Parker Ponte Pants (and Shorts!)

To quote Rodney in Only Fools and Horses - 'hello, can you hear me over those trousers?'

Slipping onto the blog this Sunday with some very LOUD leg wear. 

This post is using some fabric gifted by Minerva (forgive a gal, I've not worked much this year so taking free fabric when it's thrown at me). (Have 10% off on me though with code MSS243EC)

I am an absolute super fan of ponte as it is one of the greatest secret pajama fabrics know to man.

This rather jazzy ponte is called Rainbow Harvest and comes in 4 different colourways. I went for the loudest print in ‘Chilli’. We’re still in summer so I figured a last minute tropical print could be called for.

I did notice that the ‘Grape’ colourway is also gorgeous and could be a really good transitional colour going into autumn/fall.

The ponte is a mix of viscose, polyester and elastane which gives it that structure and stretchiness. This one stretches across the width and down the length giving it a really comfortable fit on garments. I was impressed with the opacity of the fabric as even when stretched tight it doesn’t loose its colour. 

 If we’re going ponte, we’re going Parker Ponte Pant.

My favourite pattern from Style Arc, these are pull on elasticated trousers with a smarter edge to them.

 I've made AT LEAST six pairs of Parker Ponte Pants in the past but for some reason they never make the blog! They are all so different aswell, colours, pocket details, belts.... blogger fail there.

 The pattern has back pockets, however be warned the front slant pockets are ‘faux’ and serve no purpose. That is easily rectified by drafting a quick pocket bag. One the majority of versions I have made of this pattern, 90% have got front pockets. Inseam, or patch pocket style.

For this project I went for patch pocket style as it gives the least bulk. I simply hemmed the raw edge of the pocket slant (for the trousers) and added a little bias band to the pocket slant (for the shorts).

I started by making the trouser version of the Parker Ponte Pants – these are a size 16 (my hips is 47”). Whilst you could argue they are a bit tight, they are very comfortable. If you’re after a more relaxed look trouser just size up.

The original pattern is also full length and can be turned up for a cuff however I cropped these to be ankle grazers. I just felt it suited the season a little better. 

These trousers sew up in a flash, and as I had a little fabric left over, I also used the pattern to make shorts! I popped a contrast waistband on (also in ponte) and used slightly wider elastic than the pattern calls for too. It is just a long strip of fabric for the waistband so you can just decide how you like yours.

 

 

Going one stop further I really used the scraps up to make binding for the Modern Sewing Co Racer Tank! (Now there's a little hidden gem of a pattern)

 

Voila, a mini late summer co-ord set. 

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