Second pair of Hudson pants

I wanted to make an easy piece to make it possible to participate in selfish sewing week. (Normally I don’t finish a piece of clothing in a week.) But I thought I should be fine with something I already made once ( and started last week). And what is more selfish than sweatpants that I only wear inside the house. I made my first pair of Hudson pants early November and I loved them. They were far from perfect but I have worn them a lot.

When I made the alterations on my first pair I also adapted the pattern. I made the waist 6 cm smaller and made the legs 5 cm longer. So in general I made them smaller and longer and I also tightened the elastic a bit more. I also started on a pair for my sister (not selfish I know) and made hers 10 cm longer. I have the feeling that the inseam on the pattern is really short. We are both 1,70m so not that tall. The Hudson pants are the first pants I have made so I have no idea if this is normal. Length is not that much of an issue when I make a dress or skirt.

This time I made them in black but the same rather thick fabric. That fabric is incredibly soft on the inside. I bought the fabric last time I went to the stoffenspectakel for 12€. I love that I can make pants for as little as 12€ of course it will be more if you need to buy thread and elastic, but I got mine for free from my grandmother.  I used a piece of robe that I found in my grandmothers stash instead of making the ribbon myself like I did last time. The black fabric would have been way too thick anyway.

I’m so happy with the result, the extra length makes the fit in general so much better. 

From party dress to sweatpants

I finally got good enough pictures to upload this post. I made these pants in November and I took pictures back then but they were blurry and the colours where off. And I never had the time or good enough weather to make new ones.

I made the Hudson pant form true bias. I bought the perfect pattern parcel 6 because I really wanted to make the Hudson pants, and I liked the other patterns as well. I could use some more sweat pants to wear over my leotards when I go to ballet. As I said, I made these last year when it was getting colder in November. And as expected I wore them a lot, at least a few times a week. I’m wearing them at the moment when I’m writing this, and I should be writing my thesis. They are my go to lounge pants so soft and warm.

The fabric is a ponte roma knit from the ‘stoffen spectakel’. A lot of vendors offered ponte roma or other sweatshirt fabric for €10 a meter. Eventually I bought a coupon for €10 and the fabric was a little over 1,5m!!! The pink contrast fabric is leftover from my Christmas party dress.

I made a size 12, based on my hip measurements. The pants fit well on the legs and hips but were too big at the waist. I took out 3cm in the front seam and 3cm in the back and shortened the waistband. I used the pink jersey on the pocket detail, the pocket facing and the string. The pink fabric is a lot thinner and is a nice contrast. The grey fabric is rather thick and I didn’t want the extra bulk on the waist.

Next time I make them I’m going lengthen the legs a few cm and tighten the elastic at the waist a bit more. These pants are barely long enough, a bit too short for my liking. It’s fine because I hardly ever wear them outdoors but next time I will change that. Next time I’m going to use fabric that is a bit stretchier and has better recovery. The ankle band doesn’t stretch a lot so that makes it a bit difficult to get my heel through the opening. Or some ribbing at the ankle and waist, my mom has some dark purple ribbing leftover that would be perfect. But I’m definitely going to make some more.

These pants don’t count for the 12 pieces that I’m planning to make this year but I already started on a Julia cardigan and a Mimi blouse.