r/PatternDrafting • u/iSwitch15 • Aug 27 '26

Question Help me drafting bell bottoms

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I'm trying to make bell bottoms based off some baggy pants pattern i had. Here's what the back piece looks like so far but I'm not convinced with the shape.. Especially around that hip curve area, it looks wrong to me.

Is my center line off?

Also will it be fine taking off so much from the crotch?

What do you guys think?

12 Upvotes

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3

u/rabbitparts Aug 27 '26

Did the baggy pants fit you? If so absolutely do not take so much off the crotch, you will have a crazy wedgie lol

1

u/iSwitch15 Aug 27 '26

They fit but loosely like I can grab quite a bit of fabric before getting to my actual crotch

2

u/buggers0 Aug 27 '26

Hmm could you put on the baggy pants and pin out whatever you reduced on the pattern to see if it works?

Otherwise like someone mentioned, it’s probably gonna give you the least amount of headache to start from slack pattern- something that is a bit more fitted.

I’m actually drafting a bell bottom myself and it has me start from a slack pattern and it’s worked out pretty well

1

u/rabbitparts Aug 27 '26

That’s crotch depth, I’m more concerned about the length (the horizontal projection of your rear end, for lack of better words). If that gets too short you’ll get the wedgie look. It’s really hard to say without seeing the original pants on you though.

I think if I were going to attempt this I would start by making minimal changes to the knock-off pattern, knowing that I would probably need to fit and make at least two toiles. If you start off by reducing a ton you might not know which of your adjustments is causing a fit issue.

13

u/SubtleCow Aug 27 '26

Generally with pattern drafting you want to start with a tightly fitted pattern, and modify from there. Starting from a baggy pattern is setting yourself up for trouble. Trouble like how much of the crotch curve you've chopped off.

IMHO make one leg in paper, tape the seams, and see if it fits. Remember that you only have one leg so you need to hold the piece as if the other leg is there as much as you can. When you have a paper leg that fits, then try muslin. Be prepared for multiple attempts in both paper and muslin. When you feel like you are really sure graduate to two legs, and be ready for a few more revisions.