reetsi
Beginner
Member since 4/21/12
Posts: 62 |
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Date: 6/4/12 10:38 AM Out there in the blogosphere, I've been seeing lots of dresses, skirts and tops, maybe some shorts here and there, but I don't see as many people making their own pants. I'm wondering if it's because it's harder to get creative with pants. Maybe dresses are more fashion forward? Or maybe people are making oodles of pants but I haven't been around long enough to see it. I'm really curious about this. Hope all of you have a great week. |
argiope
Intermediate
MA USA
Member since 1/8/11
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Date: 6/4/12 11:28 AM I'd say it's a combination of a few things. Pants can be very challenging to fit, especially compared to skirts and dresses, so beginners (and not-so-beginners) often find them frustrating. While they can be very stylish, there are usually only a few silhouettes in style at any given time, and the amount of variation that can be achieved while remaining wearable is limited - the most flattering pants are often very simple. As a result, there aren't that many different pants patterns out there (at least compared to the number of skirts and dresses).
I'm someone who doesn't wear skirts or dresses with any regularity, and I've struggled sometimes with staying interested in sewing pants. Certainly if I wore dresses I'd have a lot more design and silhouette variations available to me, but at this point I've concluded that they don't really fit my lifestyle and I might as well make things I'll actually wear.
All that said, there are plenty of people around here making pants, and if you keep watching you'll see some great examples popping up. |
minggiddylooloo
 
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 5/17/05
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Date: 6/4/12 11:55 AM There's a very active thread going in the Sew Along section dedicated to perfecting pants for 2012. Pants can be very tricky to fit, everyone has a different shape that can cause a slew of fitting issues. Browse around on the forums, you'll find lots of sewers working on their pants. Maybe they're too busy tweaking their project instead of blogging. 
There are also informative webcasts from Peggy Sagers at Silhouette Patterns on fitting pants. You can watch them for free, lots of great advice. NAYY
Welcome to PR! ------
I'm finally a blogger!
sewming.blogspot.com |
minggiddylooloo
Intermediate
VA USA
Member since 5/17/05
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Date: 6/4/12 11:57 AM You might also want to check out Melissa at Fehr Trade. She makes lots of pants from the European pattern magazines that have different design details. ------
I'm finally a blogger!
sewming.blogspot.com |
n45
Intermediate
MD USA
Member since 6/26/03
Posts: 241 |
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Date: 6/4/12 12:05 PM I think Argiope hit the nail on the head.
I love pants. I might wear a skirt or dress 3-4 times a year for a special occasion. My first successful project as a beginner was a pair of pants so I never had the fear of sewing them. I'm still working to perfect my waistbands and closures, but once you find a draft that fits (I sew almost all my pants from Burda) they are an easy sew. I'm always on the look out for interesting pant shapes and styles (just bought 2 styles yesterday). I think they can be sexy and creative, but people often feel limited by their body shapes.
I mainly buy dress patterns to shorten into tops or tunics. The exception is maxi dresses. They are as close to pants as I can get in a dress.
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Elona
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CA USA
Member since 8/24/02
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 1 member likes this.
Date: 6/4/12 12:06 PM I've been sewing for many, many years, and my guess--based on experience--is that the reason you see this phenomenon so often is that pants are indeed very difficult to fit.
However, here at pr, there are a lot of adventurous sewists who like the challenge! |
Speech girl
Intermediate
GA USA
Member since 5/11/03
Posts: 1658 |
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Date: 6/4/12 12:21 PM Maybe it's because skirts, tops, and dresses are more interesting to show off in a blog than pants? Or maybe pants makers don't tend to be bloggers?
I have made more skirts and dresses than pants because I wear them more than I do pants and because my stash has a lot of prints and other fabrics not suitable for trousers, but I have made my fair share of pants . . . At least 11 pair for myself alone ( not counting shorts and pj pants). The pants I made myself are the only ones I own that do not gape at the back waist when I sit down . . .Also I think many people use only a couple pants patterns and make them over and over again, but may use a wider variety of top, dress, and skirt patterns.
I have found the effort to make and fit a pair of pants well worth it. ------
Kim
formerly mikkim
http://girlwithatimemachine.wordpress.com/ |
quathy
Intermediate
CA USA
Member since 6/3/06
Posts: 757 |
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1 member likes this. I don't think they're unpopular - there are lots of pants patterns, and quite a few reviews here. I've made 3 pairs already this spring, and just ordered fabric for 5 more! But I find one pattern that I like, and make several, slightly changing each... so maybe since once you've got a pattern that works, there isn't all that much to say about the changes on successive pairs? |
reetsi
Beginner
Member since 4/21/12
Posts: 62 |
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Date: 6/4/12 12:29 PM That explains a lot! Thanks everyone. I'll be looking at the place you mentioned to check out the pants sewing. I love the look of skirts and dresses, but my job isn't really all that dress-friendly. Even with a substantial amount of computer time, most days I'm walking quite a bit and carrying things from one site to another. Also, I unfortunately inherited some very full thighs from my ancestors. At my thinnest they rubbed together, making dresses and skirts much less comfortable. Looks like I'll be tackling those fit issues you guys mentioned! As always, I appreciate all your help! |
LynnRowe
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BC CANADA
Member since 3/9/09
Posts: 6770 |
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Date: 6/4/12 1:02 PM RTW pants usually fit me well, as do jeans, so I rarely sew pants except when I'm making a suit. If I want jacket and slacks the same fabric, or can't find slacks in the shade I want, then I'll sew them.
I have very limited time (don't we all!) so I prefer to spend the time sewing what I can't easily find in RTW (at least without spending a fortune I don't have!), which are suit jackets, knit tops, and cardis.  ------
I heart Panzy, Pfaff Creative Performance, the sewing machine love of my life! And Rupert (Pfaff 2023), Baby (BL Enlighten), Victor (BLCS), Ash (Bernina 350SE), Pal (Bernina 530), Kee (Bernina 750) and the Featherteen Flock!
Most of all, I heart Woo (HimmyCat). Until we meet again, my beautiful little boy. I love you. |
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