Pants fitting - no alterations

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Instructions

You can read my blog post about the course so far and the first draft of my pants here:

http://itsseweasy.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/craftsy-course-pants-fitting-techniques-part-1/
You can read my blog post about the course so far and the first draft of my pants here:

http://itsseweasy.wordpress.com/2012/11/27/craftsy-course-pants-fitting-techniques-part-1/

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Difficulty:

Category: Sewing

Type of item: Clothing

For: Women

Style: Classic

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Materials

Just some cheapy fabric to test fitting

What was your inspiration?

This is the first pair of trousers I've tried to make. I watched all of the videos in the pants fitting course before even taking the pattern out of the packet, but I was bewildered about what alterations I would need to make - the alterations to the pattern are made in the course PRIOR to making up the test piece.

So I made up this pair staight from the pattern pieces without any alterations. My measurements correspond exactly to the code D so I was expecting to get quite a good fit without the need for any alterations - but I was very wrong ! These are terrible !

* The legs are just massive all round, like a pair of really wide leg trousers, and don't look at all slim and tapering like the pattern photo. Maybe this is just because they are a direct extension of my hips which are also wide all round ! :-)
* There is a HUGE amount of extra fabric in the back under the backside and across the whole back leg, hanging down in thick folds.
* The side seams don't hang straight down, they flare far forward towards the toes.
* The fit round in the waist, high hip and hips appears to be good overall with a small amount of ease for sitting and movement, but there is a large amount of extra fabric under the waistband at the front, almost hanging in two big pleats from the waist to the crotch. I think this is where I have a sticky-out tummy and the fabric hangs down from this in a most unattractive way.

What are you most proud of?

Er so far - nothing. These are terrible !
Oh hold on, the crotch length is good I think - standing and sitting is comfy and there is no gaping.
The sewing doesn't seem to be difficult, although I have never put in a pants zipper before, but the fitting is everything !

What advice would you give someone starting this project?

I can't give any advice - but clearly I need some !

I'll be rewatching the sections on how to remove some of that excess from the back under the bum for the flat seat adjustment. I'm sure the adjustments are half an inch here, half an inch there but I seem to need about 6 inches of fabric taking out - is going to be a challenge.

But I'm not sure what to do about the extra fabric in the front middle. The width at the top where the trouser meets the waist band is pretty good so where does all the extra come from and where can I adjust to make it go?

Looks like I have some hours of rewatching and remaking this pattern and this test piece over and over again. It will surely be a miracle to get some trousers at the end that I would leave the house wearing !