Hudson, meet Renfrew. I’d planned on having these Hudson pants done last week as part of the Perfect Pattern Parcel #6, but I already discussed my land-of-the-unicorns approach to my sewing output level (read: completely fantasy-based).
But here we are, just a mere seven days later and voila, the comfiest lounge pants known to mankind. And look, I’m branching out and trying a new position other than my usual awkward standing. I give you awkward sitting.
I love wearing these because they’re the very definition of relaxation, but I have to be honest…I don’t love how these look on me. I mean, check it out:
I have these calves that would be called “daikon” in Japan, referring to large, napiform radishes (now there’s a vocabulary word for you). A rather unflattering moniker for bulbous calves, but sadly accurate. I fear that these so-called joggers highlight my stumpy legs and bulky calves. Not to mention my non-existent derriere.
Gah.
I think I’m exacerbating the problem with the light grey knit (no idea what type it is). This is the kind of garment that should be made exclusively in black, at least for my body type. And I am going to have to make another pair because these are so darn comfortable. Maybe the shorter, capri version would work better — I will report back! Another tactic I might try is cutting one size smaller for the thigh area. I’d heard that this is extremely slim fitting so I went up a size to 10, but I think less bulk around my thighs would make the whole look more flattering. The pocket detail, by the way, is the denim knit I use all the time (e.g. here and here and here).
Earlier this week, I posted a blurry shot of this stripey Renfrew top on instagram — hastily taken by K with my ipad — but I felt like it should be showcased a little better here. I’ve had this amazingly soft black-and-white striped sweater knit in my stash for some time, and though it was slated for K, I couldn’t resist using it for myself. K has already asked for a mini-me version. This is my second Renfrew top by Sewaholic (I haven’t shown you my first one yet), and I made some tweaks to improve the already great pattern. I lengthened the bodice by 2 inches, and also reduced the width for the sleeve cuffs and bottom band. The cuffs were too loose on my first Renfrew, and though I like the band looser just fine, I wanted to give this stripey version a slightly different look.
If this outfit doesn’t say, “I’m not getting out of bed. Ever” I don’t know what does. Speaking of which, I think I might go take a nap.
Love the pants. I think they look great on you. Also: I laughed out loud when I read about the awkward sitting. Always love to read your posts!
Ha, it’s always amusing for me to go through all the photos when I’m editing. 🙂 Thanks, Annika!
Great Japanese sewing books quality pictures. You look totally relaxed. Is this what these pants do to you? 🙂
Oh, the ultimate compliment Jing! These pants definitely make me feel chill 🙂
First, I think you are being too hard on yourself. Gym fiends wish they had your calves…so keep that in mind. They look totally comfy and well made. I hope you get to make a black pair!
I suddenly had this vision of body builders enviously eyeing my calves, Anna! 🙂 I definitely want a black pair and have the perfect knit for it. I actually don’t mind my legs that much, and I find it fascinating to see what styles work with my particular attributes — I see from many comments that people think I’m bashing myself but I swear, I’m not 🙂
Your outfit looks so comfortable! And perfectly cozy for the rainy weather!
Yes!! Totally perfect for rainy weather. Today was gorgeous, but oy…there’s been a LOT of rain lately! Thanks, Elizabeth!
I admire your pants and I think they make your legs look nice too. Pants for an adult? Home made? I wouldn’t dare. They are one step up from pajama pants in terms of casualness, but you can definitely wear them outside. Good job.
I’m still pretty intimidated by pants too, Max! I feel like there’s so much more that can go wrong with fit…anyway, I actually wore these to the gym this morning, and they are excellent treadmill pants 🙂
I like those cushion covers too. Did you make thise as well?
I did! They’re the world’s easiest envelope closure pillow cases made out of lovely Nani Iro scraps.
I too am hyper critical of my largish calves. But I’ve got to honestly say that my first thought when I saw these on you was ‘wow they do look good even on real legs!” It made me want to go out and by the pattern which I was NOT going to do. You look great always and the pants do look quite nice on you!
Oh, that’s so nice, Bridget. Thank you! I’ve been self-conscious about my legs forever and ever, but since I started sewing for myself, I’ve actually become a lot more comfortable with my body. I think my efforts at humor came across as being negative about myself, ah well 😉
You are way too harsh on yourself. These look great! I have no calves and always admire others big calves . I love this outfit as one of your best ever:-)!
