We absolutely adore Erica’s latest creation—the Cannes Wide-Legged Trousers. She crafted an incredible pair of black trousers during the testing phase, and now she’s back with a cropped version in chambray. Take it from us, Erica knows her stuff!
When you combine a well-thought-out pattern with high-quality fabric, you’re bound to create something special. My chambray Cannes trousers took a slightly different turn from what I initially imagined, but the final product turned out to be more refined and versatile than I ever expected. They’ve quickly become one of my go-to pieces in my wardrobe.
Years ago, I owned a pair of ready-to-wear, lightweight, loose-fitting, elastic-waist, cropped chambray trousers that I wore until they were practically threadbare. The moment the new Cannes trouser pattern was released, I knew I wanted to recreate that warm-weather essential. Luckily, I had a small bolt of Cone Mills chambray in my stash—a fabric I purchased from this iconic American mill just before they stopped selling directly to the public. That fabric was practically begging to be used, and I haven’t regretted pairing it with the Cannes pattern at all. Although I didn’t crop the legs as much as I originally planned, I’m thrilled with the final length.
To prepare for a cropped design, I slashed the leg length by a full 8 inches! First, I removed 2 inches at the “lengthen or shorten†line, and then I folded up 6 inches near the hem to maintain its graceful curve. Instead of adjusting the side seams to match the new hemline at my size, I extended them straight down to the newly raised cutting line (marked in pink marker). This small change reduced the already generous hem circumference just a touch.
I participated in the pattern test for the Cannes trousers, so I felt confident that I wouldn’t need any additional adjustments beyond the leg length after creating this dressier black version while testing for Liesl. By the way, I’m 5’5â€.
For this chambray version, I once again decided to omit the sash and belt loops since I didn’t think the sash would drape well with this specific fabric.
My chambray cotton is a relatively tight weave and quite structured compared to typical chambrays, which I usually associate with soft drape. Honestly, it feels more like a lightweight denim, though fabric enthusiasts might debate the difference between twill and plain weave structures. This fabric has a beautifully subtle sheen that makes it appear lighter in photos than it actually is. It was a pleasure to work with—it sewed and pressed beautifully. I pre-washed it twice, but my fingertips were still a little indigo-stained from handling it on sewing day.
One of my favorite hidden features of the pattern is the built-in tummy control panel, created by how the pocket stays are integrated into the zipper fly. When I zip them up, I feel comfortably smoothed out without being constricted. I might even say I enjoy the clean interior finish as much as the polished exterior!
Following the detailed pattern instructions, cutting accurately, and matching all the notches ensures a satisfying outcome with smooth pockets that don’t gape and a perfectly constructed zip fly.
I intended to finalize the cropped hem length as my last step. Should the hem rest just above my ankle bone? Slightly below my calves? Or maybe even just above them? Ultimately, my teenage daughter convinced me to leave them at their current length and wear them like summer-weight wide-legged jeans—a trend that’s really taken off lately. While I’m typically not one to chase fashion trends, I couldn’t be happier with this choice. I only turned up the hem by a half-inch from my original cut.
These trousers are incredibly versatile—I can easily pair them with heels, sneakers, tank tops, casual tees, silk blouses—both tucked and untucked. Even though these aren’t the relaxed-fit chambray trousers of my past, I can see these tailored Cannes trousers becoming staples in my wardrobe for years to come.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Â
Super High Tenacity Polyester Yarn,Polyester Yarn High Tenacity,High Tenacity FDY,High Tenacity Polyester FDY
Ningbo Grantex Textile Co., Ltd , https://www.grantexindustries.com