Sewing Help!

[Not Afraid]

I have a pair of pants that I adore. They are simple, black, long-cropped, full leg with pockets, wrinkly free, easy maintenance and an elastic waist. Sadly, I have literally worn them out. I've been trying to find a replacement for them with no luck. I thought that I should just take them apart and create a pattern from them. How difficult could that be? But, I don't have the sewing skills (I don't think) to accomplish this. I would really love to have a pair or 2 to take to Japan. They are perfect for travel.

Any suggestions from my more crafty sewing friends?

[Sheila]

It's doable, but you'll need to make sure you copy the outline of your pants onto paper, not fabric. Using pen, you'll need to mark off where every seam is and the outline of all darts too by following the stitching of the ripped out seams. Then use the copy as your pattern.

I assume you've already googled for the manufacturer of the pants to see where you could buy another pair, yes?

An even better way is to go to your friendly dry cleaner/tailor and see if they can't make you a new pair. :)

[Not Afraid]

I have looked up the manufacturer already with no luck. I also found a pair at Nordsstroms that are similar in cut and style and are tencel for the wrinkle factor. But, those won't be available until mid-June, which is too late for me.

I guess I will try my cleaners and see what they can do.

Thanks!

[Sheila]

I have looked up the manufacturer already with no luck. I also found a pair at Nordsstroms that are similar in cut and style and are tencel for the wrinkle factor. But, those won't be available until mid-June, which is too late for me.

I guess I will try my cleaners and see what they can do.

Thanks!

Hmmm, have you gone to the fabric stores yet to see if they carry a similar fabric to the pants you want to copy? That's probably the hardest part, finding the material. If you buy a pattern board (it looks like a cork board with grids), you could stretch out the pieces and trace each piece onto pattern paper.

Gosh, it's not even my project and I'm getting enthused about it! ;) :D

[Ponine]

when do you leave?
Those more sewing minded of us, myself, DP esp, maybe Gus Gus, (though I am not positive of her knowledge, just an instict) would be able to help you find/make the pattern from that pair of pants.

Sheila is right, half the problem is the fabric.

But the collective should be able to replicate the trousers.

[Not Afraid]

I really want a wrinkle-free fabric. If Tencel is available, that would be ideal. And, it must be BLACK (of course). But, anything will do as long as it has a bit of "flow" to it.

The pants are really simple - no buttons, zippers, etc. There's just on-seam pockets and an elastic waist.

I leave on June 3rd.

My sewing skills are limited to curtains, pillows and tablecloths, but these pants are so straightforward I started thinking.....and you know how dangerous thinking can be. ;)

[Prudence]

Just make sure that if you make them yourself, you get the bias going the same way. Otherwise they won't hang right.

I say go for it! You'll love 'em even more if you made 'em youself.

[Ponine]

NA, I found a few sites that sell Tencel...

I'll edit this as I review them
Silk Road Fabrics (http://www.srfabrics.com/tencels/solid.htm)

Okay, so far I only found one site... but did you see these trousers? There are two pairs down near the bottom that come in black. Called Better than Basic Tencel (30 inch inseam on both)
Sierra Trading post (http://www.sierratradingpost.com/Search/keyword_results.asp?usersearch=Tencel%AE&ShowImages=yes)

okay, I found the fabric cheaper by far....
Fashion Fabric Club (http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/catalog_items.cfm?StartRow=31&CatID=0&TypID=13&ShowPromo=&ViewBy=Types&Query=&QueryType=all&fromprice=0&toprice=0&sortorderadvsearch=Desc&orderby=date)

[Not Afraid]

This is VERY similar to the pants, although they are not quite as gathered and are a bit longer (top ankle length on me). I would order these, but they are not available until mid-june. :mad:

http://a1216.g.akamai.net/f/1216/955/6h/images2.nordstrom.com/images/store/product/medium/138354.jpg

[Ponine]

okay, one more site, that sells pants. Higher priced, but still

Zona Clothes (http://www.zonaclothes.com/boutique/tenceltwill.html)

[Kevy Baby]

Sew what?

[Sheila]

Sew what?

Oh my, needling us with your unseamly remark! Fine, I hope you've gotten that joke (for the shear pleasure of it) out of your system. But at least, please try to pattern all future remarks so that they don't disrupt the fabric of this thread as we attempt to help out our sistuh.

I confess, with a set up like Kevy's, it was irresistible.... ;)

[Kevy Baby]

I confess, with a set up like Kevy's, it was irresistible.... ;)I'm glad somebody took a swing at the setup :D

GusGus is becoming quite the seamstress. If I coould get her tush onto these boards, I am sure she would have some €0.02 worth to add. But it looks like the issue was covered.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Have you been to Chico's? (http://www.chicos.com/store/productchoose.asp?PID=100030687)

[Kevy Baby]

Have you been to Chico's? (http://www.chicos.com/store/productchoose.asp?PID=100030687)Found out that there is a Chico's OUTLET at the Outlet mall in Camarillo.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Where's Camarillo?

[Kevy Baby]

Where's Camarillo?About 2,678.1 miles due east of Blue Balls, PA.

[Sheila]

Camarillo is past Thousand Oaks on your way to Oxnard and Santa Barbara (via the 101 freeway). There's a very large outlet mall there.

It's a drive, but at least it's a pretty one -- you'll go through a lot of farmland and rolling hills. For Ms. NA, probably about an hour and half drive (if not a bit less).

[Not Afraid]

Well, I'm still befuddled and indecisive. I have long Tencel pants in my cart at both Nordies and Sierra Trading Post but I also found a pair at Chicos with wide legs that I like. There is a Chicos here in LB down at the Shore and I need to make a trip there for eye make-up remover anyways, so I'm going to see what they have. That will get me through my trip at least, but I'd still like to create a pattern for the original plants because they are so great, simple, easy, elegant and wonderful.

Thank you all for your help. Some things just shouldn't be that hard to find!

[Drince88]

If you resign yourself to making replacements, before you start taking your old ones apart, you might want to look at patterns and see if there is something that is close - then you don't have to worry about ripping apart a garment before you can even get going on creating the new ones.