The OWOP Challenge…A week in outfits

OWOP Challenge 2017

What is the OWOP challenge? Well, it stands for One Week One Pattern and it’s a daily, week-long challenge aimed at sewists over on Instagram. The idea is to wear garments for the week based on one pattern. You can wear one or two items and style them different ways or you may have lots of pattern hacked garments made from the same pattern that enables you to wear a different one every day. Sheona is running the challenge this year and full details are on her blog over at Sewisfaction.

It’s a great way to get creative with styling one item of clothing or to change up a pattern and create different design features on it. Some sewists decided to make a few brand new things for the challenge and others to just make outfits with memade clothes that they already have in their wardrobes.

OWOP for me was kind of a no-brainer, in that, I have several pairs of pants/trousers that I’ve made over the last year or so from the same basic pattern. You see, some time ago I decided to perfect a basic pants pattern so that I could use it over and over again. I’d become so fed up with the fit of RTW pants and jeans because of my wide waist, flat butt combo, and I’d had enough of trying to alter everything I bought.

Well, about 9 years ago I did a short pattern drafting and design course that resulted in a diploma. Whilst I really benefitted from the course and it taught me so much about how to adjust patterns, I don’t really draft from scratch these days and to be honest, can hardly remember some of the complicated techniques used…but, I did draft a basic pants block for the course and I still have it. The style drafted was for a straighter slightly wide leg, but the crotch curve and length and some of the basic measurements are relevant. What I did was to combine that block with a pattern that I took from a slimmer fit RTW pair that wasn’t too bad a fit….several muslins later, lots of research and much teeth gnashing resulted finally in pants that fitted….huzzah!

How about I guide you through my OWOP outfits?

Day one was my printed corduroy straight leg style pant… The fabric that I bought as a remnant from Jersey Fashion, has some stretch and is very comfy. This pair has a contoured waistband and a fly front zip but no pockets anywhere.

OWOP Challenge 2017

Day two are my cream jeans. These are the same style as my ivory ones seen in this post where you can read about how I made them. I just tweaked the pocket a little on the cream jeans by raising the opening. The fabric was from Empress Mills.

OWOP Challenge 2017

Day three are my burgundy red ankle length pants seen before in this post. Again these have a fly front, they have a contoured band made in the same way as my cream and white jeans, and I’ve added seaming details around the knee area. I got the idea for the seams from a pin I found on Pinterest some time ago. 

OWOP Challenge 2017

Day four is a jogger hack of my basic pattern. The top of them is made exactly the same as day two and three. Then from the knee down, I widened them a little so that I would have enough fabric for a little fullness. I finished off the bottom with tucks and side zip. I really want another pair like these, so I’ll try to do that in the new year and write a proper blog post on the making process. By the way, you can see them style differently in this post too.OWOP Challenge 2017

Day five. I’m channelling a bit of an equestrian vibe here in more of a legging style and knee-high boots. This variation is very plain. No pockets, just a high waist and a very simple fold-over waistband with a fly front. I cut the legs quite narrow with a bit of negative ease due to the stretchy nature of the fabric which has lots of widthways stretch but no vertical stretch.

OWOP Challenge 2017

Day six. More olive fabric (from Jersey Fashion) This time in a stretch woven jacquard design. These have a side inserted a concealed zip and a 2.5” deep contoured waistband. I also did the same knee seaming detail as my red ones.

OWOP Challenge 2017

Day seven… A date night look. And I’m cheating here a little as I’m not actually wearing this look until the middle of next week when Hubs and I celebrated being together for 20 years. It’s the anniversary of the day we met 🙂 The design again is very simple. It’s just a fold-over band and a fly front with no pockets for a streamlined silhouette. The fabric is exactly the same as the skirt I showed you last week.

OWOP Challenge 2017

So there you have it! I really enjoyed doing this week-long OWOP challenge. It was fun to style different looks and made me realise just how much I really appreciate having my basic pattern. It really is a TNT for me. Thanks to everyone who’s followed along on Instagram and thanks to Sheona for organising it all. Looking forward to next years OWOP!

Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you enjoyed doing the challenge yourself or following others along on Instagram,  or if you struggle with pants/trouser fit. Oh and tell me if you want me to write a post about what alterations I do for my particular figure type too and I’ll try to oblige.

Thanks for reading, see you soon!

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16 Comments

  1. December 1, 2017 / 9:51 pm

    After many muslins, and much more than that pant construction there have been times that I have just wanted to give up on trying to make the perfect pair. Seeing ALL that you have done with your basic pants sloper is very encouraging indeed. Thanks for the inspiration!

    • diane
      Author
      December 2, 2017 / 9:34 am

      Keep at it Faye, it really is worth the effort of getting your personalised sloper. I’m thrilled to hear that you feel encouraged

  2. Lisa
    December 2, 2017 / 4:40 am

    Great read. I am new to your blog…but my goal for 2018 is to find a great pants pattern, make a muslin and alter until it fits well and sew some new pants that will fit my 6′ tall body!!

    • diane
      Author
      December 2, 2017 / 9:35 am

      It’s always lovely when new readers find my blog. Welcome, Lisa. Good luck on your pants quest!

  3. December 2, 2017 / 3:37 pm

    Your pants are so wonderful – that fit really sets the bar high for us all 🙂 Love all your renditions and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing them. This is a great challenge! It’s inspiring and really brings it home how few patterns you actually need to achieve a whole wardrobe!

    • diane
      Author
      December 2, 2017 / 9:09 pm

      That’s kind of you to say, Kathleen, thank you. And you’re absolutely right….just a few patterns could see us through a whole wardrobe of clothes, no problem.

  4. December 3, 2017 / 9:45 am

    Fabulous, I’m nowhere near there and this will be my plan for 2018! Love the fit and 7 great looks.

    • diane
      Author
      December 3, 2017 / 1:12 pm

      Thanks so much Maggie. That’s a good plan to have, I know getting trouser fit right is tricky but sooooo worth it in the end. Hmm, perhaps I should do a post of my favourite fit resources…

  5. Helen
    December 4, 2017 / 11:50 am

    I love the way you’ve made every pair look different! I think they all look great on you, but my favourite is the date night pair – and what a wonderful anniversary you’re celebrating this week, many congratulations!

    • diane
      Author
      December 4, 2017 / 11:55 am

      Thanks, Helen xx. I think those may be my favourite too. Yes, 20years… And still not fed up with each other..lol!

  6. Ece Yurtan Altinok
    December 5, 2017 / 4:55 pm

    Your pants are amazing Diane and you are so inspirational, i love all of them !!

    • diane
      Author
      December 5, 2017 / 5:06 pm

      OH, Ece, that’s so lovely of you to say. Thank you!

  7. December 6, 2017 / 9:18 am

    Congrats on your anniversary…

    I do like the way you worked out your pants pattern – I tend to do the same. I know my hip curve shape and my crotch curve shape and always use these. Still have a way to go – but it looks as though you have totally nailed it. Lovely selection.

    • diane
      Author
      December 6, 2017 / 2:02 pm

      Thank you so much, Sarah Liz. Yes, getting familiar with our own shape is a big part of understanding our fit, definitely. From what I’ve seen of your trousers, you have a really good handle on it.

  8. Vicki
    December 10, 2017 / 7:55 pm

    Just found your blog via Faye’s post. Always fun to find a new sewing blog :). Love all your pants. They all look so different. Well worth the time to get the sloper fitting well.

    • diane
      Author
      December 10, 2017 / 7:58 pm

      Oh, how fab! Nice to meet you Vicki and thank you for the kind words about my pants styles. It was a game changer for me when I got my sloper fitting well.

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