How to Balance Your Plus Size Pants Pattern

[@tadlaw1600]

I've been adding wedges, extending crotch points and altering crotch depth forever. And I finally know how to balance a pants pattern!!! So simple but so important. Thank you.

[@KatrinaKay45]

tad law You're so welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@sbaumgartner9848]

This is very helpful Katrina. I'm using your instructions to modify a Butterick pattern to make the hem width much narrower.

[@KatrinaKay45]

I'm glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@We3Mice4u]

Never had it explained this way. Makes a lot of sense now. Thank you

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome. I'm glad it makes sense. Thanks for watching.

[@donnagadde5152]

Awesome. Thank you Katrina! They never mentioned this in the pattern making class that I took.

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Donna. There was no mention of this in my pattern making classes either. Thank God for on-the-job training. 🙂

[@marymetcalfe918]

This is great! I have made pants with no pattern- using existing pants and I never understood why they would not hang right- THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

[@danieladownie6087]

I love how visual your explanations are

[@KatrinaKay45]

Daniela Downie Thank you. I'm a visual learner so that's how I teach. Thanks for watching.

[@grivest6000]

You teaching is the best to understand about doing the front and back. Thankkkkk you so much

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Gertrude. I'm so glad this video was a help to you. Thanks for watching.

[@prabuelayabuelo]

THANK YOU !!!! You have explain so correctly and easy to understand...your a great teacher ..God Bless!!! You have taken my fear alway

[@KatrinaKay45]

+Sylvia Reyes You're welcome, Sylvia. I'm glad it was helpful.

[@aaliyahraks]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Katrina x I did Fashion and Design at school and did not learn about balancing patterns; this is very helpful

[@KatrinaKay45]

AnnMarie Hammond You're so welcome. I didn't learn this in design school either - and I don't understand why. This is very important if you want patterns that fit right. But hopefully things have changed and they are teaching it now.

[@aaliyahraks]

I was in fashion and design school 2 years ago

[@KatrinaKay45]

AnnMarie Hammond Oh, ok. Well I guess nothing has changed, unfortunately.

[@aaliyahraks]

i live with chronic pain and have had a particularly bad couple of years and am now coming good and getting stronger and active again. But because i have not kept using those skills learnt in fashion and design i worry that i have forgotten. So i am glad to find your channel so i can go over those things again to refresh my memory and learn new skills x

[@aaliyahraks]

i know that it was all very rushed to get through everything on time in Cert 3 fashion and design; it was a mad rush to get through the curriculum; so no real time to process things. I guess if i had continued it all would have gelled the following year in cert 4. I suppose that is also why they don't get around to teaching you how to balance patterns. It seems like a simple thing to add the the curriculum though even if they just did it in small scale

[@usalas4]

This was extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@HomeEconomics50]

Thanks so much for this info. Years ago, I copied a pair of pants that I knew fit me perfectly. You guessed it, I didn't know about balancing the pattern. I gave up on making patterns from garments that I KNOW fit me well because the fabric twisted and looked awful. Now, since retiring, I made a new pants pattern and balanced it using your video. I look forward to many new pairs of pants that fit my petite plus size.

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, HomeEconomics50. Glad I could help.

[@safiaahmed3111]

Hello Katrina, I made a Pant for myself and it’s pulls from both sides of the crotch inner seams. Can you please help me that how should I correct this mistake? Thank you 🙏🏽

[@paulettewilkes4741]

Great video - Thanks

[@marcinilcovandercapellen1934]

I loved your video, thank you!

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Marci. Thanks for watching.

[@myredajohnson8592]

Great useful information. Thanks for teaching me something new,

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Myreda. Thanks for watching.

[@vickimaggs8239]

Hi Katrina. Your video is very informative.....I have struck a problem with my pants pattern. I thought it was balanced as the legs hang quite nicely, but when I put the pattern pieces together there are a few issues, the main one is this: when I match the inseam, the crotch points match, but when I match the outseam, the front crotch point is 3/4" lower than the back, yet the seams are the same length. What is happening here - any suggestions?

