E-390

05-06

Special Alterations for Pants

Pattern
Alteration

T his publication covers alterations for crotch depth,

crotch and thigh circumference, and large pones. Before
attempting any of these, review Extension publica-
tions E-372, Principles of Pattern Alteration, and E-373, Per-
sonal Measurement Chart, for basic instructions.
The most important area to consider when fitting pants
is the crotch. You might have to undertake several trial
alterations to fit pants properly. Frequently, you will need
to combine crotch depth and crotch circumference adjust-
ments

Crotch Depth
If the crotch depth is too short, your pants will pull and
bind between the legs. If it is too long, the pants will hang
loosely there.
Check the Personal Measurement Chart (line 14) to
Extension Family Development determine how much you need to alter and compare this
and Resource Management Specialists measurement with the pattern’s crotch depth. Make crotch
depth alterations before making any crotch circumference
alterations. Make all crotch depth alterations on front and
back pattern pieces.
To shorten:
1. Fold the pattern by the
amount you need along the
lengthening and shortening
line designated on the pattern
at the hip line.
2. Tape the pattern in place.
3. Redraw the cutting lines and
stitching lines (Fig. 1).
To lengthen:
1. On a piece of tissue paper the
width of the pattern, draw
two parallel lines. The lines
should be the same distance
apart for the additional length
you need.
2. Slash the pattern apart at the
hip lengthening and shorten- Figure 1.
ing line.
 2..................................................................................................................................................................................

Add length.
Alter at one 3. On the tissue paper, tape the top part of the pattern to
or more the top line and tape the bottom of the pattern to the
locations, bottom line. Keep the grain line straight.
depending
Pant
Pant
front
on type and 4. Redraw the cutting lines and seamlines (Fig. 2).
back amount of
Spread
Crotch Circumference
alteration
needed.
Crotch line

If the pants do not fit correctly after you have finished

the crotch depth alterations, you may need to alter the crotch
circumference. The Personal Measurement Chart (line 15) will
show you how much to adjust.
Divide the total circumference into front and back lengths.
(A large ring hanging on the tape measure will usually fall to
the center of the body when you measure the circumference.)
Compare the pattern front and back crotch lengths to
your body measurements. If you need an alteration, carefully
study your figure and pants that fit you. Alter the pattern
Figure 2.
Figure 3. piece only where measurements indicate you need a change
in order to get a good fit.
A large abdomen or full buttocks can cause the pants
crotch circumference to fit tightly. Flat buttocks or sway back
may cause the pants crotch circumference to be too long. For
these alterations, refer to Extension publications E-387, Large
Abdomen; E-374, Back Hip Fullness; and E-382, Sway Back, for
specific instructions. The alteration amount and location will
depend on the type and complexity of the alteration you
need. You may need to make large decreases or increases in
Figure 5. length in two or three locations (Fig. 3).
Figure 4.
Alteration Challenges and Answers
The following descriptions of problems and solutions
may help you determine which alteration you need:
Problem A (Fig.4): A large abdomen causes diagonal
wrinkles to form at the front crotch and around the abdomen.
Figure 6. Solution: Lengthen only the front crotch circumference.
Problem B (Fig. 5): Full buttocks cause the seat to cup
under the buttocks and to fit tightly in the back. Solution:
Lengthen only the back crotch circumference.
Problem C (Fig. 6): Full buttocks and/or full thighs cause
the back waist to pull down when you sit and pull tightly in
the back crotch area when you stand. Solution: Lengthen the
back crotch circumference at the center back.
Problem D (Fig. 7): Flat buttocks cause a baggy seat. So-
lution: Shorten the crotch back length.
Problem E (Fig. 8): Sway back causes fabric to wrinkle
horizontally in the back just below the waistline. Solution:
Shorten the crotch back length.
Figure 9 shows an example of a crotch circumference
alteration for full buttocks. Extension publications listed on
Figure 7. Figure 8. page 2 will help you solve crotch circumference problems.
................................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Thigh Circumference Spread

Pant
Use a crotch circumference alteration when the thigh area back
Spread
is too tight or too loose. A thigh width alteration also increas-
es or decreases the crotch circumference. If the thigh is too Figure 10.
tight, pants will form crosswise wrinkles at the top of the leg.
You will see strain on the side seam and inseam. Vertical folds
will hang from the hip if the thigh is too loose. Alter front and
back pattern pieces (Fig. 10).
Pant
Determine how much you need to alter for thigh circum- back
ference by measuring the fullest part of the upper leg. Com- 1˝

pare this measurement to the total width of the front and back
pattern pieces. Increase or decrease the front and back pattern
pieces by one-half the total amount you need.
To alter: Figure 9.
Clip
1. On the crotch curve, measure in 1 inch (2.5 cm) from
the intersection of the crotch seamline and the inseam
line.
Pant
2. Draw a line from this point to the knee at the inseam front Spread
line (Fig. 11).
3. Slash along this line to, but not through, the inseam line
Figure 11.
at the knee. Clip the seam allowance at that point.
To increase:
4. With tissue paper under the pattern, spread one-half Pant
the total amount you need (Fig. 12). front
Lap
To decrease:
4. Lap the slash one-half the total amount you need (Fig.
13).
To complete either alteration:
5. Tape the pattern in place. Figure 12.

6. Redraw the cutting lines and seamlines at the crotch

curve (Figs. 14a and 14b).

Large Pones Figure 13.

Large pones on the upper thighs cause crosswise Pant Pant

wrinkles at the side seamline in the front and back (Fig. 15). front
Spread front
Lap
Determine where to alter by measuring the distance from the
waistline to the fullest part of the pone. To indicate how much
to alter, measure the fullest part of the upper legs and add
ease. Then compare that amount to the pattern measurement
at that point. Make this alteration on front and back pattern
pieces, increasing each piece one-half the total amount you
need.

Figure 14a. Figure 14b. Figure 15.

4..................................................................................................................................................................................

1. Measure down the side seamline to a point corre-

sponding to the pone. Draw a horizontal line at that
point from the side seamline 3 inches (1.6 cm) into the
Pant pattern. Draw diagonal lines from this point to the
Pant
back back seamline at the knee and to the waist seamline and
side seamline intersection (Fig. 16).
3˝
Lap 2. Beginning at the intersection of the three lines, slash
the lines to, but not through, the side seamlines. Clip
the seam allowances to the end of each slash.
3. With tissue paper under the pattern, spread the pat-
Spread
tern to add one-half the amount you need at the wid-
est point of the thigh. The horizontal slash will lap.
4. Tape the pattern in place. Redraw the seam and cut-
ting lines as needed (Fig. 17).

Figure 16. Figure 17.