Statement Floral Safran Pants

Lately, I keep being drawn to florals— big, bold, striking florals! In fashion, I can’t help but love just about any pair of floral pants. I don’t know what it is but I love them! I’m not usually a floral person, but I think the juxtaposition of these bold prints on pants that creates something different that just draws you in. Add some unusual colors and crazy scale and case closed— I must make a pair now!

Perusing Pinterest, my favorite one-stop-shop for inspiration, I came across this outfit and knew this is the look I wanted to go for. Bold, fitted skinny jeans with a more casual top— simple but striking! I pulled a few fabric options, but settled on the one closest to my inspiration, a stretch sateen in rich reds, greens and a deep black background.

Pants is one category of garments that continues to scare me a bit. While I have always had lofty goals of making a wardrobe full of the perfect pants, it just hasn’t happened. Whether it is the time, the fit, or whatever, I always find an excuse to avoid making them. Well, I am facing my fears and taking on a new pattern, Deer & Doe’s Safran Pants. I love the clean lines of this pattern and have been meaning to try it since we got it in the shop this fall.

Now, let’s get sewing! I settled on cutting a straight Size 42 based on my measurements, picking version B for the clean look and the ankle length. I raided my scrap bin for pocket pieces and got everything all cut and ready. Stitching my Safrans together was relatively easy and straight forward. Deer & Doe’s beautifully printed patterns offer each step broken down with easy to follow instructions and helpful diagrams. A couple of my favorite steps were the welt pockets and the zip fly. Both turned out perfectly and the instructions dissolved any fear and confusion I had about these more difficult techniques. Check out that pocket!

I did baste my pants together to check fit, but I have found that that is more of a guideline to see if you are close. You can’t tell how they will really fit and feel until they are complete and you can try them out around the house. Not great, I know, but worth it in the long run. I am finding the more I pairs of pants I sew, the quicker the construction process is. This will make sewing multiple versions less painful and get me to the perfect pair of pants soon!

Overall, I am really happy with the look! I love this fabric and it is the perfect bold floral for a pair of skinny jeans. I still need to work on perfecting the pattern— I do have some whiskering around the crotch, as the pattern describes it, indicating I need to make the crotch a bit shallower on the front. I love that Deer & Does has included a couple pages of common fit issues and how to fix them! So helpful! I also plan on making them a bit longer on my next pair.

To finish the look, I paired my fitted jeans with a slouchy Hemlock tee I made this winter out of a cozy sweater knit. Add a simple gold necklace and I was set. I definitely think keeping the rest of the outfit simple is the way to go, at least for me, and letting the pants really stand out. I like having one garment be the star and the rest of the look be the supporting cast!

 

Best part of all— I have some amazing new floral pants just in time for Valentine’s Day! And I am well on my way to perfecting a new pants pattern. A few slight changes and maybe some of our new stretch denims for another pair of pants to enjoy this spring.

Happy Sewing!

Michelle