The grass is always greener, Clover, ain’t it? Thanks for the lovely compliment! It’s definitely one of the most comfortable outfits I’ve ever made!!
I think they look great on you!
Thank you, Sarah! I feel so encouraged by all the comments, but I’m still on the fence…I’ll see how it goes with the black pair! 🙂
I love it and think it looks great! I have some sweats like that from Old Navy and I could live in them!! the top looks wonderful. reminds me I have a shirt cut out in black and white stripes that I haven’t sewn up yet. 🙂
I couldn’t bring myself to call them sweats, but that is indeed what they are…stylish sweats, I think 🙂 Black and white stripes are awesome – hope you get a chance to sew yours up, Kristi!
woops, sorry, didn’t mean to use the dreaded sweats word! 🙂 I still love mine!
I love mine too, Kristi! 🙂 I would live in sweats if I could, but I know that it’s a slippery slope from wearing sweats to letting it all go 😉
This outfit looks great on you! I have daikon calves too, but if we can’t change them, we might as well dress them in whatever we like!
Exactly, Mia! There’s a reason the daikon terminology exists in Japan because I have to say, it’s in my DNA from generations past. I mock it but accept it 🙂
i’ve got soccer calves too and there was a mishap with my recent hudsons where they’re even tighter on my calves than they should be (i sized down but think i chopped too much off in the lower leg area)…still comfy as heck! but i’ve asked my husband with both pairs of hudsons whether they’re actually cute on me or if they’re weird. haha. i think he was on the fence? i don’t really care if they’re weird though, because they still look better than ALL of the other lounge pants i own! and i’ve actually gotten compliments on them when i’ve worn them in public (like to the playground/drinking coffee with the neighbor while our kids ride bikes…).
anyway i say you look fantastically comfy and cute. thumbs up! make more!
Man, your Hudsons are SO cute, Kristin. I especially loved the neon touch. And that’s so funny because I asked my husband too and he said, “Well Honey…they ARE sweats. It’s kind of hard to look good in sweatpants.” Definitely making more because I agree – these look way better than any other lounge pants I own.
Don’t be so harsh on yourself. This is actually the first time I have seen these pants look good on someone! I generally find them quite ugly on other blogs. Then again everything you make looks good. Love your style and love your blog!
How sweet of you, Gerður (how do you pronounce that, by the way? I bet I’m butchering it in my mind)! I’m always compelled to tell people, I do make efforts to choose the least offending photos. You should see some of the rejects!!
My name is impossible for most people to pronounce so I have given up on caring long time ago if it gets butchered or not 🙂 http://www.forvo.com/word/ger%C3%B0ur/
I know exactly why you tell people because I always do it (or at least want to do it) myself. It is impossible to get photos of yourself that you like. But I honestly think you get many that look really nice so I don’t think you should be so critical! I bet you if you look at your photos from last year that you will find many that you like more than you did back then. There is something about the NOW that makes us more critical.
Your name is beautiful! It’s true — I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable looking at photos of myself, but it’s true that it’s hard to ignore the voice of judgment. Most of the time, though, I’m shaking my head at my own ridiculousness and have a hard time taking myself seriously 🙂
I think they are superbe! I don’t see any kind of bulbous vegetables at all but I think you are right that pretty much any fabric not grey-trackie material is going to make your feel 100 times better in them. Black is a good idea…I keep thinking I will go for a print when I make mine!
Thanks Sophie!! Oh, you will rock the print Hudsons I am certain. Can’t wait to see!!
The pants and top look cute and comfy. That’s a win win in my book.
I have to admit that I’ve worn the combo twice already and it’s only been three days since I made ’em. Win-win for sure!! 🙂
I won’t even tell you that my good friend and I are always joking about our daikon ashi (even though I just told you)!! Especially when we’re getting pedicures and concerned that our pants won’t go over our calves :-O
I love the pants and the shirt looks especially professional. Great patterns and great sewist.
p.s. I love the new posting schedule as I always have something to look forward to M, W, and F. Thanks for such great content all the time.
