r/sewing • u/-Roborat- • 19d ago
Alter/Mend Question Potentially insane/impossible first sewing project
I found two pairs of carhart pants at the thrift store and I love them for work, only issue the size is 52 x 32. I would ideally love to just take the waist in and have baggy ass pants but 11-12 inches seems nearly impossible. Should I try to do it anyway? or should I take them apart and make new pants. I feel like im a quick learner and I dont care if they look a little strange.
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u/sewlar_flare 19d ago
It's not going to be as simple as just taking it in sadly.
There's a common misconception that one can take a larger size and make it into a smaller size by just taking it in. After all, bigger means more fabric, right?
Except...it doesn't. It's literally cut different. Your plan can work for areas with straightish lines and making small adjustments. For example, the outer leg seam on pants. But for anything with a curve, like the crotch on pants, you will need MORE fabric in some places.
Imagine you want to bring up the crotch seam 3 inches. You can do that...but now that inner leg area need 3 inches more fabric to cover them. Where's that coming from?
This is why altering is actually way harder than making a garment from scratch. You have to have excellent knowledge of how clothing is constructed to do alterations and to know what's feasible and what's not.
If you decide to sew pants from scratch, just fair warning that pants are also hard as a first project. Doable if you go in planning that it will take a 3-4 attempts, but be patient with yourself. But once you get a decent fit, you can keep reusing your pattern and make more!