Bold, Bright, Beautiful: Whitney Pants Made with Cobalt Bright Midweight Linen
This is not Greece but I’ll take all the Santorini vibes I can get. Smooth white buildings with vibrant blues and ocean waters surrounding you, how stunning is that combination? My sister and her husband are heading to Greece to celebrate 25 years of marriage. What a lovely accomplishment and definitely worth celebrating. During that time they’ve raised or continue to raise 5 children and have gone through almost anything life can throw at you so I am very excited for them. I think all the trip research with her may have affected my desire for these pants.
The linen I chose today is Bright Cobalt Softened 5.3 oz. I pick this fabric weight for dresses, pants, tops and shorts. I find that even as a Floridian where the summers can get quite brutal, if I pair the pants with a sleeveless top, I can still wear them in the summer months. The texture and breathability of this linen always gets a vote from me when people ask what fabric I suggest. The specific blue is a lovely shade and a quick search online would tell you that blue seems to inspire confidence and I agree, confidently! 😉
A lightweight comfy pair of pants in a vibrant color is a perfect addition to your wardrobe this summer. For this make, I used my own Ma Ma Osa original pattern. The Whitney Pant is available on my etsy site because MaMaOsa.co is currently transitioning to all baby and toddler items. I make these pants with French seams and they usually have two deep outer pockets but this time I added pockets to the inside of the pants. I find these pants extremely comfortable as well as customizable. There are length suggestions marked on the pattern for shorts, cropped pants as well as full length pants but as always use the best length that flatters your figure. I also use an elastic waist with a slight “paper bag edge” that is both comfortable and stylish. If you want a tailored trouser instead of this relaxed look, I highly suggest the Riva Pattern or the Ami by Fabrics-Store for a variety of sizes.
Extra construction notes you might enjoy: I always wash, dry and iron my linen before starting a project. This way the texture is even nicer, and the shrinking is out of the way. When making our pants, if you are unsure of where they should land on your waist and what would flatter you the most, you can assemble the side seams and inseams and then try them on without finishing the waist. Stand in front of a mirror with some pins nearby and fold the waist to see what you think. You may have to juggle a bit since the elastic isn’t installed yet and you’ll be holding your own waist and pinning as you fold but this way you can get a better idea of where things land on your body. I actually do this for the length as well. Pinning and checking the mirror. I never just trust the suggested length on a pattern. We are all unique and the beauty of sewing for yourself is the customization.
2 Comments
Nalani Mcclendon
Fabulous pants and your storytelling is compelling. The Whitney pants pattern is sold out on the Etsy site!
Alisha Cooke
I just forgot to update a larger quantity thank you so much for pointing this out. The pattern is totally available now. Happy sewing 🙂