April 25, 2014

Sew: Tessuti Anita Ponti Pants

 
These pants were almost in the "too boring to blog" category but I wanted to show you the adjustment I did on them to make them more wearable for me.

I made this pattern up twice last winter, in black and a charcoal print, with mixed results. They were extremely comfortable but not so flattering. Pants that bordered on being leggings were not the best choice for me. I still wear the black ones around home and even took them camping. The grey ones were donated.


I'm lucky to wear my weight fairly evenly distributed across my body. I do carry weight on my hips and I have large calves. Shopping for knee high boots is a nightmare!! I wanted the comfort and ease of wear of these ponti pants but I wanted them to be more flattering and less tight from the hips down. On one of my internet perusing sessions I discovered this tutorial on the Colette website on how to adjust a pattern for large legs. It was a light bulb moment!

So I hacked in to my Anita ponti pants pattern and added about 1cm to each side of the leg from the crotch line down. It worked a treat. I do have a bit of bagging around my knee but I think this is from the divot created where my large-ish thighs meet my large large carves. Something I'll have to live with. The photos above show where the fabric has also bagged a bit from wearing them two days in a row.


Project Details
Pattern: Tessuti Anita Ponti Pants, size 14
Fabric: Four way stretch black ponti from Clegs Brunswick
Alterations: Lengthened 10cm, raised back rise by 2.5cm, large leg adjustment 1cm each side

I wore them to work yesterday with my digital floral peplum top. It was like secretly wearing tracksuit pants all day!!


L x

12 comments:

  1. I just made pants from ponte and you're right; it feels like you're secretly getting away with something! Haha!!

    Love the pants and glad you found adjustments that worked.

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  2. These are great, Leith! This length looks killer on you. Also, aren't knits the best? I love real clothes that feel like pajamas.

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  3. They look fantastic. I'd like to try these and would probably attemp a similar adjustment. I think we are similar in our 'strong' legs. I haven't had boots in years :(

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  4. I have always worried about the leggings as pants, but these look really good. The tapering at the bottom is spot on.

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  5. I love the sneaky work outfit.

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  6. Thanks for the link to the tutorial - great result!

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  7. Oh I'm so glad you blogged these. I have similar fitting issues. I have huge thighs and then little short much slimmer calves. I call myself carrot shaped. I'm also short so its not easy to fit. I will have to try adding the extra from the crotch line! These are so flattering on you! I must get some black ponte!

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  8. Great tips, and thanks for sharing that link!! :) I, too, have large calves, and totally hear ya on the boots-fitting nightmare! I once had a sales girl zip my actual flesh into a boot zipper because she didn't believe they didn't fit me!!

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  9. I LOVE ponte pants...they are so comfortable and I'd love to make myself a pair (one day)! How high do they come up at the back (ie do they have good butt coverage, or are they quite low waisted)!?

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  10. Nice job and loving that leg adjustment, I totally need that too!!
    BTW - Duo Boots from the UK are great for different calf sizes. I have big calves too. Due offer all their boots in a range of calf sizes, free shipping and mine came in a week. You'll see my ones on my polka dot skater dress post (and almost any winter pic of me overseas)

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  11. I've got this pattern at home just waiting to be made up. They look great and I think you got the length just right. I know what you mean about calf size and knee high boots, horrendous!

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  12. I JUST bought this pattern today and I've got some plain plum coloured ponti to try it in...it joins the queue so you'll see it in 12 - 18 months! They look so great on you!

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