Sooooo…this post marks a bit of a dressmaking milestone for me. 🙂 My first ever pair of trousers. Simplicity 1918 – from their Amazing Fit range. (View C minus the tabs 😉 What say you peops? Are Simplicity right? Are these indeed an amazing fit? I must admit….I’m seriously impressed. This was actually meant to be a 1st toile. I never anticipated ending up with a pair of trousers I could actually wear with the first attempt. I pictured re-pinning, tracing, redrawing crotch curves. I was ready for a battle. But no. I cut the pattern (not quite according to the instructions, more on that in a bit). I sewed them up according to the instructions. I put them on; and apart from a teeny adjustment at the waist and hip (more on that in a bit); this is how they fit pretty much straight out of the packet….they’re made from a lightweight pure wool check bought for £1.60 at the craft jumble I mentioned previously…

Having read numerous horror stories about crotch length and rise and drag lines; I’d kind of built up trouser sewing in my head as a bit of a mountain that I wasn’t sure I wanted to climb. I mean any area of sewing that requires a plethora of books and classes aimed solely at achieving a good fit, has got to be head bangingly frustrating right? Well, that was the view I held at any rate.

When Simplicity asked me if I’d like to pick out a pattern to test out, I saw it as a great opportunity to slay the trouser beast. Especially when my eyes alighted on the words “Amazing Fit” and “Trousers” on the same pattern envelope. I thought it HAD to improve my chances of success. The schtick here, is that this range of patterns comes not only in a the usual range of sizes, but also in 3 separate figure types. Slim, average and curvy. Welcome acknowledgement at last from one of the big 4; that we do actually come in different shapes and sizes….amen to that!

So…how good is the fit? Here they are from various angles. I’m no expert of course. But to my mind, there are no areas that are pulling, there are no areas that are bagging. Nothing is twisting, side seams are perpendicular to the floor and the fabric lays smooth across the front and backside; and I can move about, sit down and stand up with no strain on any seam and what’s more, they are VERY comfy. Is it me? Or is this a bit of a result for a first pass??!

A word or two on Sizing:
The only time that I deviated from the instructions was when it came to selecting which size to cut. According to my measurements, I should’ve cut a 16. Wasn’t convinced by that AT all. (Commercial patterns always seem to equate to excessive ease in my experience) Especially taking into account that the pattern cites 4 – 4 1/2″ of wearing ease included. I am a 40″ hip. Cutting a 16, according to the pattern envelope, would’ve given me a finished garment measurement of 44″ at the hip. A size 14″ however, would give me a finished garment measurement of 42″ at the hip. Better 🙂 That’s my hip measurement + 2″ of wearing ease. Plus, there’s a generous seam allowance (a full 1″) built into this pattern at the waist/hip seams and centre back seam to allow for adjustments. No worries then! So that’s what I went for. I cut a 14 “average” because my crotch length dictates that I am of average shape 😉 Once I’d  basted them together, the only adjustment I needed to make was to let the waist out by about 2-3mm each side, and shave the hip curve off because basically, I’m pretty much straight up and down and don’t need my trousers to curve out much at all at the hip. That’s it.

Next time:
The only changes I would make on future makes (and there will be some for sure) would be to narrow the bottom leg slightly (a teeny bit flappy) and sew a better fly front. This was also my first time ever sewing a fly front. It turned out ok but you can still see my zip a bit; which is not the idea methinks! But thanks to your suggestions on fly tutes; (Thankyou so much!) I’m confident I’ll do better next time!

Overall though, I’m totally impressed with this pattern; and it has me wondering if other patterns in this range are worth my attention. After all; how many times does a pattern fit you pretty much perfect, straight out of the packet?? For me, never, until this one!

Giveaway Conditions:
Sooooo, the lovely folks at Simplicity sent me 2 copies of this pattern. So that means I have one left to give away to one of you! The giveaway pattern is the very same pattern Simplicity 1918 in a size 14-22.

The giveaway is open Worldwide and all you have to do to enter is leave a comment below; tell me if you’ve ever found a pattern that fit you straight out of the packet, and what it is please?! If you’ve never been that lucky, then just tell me an interesting sewing or fitting tip or failing that; just something interesting! You don’t have to follow this blog or like my facebook page or any of that malarkey! Just don’t put “yes please” or anything like that cos well, that’s just boring 😉

Giveaway ends on Wednesday 17th July at midnight GMT and results will be announced on Thursday 18th July. Good Luck!

**NOW CLOSED**