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Tapering already constructed pant leg Is there a method, or do I just go like gang busters
MissCelie   MD USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 2126 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post Like this post Subject: Wide leg pants to more narrow Date: 4/22/08 9:14 AM Last summer I made these pants from Simplicity 4237 Love them, fit well, but are too short to wear with anything but the flattest of heels. Yesterday, as they were swinging around my ankles like the liberty bell, I decided it was too much. I'm thinking that if I narrow the leg and shorten them, they could be nice cropped work pants. I think if I don't take them in and just shorten them, they are going to look dumb. Or can I just take them in and keep them this length? Any suggestions or tips? Or, do I just need to start pinning and see what happens? Do I take in on both sides or one side? And how much shorter would you make them to keep them work (suit and tie) appropriate. I was thinking just below the calf? I know, those are a lot of questions! -- Edited on 4/22/08 9:15 AM -- ------ Cidell www.missceliespants.com
EleanorSews   Advanced MI USA Member since 7/26/07 Posts: 3782 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post In reply to MissCelie Like this post Subject: Wide leg pants to more narrow Date: 4/22/08 9:21 AM You need to take them in from both sides, otherwise they will hang weirdly. Take a look at the original pattern piece too. Is there more fullness to the side or is it evenly distributed? For example, you may find you need to take in 2 inches at the outside seam and only 1 on the inside. You can determine a bit about the proportion if you find the center of the front and back pant legs. Another approach would be to select a point from which you want to straightne the legs and drawn a straight line or even a tapered line (you might begin with drawing the straight line and use it as a guide for a taper). The most important thing is to keep your straight of grain in the center of the pant leg. You throw it off if you take it in from only one side. HTH Eleanor PS They would make cute capris. You and they look terrific! What a great fit! -- Edited on 4/22/08 9:23 AM -- ------ "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." Anais Nin "Attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal." unknown
Sherril Miller   Advanced CA USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 7474	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/22/08 9:32 AM Cidell, I would unstitch the side seams and the inseams after pressing in a center crease. Then use a pattern with the leg width you want and place that over these matching the crease line with the crease line you fold into the desired pattern. ------ Visit my blog at http://sewingsaga.blogspot.com If it's worth sewing, it's worth sewing well; and if it's worth sewing well, it's worth FITTING FIRST! - TSL
petro   Intermediate FRANCE Member since 6/24/07 Posts: 2217	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/22/08 10:09 AM just before you do that Cidell, from the photo it looks as though you might have an inch or perhaps one and a quarter inch hem. have you thought of unpicking it and facing them up with a spare bit of cotton fabric, taking the teeniest of seam allowance? I've done this so many times on shrunk pants - yes I know, why don't I pre-shrink my fabric - it works well, the weight of the facing is good, and you can run a strip of interfacing along as well so the seam turnings and the hem stitches are less visible. ------ so many patterns, clamouring to be sewn http://patternpandemonium.wordpress.com/
MissCelie   MD USA Member since 8/24/02 Posts: 2126 Board Moderator	Login to reply to this post In reply to petro Like this post Date: 4/22/08 10:17 AM Quote: petro it looks as though you might have an inch or perhaps one and a quarter inch hem. I have literally no hem. I used hem tape to let it out to about 1/4 inch The pants were a cropped pattern that I lengthened on my own. I just didn't make it long enough. ------ Cidell www.missceliespants.com
Patti B   Intermediate OR USA Member since 9/29/02 Posts: 2252	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/22/08 10:56 AM They are so darling as they are. But if was originally a cropped design, perhaps they will look just as cool shortened? ------ Patti R-r-r-ripping my way to fitting success
Debbie Cook USA Member since 4/11/02 Posts: 9587	Login to reply to this post In reply to MissCelie Like this post Date: 4/22/08 11:15 AM Quote: I think if I don't take them in and just shorten them, they are going to look dumb Just my cents, but I don't think they'd look dumb just shorter and not narrower, if you make them significantly shorter ... like a split skirt, just at your knee level. I don't know that cropped/capri length is dressy or goes with a jacket/tie. ------ -- "I base my fashion sense on what doesn't itch." — Gilda Radner http://stitchesandseams.blogspot.com
ladybegood   Intermediate Member since 5/19/03 Posts: 1142	Login to reply to this post In reply to MissCelie Like this post Date: 4/22/08 12:21 PM I'd start with narrowing first, and then just pin up the hem to get the right length. For narrowing, I'd look at the original pattern piece to see if it is flared evenly at both sides. I'd measure how much it flares from the grainline at both sides, but ultimately, I think you just need to get your pins out and and go by what the fabric wants to do. -- Edited on 4/22/08 12:24 PM -- ------ "Creativity is the residue of time wasted." Albert Einstein. No wonder I just keep getting more and more creative!
Nancy K Advanced NY USA Member since 12/28/04 Posts: 7634	Login to reply to this post In reply to MissCelie Like this post Date: 4/22/08 1:31 PM I just did this to a pattern the other day, but it is the same for a pair of already constructed pants. You need to take in the same amt. in the outseam and the inseam at the hem. Before you start mark the knee, because the outseam and inseam have to be the same here too. If you take in 1" on each inseam and outseam hem, than draw a line to the inseam. Where it crosses the knee, measure this amount and mark the same amount in on the outseam. The line up from the hem has to cross this point. If the leg is unbalanced it will twist. The line you draw needs to be blended at the knee so that you have a nice gradual curve. ------ www.nancyksews.blogspot.com
Irene   Intermediate CA USA Member since 1/4/03 Posts: 930	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 4/22/08 1:47 PM These are such nice pants! One way to use the fullness might be to make pleats or tucks on the outside, like Marcy Tilton did with Vogue 8397, while straightening ("un-belling") on the inseam. This is not as professional-looking as you might like, but it would make the most of the current length.

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