Expert: Sharon Vogel - 1/7/2009

Question
I recently purchased several pairs of pants that were on sale (fabulously) and they fit perfectly except for the fact that they have quite a flared leg (this is probably why they were available at such a good price).  I know I need to take them apart to reduce the flare down to a sort of boot cut leg, but I'm not sure if I need to take apart both sides of the pant leg.  A couple of the pairs of pants have the outside leg seam finished like jeans (doubled over and top stitched, so these will be harder to deal with). Of oourse it would be easier to only have to take in the inside of the leg, but I'm concerned that the effect might be that the pants legs are lopsided in the end.  Any help you can give me would be most appreciated.  Thanks :)

Answer
Dear Christine,
Congratulations on finding a great deal on pants.  It's a great feeling, isn't it?

The way I would deal with your flared pants legs is to use a pair of boot cut pants that you like the fit of as a "pattern".  Turn  both the new pants and the pattern pants wrong side out and line up the crotch seams and down the leg as far as they match.  Lay the pattern pants on top since they will have the narrowest flare.  Then pin a new seam line on the new pants to match your pattern pants leg.  Turn them right side out and try them on to see if they have a pleasing fit.  Then do the sewing necessary to finish the new pants.

For the pairs with the flat-felled seams (that's what they are called), I would at least try pinning out the extra flair and seeing how it looks before taking out all the extra stitching.  If they don't look right to you, of course, then you will have to do the extra work.

Good luck and happy altering!

Sharon