Comments on: Pattern Puzzle: Harem pants

By: Bente

Bente — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:05:20 +0000

I travveled from US via Paris yesturday and I saw at least 10-15 different pants like this, all in very loose comfy fabric and styles. I would have taken some pictures and posted them if I had my camera handy..I will try some other day in Lisboa or in Paris…

By: Lainie

Lainie — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:24:33 +0000

I made a great pair traced from a pair my belly dance teacher bought in India. The legs taper and they’re cuffed at the bottom, so the fullness is controlled and they’re actually quite flattering and extremely comfortable.

By: Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:06:58 +0000

Told ya we were soul sisters!

By: gilda

gilda — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:25:31 +0000

angela, i don’t have a seam on the side too. i think it works better that way. i have mine draped through folds and gathers in the leg (in the pant pattern) and also extra drape with an extra pattern piece in the center.

By: Sewmarm

Sewmarm — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:31:52 +0000

Harem pants are fantastic. I like them long and blowsy, if you know what I mean.

By: Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:28:47 +0000

This last post made me think more about how I made the pattern and actually, it was a little more than what I originally said. After dropping and bringing the crotch out, I also blended the front and the back pieces on the side so that there is no side seam. It’s actually a full leg (cut two…one for left leg and one for right) with a front crotch on one side and a back crotch on the other side instead of a left back, left front, right back, right front, etc… Does that make sense? At least that’s how I did it on my pair because they are very stretchy and elastic waist and don’t really need shaping in the hip.

By: Wacky Hermit

Wacky Hermit — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:34:31 +0000

Those look a lot like medieval braies (the precursor to boxer shorts, that were also worn in public as work-wear).

There is some dispute as to how to cut authentic medieval braies. Some are cut as two rectangles with a long skinny rectangle inserted into the crotch. I made a pair for my brother that was cut as a sort of tube with the seam on the top and the waistband inserted into the seam, along with triangular gores to make things hang more evenly.

By: Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:55:18 +0000

$4000. Wow. Aren’t we glad we can make our own? =)

By: Marguerite Swope

Marguerite Swope — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:46:58 +0000

Hey, Gilda–great pants and great photos. You look as if you’re having so much fun. Thanks for setting me straight on nomenclature. I’m actually making what you describe as harem pants, so I can correctly call them that!

Someone asked about a harem skirt. I mentioned it above, but it’s just my name for my skirt because it looks like harem pants but it’s a skirt. You can see it on my website.

Now to go look up the YSL…

Marguerite

By: gilda

gilda — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 20:29:56 +0000

angela!! omg i searched for it. it was originally priced at $4000+!!??! that’s so mad! i’d love a little sequin onesie myself. haha!