The StyleARC Elle pant.  Size 10.  Stretch twill or similar from Darn Cheap Fabrics for just $2 per metre.  Thankfully.  This is muslin #1.

Not horrendous from the front. The Elle pant is described as slim line from ankle to waistline, which it is, and it has an elasticised flat waistband. The recommended fabric is stretch gabardine, which I unfortunately didn’t use. My fabric is a little heavier in weight, but is just as stretchy as stretch gabardine. Which is a good thing, because check out the back view.

Um. Ahem.  Skin tight across my booty, and lots of weird folds between the hip and the knee. I do have to say thought that they are actually quite comfortable – once I’ve wriggled into them.

So now I’m trying to figure out the next step in altering these to fit my shape. Because I have to say, the actual pattern is BRILLIANT. It went together beautifully in record quick time, with each piece fitting to one another exactly as it should. However, I have a different shape to the pants! They’re not too bad from the front; it’s that back view that concerns me. Brace yourselves and let’s have another look:

Okay, thoughts. So far I think that I will:

• cut the back pieces larger through the bottom and waist (I possibly should have bought size 12 but measured in between sizes and often wear size 8 or 10 in pants/jeans from the shops)
• keep the crotch depth as it is
• take in the back pieces a little from the hip to the knee
• use a lighter weight fabric for muslin #2.

Other thoughts are welcomed! I’d really like to work out how to make this one fit me well – I know that once it does I’d use this pattern a lot.

And yes, I’ll probably still wear these. With very long tops.  Hubby thought that they looked okay (?!?!?!?!?!)