They don't make 'em like they used to...

Now, would you look at these silly pants? They are just so small, it's ridiculous. You would think, in 1969, that they knew how to design a flared pants pattern.

Clearly, I'm joking. These are ENORMOUS. I absolutely love them. The legs measure 118cm or 46 inches around the bottom.

 

Wish you could still buy patterns for 80c! The pattern is indeed from 1969. I have made these a couple of times already over the years. The blouse is nice but not really my style.

Standing flat-footed...

...and right up on my toes. Even with a 2 inch hem, these are loooong.

Like, stupid-long. They flap around when I walk and if I don't wear them with high enough heels/platforms I will trip over them.

They just have a folder-over waistband which is very simple, and a side-zip fastening. I would actually like them to be a little higher in the waist, and I want to make another pair in a very soft denim. This pair is made in a denim which is fairly stiff, so they stick out a bit.

Especially when you stand like this.

Or this (this was taken while I was attempting to pose for the first photo above. I have a lot of photos that don't usually make it to an actual blog post. I call them transitional-posing photos. I just like the weirdness of this one).

Wave your feet and your flares like you just don't care.

Not sure why I look a bit grumpy in these photos. Next time I will be all sunshine and rainbows.

Wide leg jeans

Jeans or trousers are something I don't make very often. I don't wear them often and/or I prefer skinny leg styles. 

Saying that, I do love high waisted, wide leg styles but I find they're not so easy to come by or terribly flattering. 

This pattern is Vogue 8751. I've been wanting to make some good quality denim trousers and this is a great simple pattern to start with. I'll get to things like studs and pockets when I'm more familiar with such a heavy fabric.

I used a mid weight denim with no stretch for these in size 12. No alterations required. I used a narrow hem at the lower leg edge so I can turn these up into nice cuffs (although they'll hover above my ankles if I do so that option probably won't be taken).

I only have two issues with these. One is my fault; I placed the lower hook and eye closure too far out and you can see it. No big deal but annoying enough for me.

The other issue is that these make my backside look really flat! I mean I'm no Coco Austin but this is not a good look! I don't like this photo much but you can see what I mean here. Possibly I could take in the seam a little around the back but I'm not going to touch these now that they're done. I'll experiment with another pair.

Also, how cute is my top!? It's a Rock Steady top from Mod Cloth but I got it a while ago so I think it will be sold out now.

Anyway, there you go. Jeans. Now I just have to wear them.

The end.

 

Turning leopard print trousers into pedal pushers

 

I didn't think leopard print could be ugly until I laid eyes on these trousers in an op-shop.

Yuck. They're kind of 90's-does-vintage-and-murders-it.

However, I could see potential and this time I remembered to document the process. Every time I alter something I buy in an opshop, I forget to take 'before' photos because whatever it is I'm altering is so hideous. So here we go.

I like pedal pushers to end just below the knee. If they're much longer they feel like short (as in shrunken) trousers.  So first, I took 15 inches off the length, leaving an inch for a seam allowance. In these photos, I've pinned the left leg into a dart at the back to make it more fitted. The bootcut of these trousers means they need to be taken in a lot.

To make the legs narrower, I added a dart all the way up the centre back of the leg. I've realised that the backs of trouser legs are always cut wider than the front, so simply taking in the side seams doesn't work. It makes the front of the legs too narrow, usually resulting in a weird fit around the crotch.

I drew a line up the center of the back... 

(click on any of these to see them larger)

...and used it as a guide to pin the dart. I also used the lower edges of the back pockets as a guide.

This is with the dart still pinned. They're way more fitted now, but still a bit wide at the opening because of the original bootcut.

I took the darts in further in the lower half of the leg to eradicate that awful bootcut flare around the knee

A quick hem, and here is the finished product.

(just ignore my awesomely hardcore weekend tshirt...)

Now I just need to wait 6 months for summer to come around so I can wear the silly things...

1974 Simplicity flares

 
My inspiration for these came from this print.

It's a print of a 1930's French advertisement for cigarettes. I've had it for years and continually resolve to have it framed and then fail to do so. I like the outfit on the left best, and I only recently discovered she may actually be wearing a skirt, not trousers. When it was inspiring me, I thought they were trousers. I'd actually like to make her jacket too. ANYWAY. Here is my version.

 

And here is the pattern I used, which is indeed from 1974.

  

I love that the envelope back boasts about the 'new' narrow shoulder look of the jacket. I did make the jacket years ago, in bright blue corduroy.

  

I'm nicknaming them the Diet Flares, because the waist is so FREAKING TIGHT I really couldn't eat a lot today. Maybe I could call them Soup Flares? "Souper" Flares? Hur hur. Meh, whatever.

 

Sigh.

It's too bad these trousers look so GOOD, because very shortly they will be going to Tartan Trouser Heaven.


I used the same pattern as I used for the green/blue tartan earlier, with a small seam allowance all around. Unfortunately, the seam allowance wasn't quiiiite enough. I had to open up all the seams again, trying not to fray the fabric as much as possible. This was a futile exercise because it's TARTAN.


Why, why, why does tartan fray so much?? I managed to sew the seams up again and get the damn things to fit but the material is SO frayed, the seams are already beginning to show signs of pulling apart. I've reinforced them as much as I can but it won't last. They cannot be saved.


And speaking of fraying, it is precisely because tartan frays that I refuse to spend money on the
good stuff because it's just as annoying as the cheap stuff (prove me wrong!). At least I only lost $14.00 making these. And on the plus side, I do get to make another pair!

Blue/green tartan

These are the first of 2 pairs of tartan trousers in the works. The second pair will be red. These ones were made for my Other Half with an old favourite Vogue pattern, V7573. I'm not sure if it's even available any more, as I've had it for years. The pattern is for more of a boot-cut style, so I had to adjust these quite a bit. I made them in a straight leg and slightly tapered, so as to be stuffed into boots or over sneakers. I also cut the waist slightly higher. The belt loops & pocket are not part of the pattern.



I really love this pattern for the side zip closure. Technically it should be made with a side button closure but I always use a zip. There's an option to make it with a front mock-fly zip as well but the side zip is just so much quicker. I'll update these ones soon with some more pockets and zips, so they are more punk (so I'm told).