Sewing: Pants That Fit
Struggling with pants that don’t fit quite right? In this hands-on tissue fitting workshop, you'll learn how to determine your correct pattern size and adjust any commercial pants pattern to suit your body. Discover solutions for common fit issues and gain expert tips for creating a flattering style. Using Palmer/Pletsch fitting techniques, you'll modify the McCalls pant fit pattern 6901, leaving with a customised pattern you can use again and again. You'll also learn how to sew your pants and fine-tune the fit.
Target Audience:
Things to bring along:
• Please wear comfortable, easy to change out of clothes. You may like to wear/ bring a camisole and leggings or tights to wear during fitting.
• A box of fine large head pins in a magnetic pincushion
• Tape measure
• Soft lead pencil
• Red and green fine felt tip pens
• Two rolls of 12mm Scotch brand magic transparent tape
• Weighted table tape dispenser
• Paper scissors
• Gridded plastic ruler (eg quilters), plastic ruler or dressmakers square
• 6mm elastic to tie around your waist
• Note pad and pen
• Fabric to make up pants (see reverse of pattern for amount)
• 25cm nylon zipper (not invisible)
• Thread
• Basic sewing kit (scissors, needles, quick unpick, chalk etc)
• Interfacing (for waistband, 10cm of fusible will be sufficient)
• Palmer/Pletsch gridded pattern tissue (from Lincraft, Spotlight or online) or white gift wrap tissue. Greaseproof paper is too stiff.
• McCalls pants pattern 6901 (preferred) or out of print 5239 (sizes 6 to 22) or 5537 (sizes 18W to 32W for larger, more mature women’s figures). See below.
• Optional book “Pants for Real People” by Pati Palmer and Marta Alto. This is a useful reference book and is available from http://www.mccalls.com.au ,
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk, palmerpletsch.com and http://www.booktopia.com.au You may also find it at Spotlight and Lincraft.
• A basic sewing kit (scissors, reel of thread, unpicker etc ) is also required.
While the college does have sewing machines available, you may wish to bring your own to use.
Determining Pattern Size
Compare your hip measurements to those below. Purchase the pants pattern according to your fullest hip measurement above the crotch (generally 18 to 23 cm below the waist).
SIZE 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26
Waist 56 58 61 64 67 71 76 81 87 94 99 104
Hip 80 83 85 88 92 97 102 107 112 117 122 127
Size 18W 20W 22W 24W 26W 28W 30W 32W
Waist 84 89 94 99 105 112 118 124
Hip 107 112 117 122 127 132 137 142
The pattern can be purchased from Spotlight or Lincraft or online from the following:
http://www.sewing-patterns.com
http://www.palmerpletsch.com
http://www.mccalls.com (pattern tissue can also be purchased on this site)
If you are unsure of your pattern size, or have difficulty purchasing the pattern, please contact the College.
Learning Outcomes:
- By the conclusion of the course, students will be able to tissue fit themselves in any pants pattern, perform common alterations to the pattern and then fit and sew the pants in fabric.
Learning Methods:
Program Benefits:
- Custom fit pants patterns for your body
- Learn common alteration techniques
Content:
- Measuring and getting the correct size
- Pattern preparation for fitting
- Creating a tissue fitting
- Adjusting patterns for a flattering fit
- Fabric fitting and construction of garment
Upcoming Workshops
| Name | Date | Time | Location | Available Spaces | Cost | |
| 84PANM425 – Sewing: Pants That Fit | Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 09:30 am – 12:30 pm | Penrith Campus | 7 | $165.00 |