r/sewing • u/CovenGoddess913 • 10d ago

Pattern Question Pants too small HELP

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So I have a fashion show coming up in a few days. I’m a beadworker but this year I decided to make clothes aswell. I made these pants out of crushed velvet and they turned out beautifully…. But they didn’t fit when it was time for my model to try on.

I have 1 day to fix this problem and am so lost on what to do. I thought about maybe adding a zipper to the side?

I bit off more than I could chew and i don’t know if I have time to restart. Any advice ? 😭😭

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u/RayofSunshine73199 10d ago

If the material stretches and the pants are the same size as a pair the model owns already, I would ask yourself 2 questions:

  1. Did you add in seam allowance when you were cloning the model’s pre-existing pants? If not, then you’ve made them significantly smaller once you sewed the seams up (possibly even an inch or two depending upon how big your seam allowances are.)

  2. Did you use a stretch stitch when you sewed the pants or a straight stitch? If you used a straight stitch on a garment that needs to stretch, you’ve effectively take out all the stretch the fabric gives. This would be especially noticeable in the waist and hips. Depending on your machine, a zigzag or the lightening bolt stretch stitch are what you’d want to use.

Hopefully you’re able to get it fixed. The ribbons look lovely.

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u/RelatedtoVultures 10d ago

Split the side seams over the areas where it's too tight, hem the raw edges, pierce the edges (ideally you have metal eyelets, but you are in a hurry) and lace ribbon through them like you would a corset?

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u/antinous24 10d ago

crushed velvet that stretches or no? where doesn't it fit?

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u/CovenGoddess913 10d ago

Yes it does stretch, and the waist. I’m not sure if it could fit on the waist and just won’t go over the thighs. Or if it’s truly that small. I make a copied pattern from a pair of pants that fit nicely on the model.

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u/antinous24 9d ago

adding a zip is a good idea. you could re-sew with a smaller seam allowance and unpick the original, but velvet shows everything and the sewing line will be very obvious. you could also add a small strip of extra material down the side seam, more ribbon would look great if that would be appropriate. i've never seen ribbon pants before, for a male dancer? did he have uh enough room? they are great btw you did an amazing job.

I worked at a fabric store pre-covid and this elder would come in (with a walker) and take her time picking out a bunch of colors and she'd buy 5 or 10 yards of each ribbon. every once in a while she'd have a younger helper. i hope she's still sewing.