Upland Trousers in Linen

 Here is take two on the Upland Trousers by Itch to Stitch.

I made this pair up in some mid-weight linen from The Fabrics Store. They seem to specialize in 100% linen. They offer a variety of weights and some truly dreamy colors. Also some nice looking free patterns. I think I may be hooked.

I don't have much experience sewing or wearing linen, so these pants are a bit of an experiment. I hear linen is the fabric of choice if you're living someplace hot. We don't get a lot of steamy weather here on the Central Coast, but The Man and I will be spending a few days in Las Vegas next week, where daytime highs are predicted to be 115, with nighttime lows of 90. That should push these pants to the extreme. 

I made these pants from the same pattern pieces and using the same steps as my first Uplands in corduroy. To my eye, the linen version looks a bit more sleek and a bit less slouchy. Fabric really does make a difference. 

The making was smooth sailing this time around. If you don't muck up the zipper installation you can knock out a pair of these pants in a couple of hours. I think this is my new favorite pants pattern; definitely my favorite for non-stretch fabrics.

My pattern review is on PatternReview.com here.

Upland Trousers in Corduroy

These are my new Upland Trousers by Itch to Stitch.

I made them up from two yards of corduroy that had been kicking around in the fabric closet for who knows how long.

The pattern is ranked as intermediate, but if you omit the welt pockets, like I did, I'd call them totally do-able by an adventurous beginner.

The pants are topped off with a facing rather than a waistband. I liked that idea because I do not enjoy installing waistbands on pants. Careful as I am with stitching-in-the-ditch, I always miss part of the waistband facing. 

Here's a shot of how the topstitching looks on the outside once you've installed the waist facing. 

And here's the finish on the zip, which I think looks very nice. This is the neatest finish I've ever achieved on a pair of pants, thanks to the clever design and the clear instructions. Also, the first fly shield I've ever installed. I feel so fancy!

I used a large snap for a closure because my machine had been giving me some lip and I was worried she would refuse to work a buttonhole through several layers of corduroy. Turns out I like the snap a lot. I think I'll do the same with my next pair.

The pants were very straightforward to sew, though I admit I struggled. All due to user error. I had an errant fold at the top of the fly when I first attached the waist facing and in troubleshooting that issue I managed to yank the pull off the top of my beautifully installed zipper. I'd trimmed off the top of the zipper tape so the zipper could be neatly concealed by the facing. Curses!

I set my pants aside for a day, then admitted I had to rip out my fly and start again with a new zip. Which really didn't take that much time. Fixing mistakes usually isn't as hard as I expect it to be, and making it work gives you the feeling that you are the boss of your sewing (credit to Elizabeth Zimmerman for that phrase).

The finished pants are just what I was hoping for. My actual measurements are a bit between sizes, so I chose to trace the size that was a bit larger, and I blended from a size 4 at the waist to a size 2 at the hip. They are so comfortable to wear that I've been happily reaching for them instead of my sweats. Win! 

I'm just about finished with a second pair in linen, and I have 2 yards of mushroom colored twill that will become pair number 3. 

My pattern review is on PatternReview.com here.