The Flint Pants and Shorts #sewitwithindybindy is only days away!
If you’ve got your pattern and you want to get ready to sew with me come Friday – today is all about tips for selecting your fabric and knowing just how much you’ll need.
So get ready for some retail therapy or to at least shop your stash! (And if you need some awesome indie fabric, I know just the place!)
If you haven’t got your pattern yet and you want to join the fun – you can find the code for your 20% discount here.
I also announced on my Instagram feed yesterday the SUPER exciting news that there will be a giveaway at the end of the sew along!! Pattern designer, Megan Nielsen is generously contributing a PDF pattern of the winner’s choice. So get ready to throw your hat in the ring! The details of how to enter will be announced on Friday.
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What type of fabric?
The great news is that this pattern works with a whole range of woven fabrics from light weight linen to a heavier denim! What you choose depends on how you want the final pants or shorts to look. Where and when you’ll be wearing your pants and how you want to style them will also inform your fabric choice. See my inspiration post for ideas.
If you want a flowy garment that moves more like a skirt then a beautifully drapey fabric like a rayon, silk, or tencel would be perfect!
I’m dreaming of a pair in this silky Mannine print.
If you want to emphasise the wide leg and have a more structured garment, then I would go with a fabulous denim, twill or wool.
This handprinted thick cotton by Nocogou would make the cutest pair!
Something in between these two weights such as a poplin, broadcloth or linen will also work beautifully.
Keeping it neutral but still interesting in the Ajisai print by Otsukiyumi would be simply stunning.
How much will I need?
The fabric requirement chart (on page 4 of the sewing instructions) is a great guide once you know what size you intend to sew.
That said, if you have a fabric in your stash that doesn’t quite make the amount listed, don’t lose heart! Playing pattern Tetris is a love of mine and it’s often possible to squeeze a pattern into less fabric than suggested.
Even if I have enough fabric I can’t help but try and preserve as much fabric as I can with each make. (There is always the possibility of squeezing an extra project out of what is left!)
I suggest taking your cut out pattern pieces and playing with different potential layouts on the fabric. Try:
- Laying your fabric flat and seeing how the different pieces might puzzle together. Just remember to pay attention to the grainline. If your pieces are cut off grain it can affect the final fit of your garment. (If you use this method for another pattern that has pieces cut on the fold, you would flip those pieces over to mirror the other half and cut them flat)
- Fold in both selvages to the centre to create more than on edge to cut on the fold. (Not necessary for this pattern as there no pieces cut on the fold)
- Consider cropping the leg further. This can drastically change how much fabric is required for your make. Take the finished garment measurements and compare it to your inseam or the inseam of a favourite pair of pants to help you decide.
- The waistband could be pieced from two different cuts of fabric. Aligning the aditional seam with the side seam of the pants would make this virtually unnoticeable.
- Once you’re sure the pattern pieces will fit, cut one piece at a time and assess as you go to see how you can tweak the cut layout so it can best fit.
Another option would be to use a different fabric for pocket linings. If you were really in a squeeze, you could fold the waistband pattern in half and use a different fabric for the inside (Just be sure to include a seam allowance when you cut it out).
I made View D for the linen Flint shorts above, which requires between 1.3m of a 150cm width – 1.7m (1 3/8 – 1 7/8 yards). I used one piece of fabric for all the pattern pieces and it was a cut of 1.1m x 1.3m (1 2/8 x 1 ½ yards).
Employing some of the layout methods above I used about ¾ of the fabric to make my shorts, coming well nuder the required amount. I might have to pair the remnants with another linen in my stash and make up some shorts for one of my boys!
At the other end of the scale, if you are working with a print and you want to pattern match, you will likely need more fabric. When pattern matching, just remember the center seams, rather than the side seams, are going to be the most visible seams. This is where I’d focus my pattern matching efforts if I had to choose!
I hope you’re getting excited about the all the possibilities for your Flint pants! Go sort through your stash or start dreaming about what kind of look you would like and let me know! As always, please ask me any questions that come to mind too.
Keep an eye out for my next tips on fitting checks and adjustments in the coming days!
