Well I wasn’t sure I would ever get to this stage with these but we are here! I rolled up my sleeves, stiffened my resolve and my upper lip – no tears here – no Sir, I kept the faith. I would be lying if I said we didn’t fall out -and then there was the rugby tackle- less said about that the better! Yes me and my Swing Pants have been through a lot, but I never gave up and in fairness they stuck (or should I say clung by me) and that is why we are standing here, together today; and it has to be said, with a modicum of happiness.
How did we meet I hear you ask – Well! I remember as if it were yesterday, It was one of those slow days, a Sunday just after lunch lolling on the sofa minding my own business, mooching around, browsing as you do, when there quietly lounging on a low slung chair – at the wonderful Vintage Fashion Library – WW2/Swing 1940s. were the pants of my dreams – literally! I’ve been hankering for these for some time; you know that way you can’t describe what you want but you’ll know when you see it? Well that’s what happened to me. You see the reason is that, …..well how can I put this?,….. its like this, well….. erm…its just that, well…………………. I HAVE A BUM! There I said it! phew!, feel so much better for that! You see me and my bum, well we get along mostly but my bum is not a fan of trousers (pants). First off it likes to be fully covered, no builders bum, no low rise, no skinny, cropping, boot cut – my bum joins forces with my thighs and its armageddon in the trouser department.! The other thing is that I’m not too tall and the distance between the ground and my bum is getting less every year – despite the lunges. Now I don’t want ya’ll coming back to me saying ” Call that a bum? This is a bum” and sending me pictures of your magnificent posteriors – like anything its all relative or in my case my mother to be precise!!
So what to do? I get fed up with skirts and dresses all the time – which I wear a lot to work so when the weekend comes round I want to lounge, I’d love to slink but that just looks ridiculous and could cause an injury.
My answer was to go back in time, yes when all else fails and the tyranny that is modern fashion has given you a bitch slap then its back you go to a time when grass was greener, summers where warmer – Could it be that it was all so simple then?…. or has time re written……..Sorry I’m back! sneaky old Gladys and her pips! So back in time to when practical pants where in vouge and Vouge, they covered, they skimmed, they covered your shoes so you could wear a heel, there’s no fly front – cause we don’t need that, bit baggy in the crotch – this is good – no camels round here thank-you-very-much!, just a proper pair of women’s trousers for someone of my shape and ahem… vintage!
The fabric Woman! tell us about the fabric I hear you cry! ok,ok…. the fabric is a linen and I think poly mix I bought a batch when I was in Paris last year at the market in the Fabric District for a next to nothing – the buttons cost more! It has a chalk-pinstripe and a nice charcoally grey all adding to the allusion of lengthy limbs. The pockets and side buttons are my favourite detail as is the fact that they sit properly on the waist.
So to share the joy I have decided to host a give -a-way of this most sacred of Pant patterns. I won’t lie to you, you will probably have to alter the pattern but you should be making a muslin anyway for all your garments – you know that- so this is good practice for those of you who like to wing it and then regret it – so two gifts really!! The pattern is designed to have button openings at both pockets, bit like sailor pants – but I just put them on one side ( a zip would work too) and I can still get in and out of them. The pattern said 28″ waist but came with a caveat that a previous maker felt they were more of a 32″, I just made the darts wider. The crotch was a bit low, even for me so I measured my rise (sitting on a chair) to my waist and folded the excess of the pattern at the crotch-line and lowered the waist.(and of course the pocket placement) accordingly. These are fairly simple alterations and ones you would probably have to do for any pant pattern. You won’t be disappointed after the extra effort.
brown paper copy pattern – adjustment at rise
To be in with a chance of winning the original pattern complete with instructions, just leave a comment below. I will pick one at random before the end of the month. Good Luck.
As an aside, in Scotland to”swing your pants” is a colloquialism for dancing.!!
The blouse is featured in an earlier post Jasmine by Colette Patterns.
I too have – as you put it – a bit of a bum. No, I won’t send pictures.