Yay, so glad you like the M/W/F schedule, Alana! It’s growing on me, and it’s definitely easier to sew with this new set-up. And so funny about the daikon-ashi pedi situation!! I can completely relate 🙂
You are entirely too hard on yourself! I think these look fantastic, and every bit as cool as the ones I’ve been eyeing in the recent Athleta catalog. Perhaps I should just buy this pattern instead and actually sew something for myself! I love the new pose – very zen-like:) Perhaps that’s what this uber-comfy outfit does to you? That’s a success in my book:)
Thanks Lucinda and don’t worry, I was trying to be funny which clearly backfired, but it’s nice to know I have super supportive readers! Yes, give the pattern a try — I think you’ll like it. It’s so incredibly comfy!
Honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen the Hudson pants made up and thought that maybe I should buy the pattern. These look so soft and comfy and drapey. Of course, I would buy the pattern and then agonize about finding the right fabric and then it would sit there….
I always agonize over fabric choices too, Amanda, though that’s also my favorite part! Thanks for the sweet comment!
I think you look amazing! no seeing big calves at all. They will look brilliant in black. I would like to ask you what type of fabric is? It is just sweatshirt or have some stretch? I have the pattern and I’m scared to make me a pair because of my big tights/hips, more now 5 months postpartum. Hopefully they will go down soon.
So I’m not quite sure what type of fabric I used, but it’s not super thin. Lately I try to get knits that have a little spandex or lycra in it since it seems to help make the cutting and sewing easier. I think it’s worth the effort to make these (it actually come together very quickly), and they’re stretchy so perfect for ever-changing bodies 🙂
I love the pants and the shirt! I might make one of these for myself. You totally inspired me! Thanks!
Marjolein
Thank you, Marjolein! I’m already plotting my second pair of Hudsons! 🙂
You are gorgeous! And you are showing your derriere on the internet! Gorgeous and brave. And funny. You made me laugh out loud! Yes, pants are scary! But those seem a good start and indeed look like the comfiest pants ever! I want to make some too and come a watch a movie with you 😉
Also, a friend of mine, he is a taiji teacher, has very muscular calves and he loves to tell the story how he went to physiotherapy and his therapist called over all the other therapists to admire his big calves! So maybe they are your best undiscovered feature and you should show them off!
Ha! I love thinking about it that way, Ute! I’m heading into skinny jeans territory so I just may be showing off some of my bodacious calves 😉
Aw, thanks Ute! So kind of you, and you need to come visit! Or I need to visit Germany! Ooooh, Europe…
I’m sure it’s a universal truth that no-one is meant to look in trackpants. But I’ve seen Kristin and now you make these Hudson pants look like a really great pair of trackies.
I have the opposite legs to you, mine are really very nice from the knee down but I fear my thighs would look disastrous in pants like this. We are all harsh on ourselves. They look awesome and as pants that are probably never meant to leave the house anyway, I’d definitely give these a leave pass, at least as far as the local shops!
(awkward sitting down was very funny!)
Ha, it’s hard to rock the track pants look, but with these it really doesn’t matter since the comfort factor trumps everything else 🙂
I really like this outfit. I’ve been wearing home made track pants all year and I’m not sure that I can ever wear normal pants indoors again. SO comfy!!! Also because the Hudsons are drafted with a slim lower leg I’m pretty sure they’re tight on everybody’s calves! They look great on you, in my opinion!
So, so comfy, Bella! Thanks for the kind words and making me feel better about my calves 🙂
I’m going to go on record as saying that imho I think the looser fit is way more flattering than snug and yours are some of my favorite Hudson’s I’ve seen. Love them!
Thanks so much, Rebecca! These have proven to be excellent pajamas AND workout pants, and I just love ’em!
You look INCREDIBLE. I absolutely love these on you- I think they fit you beautifully!! I loved your post from today, and had to come back and see for myself. 🙂
Oh, you’re so sweet Erin – thank you! I’m not trying to dig for compliments, but I won’t say no to an ego boost 🙂
Love your Hudsons and I’ve been lurking RTW versions to get just the proportion you sewed up. All the athletic pants I own are either bootleg or practically leggings, so I’m ready to get the Hudson styling into the mix. Pat yourself on the back for a job well done, as they look great.
Oh, thanks Aura! I really need to make at least three more pairs because I wear these ALL THE TIME 🙂
I think they look GREAT! The grey is fine and they are quite flattering actually!
Love the entire outfit!!
Thanks, Nienke! It’s in heavy rotation 🙂