Suzy (Pants!) in New Orleans

I have a pair of Elk Pants that I have worn consistently since buying them a year ago. So much so that a friend recently bought me the green ones as a gift. I've always wanted to make my own similar pair as I love them so much, but haven't ever found the right pattern.

Until Tessuti released their Suzy Pants Pattern.

Readers, I cannot lie to you. I love this pattern. It is simple and fits my aesthetic perfectly. I love a comfortable, funky pair of pants that I can wear with a t-shirt. I first muslined these pants in a viscose faille, but I actually found that the drape was not right - perhaps the fabric was a wee bit too heavy. I also found I needed one crucial adjustment (more on that below). So I bought a silk crepe de chine called 'New Orleans' from Tessuti.

The drape of the silk crepe de chine is perfect for these pants. If you are going to make them (and you should!) I highly recommend a lightweight fabric.

Sunshine!! Yay for Spring!

I wanted these pants to be very similar to the Elk pants, so I lengthened both the front and back crotch curves by 3cm each. I wanted to wear these just below my belly button (although my Elk ones sit just above my hip bones). I made a size small and didn't make any further adjustments. I think they are just about right.

The crepe de chine was lovely to sew. Very stable. I used a 'sharps' needle and sewed sloooooowly. I handstitched the hems, and used a wider elastic than the pattern calls for - they ask for 1.2cm elastic, but I only had 2cm wide stuff, so that was what I used.

I'm wearing them here with my Elk sandals, Sportsgirl t-shirt, and a Funkis necklace I got in Sydney on the sewist's meet-up.

These are definitely coming to Brissie with me tomorrow! They will be lovely in hot weather. They are loose and airy and made in breathable fabric. So - what do you think? Are you going to make the Suzy pants?

Pattern: Tessuti's Suzy Pants
Fabric: 1.8m of silk crepe de chine from Tessuti
Notions: 2cm wide elastic
Size: small
Alterations: lengthened back and front crotch curves by 3cm each.