Yay!! I made pants! I actually did it!!
Last year I participated in the Vintage Pattern Pledge and managed to get all my makes completed by the skin of my teeth. And while I’ve been super slow starting with my sewing this year, I did sign up to do it all again.
I, Bonita Vear of Lavender & Twill, pledge to sew at least five vintage or vintage reproduction patterns in 2016 ~ these must include one pair of pants! I also pledge to finish one knitted garment from a vintage or vintage reproduction pattern.
This time, I was also invited to share my make as part of the Vintage Pattern Pledge roundup on Kestrel Makes {and you can check out my guest post interview over here}. It’s taken me a whole six months to get cracking, I think I’ve been dragging my heels after all the sewing disasters I had faced last year. But I finally sat down at my machine and I’m really happy that the first pattern I sewed up this year was my first pair of long anticipated trousers!
I’ve seen Simplicity’s Retro re-release of a 1940’s four-piece suit pattern floating around on sewing blogs/vintage blogs for a good several years now. It’s a great pattern, everyone seems to like sewing it up. Every time I saw the pants I was like: “They look great! I should make those!…But pants are so hard… Eh, I’ll just sew a dress instead.”. This year, however, I put on my brave face, made my pledge to actually give it a go, and whadda you know… It wasn’t that scary at all! (•̀o•́)ง✧
Okay, so they are not exactly the most challenging kind of pants to sew {I’m looking at you jeans…} but any kind of pants have been on my “OhboyIcan’tsewthattooscary” list ever since I started sewing. So I didn’t have to face a fly, any sort of thigh/hip/butt/crotch adjustments ~ thank goodness! ~ or twin top stitching, but I’m taking baby steps towards it, and that’s enough for me at the moment.
The ease of construction and the loose, vintage style of these pants means that this pattern is a fantastic beginner’s introduction to sewing trousers. It went together really smoothly {I only had to unpick a couple of seams when I got the front and back pieces confused, but when I figured out that I’d sewn it front-front and back-back instead of front-back, front-back it was a very easy fix}, and there aren’t any difficult techniques you need to know to make them up.
I did switch out the standard waistband interfacing for Grosgrain ribbon to create the waistband. I like using this couture technique for building the waistband because I feel like the finished result is far more sturdier, actually stands up better instead of folding over or creasing down {like a lot of my skirt waistbands used to do before I started doing this}, and doesn’t stretch out of shape. Plus, I think it makes button holes easier as well! But on that note, yes, my button tab is too long… Whoops!
I also added a pocket into the side seam opposite the zipper, because who likes pants without pockets?? I mean, really…. But I do that with all my skirts and dresses too. I find if it doesn’t have pockets, I’m much less likely to wear it!
I handpicked the zipper and the hem for the pants ~ and while I adore hemming by hand, zippers still elude me when it comes to a perfectly neat finish, so I think I need to keep practising my zipper insertion for sure.
I am so happy with the finished trousers though; I can’t even say. This winter I’ve really been into swing pants ~ I kind of feel like they are the vintage girl’s version of trakkie-daks…. Or pyjamas… Have I mentioned that these things are darn comfortable? (~￣▽￣)~
I’m definitely leaning towards 1940’s land girl inspiration for styling options rather than glamourous Hollywood slacks ~ those ladies had to work hard, and had to have outfits that were not only durable, but also easy to move in. These pants definitely fit that bill, and are a wardrobe staple for me right now. I’m just wondering how many more pairs I should make! I definitely need a navy pair in twill or gabardine, and possibly a pair in chocolate Ponte knit??!
Or maybe I should try my hand at a pair of jeans? If anyone has any recommendations for an easy 1940’s -1950’s vintage or vintage reproduction pattern for jeans; I’m all ears! ( ^ _ ^)∠☆
~ Project Details ~
- Year: Retro re-release of a Simplicity 1940’s suit pattern
- Pattern: Simplicity 3688
- Fabric: Unknown length of undetermined stretch hounds tooth knit fabric. This fabric came from my Grandmother’s stash. It was passed on from her to my Mom, and then to me before it was finally made up!
- Notions: Two buttons, Grosgrain ribbon for the waistband, and one metal zipper
- Time to complete: Two weeks
- Make again? Yes. No doubt. I’m already trying to figure out which fabric I should use next…
- Wear again? Considering that I’ve worn them every day since I finished them up, and I’m wearing them right now as I write this post ~ I’d say so! Haha!!
- Total Cost: $2.60 for the zipper, the fabric was from the stash, as were the buttons. Not bad, but then I have to count $16.50 for repurchasing the pattern after Miss Three decided to jump on the lounge chair where I had put the pattern tissue and tore it to shreds... So, $19.10 in total.
xox,
bonita
༺ ♡ ༻
DIY Vintage Hair Tie | Me Made, 2015
Cherry Pointe Knit Top {old} | Collectif
Land Girl Slacks | Me Made, 2016
Tan Prairie Style Boots {old} | Cotton On
༺ ♡ ༻
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