Cropped Cargo Pants from NEWLOOK 6216

I have completed a pair of cropped cargo pants....

...and I completed my Make a Garment a Month March's Challenge...

in March.   :)

My original plans changed as my cropped pant's vision became clearer.  What began as plans to create Simplicity 2188 cropped, gathered hem pants in an olive linen blend fabric became...

NEWLOOK 6216 altered to become a cropped cargo-style pant out of a lightweight cotton twilllish khaki fabric remnant that was just enough for a pair of cropped pants.  I'd just made this pant so I knew it would fit, PLUS it has pockets! (S2188 has no pockets) and I decided my linen blend fabric needed to be used for a different project. These are a not-too-gathered elastic waist pants and I deleted the cording in the waistband again for a nice flat fit.

So this....

..became this.

This image from Polyvore helped bring it all together.  I'm still thinking about going back and topstitching the pockets. 

Even though they are on the 'inside' of the pants I'm thinking that'd work?  This type of pocket works with my body-shape so much better than an 'in-seam' pocket.  I did fool around with trying to raise the back a little, and need to raise it a little more.  The front as per pattern is perfect for me, but the back really does need to be raised probably @1".  Something to work on next time.

I wanted to show you this would also make a nice simple cropped pair of pants too.  My right leg, below, has not been gathered.... vs. the left leg has.  I trimmed this to fall just below the knee.  I really thought about where I wanted the pant to fall on my leg, as too long and it 'shortened' me.  I think this looks about right for my height.

I'd already serged all seams and turned under 1" for the hem and topstitched with twin needle when I decided to make it gathered through a bottom casing, per my inspiration image, instead of the up-the-side-leg 'ruching' type of gathering S2188 has you do.  It was so easy, even at this point!  Simply unpick the little bit of serging/stitching just in the middle there of the top of your 'hem' at the outside side seams(s) and voila! you've made a 'casing'.  For the ties I cut 1 1/4" x 36", fold in middle, then fold in sides and top stitch all.  After threading it through the casing with a small safety pin, tie each end in a simple knot.  Gather, then tie or knot, depending on the look you want.

Love, love, love my new cropped cargo pants and will probably make them again as this fits my casual, country, small-town daily life well. 

The pants were made with a remnant from my $1.00/yard Wal-Mart fabric and my top and cardigan are rtw.