Other than the fact that sewing is fun and that I love fabric, the thing I like best about sewing is that I can make clothes the way I want them. But sometimes it’s not easy. Even sewing patterns are rarely exactly like I want them so I often mix up pieces, swapping sleeves and collars and such and alter patterns in other ways. I’ve been doing this for years and it’s usually not a big deal but some alterations are trickier than others and I would prefer to find patterns that are already exactly right.
I have been using the same pattern for elastic waist pants for years and it’s almost too ragged and worn out to pin to fabric. So I’ve been thinking I should finally give it up and buy a new pattern and I’ve been hoping that this time I could find one that is exactly right or at least closer to right than the old one I’ve been using. The problem is side seam pockets. I hate them. Pants with side seam pockets do not properly fit anyone except those strange, pencil-thin hipless wonders that the fashion industry is so in love with.
SewingPatterns.com lists 1859 patterns in the “pants” category. I haven’t looked at all of them, of course. Other than searching by brand you can’t narrow it down so all pants patterns are included in that – women’s, children’s, men’s, dress pants, casual pants, everything. It would be very helpful if I could narrow it down to only women’s pull-on pants. Another extremely annoying thing about the site is that you can’t bookmark the page where you left off or individual item pages. And that’s not all. I could go on and on with complaints about this site. But on the plus side they do have a lot of patterns so I keep looking.
I’ve been browsing by brand and so far all women’s elastic waist pants have side seam pockets. That is extremely frustrating and annoying! All those patterns and they’re all basically alike. I can alter a pattern to make elastic waist pants with normal front pockets and you can buy ready-made elastic waist pants with normal front pockets so why don’t they make patterns like that? I did see one but it had ridiculously wide legs so I’d still have to alter it. I suppose this proves the old saying, “If you want something done right you have to do it yourself.”
February 18th, 2009 - 2:33 pm
I’ve noticed in the past ten years that the quality and fit of most patterns has really declined. I complained to my mother once that it was as if the companies were making patterns for people who hated to sew and wanted to spend minimal effort at it.
My big issue is that I like clothes that have a little FIT to them. Most of the stuff out there (or at least the last time I looked) is kind of tenty and shapeless. I’m sure it’s because people either don’t know how or don’t want to go to the trouble to alter patterns to fit.
(I almost ALWAYS have to alter patterns; once I get one that fits in the bust and the hips, it turns out the sleeves are made for someone with stick arms. Or they assume because a woman has 43″ hips they must also have a 40″ waist, and I wind up having to take the thing in…)
Vogue patterns were always my favorites but they are expensive and can be hard to find.
February 18th, 2009 - 4:47 pm
Hi, glad you commented so I found you over here!
I am just seriously impressed you make clothes. I haven’t attempted this since high school and then it wasn’t good! I have been tempted since I got here, as I have a new sewing machine, but so far quilting has been my limit. Hope you find that elusive pattern.
February 18th, 2009 - 9:35 pm
Hi, I’m so glad you came to visit. I’ve been sewing since I was 18 or 19 (on my grandmother’s antique Singer) but I’m just now getting into quilting. I had always thought about it but it seemed so overwhelming. I was afraid I would start one and never finish it but I finally did it. I’m working on my 4th quilt now.