Pattern Description
The Jalie Denyse is a pull-on wide leg pants pattern for non-stretch woven fabrics. It comes in shorts, cropped, and full leg lengths. (Note that for cropped and full length you need to extend the length yourself. Jalie has a table of measurements for guidance on how much to extend it.) There’s back patch pockets and front inseam pockets. The elastic waist is cut slightly narrower than the hip, which helps reduce bulk at the waist.
My shirt is the Jalie Tina.
Fabric and Materials
I used a lightweight Robert Kaufman cotton twill from Fabric Mart. Unfortunately I don’t appear to have taken a screenshot when I purchased it, but it is lightweight and could almost be used for a heavier weight shirt.
I am not entirely sure where I got the 2” elastic. It may be an old Fashion Sewing Supply purchase. If not Fashion Sewing Supply then Wawak or Mandala Crafts on Amazon.
Alterations
I started with a size CC, which is slightly larger than my current hip measurement. My fabric has zero stretch/give and I’ve had some weight gain lately (the relentless demands of caring for my young and wild son and elderly stroke victim father this year is taking its toll on me) so I felt like it was better to just size up.
I added a total of 2.5” to the center back height, tapering to nothing at the center front. Technically I could have probably gotten away with just 1.5″, but I prefer my back waist to be higher than the front because I want to be fully covered when sitting or bending over.
Since my waist is smaller than my hip size I used the size Z elastic measurement.
Construction
These went together pretty quickly. I was able to get them cut and sewn and finished in about 3-3.5 hours.
I liked the construction for the waist. You see one side seam normally, but leave a one inch opening when sewing the front and back waistbands together at the other side seam. Fold and press the seam allowance for the lower edge in place. Then attach the waistband to then pants with the right side of the waistband facing the wrong side of the pants. Then you press, flip it over, and sew that edge you folded over earlier to the right side of the pants. It gives a very neat finish from the right side while fully containing the wrong side.
Conclusion
I find these shorts much more comfortable for my pear shaped figure than the Jalie 3243. My fabric has no give to it and I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all in them during the day, not even when I was squatting and sitting on the ground outside today assembling my son’s new sandbox. The wide elastic waistband is very comfortable to wear, and the 6″ inseam length of my size CC makes me feel comfortable with the amount of coverage provided. (For this reason I think it would make a really good woven shorts pattern for little kids as well as adults.) The only thing is that due to the elasticized waist combined with my “bubble butt” and narrower waist, particularly in the back, the back pockets tend to gape. This isn’t a dealbreaker for me because my shirt covers it, but something I thought I should mention as a caution to anyone with a shape like me that is considering making these.
Clothing Engineer 
Thank you for this review, and all your reviews! These shorts seem to fit perfectly on you. I admire your sewing skills so much. Your reviews are always so helpful. I have a figure similar to yours – curvy with a small waist. Here’s my question about this pattern. How is the crotch comfort? I find almost all patterns and ready made pants and shorts ride up quite uncomfortably in my front crotch. My waist is high, and high waisted pants don’t always solve this problem. I don’t particularly have a protruding stomach, but the front crotch often feels too short when I sit. I think having shorts/pants with elastic waists may complicate this issue. I guess it is apparent that I have not figured out this problem yet! It is quite frustrating. Any suggestions are always welcome. BTW, as a previous long term caregiver, I empathize with your situation and encourage you to do whatever you must to take care of yourself. It’s essential for your mental and physical health and to be there for others on a long term basis.
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I had no discomfort at all wearing these shorts despite the non-stretch fabric. Ever since I started making the back crotch significantly higher in the back (2.5” in the center back, tapering to 1” at the side seam, tapering to nothing at the center front) I don’t seem to have that issue anymore. I think when you sit a lot gets “stolen” in the back when there’s not enough length and then it takes from the front. I think that unless the fabric has 4-way stretch you’re just not going to get a good result when you’re smaller in the waist unless you make that back waist higher than the front. Even with curvy fit RTW jeans and pants the waistband is not level, they make it so the back is significantly higher than the front. I also find that you need to make the waist on the loose side. Otherwise, particularly with elastic waists, it will just keep riding up as soon as you bend over or sit down. Women with less waist definition seem to be able to wear pants with elastic waists much lower and tighter because there’s no curve to keep migrating up.
My parents had me in their mid 40s, and now I have a little one while I’m in my early 40s. So there I am, right between the very young and the very old. Things got much easier once my dad improved to the point of being able to go home to my mom, but I still do a ton of driving and errands and medical stuff and just trying to help solve various issues my parents have, plus dealing with a very intelligent and “busy” son that doesn’t respond well to the typical tricks they suggest for managing young children. I just view it as something that needs to be done and that’s all there is to it. There’s also peace of mind knowing they’re always safe and well cared for. My dad has often expressed guilt at being a “burden” and I just remind him of all the times the past few years when I had an issue with my house or car and he just ran right over!
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Thank you so much for your response! I will try it on my next make. I had not thought about the back borrowing from the front issue. I also had not thought about making the waist more loose, although now that I think about it, the shorts I have with a loose waist seem to fit better. A tight waist definitely seems to always ride up. You have given me hope I can solve this problem.
I took care of my beloved husband for many years. It was definitely a labor of love, but it was also demanding of my time, and I found that I just needed alone time or activities that were away from him to recharge. I am sure he needed this as well, but he never demanded it. I don’t regret a minute of it, and I learned a lot about myself in the process. Here’s hoping your son becomes a bit easier to manage soon. They grow up fast!
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I’m very fortune to have an extremely supportive husband. He is the very definition of diligent and takes his duties as a husband and father very seriously. He’s great about taking over with our son after dinner and hanging out with him before giving him his bath and getting him ready for bed. Sometimes I’m too frazzled to do much by that time, but at least I usually get some quiet time before bed. He also does a lot with our son on the weekends and says by Sunday afternoon he can’t wait for Monday morning so he can go back to work again because it is a lot easier 😂 no one understands how two quiet people got such a high energy kid!
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