Whew! I’m nearing the finish line of this Suduko Wardrobe Contest. These pants from Mimi G for Simplicity pattern 1019 is piece #5 of 10. This contest was a great way to challenge myself to make more pants as I always find myself leaning towards dresses.
Black pants are a staple of any wardrobe for any season and slim pants pair well with almost everything; tanks, tees, tunics, dresses as tops, oversized sweaters…you name it! So it was a no-brainer that black pants would fit somewhere in my wardrobe. I originally wanted to sew up a quick pair of leggings (I was thinking Butterick 5788), but decided that a slim pant would be more versatile. Simplicity 1167 is a pants pattern I’ve been wanting to sew for a while now, but was a little to ambitious with the time constraints of this contest. I considered Vogue 1411 as I’ve owned this pattern for a while now, but when I pulled it out the pattern I remembered why I haven’t sewn it yet…the sizing. I don’t understand Sandra Betzina’s letter sizing, though admittedly I haven’t tried. Ultimately decided on Simplicity 1019 because I’ve made them before (here) and my recent success with another Mimi G Simplicity pattern, S8093 that I used for my cropped wide legged pants didn’t hurt!
I cut and sewed a size 16 which has a 39.5″ finished hip measurement (my hips measure 41.5″) which is the largest size in the smaller envelope. This was mainly because I had previously purchased this size, lol. If you want a knit pattern to be fitted you need negative ease and my ponte had enough stretch and “snap-backness” that I knew it would stretch 2″ with no problem. I did do a BBA (big booty adjustment) by adding 3/4″ to the back crotch. This is a modification I typically do (though usually more like 1-1.5″) but need less with Mimi patterns. She helps us curvy girls out!
I didn’t really follow the instructions because I’ve made these before and they are pretty simple. Just like all Mimi G patterns, this pattern has a free video sew along on youtube if you need a little help. I started by sewing the front pintuck and back darts and constructing the back pockets.
I sewed and serged the inner leg together before attaching the back pockets. I needed to test the fit so I basted the pants together at the crotch and outer leg to test the fit. After trying on the pants, I decided to take in about 1/2″ or so from the front and back center seams, starting from the waistline and grading back out to the stitch line about 3-4″ down. I then went over my stitches with a regular stitch.
Next up were the zippers. The pattern calls for two 7″ zippers (for the leg zips) and one 7″ zipper (for the closure). I debated using invisible zippers for the legs because I like the pulls on the coats and Clarks invisible zippers better than the regular zippers. However when I searched my stash I already had two 7-8″ black zipper in my stash so I used those. I had to go out an by an invisible zip for the waistband. I found sewing in the zipper in the leg a bit tricky because the leg was already sewn and it was hard to fit it under the machine. As a result I stopped short of the marking for the zipper opening. It’s quite possible that I did something wrong. I don’t mind though the effect it the same even though my zipper may only open 5-6 inches instead of the seven intended.
Overall I love these pants! The fit is good with minimal adjustments and they are pretty simple. I do miss side pockets, but those could be added, though I’m certain they were not included because they would be bulky. This fabric, which I believe is a rayon/lycra ponte, is perfect for pants. It is a heavier weight ponte, that has good stretch and great “snap-back. The first time I made these pants I feel my ponte did not have enough recovery and they sort of grew with time. The verdict is still out here as I’ve only worn them once, but I feel that the rayon or viscose pontes have better recovery that the polyester ones.
Pattern: Simplicity 1019
Pattern Description: Knit pintuck pant has side zip closure and zipper detail at the ankle.
Sizing: 8-16, 18-26 I sewed a 16 (my hips are 41.5)
Difficulty: 2/easy
Fabric Used: Black ponte from either Fabric Mart or a local store. This viscose/nylon ponte would probably be great for these pants.
Does it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope? Yes
Were the instructions easy to follow? Yes
Likes: Easy pants pattern, the pintuck in the front, the leg zippers, contoured waistband.
Dislikes: None
Pattern alterations or any design changes made: I added about 1/2″ to the back crotch. I took in the front and back center seams about 1/2″ (only for about 3 inches) to prevent gapping at the waist
Would I sew it again? Yes, these whipped up quickly and I love this style of pant. I need them in a few colors.
Would I recommend it to others? Definitely. With no side seam or front pockets this pattern is easy to fit to your body which minimal hassle.
Conclusion: Easy slim fit pants pattern
TipStitched 
What do you think?