Sewing help please: I messed up!!

[oxcat1]

I have just started my first pair of semi-fitted trousers, the Simply Sew Palazzo pants.

I have made a classic rookie error. I checked the packet and measured myself. I measured a size 8 according to the measurements, so I carefully cut my beautiful blue linen.

However, I found an online tutorial, which explains that the measurements are actually finished garment sizes, not body size. Sure enough, if I hold the waistband up against me, it only just comes together, without any Sean allowance etc. They're not going to fit and I haven't enough spare fabric to start again!!

How can I fix this? I wondered about inserting a strip of additional (maybe contrast) fabric down the side, inserting it between the front and the back sections, basically extending the width. I thought contrast might work rather like those dinner trousers with a stripe.

What do you think? Can you think of another way of solving this? I have messed up!!

Sadly, I don't think the strip insertion will work as the trousers will be too small all over. The measurements to go by are usually on the flap of the pattern envelope. You're right to follow your actual measurements and not the sizing though as the sizing is usually wildly out.

Its an absolute pain when things go wrong and we've all done it but don't let it put you off... good luck!

Oh bother!!

Because the trousers are palazzo pants, the style is actually pretty generous all over, except the waist. I don't have any bum so am very much smaller than even the size 8 hip measurements so it is only the waist that will be problematic.

Do you still think a strip wouldn't help? I can't bring myself to waste all this expensive linen!

Oh Ok that's good - it would be worth trying to alter them. Do you have enough of the linen? You'll need to be careful if using a different fabric to make sure its the same weight and that the grain line is going the same way as the main fabric or it will pull and the trousers won't hang nicely.

I have enough of both the navy linen, and also a white linen. I was concerned that trying to put a strip of the same fabric in would clearly look like an error, whereas a contrast could look intentional, but maybe that is a mistake? What would you do?

Thanks for helping me!

Consider how they will wash. I think white might take in the colour so I would probably stick to blue.

How much spare fabric have you got left? Obviously you will need a new waist band but I'm wondering if you could cut new pockets but cut them bigger on waist, on very close inspection it might look a bit odd but it could buy you a couple of inches. How much are you short by? I would use the same fabric and try and do the fix on the waist (especially if you have a smaller bum in comparison to the pattern size, which lets face it, most of us probably do) and that way if you wear the right top it would cover up your corrective work. You might also be able to reduce the darts slightly too?

Now when I cut the pattern out I try it on (as it tape the edges with that mat selotape and pin it on), that way you can see straight away whether it is going to fit or not...not much help this time around but that idea may help you out next time.