Today I bring you my first failed sewing project of Fail February! I made the Seamwork Moji Pants last year and am sad to say they did not turn out as I had hoped.
When the Moji Pants first came out, I was intrigued. I wasn’t sure if they would be very flattering, but I was willing to give it a try.
When I was fabric shopping in Japan, this two-sided fabric was on sale and I immediately thought of the Moji Pants as the solid side looked a lot like denim.
Then when it came time to make these pants, I wanted to add some interest and use the opposite side of the fabric for accent bits. Well, I think the polka-dotted side definitely adds interest, but the wrong kind!
These scream CLOWN PANTS to me! I had the most difficult time figuring out what kind of top to pair these with and settled on this RTW shirt which is cuter with a slimmer silhouette on bottom for sure.
I made the size 14 as I have a generous booty and this fabric doesn’t provide any stretch.
I think I should have sized down because the waistband and… well… everything is a little big. But I still get pulling in the rear when I bend down! These pants are definitely drafted for someone with a less supple badunk.
They do not flatter AT ALL!
You can kind of see the pockets flare out a little as the waistband is cinched in tightly. It’s just ill-fitting all-around.
I’m glad I didn’t spend too much time on these as they are an easy and fast make. I am bummed, though, that I wasted a lot of my Japanese fabric!
I was hoping I could at least use these at around-the-house lounging pants, but I haven’t touched them since these photos last summer.
I tried to be positive…
… but these are destined for the donation pile!
Lessons learned:
- Choose the correct size! Make sure you measure yourself and don’t think you’re bigger than you really are… ~_~;
- The Moji Pants seem suited to a fabric with a some drape. This cotton was just too stiff and did nothing for my figure.
- Polka-dotted fabric saddle bags do NOT belong on your hips!
Has anyone out there had a better experience with the Moji? Please share so I can see what you did right! I really love the aesthetic of the sample Seamwork used and believe I am destined for a great pair of Mojis one day.
-RED
Sew RED-y 
I think they’re cute! Maybe not the most flattering shape but they look really comfy and I do think using the reverse of the fabric was a good idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha thanks! I’m thinking the fabric might do better as shorts. I may have just enough to eke out a pair one day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I made a pair of Moji pants last summer out of chambray. They’re OK. Definitely drafted for someone flat-assed (which is the case with most Colette patterns, IMHO). I like the pockets for carrying a phone and keys (I wore them a lot to walk the dog – what does that tell you?) I wore them with a long top to hide the diaper butt look. I wanted to try another pair with an invisible side zip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chambray sounds like a good fabric pairing with the Moji. I’ll have to look into tweaking the pattern for a round bottom. I guess it’s not that bad of a problem to have! 😉
LikeLike
Have you tried a FBA (full butt adjustment)? I only recently learned that that’s a thing!
Sorry to hear that they’re a fail and you wasted lovely Japanese fabric!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great suggestion! I should have thought about that for these pants. If I make this pattern again, I’ll definitely try this FBA!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d just remove the pockets entirely or sew them back on with the other side out. Otherwise, these look good, and I think the fit is right for that style.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can see how that would look better, thanks for the idea! I’ll have to take them out of hiding and see if they would be worth that bit of work. 🙂
LikeLike
This type of woven pant though is REALLY hard to be flattering on a girl like us with a tiny waist but junk n da trunk. Which, you would think, being able to sew, we could fix that? But I haven’t found a solution that doesn’t involve too much gathering at the waistband or too tight in the bum. To be honest, this is probably a big part of why I just can’t be bothered to make pants for myself. This type of pant appeals to me because it won’t have all the fiddly fitting, but it’s just a bad idea on my body type.
Oh well.
Thanks for sharing! I’m glad we can collectively share our fails to show we are indeed humans lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear ya – I have some RTW pants that are a similar style from Banana Republic with an elastic waist and ankles. I had to ask my husband 5x before buying if they made me look weird. He said no and I’ve gotten compliments on them here and there. I think you have to concentrate on styling it just right so it’s not a weird diaper-butt look. I think the elastic and drapey fabric of my RTW pants help with the fit a little.
Or maybe I’ll just stick to the Ginger Jeans – they are a great pattern for those of us with an itty bitty waist and that round thing in yo’ face! I just had to add darts in the yoke to prevent gaping, but that’s easily tweak-able for my next pair!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well your hip pockets look better on you than on me. What happens if you tighten the waist with elastic instead of a draw string? Or remove those pockets? Or better yet, do as you wish and give them to charity – as I usually do when things don’t work out – someone will just LOVE them!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think elastic and removing the pockets would make this 100x better for sure! Maybe I’ll hold off on the charity thing and see if I have the patience to re-work these. Sometimes it’s easier (and more fun) to just start again from scratch! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I was just discussing that with someone else – the new shiny projects are always more exciting! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry girl, I hope that someone finding a nicely made pair of pants at the thrift store will bring you some solace.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does – at least it;s both a learning experience and maybe something that someone else can enjoy. 🙂
LikeLike
This was both hilarious and comforting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL thanks! Here to spread the fail/love/humor 😉
LikeLike
I ran into the same problems…moji was a total fail for me too. The most awkward fit on Me! Thanks for sharing…now I don’t feel so left out 😯
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comment makes me feel better, too! I was hoping I wasn’t the only one they didn’t work out for… although I’d hate to wish fail upon others!
LikeLike
Oh, your face says it all! I had to laugh about the polka dotted saddle bags. Definitely not what you were going for, I’m sure. I think you’re right about the more drape being a better idea. That being said, this is pretty much exactly the look I ended up with the Blank Slate Oceanside pants I made last summer, and I used a drapey linen. I think I put them on and thought–wow, I didn’t know my backside was so vast and flat–I thought I was in shape. 😀 Sometimes styles just don’t work. I’m finishing up my post on a similar theme of styles just not working for the Toaster Sweater #1.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re definitely not shaped like that! It’s amazing what either fabric choice or pattern choice will do for one’s figure. I saw your post on the Toaster sweater – such a shame! One thing I do like about the sewing blogosphere is I can usually find someone with a similar shape than me to determine what patterns look good for my body type. I just need to do more research before jumping into a very different-for-me pattern!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, research is helpful! The semi-fail was on me. I looked at the sizing chart, not the finished measurements and I got swayed by what I once heard someone call the Glamazons. Glamazon=the pretty girl on the pattern envelope covers that may or may not let you know what’s really going on with the fit of any given pattern.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL I love it! I need to use that now – Glamazon!
LikeLike
I was scared to make these as there are so many bad reviews, but I finally did on the weekend and thankfully I like them. I made them in a tencel which has good drape and is very soft. I’ll do a post today if you wanna check them out in that fabric.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooooh Tencel is the best fabric ever! I think it’s better suited to the Moji pattern for sure. 🙂 I’d love to see your post – I tried checking out your site but it wouldn’t load 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person