) to act as a sort of built in shapewear feature. I was pleasantly surprised at how the pants sit at the waist. I was expecting the more modern below-the-waist thingy, which is fine, but I’m liking this design.
This will be a great pair of self-stitched pants for daily wear, which is what I needed to add to my wardrobe to get ready for Me-Made-March in 2011.
Well, one (chocolate item) down, and the dress to go!
Mezzo Couture 
Just found you through Vogue posting your tweed skirt on FaceBook. (Lovely job on that!) I just wanted to say that I think your pants fit *beautifully* — even that first picture looks darn good to someone who doesn’t “know” what’s wrong. 😉 I sew for a living, and I think you did a really bang up job.
Adding your blog to the list that I’ve discovered recently…. 😀
They look great and look great on you! Love the top you’ve paired them with. 🙂 Looking forward to seeing the dress.
Your picture taking may have been frustration but I think they turned out beautifully. I haven’t lined pants too frequently so thanks for the good advice and reminder about the benefits/
Despite your having to “piece” them somewhat, they look great – despite what you think is a poor pic!! I’ve started to line pants, following the very helpful advice in “Easy Guide to Sewing Linings” by Connie Long. I agree that they hang AND feel much better, & it’s worth the bit of extra work. I was wondering if you’ve ever sewn one of Claire Shaeffer’s Vogue pant patterns? I was thinking of getting one in the next sale, as I’ve heard her couture details are very enlightening. Please pass along any comments you may have. Another GREAT sewing job completed!!!!
@Rosalind – Yes! I’ve sewn up Claire’s Vogue 1881. You can read my pattern review here. I’ve not tried the couture method in this pattern, which is to steam shrink the fabric and leave out the darts. Let me know how yours go when you get them going!