Two Legs, One Waist, and a Yard of Elastic

Friday, January 28-  Assembling the back, sides and insert elastic.  Inseam, too

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Actually, this Saturday.  I was under the weather on Friday, but back to life today!

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Just like we assembled the 2 front panels, we assemble the back 2 panels.  Once again, I used a French seam with 1/4" trimmed off one layer of the finished seam allowance and press with your iron

Now for the side seams.  I'm using flat-felled seams for my side seams.  You can also follow the pattern directions and sew the seams, right sides together and press the seams open.

Line up the pattern markers (the triangles you cut or marked before removing your pattern pieces from the cut fabric pieces) before sewing, so that the elastic waist band casing on the back of the pants sticks up above the front panel.

And then sew each outside seam, leaving the vents open.  Clip seam allowances where indicated in the directions.

On to the elastic waist!

These pants are designed to be smooth and flat in the front, with the elastic all in the back.  Fold the seam allowances on the sides towards the inside of the pants and iron.  Then fold the fold the top of the seam allowance down a 1/2 inch, iron, and fold down another 1 inch, ironing again.  Edge stitch the casing along the lower fold, to form a long casing for the elastic.  It will be open at each end.

Thread the 3/4 inch elastic that the pattern calls for thru the casing, I use a diaper pin to aid me in getting the elastic into the casing and smooth.

Pin the elastic at one end of the casing and adjust the length needed for your child's waist (or use the chart in the directions if you want) and pin at the other end..

Securely sew each end of the elastic in place, and trim close to where you just stitched, being careful not to clip the fabric or your stitches.

Not that hard, but it sure sounds and looks complicated at first!

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The pants are starting to take shape, and at this point, they resemble a funky skirt.  They also give me flashbacks of my oldest child running around with his snaps undone on the inside of his trousers, a look that drove me to finding pants with snapping inseams.

Lucky for us, these pants have a lovely sewn inseam!

If you're using the pattern marked sizes 4-8, the directions tell you to place the wrong sides of your fabric together, pin and sew.  This is WRONG.  A small typo that can make a novice or experienced seamstress crazy and fustrated.  Trust me.  We are going to place the RIGHT sides of our pants' legs together, matching the the raw edges, transfered markings and crotch seam.

Then we sew each leg, one at a time, starting at the hem and stopping at the crotch.  Make sure you backstitch at the beginning and ends of your seams.  Do NOT sew your crotch seam's seam allowances.

 

 

Press the seam allowances open, and relax.  You're ready for Monday's hemming and vent finishing!

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How's everyone doing so far?  Have you ripped out any seams?  Are you pleased with your top stitching?  Are you excited to finish them an put them on your model(s)???  I am!

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