Hello! I’m back with my latest make today featuring a new-to-me pattern company. These are the Tatjana Trousers by Just Patterns and straight off I’ve got to say that what a pleasurable sewing project this was!
I’ve had this pattern since around Christmas time and just as we hit 2021 I got bogged down with my green coat project which took a long time then I had the Fibremood blouse to do so they were put on hold for a while. I initially had some different fabric in mind for this project and then I saw this lovely denim blue-coloured drapey viscose/poly blend in the remnant section at Clothspot (no longer trading) and the stars aligned, it was meant to be…It’s the same fabric as the green colourway that I used here and once I saw the blue fabric I just had to have it. It’s just the perfect weight for this silhouette.
A bit about Just Patterns. It’s a small independent company run by a lovely French lady called Delphine. We’ve interacted on Instagram quite a bit and she’s absolutely lovely and super stylish too. She’s a very talented pattern drafter and designer and certainly knows her stuff. She states that her sewing patterns are meant for dressmakers who already know the basics of sewing…I would agree with that. There are many high-end construction techniques used throughout and whilst they might seem complicated at first glance, the step-by-step instructions and illustrations are wonderful and I found them a joy to follow.
The style of these trousers/pants is lovely with the width of the legs not being excessively wide. I felt a little reticent about pleats on my tummy area at first though and initially considered removing one of them, however, in the end, I decided to go all out and keep them. So glad I did!
So sizewise I cut a 38 and graded out a fair bit for my waist. For my flat bottom I straightened the back crotchline, extended the curve outwards at the inseam and scooped it out. I also straightened the front crotch curve for my flat pubis. I would say that this design is created for someone with good waist definition so if that’s not you (or me!) then you’ll need to grade the waistline out as I did.
I adore all of the professional finishing techniques used throughout this pattern. The pocket bags that go right to the side seams, the lovely binding details on the zip guard and zipe extension, the back welted pockets that have the lining going under the waistband, etc. These are designer details folks and I’m here for them.
Cue the detail pictures!
I used what lining I had in my stash to finish the pockets and binding but if I made another pair (which I will!) I really want to use something bold and bright in contrast for extra pretty insides…even if it is only me that knows they’re there.
When it came to deciding on the length of my pants I ummed and erred for ages. I knew I wanted to try the look of trainers/slip-on sneakers with them (‘cos I’m cool ya know!Lol!) but I also want to wear some of my ankle boots with them. As it is, the length I’ve gone for seems to work well with both (maybe a little too slouchy with trainers?…I might take another 1/4″ off, but will see how I feel wearing them). I think it’s a combination of the drape and the fact that they aren’t overly wide, so they fall nicely onto the front of my foot with both types of footwear. Yay!
In conclusion, I have to say that I’m absolutely smitten with these Tatjanas. It’s a slightly new silhouette and style for me and I can’t wait to get styling. I’ve always had a bit of a hang-up about wearing things tucked in, but with these trousers/pants I feel perfectly fine doing it and all of my doubts have vanished. I’m sold! I can highly recommend Just Patterns and I’m so glad to have found another pattern company that I love.
Well, that’s it from me for this week. I hope you’ve been doing ok and if like us you’ve been in lockdown, I hope you’re coping ok. Our restrictions are lifting over the next few weeks and I’ve even got a haircut booked for mid April, yay! Things are looking up.
See you soon!
Pin For Later
They look fabulous!
Author
Thank you so much, Vicki!
These are astonishing!! Also, the sewing is impeccable.
Author
Aww, thank you, Wis! I really enjoyed sewing these and maybe that shows 🙂
Gorgeous pants! I consider myself very much a beginner with sewing garments and I’m thoroughly impressed with the finishing of these. They look so much better than store-boughts pants.
Author
Lovely of you to say, thank you, Izzy!
These are just as pretty on the inside as on the outside. The inside details are lovely and well done. Beautiful marriage of pattern and fabric. The fit is perfect. Just lovely — wear them with joy!
Author
Thank you, Karen! I will!
Impeccable piece! When I see this kind of inside finish, I get to think that I still have quite a gap to bridge ☺️ The struggle of choosing the right length is so recognizable. Variety of shoes does not help either 🙂
Enjoy wearing this perfection, Diane!
Author
Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Giedre! Oh yes, the shoe variety really makes choosing the length of a long trouser difficult!
Beautiful trousers, beautifully-made! And they look wonderful on you!
Did you opt not to iron your larger pleats? Although the ‘soft look’ actually looks marvelous, if looking “even slimmer” is your concern, you could try a bit more of a press (not full-on) and compare. Then you could always steam it out, if you’d like to go back.
But seriously, if YOU can’t wear tucked-in garments, who can?! EEESH! I only wear things untucked to cover my tummy and sometimes, bc it is cooler to wear, not bc I always prefer untucked! Hoping that I can return to tucking-in as an option w/ exercise!
Author
Thank you!
I think my feelings about tucking in have always been linked to the fact that I’m as flat as a pancake on my bottom so any added bulk at the front sort of emphasises the difference…perhaps I’m made backwards…lol! Regarding the pleats…I’ve only given them a light press because the fabric lays nicely, but I’ve seen some versions of the Tatjanas where the sewist has also stitched the pleats down a bit. So there are options for sure.
We all REALLY focus on our own “imperfections” for sure, and often, I think, to the point that it colors the truth. In your photos above, I FIRST notice that you have an enviably trim figure.
Have you ever looked in the mirror at yourself, then taken photos of yourself, and after looking at the photos, your perception is actually different than when you looked in the mirror? Even though photos supposedly add weight, I feel that photos may be more truthful than the mirror (and BETTER than the mirror!).
As someone who is equally flat in the bum, I do think welt pockets, or even patch pockets, “back there” is a real plus, and you have beautiful welt pockets on these pants.
Many sewing blogs focus on fashion and sometimes, on construction how-to’s, but in addition to those things that you also do well, I really appreciate learning about your fitting steps, undos/redos, and reporting back on garments that did not live up to their promise. When I’m sewing, I often find myself wondering what other sewers would do in a given situation, and your blog gives some real info about that!
Please can you do a little feature on making BUTTONHOLES some time. Yours, as demonstrated in this post, are perfect!!
It’s my biggest struggle.
Thank you.
Author
Thank you, Angela! Yes, you’ll be pleased to know that a post is planned for sometime in the next 1-3 weeks 🙂