Jalie 3908 Simone Wide-Leg Shorts and Pants

Hello! This is my third (and final, at least for today) post about the newest collection by Jalie Patterns.

The Simone Wide-Leg Shorts and Pants come in 28 sizes. When I picked the patterns I wanted to preview the working title said they were for women so I planned to make them for myself. In actuality they are also for girls and women and plus sizes! I love how generous Jalie is with their multiple sizes and this pattern looks equally darling on the young and less young. The pattern includes layers so you can print the size(s) you need. There are appropriate notches and marking and I appreciated the instructions on where to include interfacing and to baste the pockets and understitch, which always leads me to a more professional finish.

After I printed the pattern and instructions I got a little nervous when I read about the pleats(!) and that the belt isn't removeable (!) (I've never been big on belt wearing because I'm fluffier around the middle and like to avoid bulk) and the fabric recommendation of lightweight fabrics with a soft hand and nice drape (!) (would this cling to my tummy?!) but it turns out I had no need to be worried!!!! I'm still a little bit in shock whenever I wear these pants (which is pretty much whenever they are clean) that through some wizardry I can pull off pleated, belted and bowed, lightweight pants. A new friend, Lizette (@zettsews on Instagram)in the Jalie Ambassador group posted a picture of her daughter in her Alice V Neck Top and Simone Pants and I loved the faux romper look! I had already sewn up my solid Alice V Neck Top and decided to see if I had enough fabric left over for my Simone Pants. I knew I wouldn't look like her gorgeous daughter with her cute figure but thought it was worth a try.

As you may have guessed I LOVE this look! I got so many compliments on it at my daughter's dance dress rehearsal and preschool pick up. It has the look of a romper (or jumpsuit) but it easier to wear on those days I drink a ridiculous amount of water. ;) It feels like secret pajamas! And maybe that's partly due to this glorious fabric which is either 52% tencel 48% cotton (or vice versa) that began its life as a bedsheet that I have been saving for the perfect project. I did spare some of the set to sew lounge pants for my husband because I don't sew for him very often so I used the good stuff on him.

I cut the full length pants and have been having a partly internal/partly with my husband/occasional polling/brainstorming on instagram/Googling since the Kendrick Overalls about the perfect length for full length pants. Should they skim the floor? Should they always be paired with heels? Is it acceptable to wear them with flip flops? Should they be cropped an inch above the ankle? Should they come to the base of the calf? You get the idea. Anyway, the full length ones definitely looked ridiculous on me with my house slippers. I decided they would be cuter just above my ankle or right above my knees. The longer length won so I would waste less fabric that I'd already cut and that's what felt right after polling the Jalie Ambassadors and my way more fashionable sisters. I have no regrets about this outfit!
















Ansley saw my faux romper (because I've been wearing it nonstop) and requested one too. It was easy to say yes because I'd already sewn the patterns and they are available in her size and I owed her a romper from two summers ago. I didn't know it would take me so long to make it happen because May is crazy but I finished her Simone Pants in between our photo session from the previous post and the large rain storm. I used a lightweight chambray with a whale print from The Stash (probably originally from Joann Fabrics). It was really nice to sew after sewing the more slippery tencel and rayon challis and shiny cotton.

I sewed a size O for Ansley and a size W for myself based on our hip measurements (my hips are closer to a size V but since my waist is larger I went with the W). Both of our waists measure larger than our hips so I used the corresponding elastic amounts and it worked well! Ansley's hips are a little smaller but since her fabric is a light color I thought a little extra ease at the hips to help hide undies would be appropriate. She requested hers be around knee length and I think they look cute on her! She decided she's going to wear this on the last day of fifth grade and the first day of sixth grade. I should also mention that I did not need any crotch adjustments like I some times do and no calf adjustments (because the pants are wide legged!)
















I picked up a dark denim tencel blend to sew another pair for myself. I am planning to leave off the belt and belt loops so I can wear them with untucked tops and tees but I can't decide if I should sew a full length or slightly cropped (like my grey ones) or knee length ones (like Ansley's). What do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!