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View Full Version : Copying a pair of favorite jammie or sweatpants-dl



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12-07-2009, 09:40 AM
I started with Tim's favorite threadbare sweatpants.

Step 1:
Carefully flatten the pants so the seams match and lay flat. Line up one side of the flattened pants on the fold of the fabric, lining up the side seam it they have one...

I double folded the fabric here, (so my pants are laying on two folds), that way I only had to cut once for both legs, instead of having to use my first cut out as the pattern for the other leg...
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09005640x480.jpg

Step 2:
Add seam, hem and waist allowances with some kind of marking instrument. I used the same as the original garment, 1" for the hem, 1 1/2" for the waist and 3/8" for the leg seams.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09006640x480.jpg

Step 3:
Cut! I cut through four layers here, to get two legs cut on the fold. My scisssors protested a bit, but it worked and saved me the extra step of having to cut a 2nd leg.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09007640x480640x4 80.jpg

Step 4:
Serge or sew the crotch curves, right sides together of course.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09008640x480.jpg

Step 5:
Line up the inside leg seams.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09009640x480.jpg
Sew them as one continuous seam, starting at one leg hem and finishing at the other.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09010640x480.jpg

Step 6:
Dig through your elastic stash and decide how you want to apply the elastic :) based on what you find there...
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09011640x480.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09012640x480.jpg
I decided to go with a drawstring elastic waist like the original pants and a cased narrow elastic for the hem, because I didn't have a suitable width of woven elastic to do the hems like the original.

Step 7: (for cased hems)
Turn up the hems 1" to the wrong side. Stitch close to the edge, leaving a 1" opening to insert elastic.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09013640x480.jpg

Insert elastic using a bodkin or large safety pin.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09016640x480.jpg

Stitch elastic together into a circle, pull into casing and stitch opening closed.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09016640x480.jpg

Step 8: Drawstring elastic waist
Cut elastic about 25% less than waist measurement because this is stretchy stuff and it also stretches as you sew through it. His waist is 32", so I cut the elastic to 27".
(More pictures coming the next time I make pants)
Zigzag the elastic into a circle, being careful not to catch the drawstring in the stitching (ask how I know this...)
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09023640x480.jpg

Quarter mark the elastic and the waistband (I used pins, a marker would likely work better).
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09024640x480.jpg

Pin elastic to WRONG side of pants, matching your marks. I add pins between the quarter marks to make it easier to control the stretch while sewing.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09025640x480.jpg

Zigzag or serge the edge of the elastic to the pants, stretching as you sew.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09026640x480.jpg

Fold the elastic down and mark where the drawstrings are going to go thru.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09027640x480.jpg

If you are using a woven, you would make button holes. My origianl pants were knit and they were just holes cut, so that is how I did mine. Maybe you can cut your holes neater...
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09028640x480.jpg

Turn the elastic to the inside, pull the drawstrings through the holes and knot the ends.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09029640x480.jpg

Pin in place and stitch, stretching between the pins.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09030640x480-1.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09031640x480.jpg

All done!
Comparison to the origial
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09032640x480-1.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09033640x480.jpg

Two more pairs to match Daddy:
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09036640x480.jpg
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g144/topview/Tutorials/Dec09038640x480.jpg

Please give feedback if this is confusing or useful... Thanks for looking :)