The 'Liar Liar' Pants

The Facts

Fabric: Approx. 3 yards red cotton with 2% stretch $12, scrap fabric for pockets

Pattern: Colette Clover Pants, 2nd time making

Year: 2011

Notions: Red invisible zipper $2

Time to Complete: 3 hours

First worn: January 2012

Wear again: Yes!

Total Price: $14

Oh yes, red pants.  After making my first round of Clover’s I knew I wanted to tackle the pattern again with a better fit.  While wandering through the stretch cotton section at my local fabric store, I spied this deep red fabric.  A few short minutes later and it was being cut up with my hands itching to make a new pair of pants.

This time, I learned from my mistakes and went with my original gut (no pun intended) size.  The last time I made these pants, I, for once, made a muslin, buuuut... not in a stretch fabric.  So then I graded up too large for my final version, and had some loose fitting pants.  But not this time!

I actually think they fit really well.  They’re definitely fitted, but comfortably so.  Ok, honestly? I think I love them.  I don’t think I’ve ever had pants in a fun color before so it’ll be nice to have some bright separates. Oh, and even more fun, I had some leftover striped cotton from the Anchor's Away skirt, so I used them as the pocket lining. No one would really see them as they’re flush with the pants top, but I know they’re there!

So the hubby might need to fight for affection this Valentine’s Day, because I’ll be swooning over these pants.

What I Watched:

My Fair Lady (1964)

Swing Kids (1993)

About Time! Pants

In the past year (slightly over) that I've been making garments, I haven't been brave enough to try pants.  When Colette released the Clover pattern, I knew I was going to have to try it.  But once again, the task seemed pretty daunting.  So I watched as they posted their tutorials on fitting issues, etc, and finally, made the purchase of some stretch (2%) denim.  I couldn't find a suitable 'muslin' fabric, so silly me... I decided to use regular cotton, non-stretch, muslin.  That's where the trouble began.

Clover pants and my Sencha blouse

I made the cotton muslin and it fit perfect in the legs but really tight over the bum and hips.  I wasn't sure how much of a difference this would make in the stretch denim so I sized up one size when I cut my fabric.  I started to assemble the pant and apparently wasn't paying attention; I accidently sew'd the outer edge first. Ugh.  Well, I might as well try to see how they're fitting at this point.  Oh... ginormous.  Sigh.  So out came the seam ripper, and an hour later (because yes, I had already done my felled seams at that point) I was back to my uncut pieces.  I re-matched up the pattern and cut it down to the original size that I had cut the muslin to.

I was pleasantly surprised with the fit moving forward.  The legs were a little wide so I took them in slightly.  I was too nervous to take them in too much but they were comfortable and the rest of the fit seemed great.

I'm really happy with how they came out.  They're definitely just going to be the first pair I make - I'd like to make another - this time with the appropriate muslin - and really get the legs to fit just right.  Just a little more form-fitted.

This would actually be a fast project if it weren't for my silly mistakes in the beginning.  I think once I make the muslin to fit, I'll have a great base to make several pairs.  Oh, and next time I'll do the pockets.  I just didn't want to add that to the fact that I was already nervous about my pants-making skills.  I really liked the flat-felled seams.  I used the tutorial provided on Colette's blog.  I had always been concerned that home-made pants wouldn't be as 'secure' as store-bought, and now I know the secret.

Fabric: Stretch denim
Pattern: Colette Clover
Notions: 9" invisible zipper and a hook and eye closure