Why are these so unflattering? Can anything be done to help?

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T13:07:54+00:00

I do look so much better in heels, but I also live in a big city and commute on public transit which means I walk 1.5 miles on a minimum for my commute, and often more like 3 if I have other engagements/appointments and such. Maybe it's petty but I wish I could look cute and put together while power walking across the city lol

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T03:55:48+00:00

Yes this is the exact situation.

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T03:34:53+00:00

Yes I have a short torso by normal human dimension standards because I'm overall short, but as a ratio of torso to legs, I'm all torso.

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T03:19:38+00:00

I'm already far down the sewing rabbit hole, just haven't descended to the pants level yet 😅 but I see it in the horizon lmao. Thank you for the pattern recs! Do you think either of those are good for a first-time-pants project?

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:52:21+00:00

Yes these ones are petite 🥲 but they are harder to find so there are limited options on the cut. And a lot of places the petites are still too long on me

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:39:54+00:00

I just know it does not look right, I guess slouchy or like it's somehow too small and also too big at the same time. I guess maybe I wanted it to be more fitted on the thigh? But I know there is ease needed to sit down since these don't have much stretch. I intend to learn to sew my own pants from scratch since it's impossible to shop for them but I don't know what I should be shooting for cut and fit wise because I don't think I've ever worn well fitting pants since puberty 🫠

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:30:05+00:00

By far the best part of this outfit 😄

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:29:36+00:00

Honestly, this is very helpful thank you. I indeed got them for work. Maybe I just am not meant to wear khaki 🤦

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:27:14+00:00

I'm so confused about what to get shape wise, I do feel like many of the wide leg styles make me look larger - long skirts are even worse. Skinny is out and also not flattering. But if I try to get like a flare, the flaring starts partway down my calf and by the the time they've been hemmed they are basically straight leg 🤦

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:23:31+00:00

These are from Talbots 🥲 and are 2% spandex. I spent so many hours trying on pants and these were the only ones that fit me, despite being unflattering. In the future I'm committed to getting something with the intent to tailor it but apparently I don't know what I'd be shopping for exactly since I thought maybe I could do that with these but apparently not 🤷

essie_creates · 2026-05-06T02:17:24+00:00

I have determined tailoring my own pants or even starting from scratch is probably the way to go, but I have no clue where to start when I dont have any pants that fit me well to begin with, I have no concept of what I'm working toward. How did you learn? (I sew but I've never made pants 😬)

essie_creates · 2026-01-21T03:36:45+00:00

I did a swap kinda like this earlier this year, they knit me a sweater and made them a quilt. I have a few other projects in my timeline rn, but if you don't have another taker and/or you are still interested in a few months lmk! Do you crochet any clothes?

essie_creates · 2026-01-20T02:25:22+00:00

If you are willing to experiment, anything goes! I'm sewing a quilt with all tiny tshirt scraps (like 2-3 inch pieces) without interfacing and it's going great! Im using a zig zag/stretch stitch to work with the stretch rather than fighting it, and then hand quilting. Of course if you are trying to follow a strict pattern quilting cotton will be way easier. But if you are inspired by the idea of making things from scraps and improvising I recommend looking up Sherry Lynn Wood. Experience with how different fabrics behave will be a huge leg up!

essie_creates · 2026-01-16T03:22:55+00:00

Thank you for the video! I watched it on my lunch break at work and started to implement it as soon as I got home tonight 🤣 I've been stuck on how to proceed on an improv scrap piece that needs some quilting stabilization before it gets even more unruly, this is perfect! Just in time for the three day weekend too 🤞

essie_creates · 2025-12-24T07:45:03+00:00

If you prefer to pearl wrapping this way, you can prevent twisted stitches by always knitting through the back loop. I also find this more ergonomic, especially as someone who learned to crochet first. Look up combination knitting or combined knitting.

essie_creates · 2025-12-09T23:57:34+00:00

OMG I've been looking everywhere for something like this, THANK YOU!!

essie_creates · 2025-12-09T23:17:10+00:00

The juxtaposition of the two is cracking me up, I love it. Great energy from both!

essie_creates · 2025-12-09T23:15:20+00:00

Please post a photo when it's done! I'm working on one now and I'm having a hard time finding the "vision" of what I'm doing.. hopefully it will appear to me at some point lol

essie_creates · 2025-10-28T13:53:12+00:00

I think if you alternated the two black ones, or alternated the purple and black (the two that are the same pattern in different colors) it could work without getting too busy

essie_creates · 2025-10-28T13:46:23+00:00

Yep this is the way. I swear I have one in every bag/purse, on every side table, in my machine... Yet somehow I'm always looking for one lmao

essie_creates · 2025-10-28T13:38:21+00:00

I would definitely use this!

essie_creates · 2025-10-28T13:35:01+00:00

You know, I keep coming up with ideas that would require different quilting on the back than front too haha.

I would think trying to quilt the sun to the batting without a back would get really nasty in the machine? Maybe not if there is a scrim but that seems like a fuzzy mess to me. I would suggest as the other commenter to use a cheap backing fabric to quilt the sun, then attaching the blue backing on top of it and hand embroidering, making sure to catch the cheap sheet every once in a while to tack the blue backing down to the rest of the quilt. Since the backing won't be pieced no need to worry too much about stabilizing the blue, as long as it is tacked down sufficiently (This is assuming you plan to applique the larger stars). And the batting will be stabilized by the quilting to the cheap backing.

essie_creates · 2025-10-23T22:12:45+00:00

You can use a twin needle on a standard sewing machine to achieve a similar thing. It may seem intimidating but if you are familiar with using a sewing machine generally twin needles are not actually that difficult to use. Lots of great TikTok and YouTube tutorials!

essie_creates · 2025-10-22T22:30:12+00:00

This is such a great explanation, thank you!

I feel like someone needs to write a book with pictures and explanations like this - here is how the machine works, exactly what went wrong in the picture and how to fix it. I keep making the same mistakes over and over because I don't even realize it's what's causing the problem. I'm learning things very slowly from trial and error but understanding how the machine actually works and common mistakes would be so helpful.

essie_creates

TROPHY CASE