Copying My Favorite Pants
Copying my favorite pants. A project that has been on the back burner for a long while. A friend gave me a hand me down pair of pants last fall. They are GAP Loose Fit and the tag suggests they were made in the Fall 2002. I have never experienced a better fit in pants. I love them.
My favorite pants — Gap Loose Fit (with straight legs) from the Fall of 2002.
I began yesterday in copying them. I followed the method of copying ready-to-wear that involves making a masking tape copy (Threads magazine, August/September 2005).
The back leg pattern piece is created by laying sections of masking tape over the entire inside back leg, beginning with the outer perimeter and then filling in the middle.
Then I peeled the back pattern piece off the pants and laid it on the table. I marked the darts and cut them open. The pattern then lay down flat and the darts were created perfectly. I went on to adhere the tape to a large sheet of pattern paper (not shown). Then I added 1/2 inch seam allowances at sides, crotch and waist, and a 2-inch hem allowance (not shown).
This is the front leg. I traced off the fly-front front from the pants and extended this pattern piece to account for it. (I referred to a Kwik Sew jeans pattern for ideas here).
Also shown here are the added 1/2 inch seam allowances.
I trued up the inseam and side seams of the front and back leg and then cut out both of them. I don’t have pictures to show you tracing the side pockets and measuring and creating the waistband, but I did those, too. I won’t have back pockets. These pants don’t have them anyway and I don’t prefer them.
After creating all the pieces, I cut them all out of my chosen fabric — a chocolate brown stretch. I began the assembly. It was tough at times. Let’s see… I began by putting in the back darts, then attaching the side pockets to each leg. Then using the Reader’s Digest Complete Guide to Sewing (pages 324-325), I put in the most amazing fly-front zipper! I can’t believe I did it. I’ve never done one of those before. Then I put the legs together (finishing up the side pockets at the same time) and then sewed the crotch together. Today I will put in the waistband and hem the legs. Then they’ll be done and I hope I like them. I have one other medium brown stretch fabric to make another pair, should I want to try again.
I was thinking to do the same with a pair of my favorite pants… but I finally decided that I would keep wearing them, all frayed and such unless I cut them up– so I made a tote bag instead– you are much braver than me, I can’t wait to hear how they go!
Well, they’re still not done. I didn’t work on them at all yesterday, just wasn’t feeling well. I hope I’m successful and if I am, maybe you’ll brave it? Love, Wardeh
It’s been nearly a year, did you manage to finish this project?
Amanda,
Yes, I finished the pants shortly after I wrote about them. In fact, I’ve made 4 pairs! However, I eliminated the front fly and changed it to a side zipper, and I also cut the waistband down to 1/2″. I wear these pants all the time. This method really worked for me, even though I had trouble after posting this.
The first problem had to do with choosing a stretch fabric to make the first pair (here and here).
I had trouble with the waistband (here and here) but I solved that by making 1/2″ waistband as I mentioned above.
So… the method of copying worked. The problems came with my fabric choice and also my own learning curve. Still, I’d do it again.
Love, Wardeh