Sew-Along #17 - Children's Pants Pattern No.2 - Lesson #1

The Children's Pants Pattern No.2 by E+M Patterns

Welcome to the Children's Pants Pattern No.2 sew-along.  I want to remind everyone that I am not a "professional" seamstress, nor was I formally taught.  I'm just a girl who loves fabric, sewing, and pretty much everything related to those two things.  If you have any questions, suggestions, or tips to share; please make sure to post them on our Facebook group.

Please read the Children's Pants Pattern No.2 Tutorial all the way through before you begin.  It's probably a good idea to read through this lesson once before you begin also.

I also want to remind everyone that if you would like to see any of the images posted in this blog larger, just click on them.  It might be helpful in some steps.  Let's begin now.

A. Printing and Assembling Your Pattern Pieces

1. Before you print the entire pattern, print just page 1 and check to make sure the test square is 1"x1".  You will need to measure on the outer edges of the grey lines that form the test box.

Note: When printing make sure you have checked "Actual Size" or "Custom Scale: 100%".

2. Once you know you are printing at the correct scale, print out the rest of your pattern pieces.  You might want to refer to the pattern layout grid located on page 8 of the tutorial as some sizes do not need all of the pages printed.

3. Now that you have all of the pages printed, begin to assemble your pattern.  I trim off the leading edge of each page for the top row.  Then, the top edge and leading edge of each page there after.  I find it easiest to use my quilting ruler and a spare (for paper only) rotary cutter.  DO NOT cut off the grey lines.  You want to cut just right up to the grey line, trimming off all the white.

4. Next you will tape all of these pages together to create your pattern sheet.  

5. Do not overlap the grey lines.  The grey lines need to butt up against each other.  Continue to tape all of your pages together.  When you are finished you can either leave them as one large sheet or fussy cut around each piece.

B. Tracing Your Pattern Pieces
  
1. Pull out your freezer paper and lay out one of your pattern pieces. 

2. Tear off a length of freezer paper and lay it on top of your pattern piece.  I like to use pattern weights to help hold it in place.

3. Using a Sharpie, trace around the pattern lines.  If the lines are hard to see you can darken them on the original pattern with your sharpie.  For straight lines it might help to use a ruler.

4. Make sure to transfer all your markings and pattern information.

5. Continue to trace all of your pattern pieces onto the freezer paper.

6. When you have finished tracing your pattern pieces fussy cut around each one.

C. Cutting Your Fabric

1. Turn to page 9 of the tutorial and begin to cut our the pieces you need for your pants according to the chart.  You will need to cut the following pieces.  I have indicated which fabric I used for each piece, but you don't have to do it exactly like I have.

a.) Waistband Pieces - cut 2    {Main Fabric}
b.) Interfacing - cut 1
c.) Hip Pocket Ruffle (optional) - cut 2    {Coordinate}
d.) Back Pocket Band - cut 2    {Coordinate}
e.) Back Pocket Lining - cut 2    {Coordinate to reduce bulk.}
f.) Either the Pleated or Gathered Pocket - cut 2    {Main Fabric}

* If you are doing the gathered pocket read below for directions on using your freezer paper pattern pieces.

Note: If you are using a one way print or corduroy you will want to make sure your pattern pieces are laid out in the correct orientation. Pick your fabric direction and mark the top of your fabric.  You can use a pin or a fabric marker to do this.  Make sure that every single pattern piece that you cut has the top of the grain line facing the top of your fabric.  If you are using corduroy, you have picked a fabric with nap.  Nap essentially means that your fabric will look different depending on which direction you hold it.  Rub your hand along your corduroy.  You will notice that the pile wants to go in one direction and your hand will move smoothly along it.  When you go the other direction it will have resistance against your hand and will look like the pile is being pushed 'up'.  You want your fabric to go with the smooth pile going down, so you would run your hand smoothly from the top of the pants to the hem.  You will notice that the little "cords" are running from the top of your pants to the bottom.

Back Pocket Bands

2. To use your freezer paper pattern pieces you simply lay the paper, shiny side down onto your fabric.  Take your iron and iron over the pattern piece.  DO NOT touch the iron to the glossy side of your freezer paper! It will melt and make a mess of your iron. The freezer paper will temporarily stick to your fabric making it super easy to cut your pieces out.

3. If you are making your pants out of corduroy, twill, denim, or any thick fabric, you will want your Hip Pocket A piece to be cut from a lighter weight fabric such as quilting cotton.  You can see here that I am using my coordinate fabric.

 

4. Another note regarding corduroy, it is best not to iron on the top side of corduroy fabric as it can cause the corduroy to become shiny.  You also don't want to stick the freezer paper to the top of the corduroy either.  Instead, flip your cord over and iron the pattern piece onto the backside. 

 

5. Once you have ironed on your pattern pieces onto your fabric go ahead and carefully cut them out.  

6. Now, you can either peel off the freezer pattern pieces or leave them on until tomorrow, when we sew.  The beautify of the freezer patterns is that you can use them over and over.  Next time you are ready to make another pair of these adorable E+M Pants just pull out your pattern pieces, iron them on your fabric, cut, and go!  How awesome is that?  Don't you just love it?

 That's it for today.  Come back here tomorrow for Lesson #2.

* If you would like to enter the prize drawing, please make sure you submit a picture of your completed lesson one to the Facebook Album by 12:00 noon CT, Wednesday, October 1st.  Also, if you have any questions the Facebook Group is a great place to ask.

Thanks for sewing with me,

Danielle Storm

www.whimsicalfabric.com