Tap Pants Finis

They're done!  The tap pants I started on Thursday are finished four days later.  I don't have a photo because they were whisked away as soon as the last stitch was sewn.  Comfy undies for the shingles-afflicted?  Home run.

New Look 6657D

In lieu of a photo here's a description: shorts of soft muslin with a picot edged elastic waist, 2" inseam and ivory lace-trimmed hem.  They look very like Colette's French Knickers, with a higher waist and looser fit.  They look almost nothing like the pattern I started with: New Look 6657 D.

My leg hem also is horizontal to the ground (neener neener Colette Patterns ;).  I acheived this magic by marking my own waistline rather than following the foolishly straight line of the pattern.  You can do the same: put on the shorts after stitching them together, pull the elastic overtop to your desired waistline, adjust the shorts until fitting and flattering--making sure the hems are straight--and trace under the elastic with a pencil.  Or trace above the elastic if planning a covered elastic waistband.

Then I sewed the elastic WS to shorts RS with the bottom edge of the elastic just above the pencil line.  Trim any excess fabric, turn the elastic to the inside, and stitch down close to the elastic's bottom edge (I used a wide zig zag).  It wasn't necessary to enclose the elastic because it was plush backed. Ta da, a finished waistband that fits front, back and sides.

*This was another instance where I used my flat felling foot to narrow hem.  It makes a great ~1/4" rolled hem, rolling the fabric once or twice as desired.  I haven't been able to master the baby rolled hem foot but this one's a breeze!

Sewing While Sick

I was (really really) hoping to be at a party tonight with the awesome ladies of my knit group.  Instead I'm home sick.  Tight muscles in my neck are trying to trigger a migraine so it's lie on the couch and watch a movie till bedtime :/

Vogue 6321 Panties

I did get a little bit of sewing done this week!  I'm working on the tap pants project.  A gorgeous vintage example are here.  I traced off a modern pj pants pattern to shorts length and cut it from muslin.  Then basted them together to check fit, and sewed them up.

To decide where to put the waistband I tried on the shorts inside out, pulling the wasistband elastic over top.  I adjusted the shorts and elastic till comfy and drew a pencil line under the elastic.  As usual for my pants the front had plenty of extra fabric above the elastic while the center back had none.

I was contemplating adding a separate elastic casing but since I'm using reclaimed plush-backed elastic from boxers it'll be fine against the skin.

My neck started to really hurt so I stopped for the day.  I need to triple check the fit (these are for my mom so I'm guessing) before serging the rest of the seam allowances.  Then I'll sew on the elastic waistband and hem them.  I'm thinking a scallop stitched hem will look nice and avoid bulk.

Tap Pants

A close friend has shingles which is causing pain in her back and down one leg.  I'm thinking of sewing her some tap pants--she only has one pair of undies that don't cause pain.  I have jersey and silk satin in the stash already.

Between the Burda.com Jane pj pattern, 2 OOP lingerie patterns and a pair of tap pants I should be able to create a workable pattern.  Metric Pattern Cutting has directions for french knickers, based on the culotte draft.  Modern Pattern Design also has instructions for drafting tap pants (site won't link).  The silhouette and gusset are great features.  Fluttery legs are so much prettier than fitted ones.

Have you sewn tap pants?  Any tips would be very welcome!