I’ve also been thinking about trousers for a good long while.
I’m in desperate need of some new jeans, as my current ones are both slightly threadbare and much too small. I did try on a few pairs in the sales, but the fit was so terrible that I didn’t feel terribly inclined to buy any.
I’ve somehow managed to convince myself that trousers are difficult, and I don’t like making them. This is patently untrue, on both counts, but I somehow never seem to get around to making trousers for myself.
Here are a few patterns that have made me want to get sewing:
Vogue 8397 – three pairs of trousers with elastic at the waist.
Vogue 8499 – trousers and a skirt.
Vogue 8561 – this pattern hasn’t been released yet, I found it on Marcy Tilton’s website.
These first three patterns are all hers. She’s developed quite a few patterns for Vogue, and they all have very interesting and unusual shapes.
I’m attracted to the plus four-like shape of Marcy Tilton’s trousers, although I think they’d probably work better in more summery fabrics, like,linens, than they would in heavier suitings or tweeds.
Artisan Pant – a Mary Ann Donze pattern for Indygo Junction. I’ve had this pattern for about a year, and I haven’t yet got around to making it. For some reason it makes me afraid that Trinny and Susannah are going to come after me, point scathingly, and accuse me of looking like a mad art teacher. Which is silly, because “mad art teacher” is probably my ideal fashion inspiration!
Vogue 2367 – this is a discontinued Vogue Men’s pattern, which made Paul laugh. He said that the zoot suit trousers reminded him of MC Hammer. Charming! I thought they’d look particularly excellent with a pair of coloured spectator shoes, but I’m not certain I’d want Paul to be thinking of MC Hammer every time I wore them…
Vogue 8367 – I have started to make a toile for these, out of an old bed sheet. I’ve managed to adjust the pleats and darts around the high waist to accommodate the odd shape of my stomach, which is a good start! I’m very short waisted though, so I need to shorten the rise quite a bit in order to avoid the MC Hammer effect with these as well.
Burda 2767 – this is a men’s costume pattern. I thought that a pair of drop-fronted trousers might be flattering, and I was thinking of putting buttons on either side of the front panel, for a sailor-like effect.
The fabric shop where I used to work now has a few really nice wool fabrics that are made in British mills. I might go and have a look, and see whether I fancy any of them for a nice pair of sturdy winter trousers.