Colette Patterns: 1019 (Clover)  - Type:Pants  | | Viewed 391 times
| 31 more reviews | Review rated Helpful by 2 people Very Helpful by 4 people | | Reviewed by: | thegreenviolet | 
| About thegreenviolet | | | | Member since: 11/26/12 | | Reviews written: 8 | | Sewing skills:Beginner | | Favored by: 4 people | | patterns reviewed: 8 | | Bio: more... |
| | Posted on: | 2/6/13 0:56 AM | | Pattern Size: | Plus-Sized Regular | | Project Photo: |  | | Pattern Photo: | 
Colette Patterns Pattern Info | | Pattern Rating: | Highly Recommend | | See other patterns in this category: Pants | Available for sale on PR: $16.00 (See envelope)  | | | | Fabric: | Poplin [See other projects in this fabric] | | Related Links | Click on  to add a link |
| Pattern Description: Beautifully simple slim pants that will go with practically anything! These pants close with a side zipper for a streamlined look and easy sewing. Version 1 is ankle length, with small in-seam pockets set into the waistband. Version 2 is cropped just below mid-calf.
Pattern Sizing:0-18. I made the size 18, graded up 4 inches overall, then removed some volume from the hip/ waist area.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes! Except for the pocket alteration I did.
Were the instructions easy to follow? The outstanding directions in the Colette Patterns held my hand through the scary experience of making my first pants!
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? The directions were amazing, and I really like the fit. I know many people have struggled with the fit on these pants, but the fit on me was OK (not amazing) and better than most RTW pants than I own with just a few minor adjustments.
Fabric Used: Stretch Cotton Poplin from Fabric.com, I'm considering this a (wearable??) muslin.
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
1. Pattern sizing: I went with the size 18. After measuring the pattern pieces and comparing them to my own measurements, I decided to grade up the entire pattern by 4 inches- adding one inch to the center of each pattern piece. I figured it was better to be safe than sorry!
2. After sewing up the side seams for a fitting, I had some bunching in the crotch area as seen HERE. I read a LOT of stuff on the internet (I really need to get some books) and decided the problem was crotch depth. In the end, the crotch depth tutorial from Sunni at A Fashionable Stitch was the most helpful one-stop-shop for help with this problem. I increased the crotch depth and took about two inches out of the center from seam. I'm not going to lie, I totally avoided dealing with the backside issues. Kinda lame, but hopefully I can tackle that on my next iteration, maybe with help from some of ya'll?
FINAL FRONT
FINAL BACK
3. After my crotch alteration victory, I decided to get crazy and add some pockets using the slash pocket tutorial from Sallieoh and the shaped pocket tutorial from Casey's Elegant Musings. It was terrifying, considering I have never actually made pockets before, but I suspected I wouldn't wear the pants without pockets and the pockets that were included in the pattern aren't placed in the most flattering place for those of us with a bit of a belly. I might make the pocket bags a little bigger next time, but otherwise I think they will work well for me.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?I really enjoyed using this pattern- making my first pants was very exciting! I used the sew-a-long info on the Colette blog and the great directions included with the pattern. I don't think I could have pulled off making pants this early in my sewing adventure without such great directions.
Conclusion: I'm hoping to make these up in denim ASAP (or, at least as soon as I figure out my new serger), so fitting help for the derriere would be much appreciated! Pretty much all of my store bought pants look this awful in the back, so I'm not 100% convinced its fixable, but I'd at least like to try to make a go at getting these pants to look good.
More details on my BLOG!
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9 Comments
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Congrats on your first pair of pants! Good review and they look great on you!
2/6/13 1:14 AM
Great pants. Enjoying your blog. Good job.
2/6/13 1:14 AM
Really nice job on your first pair of pants....congrats! And, that is a great sweater you're wearing. Did you make it yourself?
2/6/13 9:28 AM
Thanks all! The sweater is from anthropologie and I cant stop wearing it!
2/6/13 11:30 AM
Love your anthropologie sweater too. Your pants turned out beautifully, and so they should for all the hard work you put into them. Loved reading your blog - great sense of humour. I think you and I could get on together really well.
2/7/13 2:26 AM
Oh by the way the picture of the back of the pants was impossible for me to tell what they looked like - all black and so on.
2/7/13 2:27 AM
You did an amazing job on your first pair of pants. Stay with it.
2/7/13 9:52 AM
You did a great job! They really suit you.
3/27/13 7:03 PM
Great job on your 1st pair of pants *whoo hooo* and you tackled a side zip!! I'm pretty sure I saw on PR where there is a pants Fitting Class - I need to take this too :-) I love love how comfy these look and how much fun you look wearing them! Great job
5/22/13 11:11 AM