Irony: n.1) a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.
2) after years of cringing at 80's culottes, even the ones your mom and teachers wore, making your own pair; thus a source of amusement to your family
Culottes + windy, overcast days = Full Sails
Calm breeze + weird hands = better picture(?)
...
You know what we did for Easter?
Browse through my grandmother's old sewing magazines from the early 80's.
Yeowch.
And yet...
I was tempted. By culottes.
Pattern: Butterick 6183
Fabric: cotton/linen blend,
camel colored bemberg for lining
Notions: invisible zipper, safety hook & eye
Notes:
I should've used a size 16. But I only had the size that goes to 14.
I figured, eh, there's a lot of ease in these things; it'll be fine.
It'll be fine.
No.
First, there isn't enough ease, so I sewed the seam allowances at 3/8, adding 2" overall. Then, I redrafted the waistband.
Wait, first I decided I needed to break up the real estate on the back, so I added a single welt pocket.
THEN I realized they were tight. Yada yada yada.
Then, I realized my fabric was sheer.
Teachers don't wear sheer pants. Like, ever.
So I added a lining.
(And honestly, they hang much better with the lining, so that is actually a win.)
Slightly out of focus, but you get the point.
Pocket fantastico.
Can I add here that I sluethed out a way to make my pocket bags out of nude lining so they didn't show? Even the welted pocket bag? I noticed and article on this in Sew Stylish (I think), and although I only thumbed through the article in the checkout, clearly, it stuck with me.
Finally, I bravely wore my new culottes to school.
Which prompted exactly one conversation. About being the first to wear a new trend.
Honestly, I live in the midwest. We are not known for being particularly fashion forward here.
But dang, these are comfortable.
Even if, as my Mom says, my kids were probably wondering what in the hell I was wearing.
Irony.
Such a funny post, I've been wondering about these pants, thanks for the review. I have yet to wear culottes, although I'd like to and if it makes you feel any better I am almost certain I will get a few strange looks too, not very fashion forward in my neck of the woods either!
ReplyDeleteThank you! God bless my husband, who can say so much with just a look, but chooses to remain silent much of the time! : ) The pattern is great, and goes together very quickly. You should definitely try these!
DeleteWell I started sewing a pair of culottes (Vogue 9091) and my husband asked what I was sewing so I told him "culottes and you probably won't think they're cute" but any whoo (shrugging shoulders)! His response was silence too! Smart man. I will definitely give these a whirl one day!
DeleteThese look great. I really like the shape of these, nice and tailored. The nude lining is a great idea and the pocket is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThank you! They are tailored, which I think helps keeps them from looking too 80's. Maybe?
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