And I hate buying pants because of it and its smaller friend – my waist. (It can be a serious circus tent situation sometimes!) Anyway – lovely job on the pants! I had a similar pair back in my smaller days before I could sew, and I miss them. I’d love an opportunity for the pattern – I checked the website and it looks like they’ve sold out of the repro pattern. Rats. Anyway – great job! They look fabulous!
Thank you Kendra for stopping by, I have put your name down for the draw. Good Luck
‘Swing your pants’—I love it! (but do they mean the other kind of ‘pants’?)
No need to enter me in the giveaway, but I just wanted to say I sympathize on the bum issue.. You should see the hacking and slashing that happens when I make anything trouser-like! (I’m tall and long in the rise, with a 12″ difference between my waist and hip measurements.) And yet I’m still trying to make friends with muslins.
hahaha, yes but I thought best not go there! Thanks for the sympathy, though you sound gazelle like, so not sure how sympathetic I can be! Thanks for stopping by.
Woah, these came out wonderfully! Love the buttons on the pockets. (and not going to send you a pic of my backside either). But, would love to try to win the pattern, they seem flattering to various kinds of backsides! AND, no welt pockets on the back!!! I’m (trying) to make a pair of pants now and they have welt pockets on the back. I cried a few times. Need I say more?
No need to say any more, I fully understand its like some kind of strange initiation ceremony where you are challenged to make a pair of pants and everyone has the same – but different issues, still once their done life’s a little brighter
You’re in the draw btw
I’d be swinging my pants for joy if I could pull off a pair like these! So sleek and chic! They look great with your Jasmine, too.
Thank you Cherry, I have you in the draw – everyone should have a chance of swinging their pants!
Wow. Your trousers look great. I’m still searching for the trouser/pants pattern of my dreams. I’m sure I’ll come across it one day and who knows, this could be the one.
Josephine you’re in the draw, the course of true love never runs smooth.
I’ve got a sewahic Thurlow trouser pattern waiting to be tried due to me also having a bum! I’d love to give this vintage pAttern a try to – looks like a good shape for me!
Have a bum? These are the one! – my new slogan – I have you in the draw Sarah, who knows you may be one of those lucky ones who has more than one, the One – the Two as it were. Good luck with the Thurlows.
I’ve never tried on pants like this (I too mostly wear skirts, largely because pants seem too constricting) but these pants seem like the perfect solution. Please enter me in your drawing. And, I love the flair of the buttons down one side. They are gorgeous.
Thank you Beth – I have you in the draw Good Luck!
First of all, this post had me ROTFLMAO! Great writing, and a GREAT pair of trousers. Love the fit, and I love the button detail. Your pics are wonderful – it’s the perfect outfit and you look so smugly proud of yourself after the winning the rugby tussle that I’m still chuckling!
Thank Tia, bit of a face off but there was really only going to be one winner! I’ve put you in the draw, Good Luck
Very funky pants!
Jeanette – I have officially renamed them my Funky Dance Pants – You’re in the draw!
So incredibly stylish. What a great fit and I love the button feature on the pockets. I’ve a few more dresses on the list before I get to some strides but these are great inspiration, thank you
Hey Girly, Thank you! and thanks for stopping by, you are in the draw – Good Luck
Those are super fab!!! Love the pockets and side buttons. Very stylish!
Thanks, its a great little pattern, you’re in the draw btw
I don’t want to be in the draw thanks but just wanted to say that your trousers are a real success – they look fab. It is really difficult to get trousers to fit, once I’ve sorted the fit on a trouser pattern I make it over & over. Love the blouse too.
Thank you, yes not one for reinventing the wheel, I’ll be making a pair in cream linen next!
Those are seriously cool pants, love the buttons. I live in trousers & jeans, those have a fab shape. Thanks for dropping by my blog btw.
Thanks Anne W, you are in the draw! Good Luck
I think that those trousers look great on you. What a lovely pattern. I have been meaning to create a pair of trousers for myself, but am nervious about al the adjusting that might be needed. But I guess it is probably time to just buckle down and get started.
No time like the present! I will add your name to the draw Good Luck
I’d love to this pattern a try. Please toss my name into the hat.
