Pants the right way and the hack (Burdastyle 04/2013 #114b)

I love raiding the remnant baskets at fabric stores. I often pick up fabrics that I would not normally look at twice on the shelf but, because it's cheap, I give it a go and sometimes I'm pleasantly surprised.

Such was the case with these pants. I found this piece of fabric, approximately 1 metre, for $2 at Textile Traders. I had just made some grey floral pants (below and here) using Burdastyle 04/2013 #114b and still had the pattern out. I decided to make another pair with this thin, woven, snakeskin-like print fabric for the warmer weather. I'm wearing them above with my Twinkle Sews 'On the sidelines' top and below with my Christine Jonson 'Princess wrap' top.

But I was feeling like making something quick and simple so I cheated a bit with this second pair. I just left the darts unsewn and added some knit fabric for the waistband - done in no time.

They are so comfortable and I've had several compliments on them. This was very shortcut sewing, but with a surprisingly useful outcome.

 I never really reviewed the pattern properly when I made the grey floral pair of pants from stretch, woven fabric. I was actually not all that thrilled with the fit. They were a bit baggy in the wrong places. Also, the design has a side zip and no waistband, a combination that feels less than sturdy when I bend over. Actually, in a burst of morbid curiosity, I find myself deliberately bending in a certain way so that the zip starts coming undone. This does not make for a comfortable or dignified outcome and I must rectify the situation with a waistband and other adjustments at some point. One day. If I get a chance between making more new and shiny things!

Here's the pattern photo from Burdastyle.

Source

So, which is best, following the pattern or the hack? I think in this case it's the hack. And somehow, doing it the wrong way even looks more like the pattern picture. Weird.