You all know that I rather love a Style Arc pattern.  That particularly extends to their pants.  I don’t think that pants are hard to make – but I do think that they can be hard to fit.  It’s not just about circumferential measurements; there’s also that crotch depth and shape to take into account and where your muscle and fat are distributed in your stomach, bum and legs.  It can definitely be challenging!  I generally take the lazy way out with pants, and sew ones that use stretch fabrics and have elasticised waists.  Because my waist to hip ratio is not significant, I don’t get lots of gathers at the waist when I use elastic, so there isn’t increased bulk there.  But I do get comfort.

Style Arc describe the Misty stretch pull-on jean as follows: Want the look of a slim jean and comfort as well?  Then this is the pant for you, this style has all the features of a jean, slim cut leg, mock fly, front pockets, back yoke and jean back pockets. The treatment of the elastic waistband makes this a fantastic pant to have in your wardrobe.

First of all, the fabric. It’s a stretch woven cotton velveteen from Tessuti. It has a fair amount of stretch, and I love it. It was easy to work with, although I did need to be aware of the nap when I was cutting out.

I made these in size 10, my usual Style Arc size. My waist is way bigger than a 10, but it works for my hip measurement, and because the waist is elasticised I just cut the elastic to length (usually it’s exactly the same length as the waist of the pants.

The only alteration was my usual one to reduce the length. I removed an inch or so in two places, both from above the knee and below the knee.  That leaves enough length for a one inch hem.  I really enjoyed sewing the little details that make them into jeans rather than pants.  The front pockets – including a coin pocket, the front mock fly, and the back yoke and pockets.  All have topstitching details done with a twin needle.

So, here’s the front – complete with muffin top.  I didn’t have quite as much elastic as I would have liked, so the elastic waistband is a little shorter and tighter than I’d prefer.  That said it is still very comfortable.  The waistband is a double layer of elastic, zig-zagged together around the top, and is then attached to the top of the jeans.  If you preferred an enclosed waistband it would be simple enough to cut one from your main fabric, enclose the elastic inside it (I’d use narrower elastic than three inches if I was doing that) and stitch it to the waist of the pants.

And there is my backside in closeup.  I really, really like the back pockets and yoke.  And they are the only detail that can be seen when I am wearing them.  In future I’ll only include the back details and the front faux fly.  The front pockets are not visible when I am wearing them and I don’t use them (they are quite shallow).

And this is how I wore them!  Very happy with this pattern.  Now I just need some stretch denim…