Replies

1. 
   enidshapiro | Dec 12, 2003 05:28pm | #1

   Just got a book called "Power Sewing" by, I think, Bezina (?) that tells you how to do that.

1. 
   CTI | Dec 12, 2003 06:14pm | #2

   Thanks, Enid. I will check it out at my library. Amazon reviews give it high marks.

2. 
   HeartFire | Dec 15, 2003 08:13am | #3

   To make the ruched pants, you would have to slash and spread the pattern in the areas you want ruched.  if you just add length, then they will only scrunch up in the ankle, you need to make the knee area longer (keeping the width of the knee) so that whole section will fit over the knee, do the calf area etc so the whole leg is proportionally longer (hope this makes sense)  then, you would probably want to gather the sections  back to the original length and sew the gathered seams to a stay tape (twill tape) this will keep the scruched sections where they belong.you can slash aout every 2 inches and I wuld spread it to a 2:1 ratio so that it is twice the length it was - this may change depending on the fabric and how bulky (or not) it is.

   Ther was a picture of a t-shirt on a 1996 Threads magazine that I have always loved where they ruched the cuff of the long sleeve T.  I have finally learned how to do this and I now have a T-shirt and turtle neck with that design element on the cuff! (I'm a happy camper now!)

   Judy

1. 
   CTI | Dec 15, 2003 06:10pm | #4

   Thanks, Judy, that makes perfect sense (I had a hunch that just adding to the legs was too easy - but, I think it could still work if the calf is fuller than needed and I'm modifying existing pants). Once the holidays are over and I have some free time and get the book Enid recommended, I will have much to work from and experiment with. If I master this I definitely will want to try pants that are ruched from top to bottom, but boy am I dreaming right now!

1. 
   callie1 | Dec 15, 2003 08:51pm | #5

   If you only want to ruch the outside seam to reduce bulk on the inner leg, you can slash the pattern almost to the inside seam, spread it the desired amount and tape it to tissue paper and recut it.  It will become curved on the outer seam, but this will be corrected when you gather up the ruches.  I did this for a pair of knit pants and it worked well.

1. 
   CTI | Dec 16, 2003 04:10am | #6

   Aha, another lightbulb moment, thanks callie!

3. 
   SewNancy | Dec 16, 2003 05:26pm | #7

   Burda Pattern Magazine has had a number of patterns over the last year with ruched details.  Also, there is an issue of Thread where they discussed how to do this.  Don't rember issue.  it was in one of the detail articles.  Check the index.  I made a pair pants last year with a ruched center strip on each leg.  I slit the pattern down the center and removed the width of my ruching and adding sas to all edges.  I cut a piiece of fabric  twice the length of the pant plus hem and waist seam. I kept the waist dart using half the shaping on each side of the center ruched panel.  They came out great.  Did this in a drapy crepe that I had in my stash, but a silk satin would be great.  Also, basting was critical and using a stiletto to keep the gathering from getting twisted was helpfull.  Also it is easy to get uneven legnths on sides of insert.  carefully gather and measure sides, then baste to keep the gathers the same.  Don't know if this is what you are looking for, but they are really attactive and different.

   Nancy

1. 
   CTI | Dec 16, 2003 07:07pm | #8

   Thanks Nancy, that sounds beautiful. I'll check my library for the back issues.