Narrowing pant legs

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Fri, 12/28/2012 - 17:14
KT1408
User offline. Last seen 7 years 8 weeks ago. Offline
Joined: 01/02/2012
Posts: 19

Hi,

I bought a pair of pants (light-weight Indian type cotton fabric) that has a straight wide leg that I want to narrow. Can I just take in the side seams in equal amounts or do I also have to take in the inseams? I'm not an advanced sewer so would like to make the least most complicated alteration that'll still fit well. Pants come with an elasticated waistband that I have already removed! It also has pockets on each side that I would like to retain.

Thanks and Happy New Year to all.
Kate.

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Wed, 01/02/2013 - 16:02
#1
Nehzat
User offline. Last seen 1 year 12 weeks ago. Offline
Instructor
Joined: 10/27/2007
Posts: 1026
Re: Narrowing Pant legs

Dear Kate,

Sometimes taking in just from the side seams works well. You can take in and baste, then do a fitting to make sure you are happy with the result, before sewing by machine and cutting the seam allowances. 

Once you do the fitting you can decide if you need to take in from the inseams as well.

I suggest you watch the: Pants Alteration: Side Seam & Waistband Video Lesson. These pants do not have pockets but you can follow the below steps to adjust you pants.

Wear your pants, pinch the excess on both sides, try to keep the excess the same amount on both sides and pin. Now use the same method as the pants alteration video, link above, to mark the new seam lines. Do this while ignoring the pockets for now.

Baste along the marks, do a test fitting to make sure you like the fit. 

Now working just on one side, remove the pocket and sew the seam line above and below the pocket opening by machine. Using the other side pocket as reference, sew back the pocket on this side the same way. Then you can finish the other side as well. 

I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Happy Sewing,

Nehzat


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