What I Learned from Ripping Up Pants!

So the other day I found myself in one of those army surplus stores with some friends. I was keeping myself busy, rummaging through clearance, when I came across a pair of slacks. Think like, officer slacks but TINY. They were a super itchy polyester fabric, but they fit me perfectly! I didn't get a photo with them on, but you'll have to take my word for it.

I was really into how simple they were. I'd been searching all the stores for the past two months for a pair of slacks with no luck. Old Navy, Marshalls, Target, Salvation Army, Goodwill, NOTHING FIT!!!! I considered making some but I was dreading buying a pattern and having to make a mockup. Then in a stroke of luck, I walked into the army surplus store and found slacks that felt like they were made for me. 

The other amazing thing about these pants is how adjustable they are. They were made to be altered!

The more people I talk to people the more I realize that department store clothes really don't fit anyone. They are poorly made and nobody ever seems to be comfortable in them. These pants were anything but that. I was intrigued by the construction of them, so I decided to tear them apart to find out more and create a pattern out of them. 

I started by taking the crotch seam apart. I'd never made slacks before, but any time I've made pants I sew them like this:
- Side seam
-Crotch seam
-Inseam
-Fastenings/buttons

The slacks were sewn in this order:
-Left pant leg inseam/outseam
-Right pant leg inseam/outseam
-Zipper
-Waistband
-Crotch seam

All the seams were left open and raw edges were serged. The construction was so simple I could probably whip up a pair of these in two hours. 

Once I took them apart, I ironed all the pieces flat. Now I can use them any time I want to make new pants. I'm super excited to make a new pair of slacks! Do you think more clothes should be made simply, like these? I know I'm a big fan!

Rosalie