It's late, but I told Andrea that I would post a how-to about 2 weeks ago. Hopefully, I will explain this clearly enough -- the being fuzzy headed and tired will get balanced by 2y dd being in BED so I can think straight, LOL.

This is what is a "one-legged" pants pattern in my mental lexicon. You can do this with a "two-legged" pattern, just sew the fronts to the backs at the outseams and start from there...

Here I'm using the knit pants from KSFT, but it works on wovens too, and some patterns call for construction this way.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-016.jpg

I serge across the tops and bottoms of each piece first so that when the pants are put together, the edges are already finished. I find that easier than serging a circular waistband/leg. I mark the wrong side of the fabric with chalk so I can keep track of it.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-018.jpg

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Next, sew the inseams right sides together. The edges of the crotch will not line up.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-019.jpg

Turn one of your legs right-side out.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-020.jpg

Then put the leg your turned right side out into the other leg. This means the right sides will be together. Match the inseams and any notches in the pattern. I usually pin at the inseams, top front and top back.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-021.jpg

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Now, sew/serge around the crotch seam.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-023.jpg

Pull the legs apart.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-024.jpg

And turn the pants right-side out. TADA! Now, all you have to do is hem and do the waistband.

http://members.sparedollar.com/mac5977/Picture-025.jpg

Hope this helps some of you visual learners out there! I thought the pattern was crazy the first time I did one, but now I like doing pants better this way...

Shelly,

Thank you SO much. That really does make a lot of sense now that I've seen it! I really appreciate you going to the trouble for me! :)

I have my first and only PRR knit here waiting to be made into jammies, so I'm going to try it on that tomorrow. :)

Thanks again!

Thanks! I'll have to try that.

ETA: Will this still work if you don't have a serger?

Originally posted by SummerJoy
Thanks! I'll have to try that.

ETA: Will this still work if you don't have a serger?

Yeah, it works if you don't have a serger. That's how I do DS's pants.. I get all confused doing it any other way!! LOL

This is very helpful! I think we should have a link at the top of the sewing page with step-by-step instructions like this one!

Wendy:)

This is very helpful! I think we should have a link at the top of the sewing page with step-by-step instructions like this one!

There are a bunch of step by step instructions in the Sewing FAQ'S (http://www.amitymama.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=79) Forum :)

Thats such a nice, clear sew along...... I've done pants that way before but I still don't know which way is supposed to be better. And thanks so much for the tip on putting chalk on the wrong side of the piece to distinguish it. Why didn't I ever think of that lol...... I've really struggled when making clothes from fabric with no print on it.


Monica