Waterproof Over Trousers

 

Waterproof over trousers for DH to when when out hiking in the Peak District.

The brief was a zip in each leg so the trousers could be put on without removing walking boots.

I used the Men's Thomas Track Pants from Love Notions in a single colour and unlined. I added much longer zips than the pattern indicates and put pocket slits in which I bound with faux leather.

I found the waterproof fabric difficult to sew, but with a jeans needle, lots of clips and perseverance we got there!

I waterproofed the leg seams with Aquasure, allowing time between steps for the gel to cure.

My 'Sofa Pants' (wide leg joggers) from MHW

This month's pattern from My Handmade Wardrobe's Weekend Sewing Club is the Sofa Pants, casual lounge pants in a knit fabric with wide legs and a few variations.

I made mine in a plain navy Ponte Roma with a good proportion of viscose.

I made a lot of alterations to the front and back rise, crutch shape and depth, side hip (which impacted the pockets), took a wedge from the centre back and shortened the waistband. So they fit me now whilst still looking a lot like the line drawing.

It has become clear to me that no pattern company fits me 'out of the packet'. Not just MHW but also Mccall's, Style Arc etc.  So I'm planning to use my successes to build a library of personal slopers I can use for new patterns. This will be slightly more sophisticated than my current approach of pulling bits out of other patterns that worked and then losing them!

And I'll try not to be mislead into thinking this next pattern will be perfect for me, just as it is.

Walking Trousers - pattern comparisons

Back in September I got part way through a comparison of walking trouser patterns which I neither finished nor blogged.

I had a large length of olive green bengaline, ordered online, which was not really my colour once it arrived. There was enough to cut three pairs of trousers for a comparison.

The three patterns were 

Itch to Stitch Mountain View Pull on Jeans

I've made this pattern lots of times before. It's designed for stretch woven fabrics with more stretch than I had in this bengaline. good fit but a bit tight on the thighs in this fabric. Additional zipped side pocket of my own invention is too low down on the leg and not very practical.

Style Arc Delta Cargo Pants

These are very straight cut on the sides, which makes putting the cargo pockets on very easy, but doesn't work particularly well for me as I'm curved at the side hip as well as the derriere. They are simple to sew up with good pockets.

Love Notions Meadowlark Pants

I finally finished these today, very comfortable with loads of pockets. Flat front with mock fly and sewn down button. Back elastic quite tricky to sew. Lots of great pockets, knee darts and an activewear fit.

Summary

For all 3 I have adapted the crutch curve shape and length to suit my body but otherwise gone for the size which matches my measurements, and because of this all 3 pairs are wearable. 

The Style Arc Delta Cargo pants don't stay up very well once anything is put into the pockets, so I think I'll add belt loops to make them more practical. Future versions are going to need a curve in the side seam :-)

The side zipped pocket on the Mountain View pants is not useable in reality, so I think I'll remove it.

The Meadowlark Pants work quite well, but next time I'd simplify the waistband and add a little bit of width at the knees.

I have a lovely piece of 4 way stretch activewear fabric, so I can now decide what pattern to use to make those up, probably the Meadowlarks with some tweaks.

Mid blue trousers

I made these wide leg mid blue trousers (the colour was called "smoky blue" when I bought it last summer).

As before they are adapted from New Look 6438 View D. I altered the waistband to elastic and omitted the side zip. I added side slash pockets. These are the full length version.

They make a nice outfit with the print top from last month

Always good to have outfits, as I've found these blue things don't really go with each other!

Woodrose Pink Trousers

 

Trousers to match the jacket, using a pattern from Burda March 2011.

Here are the trousers with the jacket.

There's a waistcoat in progress too

Palazzo Trousers - New Look 6438

 I used New Look 6438 View D as a starting point for Palazzo trousers.

I wanted elasticated waist trousers, so I omitted the back darts and replaced the shaped waistband with an elasticated one.

I also wanted pockets so drafted up some simple inseam pockets (though I'd make them deeper in a future pair).

I have a non standard crotch curve, so used another pattern I have altered a lot for fit to alter the crotch on these, I extended the front and back crotch depth slightly, and raised the back waist. The result is very comfortable for me.

I decided to use a mystery crinkle fabric, probably polyester - with red threads in one directions and gold in the other. In some lights the red or gold is more apparent, but overall it reads as orange.

This has been languishing in the stash for at least 10 years, so it was use it or give it away.

There's a reason this fabric languished in the stash for so long! When I'd finished the pants, DH wanted to know if I'd got a part in Aladdin. Sigh.

The bright colour, shine and crinkle don't make for very flattering pants.

The pattern is a keeper so I'll be sewing the trousers again in a more suitable fabric - something like plain navy blue or a printed viscose.

NOTE: the legs don't actually flare out as the line drawing imply, they are wide and straight.

Black Pinstripe trousers

My final piece in this collection are some black pinstripe trousers.

This is my altered New Look 6735 pattern. I also added extra hidden inseam zipped pockets.

 And here are all the pieces together

Itch to Stitch Mountain View Hiking Pants

 

These are my newest hiking trousers. I used the Itch to Stitch Mountain View Jeans with a few alterations.

Used lightweight stretch woven fabric bought on holiday in Madeira. 

Put the two back leg pieces together as one.

Left off lots of the extra topstitching. 

Added two extra side seam pockets which close with invisible zips.

Added 6 belt loops.