have any of you skilled seamstresses made a pair of trousers that actually fit ....?

[Countingthegreyhairs]

and if so, how???

I'm a medium/average largely self-taught sewer. This is my third attempt at trousers. The first two were disastrous - I used a pattern having altered it carefully etc - but the results were dire.

I thought my third attempt would be better because I took an old (shop-bought) pair to pieces which fitted well and copied them. They are not laughable like first two but they are still weird-looking and I'm - at least 10 hours down the drain ....

Should I give up - should trousers only be made by professionals???

What do you mean by weird looking? Explain so I can picture what you're doing wrong.

no but am hoping to for ds

thusly am lurking

they just don't fit well around the 'seat' - have long 'rise' measurement - the seams looked puckered (I used a stretch cotton that's quite thick) and the legs don't hang well either ....

do you think it could be the stretch in the fabric that is causing these probs??

It could be, what sort of stitching did you use. It could also be that you're not a standard fit in that area, did you measure that bit?

I just used an ordinary, plain but slightly longer length stitch for seams.

The trousers I copied are fairly classic stretch jeans with bootleg cut.

They have two seams per leg. So I've joined four pieces together and have sewn ordinary inside seam to hold the pieces together and then sewn two seams again on outside (if that makes any sense at all to you!!)

Thanks for your help!!

Did measure rise quite carefully btw because not many bought trousers fit me in that area either - they seem a bit "skewed" tbh!!

Have to confess I'm not a professional but I have made a decent pair of trousers without any trouble. From what you've described I can't see why it wouldn't work.

well that gives me hope ranting - thank you -I guess it's worth another go ....

searching for holy grail of perfectly fitting trousers and would love to be able to just knock out two pairs per season for myself (like a uniform) and not have to struggle to find what I like in the shops ....

I used the wide leg pants pattern on this site for my first attempt and they were fairly good. These patterns are lovely but you have to get them shipped from the states, which is a bit of a pain.

oohh - I like the look of those -
and perhaps a wide-leg would be a more sensible way to start and better for summer anyway

• perahps it'll be easier to work with a light cotton or linen mix - here's hoping!!

you've restored my enthusiasm - thanks again!

I am quite evangelical about her patterns, I tried using vogue easy for my first attempt and it was a bit of a disaster. Then I saw BR recommended somewhere and I bought a few of those patterns. Be warned they are proper paper patterns, not flimsy. Bit of a shock when you're used to those Simplicity, vogue ones.

Ha! Great minds think alike! My first two disasters were Vogue Easy as well ...

Will definitely send off for the Betsy Ross ones ...

... growing more hopeful by the minute ...

Here's to spanking new tailored trousers.

Have made trousers for DD, but the kind with an elasticated waist and loads of space for a nappy. Thats not really what you mean though is it...

Lol But well done to you MP.

give it 15 yrs and I may be wearing that sort again MadameP!!

Which way did you sew the leg seams? Did you sew them up or down towards hem? Down is the correct way.

FWIW, I spent 5 years of my life being a professional pattern/cutter and made all my own clothes EXCEPT trousers. Fitted homemade trousers are a waste of time IMO, they never fit.

I once got a tailor to copy a pair of mine, and even they didn't fit properly

Oh that's interesting Fizzbuzz. (Hopes diminishing again ....)

(I did sew them down btw - one of the few tips I remembered from school.)

What is different about 'bought' trousers then, technically-speaking, from home-sewn ones?

Or is is about the skill of the sewer (ie you have to be trained tailor to achieve a good fit)?

No, I don't think it is. I think it is about the fact getting homemade trousers to fit is impossibly difficult. There's so may places they have to fit! eg, Bum, hips, waist, front rise, back rise.

Also dress pattern (or trouser pattern)companies always make all their patterns huge, so you never know wht you are getting, and I think this is where the problem lies.

In industry they make loads of prototypes before a final one, which they always alter and fiddle around with, so I guess if you want some to fit you will have to do that!!!

Lots of sewing to keep you quiet there!

Also if you used a stretch cotton without using an overlocker to sew it, then I think they will look crap.

Domestic machine stretch stitches just don't cut the mustard when you want a good finish on a stretch woven fabric. Lots of puckering

Yep; that all makes sense - thanks Fizzbuzz -my machine does have an integral overlocker but definitely agree about it not being able to cope with stretch fabric without puckering (a bit like my post-natal belly )

Will now withdraw to an isolated work room for several months, rip seams and contemplate my next project ...

... alternatively .... a trip to the shops may be in order