A couple of years ago I cut out these pants and sewed them mostly together at the home of my in-laws. (This version is the one on the right in the image below.) Then I came home and, well, put the unfinished project in a safe place.
Thanks to a bunch of re-organization that’s going on right now at Chez Noile, I re-discovered them, and have attached the waist band facing and finished them off.
Since first cutting these out, I’ve vowed to wear clothing that fits my body, rather than shapeless things that just overwhelm me, so this isn’t something I’d necessarily either be sewing or wearing now. For one thing, they’ve got something of a granny tush, thanks to the elastic back waist:
These are the smallest size in the envelope (8). I’m theoretically supposed to wear a Vogue 12. Riiiiight. They billow all over, and definitely have a granny tush, along with an over-all “mom jeans” look when made in denim! So beware: This pattern runs large, very large. It’s designed to be roomy.
Also, note the length — they’re just to the ankle on short old me (5 feet, 2 inches), but they don’t look cropped at all on the pattern photo, do they? That’s because Vogue put them on tippy-toe dummies to make them look elongated, and to change your perception of the proportions. Thought they’re long on me, they’d be quite cropped on a tall woman, and noticably short on a woman of medium height.
However, I recently made a one-day round-trip drive to Brooklyn (on a weekday! baaad idea!) and spent more than two full hours travelling ten blocks in lower Manhattan on my way home. Sitting interminably, and virtually immobile, in my little car, I was delighted that I was wearing clown pants with a granny tush. I couldn’t have been more comfortable. So there’s a time and a place for pants like these, and that was it.
The front pockets are fun, and this garment’s best feature:
The elastic back waist does make for the fastest rest stops ever. No muss, no fuss, no bother. That is, of course, if you’re not gridlocked in lower Manhattan. These are super-comfortable pants, and nice and airy when the weather is over 90 degrees, and even when the fabric is a light, but firm, denim.
If I ever make them again, I’ll take in the legs as well as the tush; there’s just a lot more fabric there than is really needed, certainly for style, but even for comfort. This is the third time I’ve made these pants, but I’m so over this kind of fit . . . it’s time to celebrate my shape, not hide it. In size 8, these fit me, but this is not a flattering look!
Related:
How to Carry a Baguette (Or Two) In Your Skirt
Vogue 8499 – The Skirt, In Black
Oh man, I’ve been there in NYC. We drove up to New Hampshire last summer and the BF looked at a map and saw that the most direct route was through NYC. I gently hinted that traffic might negate the efficiency but was not firm enough. 3 hours of traffic later, he started to believe me.
Glad you found a use for the pants! They do have clever pockets and I like that front princess seam.
Yeah, Trena, Manhattan is definitive proof that the shortest distance between points is not a straight line!
I think the pants are definitely worth working on. I’m going to take them in until they’re about half the width, lengthen them a bit, and maybe peg the hem a bit when I re-make them. I do wish Vogue had done the work, though!
You know I’m still amazed that Marcy let that pattern stay that way. Every single person who has made these pants can not use thier listed size by measurement. I call that a huge pattern error. Pay the printer to do a new run, why don’t you? She doesn’t have to regrade just re-number the sizes in the envelopes. Or if they don’t want to do that because of the expense, provide information about the excess ease on hers and the Vogue site with tips on how much ease was used on the Vogue dummies on the pattern cover. Otherwise, it will always be frustrating if anyone goes by that envelope picture.
By the way, I still have not bought that pattern but I think I better soon in case they decide to cancel it. I’ve used your and Sham’s sites to narrow down which size packet I need to buy. Although I’m taller (3 in.) I think you and I are the same size.
It’s just bizarre that pattern companies (especially the Big 4) don’t have a “Corrections” page on their websites. It’d be a great customer relations move, not to mention cheap and relatively easy to do.
I don’t think the “designer” has any control over the pattern once it’s printed — at least not the lower-level ones like Tilton. The big names who appear under Vogue’s “Designer” tab in the pattern book might have more clout, but my guess is that once the pattern’s printed, that’s it.
I think you’re right about our sizes, Lisa. Watch that length, though! (On the other hand, you’re enough taller that the cropped ones might look great on you.)
and yes Viktor/Buddy is such a help! Such a sweet cat! I sang to him and played with him tonight!
Those jeans are SO big on you. I like to call big, loose clothing the “I just give up collection”. 🙂
“it’s time to celebrate my shape, not hide it. ”
I LOVE that statement. Bring it on, sister!
Those pants are definitely too big for you. I made them a year and a half ago (http://communingwithfabric.blogspot.com/2010/03/vogue-8499-marcy-tilton-pants.html). I made a size six and I am bigger than you. If you make them again and take them in on most of the seams, they would be cute *and* comfy! 🙂
I love mine and made them again recently. But, yes, these are quite roomy as drafted. By the way, I love them in that denim.
Operator error! But the crotch curve is so perfect!!! OK, maybe I’ll go for another denim version, and just re-work the whole pattern. I want them to work!