[@KatrinaKay45]

Vicki, we balance a pants pattern by matching the seams from the hip to at least the knee. Thinks will be different in the crotch area because your front & back crotch are not identical in size or shape, nor should they be. It sounds like your pattern is fine, but the way to double-check is to do a muslin or test garment.

[@4vh68]

Good tutorial, thanks.

[@KatrinaKay45]

Anna Rich You're welcome, Anna. Thanks for watching.

[@mariettapapp8542]

Hi. Thank u for this tutorial. Your video is very informative but I have a question? Who n how could draft an unbalanced pattern like this? At all the drafting methods I know the back of the pant is drafted over the front pattern. One must be blind to draw lines like that or have no idea about pattern making.

[@leagrajo477]

Lea delos reyes

[@snyyng]

Marietta Papp I had this situation after making multiple alterations to a Palmer/ Pletch pants pattern. Not understanding pattern making, I didn’t know what to do. I looked at other pants patterns and saw the differences but still didn’t know what was ok and what wasn’t. I couldn’t find a video or blog post that explained what this video did. People who do alterations without pattern making knowledge need such helpful videos.

[@HUMAN.EXPERIENCE.]

It’s usually when people knock off a pre-existing pair of sewn pants. That’s usually when you can come into this kinda problem

[@zarishmoon9014]

Plz give proper measurement and method of cut a casual trouser or pants for plus size

[@marionjones2105]

Thank you for this great information. But how do you SEW your pants where the side seams don't match ? (for instance between the knee level and the crotch ?

[@KatrinaKay45]

Marion, they're the same length, just not the same angle. So you would sew the seams together just as you would below the knee. But your front & back side seams and inseams should always be the same length.

[@marionjones2105]

Katrina Kay Thank you very much !

[@nancys.5968]

I am wondering how to apply this to a curvy fit jeans pattern. I am attempting to draft a pattern from a RTW pair of jeans that actually fit me, but my back pattern piece is very different than the front from the knee up. Also the center front is much lower than the center back, due to the curvy fit I assume. And yes, I have a sway back so that's okay.. 😊

[@KatrinaKay45]

If the back and front pattern pieces match from ankle to knee, you should be ok.

[@kayphuff]

Thank you so much for this

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Jane. Glad I could help.

[@nylathe718]

Very very helpful. Thanks sis

[@KatrinaKay45]

Nicole Palmer I'm so glad it was a help to you. Thanks for watching.

[@ShiloDesireeR]

Thanks! Very helpful!

[@sandrafrancis8458]

Can u cut a plus size jacket

[@DonakondaCreation]

wow excellent super duper wonderful explain mem thank you

[@KatrinaKay45]

Nagesh Donakonda You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@XLovesxToxSewX]

Thanks so much for the information...

[@KatrinaKay45]

Juanita Sews You're welcome Juanita. I apologize for taking so long to respond to your comment.

[@treemtv3985]

it is good video, this video is very easy for understand

[@KatrinaKay45]

Huong Nguyen Thi, I'm so glad to hear that it's easy to understand. Thanks for watching.

[@barbra429]

Hello is there a tutorial for actually drafting the pants pattern

[@KatrinaKay45]

Barbra No, Barbara, not at this time.

[@TheGlamstar28]

Can I apply this method to shorts as well?

[@KatrinaKay45]

Yes, Melanie, you can definitely apply this to shorts. Balance at the hem and go up a far as you can, even if it's only for a couple of inches. That'll depend on the length of your shorts.

[@TheGlamstar28]

I made the shorts hem two inches below the crotch, so I matched the hem and s.s is that correct? I have another question do I match the crotch front with the back ? Thank you so much for responding back, I appreciate that

[@KatrinaKay45]

No, don't match the front and back crotch because that'll affect the fit. The best way to do shorts of that length is: 1. Fold your front leg in half, starting at the hem 2. Match your front inseam and front side seam as far up as you can go. Because of the length of your shorts, you probably won't be able to go up too far before you start getting into the crotch area. Don't change your crotch at all. If you can only go up 1/4", that's ok because of the length of your shorts. The most important area to match is closest to the hemline. 3. Make sure your back side seam matches your front side seam, closest to the hemline. 4. Then fold your back leg in half, starting at the hemline, and match the back side seam to your back inseam as far as you can go without affecting your crotch. You may have to reshape your side seam and inseam lines a little I hope this helps. Feel free to ask more questions if you need to.

