Tag: Bloomers

Definitely Not Denim

In the month I wear mostly skirts, I chose to add to my pant collection by hacking some bloomers.

While I’ve been doing quite a lot of historical-ish and plush sewing, I also felt that my current wardrobe had some gaps. I wanted more long pants, preferably some jeans. I also wanted to try the Cycling Bloomers pattern from Bikes & Bloomers some more, since I liked the width, the pockets and the back waist points. So I grabbed some paper and some tape and made a new frankenpattern. Then I grabbed some weird blue fabric that drapes too much to be real denim and got to work.

  • Front
  • Side
  • Back

The pattern came together easily although there was again some pulling along the front pockets. This time I fixed it by adding a tab and a popper. If I do make it again, and I’m expecting that I will, I’m going to try to add some width along the front so it doesn’t pull as bad and make a single welt pocket. Hopefully that’ll deal with the issue. I did add some back pockets to this version and I used the free pattern by The Last Stitch for those. Lastly, I added some belt loops to the sides to hang keys on. If we can ever go back to the office, I need to leave my keys somewhere.

  • Belt loop, closure and pocket
  • Back pocket
  • Waist tab

They are quite long (6.5 cm in the hem) but I guess I’ll see how they hold up or if it shrinks up. I’m a little afraid that the fabric pulls out of shape easily, but there’s only one way to figure it out and that is to keep wearing it. So far, it’s been very comfortable! I’m not sure yet if it will replace my normal pants pattern. This one does take a lot more fabric due to the width in the legs. I guess I’ll keep you posted.

Cycling Bloomers

Bicycle bloomers for the fashionable young lady, with anachronistic blue on the inside.

While making the cycling skirt, I also came across a free pattern for Cycling Bloomers from Bikes & Bloomers. I figured I needed one of those in my life too. So I googled around the internet for helpful blogposts, much thanks With My Hands Dream for all the helpful pictures. I then printed my pattern and got to work. I used the leftovers from the red graduation dress. Since this fabric frays quite a bit, I wanted to bind all edges. So I got the light blue leftovers from the animals quilt and cut those into more strips to bind the edges. I also used some bigger pieces to make the pockets. There is a little blue in the fabric, so I say it fits. It might be somewhat anachronistic, but I don’t really care.

  • Inside front
  • Inside back

The project came together easily, mostly. While there were no instructions, I managed to figure out the order of construction without too much difficulty. My pocket pieces did turn out to be the right size, where they were off for WMHD. I’d finished nearly all of it and then I had to make the button holes. This, as almost always, took me weeks to get round, because I just didn’t feel like doing it. In the end though, I did manage to get myself motivated to finish the thing.

  • Front
  • Back
  • Pockets!

I really like the details of this pattern. The dip in the waistline, the buckle there to tighten it if needs be. The four button closure on the sides and the buttons on the cuffs. There were supposed to be three buttons on the cuffs, but my buttons were to big. I had already put three loops in, but I just tucked on inside, no one will know. The pockets are nice and deep and I did a short test drive on my bike, and I can definitely cycle in them. (Mission Accomplished!)

  • Back buckle
  • Side opening with buttonholes
  • Leg cuffs with buttons

There is a teeny tiny bit of this fabric left, but I haven’t a clue what I could possibly do with that but maybe I can squeeze some hat pieces out? Anyway, I like the pattern so much that I’m thinking about making it a full length pair of trousers. Perhaps without the buttonholes and just a zip. We’ll see where that ends up on the list of projects I still want to make. Even though I keep making things, that list doesn’t seem to get any shorter. I wonder why…