These pants are great. They aren't fancy or complicated to make. I have made this pattern several times over the last few years. I highly reccomend this pattern to beginners and any other sewing level. Because they are so basic, I have been able to tweak this pattern to my tastes.
I did make a few changes to this pattern for the better, I think. The waist band or facing leaves a line if you follow the original directions. Therefore, I illiminated the facings and interfacings and replaced them with wide gross grain tape. This method for making a waist is so much easier and looks better by laying flat against your body with no lines showing underneath that a facing may leave.
I also chose to line these pants. I highly recommend lining dress pants. They look better and smooth out any lines, bulges, or anything else you wear under your garment. Lining is fairly easy. I just cut the lining from the same pants pattern. I may have taken in the lining by an 1/8th of an inch while seaming. Not too much though. Then after sewing up the pants and the lining, I secured the lining at the waist with a single stitch seam before I attached both pieces(pants fabric and lining) to the gross grain tape. The wrong sides of the pants and lining are together before you seam and add the grossgrain tape. I secured the grossgrain tape to the top outside of the pants and then folded it to the inside. Make the tape about a half inch longer than the finised pant waist so that you can fold in the edges after securing it to the waist. Iron as you go because this creates a professional finished look. Most sewers probably know this-ironing is essential to sewing a garment and it is almost never mentioned in the pattern directions.
I hand sew the hems of both the lining and the pants. I left them hanging freely. Sometimes you need to attach the lining to the gament. I did not with these pants. At the waist, I used a hook to hide the lapped, side zipper.
I did cut the smallest pattern size and shorten the pants in the seat, the lenghth, and width to fit my measurements. These are high waisted pants so keep that in mind. The tie at the waist is unsusual. I get many compliments when I wear these pants. I am wearing these pants with a top I made from a Simplicty pattern last summer.