[@lacraysha1]

Hello Katrina, I just want to sew my first project and not cry.... its so confusibg

[@KatrinaKay45]

LaCrayshal Dalton Hi, LaCrayshal. You should start with something really simple or it will get confusing and frustrating. You can also take a beginners' class at your local fabric store, depending on where you live. They usually don't cost a lot of money and you can learn the basics of sewing. Are you currently working on a project?

[@lacraysha1]

Yes. Katrina, I decided to work on a few dresses, shirts, and a pair of pants that are all labeled EASY..... My mom gave me her sewing machine when she moved up north and I kept saying I'm going to start making my own clothes. Yesterday, I went to the fabric store and went crazy with prints because it was $1.49 but when I got home I opened the print up and was like wtheck am I doing? Got more then I can chew.... just being able to read the print is making my head hurt. So I instantly hopped on KZbin but I'm not understanding how to measure MY measurements being that there not on the Body Measurements of the prints..... I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY BUT ITS REALLY NOT.... BY THE WAY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR RESPONDING AS FAST AS YOU DID.😁😁😁

[@KatrinaKay45]

LaCrayshal Dalton LaCrayshal, dresses and shirts are probably not the best patterns to start with because they tend to be more complicated. Pants, like pajama pants, can be a good place to start because they have no zipper, just elastic. You might want to invest in a book on sewing like "Singer Complete Photo Guide to Sewing". Here's the link: amzn.to/1DGruSn on Amazon. It's a great reference and any questions you have about pattern instructions, etc. you can find it. So, simple projects I'd suggest are pajama pants, a skirt with an elastic waist made out of woven fabric, (not knit), or even a pillow or tote bag. It'll help you to become familiar with sewing terminology and instruction. As far as measurements, check out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imbJnKePpMSbaaM. Don't be discouraged, just take it one step at a time.

[@lacraysha1]

Thank you I will be taking your advice.. I actually found a class

[@KatrinaKay45]

LaCrayshal Dalton Oh good, I'm glad you found a class. I wish you all the best in your sewing journey.

[@loiswilloughby9850]

if my pj pant pattern pattern goes up to xL and I am 4x how do I get the width for my size?

[@KatrinaKay45]

Hi Lois. You would have to grade that pattern which can get very complicated. If you go to fashion patterns dot com, she has a pajama pants pattern that includes a 4X.

[@loiswilloughby9850]

Thank you so much!

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome. Glad I could help.

[@soulbookmarjolein5988]

Thank you so much

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're so welcome!

[@sohaayoub7239]

what is the computer software you are using to draw your pattern ?

[@KatrinaKay45]

soha Ayoub The program is PatternMaster Boutique by Wildginger. You can get more information at www.wildginger.com.

[@mignonnecorrea3515]

Why should there be grain line.

[@KatrinaKay45]

The grainline is used to lay the pattern straight on the fabric.

[@prabhubabu3270]

hai very interesting in balance pattern

[@KatrinaKay45]

Prabhu Babu Thanks for watching Prabhu.

[@prabhubabu3270]

Katrina Kay WHAT IS THE COST

[@KatrinaKay45]

Prabhu Babu The cost is $92.94. If you go to the link I gave above you can look inside the book to see if that's what you need.

[@sarita3558]

Its good

[@KatrinaKay45]

Sarita Sarita Thanks for watching.

[@ShakilAhmed-ff3fu]

tnx

[@KatrinaKay45]

Shakil Ahmed You're welcome. Thanks for watching.

[@ShakilAhmed-ff3fu]

Katrina Kay You're most welcome

[@panchanansendha4544]

Hindi

[@KatrinaKay45]

You're welcome, Mary. Glad I could help.