I was inspired to dig out my copy of Simplicity 3688 after seeing Tasha’s fab blue corduroy pants over at By Gum By Golly. I’d been holding on to some dark olive-y synthetic fabric I picked up for cheap at Goodwill with no real project in mind for it, and I figured that I could always use it to make a wearable muslin of the pants.
I can see why this pattern receives rave reviews: it’s fabulous! The fit was spot-on, the construction was simple, and they’re really quite flattering. I ended up cutting the waist two sizes smaller than the hips, and it fits me absolutely perfectly. I now want to make more pairs in every likely color, and I have plans to adapt the pattern into shorts for a vintage-inspired playsuit. As a child of the ’90s, I’ve been naturally suspicious of high-waisted pants, but now that I’ve got a pair that fit well, I don’t see what there is to be afraid of. They’re ever so much more comfortable than the awkward low-rise jeans I’ve worn in the past, and much less likely to fall down.