The Interview Pants

Pattern: Closet Case File's Ginger Jeans
Fabric: 1 1/2 yards stretch cotton lycra sateen
Cost: $9

I know, I know, these pants aren't terribly exciting, but they got the job done. Lately, I've been feeling a gap in my wardrobe when it comes to work pants. While I have a lot of Ginger jeans and casual pants that I wear to the office and to school, I wanted something just a little more formal looking. Nothing too crazy, but something with a slanted pocket and no topstitching or belt loops.

For these pants, I made some simple changes to the Ginger jeans and sewed them up. Unfortunately, I got a bit cocky and didn't baste fit (always baste fit!), and my first pair came out too tight! I think this fabric, in contrast to other stretch cotton sateen I've sewn with, didn't have any vertical stretch. While I could get the pants on just fine, they weren't very practical to move around in. Luckily, Fabric.com gives really generous cuts of yardage, and I had ordered enough to make a second pair. I am pretty happy with this version, although I did have to take in the waistband and let out the hem after wearing them a few times to make them fit how I like.


While the Ginger Jean pattern worked fine in this case, the shaping is really meant for a close-fitting jean. There are still a few wrinkles and lines here and there that, while fine for simple black pants, I know I could improve on. To get more of the cigarette look, I'm going to experiment with some trouser-style patterns that are better suited to this look. I picked up McCall's 6405 at a recent Bay Area Sewists pattern swap that I am curious to muslin, and I've also been working on some pull-on pant styles inspired by the Style Arc Barb Pant that was so popular on Pattern Review this year. I'm on a strict sewing budget right now, but I also really want to try bengaline, a stretch suiting that is supposed to be both stylish and comfortable.

Despite any sewing mishaps, these pants have gotten the job done. I wore them to an interview last week along with my vintage Simplicity jacket and got an offer for a summer internship! I'm sure the pants didn't win me any bonus points, but it's nice to build a semi-professional wardrobe that I can pull out whenever the occasion calls for it.

I also recently reactivated my Instagram account to be strictly sewing related. Here is my interview outfit and white button up shirt:

A photo posted by Meg (@madebymegblog) on

I have a bunch more sewing to catch you up on, but we will have to wait until the rain stops and I take my hair out of the midterm studying bun it's been in for the past week. Happy sewing to the rest of you!

2 comments:

  1. These look great!! Did you put pockets on the back? I'm glad your second pair worked out well - I have learned the baste and fit lesson the hard way, way too often! It just always seems like such a pain!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! No back pockets because I'm lazy, but they'd look really nice with welt pockets.

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