Angela
You’re in – Good Luck!
Such an spectacular fit…your pants are awesome! I also am going to bow out from the draw, as I am really, really terrible at fitting pants, and the pattern should go to someone with a bit more confidence than me!
Thank you for the lovely comments. For a first timer I would look at a modern pattern with lots of instructions and perhaps a sew along or tutorial.
I’ve already given the Sewaholic Thurlow a shot (with not so great results…) but I am resolved to try it again in the next couple of months!
You look fantastic! I really like the buttons down the pocket… looks very nautical. Great pattern, great fit for a fine back view.
Very nice.
Thanks for visiting and following my blog; I’m so glad to have found you.
Thank Kerri, I’m looking forward to your posts! I will put you in the draw
I love those pants. I love that you can fit them so perfectly! I am currently wrestling with chiffon harem pants and not having that much fun at all. Any chance you could lend me some pants mojo?
Sorry to hear of your trouble with your pants! I will put you in the draw and if you win I will parcel up my mojo and send it to you! Good Luck!
I have a very similar pattern (EvaDress 3322 so I am not trying to win this pattern) and I love them, tho’ like you, I had to take some length out of the rise. I’ve made them once and have a second pair cut out.
I’m sorry you were a few hours too late for my giveaway but, selfishly, I am glad you stopped by. I think I am going to very much enjoy your blog.
Thank you, no problem re the giveaway, and welcome!
Such a witty write-up! Thanks so much for all the photos too! I’d love to be in with a chance to swing my bum in those trousers too!
Thank you – I have you in the draw and if you win I’m expecting pictures, perhaps a video!
Fabulous trousers! They look like one of those garments that becomes such a staple, you don’t even realise you wear it several times a week.
I love the touch with the buttons down one side.
I’d love to be in the draw for the pattern, please. (And I promise I’ll make a muslin! Even though I’m one of those terrible people that just wings it usually….)
Hi Kat thanks for joining, yes I already have a nice flannel and linen in mind – covering all bases, a real tried and true! I have you in the draw and if you win I will be expecting a post of your muslin – its the gift that keeps on giving! Good Luck
I love your troosers!! What a fantastic job. I’ve just discovered your blog, courtesy of Debi and her happy sewing (thanks Debi). And those buttons! If I were lucky enough to win I’d be cheekily copying your style and lining my pockets with buttons, that is once I’d figured out the whole trousers fitting thing.
Mosulli Thank you and I’ve a good mind to enter you twice for the use of the word “troosers” as in “Donald Where’s yur troosers” a real Scottish lament if ever I heard one! Good Luck!
You look fantastic and great. Love the blouse too
Thanks for the lovely comment Hueisei, you’re in the draw Good Luck!
How fabulous: a first-rate essay with slacks to match. Love your style in both departments. Don’t put me in the drawing, though. I’m still working on a Craftsy class in pants fitting.
Ohhh Miss is that an “A” in creative writing?! Such nice comments, thank you. – Good luck with your pants fitting
These are so cool. Great outfit!
Velosewer thanks for the lovely comment. I have you in the draw – good luck!
Awesome pants. Your whole outfit is so fab’! I’m glad I came across your blog, it’s fantastic!
Thank you and welcome – You’re in the draw btw!
Yay!
These are gorgeous swing pants, I love a vintage style pattern but have never actually attempted using a really old pattern before!
As luck would have it Lucky Lucille has a guest post from Debi of Happy Sewing Place all about working with non marked vintage patterns – check it out! I have you in the draw!
Love! They look fab! I’ve not sewn trousers before so winning would be brilliant. I’ve just discovered your blog via did you make that btw, it’s great.
Do you remember Going Live on the bbc years ago? There was that duo (was it Trevor & Simon?) who did Swing your Pants, hilarious! (Well, I was about 10, everything was hilarious)
Hey Sabs you are in the draw – Don’t remember Trevor & Simon – I must have missed it I expect I was too old to watch, I was a Swap Shopper!! Now that is really going back a bit! Good Luck