At the start of 2019, pants were still a super daunting sewing endeavor in my mind. It just seemed like so much more work to fit flat fabric to the curves of my hips, waist and bum than it did to sew a dress or top that could flow over my shape. However, I really pushed out of my comfort zone and sewed quite a few pairs of pants last year!
From Lander shorts to jeans to these Ultimate Trousers, my fear of pants is slowly dissipating. I will admit that of the three, these are probably the least well fitting (I hesitate to say “worst” fitting, because that makes it sound so bad – and they really aren’t!) pair. They fit great, but not exactly as I intended. The waist is slightly larger that I would prefer, and the calf and leg opening are wider than I really like. I was hoping for more of a fitted cigarette pant, but I really prefer to make a pattern without many modifications the first time before I go changing things up.
I actually quite like this pattern, and overall, the fit is pretty good. I want to make another pair in a plain black twill at some point, and I will make a few little modifications when I do – likely making the waist darts ever so slightly bigger and slimming the leg from the knee down! However, in the meantime, these continue to be a great pair of pants. I originally intended to sew this fabric into a dress, but once it arrived, it just made me think of what a great outfit it would make with paired with a nice black top. I absolutely love them.
In the summer months, I struggled a little bit trying to figure out what to pair with these. However, over the cooler months, I’ve really gotten into my groove with them! I decided why hold back and save these bright floral pants for the warmer months – we need some cheer in the chilly days too! My favorite way to wear them lately has been paired with my Black Nikko top and turquoise suede flats. My tauper Berlin Jacket suits the color palette well, too! I recently hacked the Orchid Midi Dress into a great top made of black cotton voile (you’ll see it on the Minerva Blog in the coming months!), and I’m loving the way these will look with it as it gets a little warmer.
The fabric is so beautiful, as I’ve come to expect with Lady McElroy. Great quality, vibrant colors, and a truly interesting color palette and print scale. It would have made a nice dress, but the weight of the fabric (and the twill weave!) made it absolutely perfect for a pair of pants. I would absolutely recommend grabbing some and making a matching pair – we’ll be statement trousers twins!!
Pants: handmade by me
Fabric: Minerva – Lady McElroy Lulu Missona Stretch Cotton Twill
Pattern: So Over It – Ultimate Trousers
Key Ingredients:
Brother XR9500PRW Sewing MachineSewing Machine
Brother 1034D Overlocker
Madam Sew 32-piece Presser Foot Set (Blind Stitch Hem Foot)
Schmetz Universal Machine Needles – Size 70/10
Dahle 36×48 Self-healing Cutting Mat
Though the fabric used in this post was generously provided to me by the awesome team at Minerva, all words and opinions expressed are my own, as always! Links provided throughout this post may be affiliate links – if you choose to purchase any products through these links, I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you. This simply helps me justify the costs of my sewing habit and the time it takes to share it with you!! Happy Sewing!
- XX Elizabeth
