thought you might find this interesting. It is Trudy from Hot Patterns demonstrating her Marrakesh pants. Easy to copy in MPD. Mention made of pants hem that I posted earlier and kindly had a reply. Hope you enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkFdMtTfrSE

Thanks for sharing this website.

Thanks for the site Peggy. Fun to watch and makes me want to try the pant. Normally I have too much gathering at the waist with elastic etc., so maybe with MPD I can adjust the waist some to avoide that and still get the comfort.

k

Thanks Peggym for the video. This is exactly what I have done to my pants patterns to make them fit me, however, I have not been able to clone them in MPD, but I do the changes manually. Also, the information on fabrics to use for pants was great. Bengaline weaves seem to be the perfect weave for pants that hang nicely. Also, the pants length, a little shorter in front, longer in back, are just like the MPD bootcut pants. I have watched the video twice. Very good. Doris

Kay I think the trick to not having too much at the waist in these pants is to make the width wide enough to get over the widest part ( hip/abdo ) and the elastic at the waist from then on in.

Thanks Peggy. That may be where my problem will be. My hips are a lot larger than my waist, so to get over the hips I have a lot to gather at the waist, making for a lot of fabric to gather in. It may not be a good style for me. Thats why I've always made zipper and band pants, but they look sooo comfy.

k

I have the same problem that you mention. If I used the width of the fabric that will go over my hips to fit at the waist, I look like a balloon. I always use a zipper. My preference has always been to put the zipper in the back because that is my largest side. That way I have more ease in getting pants on and off. With a zipper, I am able to not use so much width of fabric around the waist, as the zipper helps me get the pants on. I use a 9" zipper as a 7" just is not long enough. This way, I can get a nice slim fitting pair of pants from waist to hem. If you think you need a front zipper, this does not work as well, but will be a slimmer pant than not putting in a zipper at all. With a zipper, you can make a very fitted pant top. I do not use a waist band, but cut a fitted facing and interface it so that it does not stretch out of shape. They are very comfortable.

I have a sway back/hollow. I can't seem to make a back zipper work for me if I use MPD, which are my main patterns,someohow the back zipper bubbles if i place it in back.
Marakesh pants are very much like the designs we use in MPD really, as regards the back seams which for us is the CBWD,therefore the program does all the figuring out for us behind the scenes lol,we see the results.I find the semi fitted pants fit me very well,with a tweak here n there,I dislike large leg openings too,so i narrow them down a bit to a suitable looking pant.
The list is quiet all awaiting the new update i guess,sitting on the eges of our seats no doubt.
Im still working on my pants here linning is soon to be sewn.

A center back is almost always angled due to the cbwd as it should be. The bigger the angle the more "rumpled" your zipper insertion will be. BUT you need that shaping to suit your body shape.

The side seams may be shaped due to the waist hip curve.

The center front is the only seam guaranteed to be straight vertical.

An unusal zipper treatment I used to love was one hidden inside a pocket with a fairly wide, deep opening. Of course you have to hand modify the pant front on one side to create the seam allowance for the zipper.

The zipper was quite short 3-5 inches long, just enough to open past the abd depth.

Kaaren

I press a 1x9" strip of fusible interfacing along the center back seams and then install invisible zippers on most of my pants. Have you tried interfacing?

I do use interfacing on a zipper- ever since i watched how to insert one by threads video's long time ago.I also used to use a C B zipper in all my pants many moons ago,but with having a larger front ab,I don't like front zippers really,its my snowflake shape.GGG.
That shounds interesting using a zipper inside the pocket hmmmm lovely ideas.
Hey at least i have the board not acting so quiet here now, chuckles.Thanks guys.

I have never seen pants with a zip up the back in the UK but am aware of this popularity in the US. I have never tried it. I have a flat butt but big abdo so maybe I should give it a try. Desperate to sew pants but have very bad dose of backache since Sunday and have been unable to sit for long, stand for long. It is most frustrating. It is a bit better today though. Reading mainly and short walks GRRRRR

I used the back zipper for years in the UK.I hope you back soon feels better,have you done any back exersizes for that?i periodically get a sore back, but do floor exersizes to relieve the pain.

Thanks Freda, yes I have execises but at the beginning if I had gone on the floor I think I would still be there!! Think I might try sewing today yipee. Surprised to hear yoused the back zipper in the UK. I have never encountered them. Would this be an invisable zip?

quote:

Originally posted by Peggym:
Thanks Freda, yes I have execises but at the beginning if I had gone on the floor I think I would still be there!! Think I might try sewing today yipee. Surprised to hear yoused the back zipper in the UK. I have never encountered them. Would this be an invisable zip?

Peggy I really don't remember the type of zipper it was, so long ago in the UK.They used to have those types in expensive RTW pants,not that i could afford them back then.