PatternReview.com online sewing community
Join our community of 579,261 sewists!
SIGNUP Membership is free and includes 1 free lesson
Login |
Join our community of 579,261 sewists!
Signup | Login
To participate in the PatternReview.com forums please Login or Join PatternReview
Member since 11/14/08
Posts: 24
Send Message
Posted on: 5/29/09 2:17 PM ET
I have noticed in the last six months that the back (just under the butt) & side of my thighs are getting larger and becoming an issue. So, I have been reading the threads on pants fitting again. I came across "clown butt adjustment". What is this?

Does anyone have hints on the wide bottom I describe? I don't know if this is actually "saddle bags". Is this different than a low derriere?
  
Member since 7/10/06
Posts: 2263
Send Message
Posted on: 5/30/09 4:35 PM ET
There's an interesting article in the current issue of Threads about adjusting for a full butt. I've read it but not had a chance to try it out - you might find it helpful.
------
I've moved! Visit my new sewing blog at http://chiralcraft.wordpress.com

Do you sew from KnipMode? Join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/knipmode_english/
  
Member since 8/15/04
Posts: 1878
Send Message
Posted on: 5/30/09 4:54 PM ET
In reply to DebMurphy
The "clown butt adjustment" is more for a body that has a flat fanny. This adjustment reduces the folds under the fanny that happen due to a lack of a fanny. It helps eliminate material that drops down the back from the "rise" of the pant - in other words, it eliminates material that the fanny should have been holding up.

Check out the book "Pants for Real People" from your library to read. It has a wealth of info as well as this website. In the search engine on the message board page type pants and either title or message - numerous pages appear.

I agree with the other poster. Threads magazine does have a good article on adjusting the back of pants for a full body backside.

HTH

Woggy
  
Member since 8/28/08
Posts: 957
Send Message
Posted on: 5/30/09 9:37 PM ET
In reply to woggy
But one can have a "clown butt" as well as "saddle bags." Don't ask me how I know that I do 3 pattern adjustments to make pants fit....
1. the low derrier adjustment which makes the back crotch curve sort of J- shaped.
2. elongate the crotch point on both front and back.
3. add a wedge to the center back seam only, going straight across the back (perpendicular to the grain line,) tapering to nothing at the side seam

Through much trial and error (and tears and ruined projects,) I have found that I need all 3 pattern alterations to accommodate my full, droopy bottom. All the women in my family have this particular shape and we have a terrible time finding RTW that fits properly. I'm the only one who sews, and they all want me to make pants and jeans for them!
Laura
  
Member since 11/14/08
Posts: 24
Send Message
Posted on: 6/1/09 3:36 PM ET
Thank you everyone for your comments. I made another attempt over the weekend. One thing I have learned from all my pants attempts is that I need to wear them for a day before judging the adjustment. Many times I have thought that "this is it" but after wearing them, actually found that it wasn't the right adjustment for me or it made something else go off.

From your definitions, I don't have a clown butt. Mine is probably more bubble butt. I need volume in the back.

So I extended the back crotch point and kept the curve sharp and low. This feels so much more comfortable than previous pants. But, there is some bagginess under the deirrer and a lot at the front abdomen/crotch area. The front bagginess has always been an issue.

I was reading Pants for Real People and noted an adjustment of taking a vertical tuck just below the deirrere to take out extra material but to continue the vertical tuck from waist to hem, even thought the waist may become too small.

I was actually thinking this morning that I might try using the size 16 back with the crotch point adjusted but the size 14 front, to see if this eliminates the bagginess I always have in the front. It sounds like the same result as doing the verticle tuck. Is it ok to mix sizes such as the front one size and the back another? I wondered if this might make the side seams too forward or too back? I'm not skilled to know what adjustment will throw off the line, etc.
  
Member since 8/15/04
Posts: 1878
Send Message
Posted on: 6/2/09 7:33 AM ET
In reply to DebMurphy
Elbows,

Yes, it is okay to mix pattern sizes. Your shape sounds similar to mine: short in the front and long in the back. I have a flat fanny but it is long. I am short in the front. If I didn't have such a long backside, I could wear a petite.

It is not uncommon to make 3-4 alterations to a pattern to get it to fit you. I do at least that many.

Keep at it - it took me 4 years to figure out what I needed to do - my figure kept changing during this time so different alterations were needed.

Woggy
  
* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.
Selected Reviews, Classes & Patterns
Nature's Fabrics
Natural & Organic Fabrics
Specials!
Metro Textiles
NYC Fabric Store
Specials!
Discovery Fabrics
High Performance Fabrics
Specials!