Itch to Stitch North Point Trousers

This is also an old project from last year. I participated in the testing for the North Point Trousers from Itch to Stitch. The North Point Trousers feature the classically sleek straight leg silhouette, a medium rise and curve through hip and thigh, ankle length, contour waistband, front slanted pockets, back single-welt pockets and a fly front with zipper and double hook and bar closure. For me, they were just the perfect office trousers. If you follow my blog for a while, you know that traousers and me are not the best friends fitting wise. So it is no surprise that I debated with myself if I should apply for the testing or not. First I said it is nonsense to try to get these trousers fitted within the always short testing deadline. But somehow my unreasonable self won and I applied. Because these trousers have everything I would wish for, and trousers for the office are a big gap in my wardrobe.

North Point

North Point

Fabric

After applying to the pattern test, I ordered some fabric somewhere in UK, but it did not arrive in time. So I had to dive deep into my stash and found this olive green stretch twill. As it turned out it was very suitable for the pattern and easy to sew with. For the pockets I found some scraps of dark green lining fabric.

North Point North Point

Alterations

I had to do a lot of fitting alterations. In the end, my pattern looked very different from the original pattern. If I would not have had the deadline and the help of Kennis, I would have given up after two days. There might still be room for improvement, but this is the best I could achieve so far.

To give you an impression, this is where I started with a size 4 cut without any alterations:

North PointNorth PointNorth Point

The back is too tight, too much fabric in the front, a lot of wrinkles in the back leg and not enough room for the calves. I started again with a size 6 and made the following alterations:

Front:

  • I shortened the crotch curve and made it nearly rectangular (red line)
  • I shortened between crotch and fly (green line). I added the same amount back in the center front.
  • I added more room for my thighs (blue line)

North Point

Back:

  • I took out a lot below the crotch (red line) and added the same amount back at the hem
  • To get rid of some more wrinkles I slashed the leg diagonally and took out some more at the inseam (blue line)
  • I lenghtened the crotch seam a bit (black line)

North Point

  • I made a full calves adjustment (red line)
  • and added still a bit more at the back inseam (blue line)

North Point

Of course I then had to make sure that all seams were the same length with the back inseam a bit shorter. In the end I took in the side seams a bit, so the result might be something between size 4 and 6. 

Construction

The instructions were very detailed, as always, and you get trousers with a RTW finishing. The inside of my trousers are quite messy though. This is the downside of pattern testing, for a clean finish I just need more time.

North Point

The front pockets go up to the center front and the waistband is finished with a bias strip.

North Point

With more careful sewing, the back pockets cover the interfaced section…

North Point

I like how the bias strip curves upwards to the center front. I have seen this finishing in some RTW trousers. During sewing my zipper handle broke and I was really desperate and thought I would have to replace the whole zipper. Fortunately, Crystal came to my rescue and suggested just to replace the zipper handle. I did not know that you can buy these in all different sizes and shapes.

Conclusion

These trousers totally fit my bill for office wear. I already made a second pair with a few alterations, and this was not my last.

2 Replies to “Itch to Stitch North Point Trousers”

  1. Nice fitting! I love welt pockets… they make a garment look so professional!

  2. […] As I was not in the mood to alter the pattern, I took my best-fitting pants pattern so far, the North Point trousers by Itch to Stitch, and used that as a base which means I left the waist and hip area unchanged […]

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