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Member since 1/5/05
Posts: 749
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Posted on: 4/19/05 10:02 AM ET
Ok, I have "pants for any body" and they have an alteration for outside leg seams that swing in. My problem: they TWIST, causing the leg seam to want to swing to the back. The alterations I made are " removing excess fabric beneath the butt" and also added a bit in the middle of the thigh area. I can't figure out why any of these modifications would cause this... even when the pants aren't on there is evidence of the twisting. (When on, there are diagonal wrinkles running from outside thigh area to inside knee area. Does anyone have an idea of what my problem is??? I am so frustrated.
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Leslie
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"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
  
Member since 4/4/02
Posts: 7876
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Posted on: 4/19/05 10:20 AM ET
It sounds like a grain problem. What type of fabric are you using?
  
Member since 1/5/05
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Posted on: 4/19/05 12:46 PM ET
It happened on 2 different pairs of pants...one a heavier weight wovenstretch and one in a stretch cotton poplin (that was heavier than most of the stretch cotton poplin I've ever seen). I am pretty sure I put it on the grain... with the greatest amount of stretch going horizontal...
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Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
  
Member since 1/28/03
Posts: 1979
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Posted on: 4/19/05 12:55 PM ET
In reply to SewingSkater
Quote:
The alterations I made are " removing excess fabric beneath the butt" and also added a bit in the middle of the thigh area.

Did you draw a new grainline after you did the alterations?
I agree with Gigi it looks like a grain issue.
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http://thesewingdivas.wordpress.com/
  
Member since 4/4/02
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Posted on: 4/19/05 1:04 PM ET
Did you attempt to straighten either of these fabrics? The reason I ask is that stretch wovens (and non-stretch twills such as denim) are notorious for returning to their old habits after being straightened. We've all had jeans with twisty legs at some time or another.
  
Member since 1/5/05
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Posted on: 4/19/05 2:23 PM ET
Uhm... ok. 1) how do I re-draw a grain line and 2) how do I straighten? I will say no I didn't do either since I don't know what they are. I had the grain on the pattern piece and in the back I lined the grainline on the pattern piece up with what I *thought* was the grain on the fabric. I'm guessing it is more complicated than that...
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Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
  
Member since 1/12/04
Posts: 5086
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Posted on: 4/19/05 2:34 PM ET
In reply to SewingSkater
"When on, there are diagonal wrinkles running from outside thigh area to inside knee area. "

I'm still pretty new here, but oddly enough had that exact situation -- I was standing in frustration in front of the mirror yesterday looking at the back of my pants and trying to figure out why I kept having this diagonal fold from my upper outside thigh to inner knee!

OK, I thought: I'm supposed to "Look at the fabric and let it tell me what it wants to do." (I read this not so long ago right here).

Well, I wasn't ready to take the pants apart, so this what I did: using my pattern pieces, i pinned the side seam together to the hips, and then pinned the pants on my body double along the waist. (You could probably do this on yourself, but I wanted to be able to see exactly what was happening back there.) The side seam of the back actually did twist back and a 3 inch gap appeared between the back and front at the bottom of the side seam.

So, I added 3 inches to the bottom of pattern piece (3 inches at the bottom, tapering to nothing at the upper thigh/lower hip area). I left the grainline as it had been on the pattern.

Then I tried this change out in some ugly but drapey fabric and the diagonal fold was gone! The legs were baggier of course, so I tested where to pin out the extra width and ended up removing it from my inner leg.

I think what I ended up doing was compensating for my wider hips by removing inner leg width and adding it to the outside. Note I didn't change the grain line, even though I did change the shape of the pattern piece.

Good luck in figuring this out! I've been working on getting proper fit for a while now and each little puzzle solved is a huge accomplishment!
marian

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Canada Plant Hardiness Zone 5b
USDA Zone 4
  
Member since 1/28/03
Posts: 1979
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Posted on: 4/19/05 3:17 PM ET
In reply to SewingSkater
Can you take a picture from the pants pattern. It will help to see if the straight of grain line is correct or need some redrawing.
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http://thesewingdivas.wordpress.com/
  
Member since 1/5/05
Posts: 749
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Posted on: 4/19/05 3:23 PM ET
I will try... I'll have to do it tonight when I have my digital camera available. I'll take a picture of the pants on, too. You just have to promise not to laugh at my pattern pieces! (They are held together with tape cause I am still altering and afriad of pattern commitment... he he)
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Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
  
Member since 1/5/05
Posts: 749
Send Message
Posted on: 4/19/05 6:38 PM ET
Ok, I have the picture up for your viewing (and critiquing!)pleasure. I think the picture shows very well the wrinkles. As bad as it looks, the pants are STILL better than my RTW... so I will wear them anyway. Twistey Pants
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Leslie
_________________________________
"Don't dress a certain way because that's all you've done in the past. Fashion is a very underrated motivator. It's just pieces of fabric, but it's such a powerful tool. It can change people's perception of you." - Daniel Vosovic, Project Runway


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." - Moliere, French dramatist, actor (1622-1673)
  
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