About Vinette de Phillipe Expertise I have many years of experience and can answer most questions pertaining to sewing, altering patterns, finding notions, and more.
Experience I have been making my own clothes since 1957. Have taught many classes both for young and adults, including my two boys.
Question I've been asked to increase the leg width of one leg of a pair men's sweat pants due to his edema illness. He wants me to use the fabric from one inside pocket. I've done alot of sewing over the years, but can't figure this one out. I need to add about 13 inches of width from the knee down, and don't know how to begin. Can you help?
Thank you
Answer HI Becky
I do not think that there is enough material from the pocket to make the alteration.
Is the enlargement the same from the knee to ankle, or does it taper.
For taper:
What I would do is open the seam to the knee.
using newspaper, cut a triangle to fit in the seam, have the bottom of the triangle be the amount of adjustment needed (13 inches) and marking the center of the piece, draw a line from one bottom edge to the top, on the angle. Repeat this for the other side of the triangle.
Now check to see if the paper pattern fits in the opening. If it does, then add seam allowances and cut the fabric.
Now sew the triangle into the pant leg. do this on both sides of the opening you created when you opened the leg seam.
If the alteration is a straight piece that is 13 inches wide all the way from the knee, you may have to open the seam all the way. using the triangle method of enlarging the opening to the knee, then straight from the knee.
cut a pattern piece that is tapered from the waist to the knee. then straight cut the piece, 13 inches plus seam allowance, by how ever long the leg is from the knee down.
This should be one piece. Now you sew it into the opening on the leg.
You may need to purchase additional fabric, as I do not think the pocket contains enough.
