Holiday pants

I don’t quite know what’s come over me recently. I’ve been sewing lots, but using almost exclusively plain fabrics. Patsy made an Instagram post on the same subject recently, which was the point at which I realised this strange shift away from patterns and prints.

Part of the reason has been my adding more trousers to both my wardrobe and my husband’s. Months of lockdown have meant he’s been living in jogging bottoms and shorts, so a third pair of True Bias “Hudson” pants (with the required extra mile of leg length) was gratefully received!

For myself, amongst other things, have been two pairs of the recent Helen’s Closet pattern, the Arden pants. Described as woven joggers, the pattern has an elastic waistband and three different leg styles: a straight cuff, a narrow elastic cuff and a wider elastic cuff. All three are slightly cropped.

Pardon the reused photo: the weather has once again scuppered my plans for taking new photos of these trousers!

I’ve been looking for comfy jeans alternatives (so bored of my jeans!) and these looked like they might be easier to fit than the Pietra pants which seem to work out too big for me. I cut a size 14 and added my usual 1.5cm to the back rise.

For my first pair, I went for the straight cuff and chose a mid blue chambray. As with all Helen’s patterns, the instructions are really detailed and clear and the drafting is great. There are front angled pockets and patch pockets to the back: the inseam is topstitched in place before the side seams are closed and the pocket bags are held in place with more topstitching, with an added bar tack for security. The pattern gives alternative ways of holding the elastic in place, depending on the look you’re after: for my first pair, I stitched in the ditch down the side seams, and for the second, I did two rows of topstitching around the waistband, which gives a kind of sportier finish.

I wasn’t sure about this pattern when it was released, thinking it could look slightly frumpy, but then decided that I didn’t care and it looked super comfy! And I was right: these are incredibly comfortable trousers! And, once I’d made them in a chambray, it suddenly dawned on me that they’d make amazing summer trousers in a viscose.

In action at the beach, paired with a double gauze Cielo top

I was thinking of a patterned viscose, but then spotted an Instagram post from Like Sew Amazing, showcasing their new viscose twills. Sarah had made a pair of Heyday Dungarees from them, which made me think they’d be perfect for trousers for my hols.

I opted to go for the ankle cuff second time around. This is view B, which is a deeper cuff than view C. Turns out, this makes them into the perfect trousers for a spot of paddling at the beach: you can simply pull the cuffs up to your knees and paddle away 😂

Yes, they resemble bloomers with the cuffs pulled up to the knee: yes also, this makes them perfect for paddling!

I’ve decided now that I like the way these look. And that they’re so comfy and useful, I’d probably wear them even if I didn’t! Good sized pockets, a nicely cropped length that just feels a bit more cool and comfortable in hot weather and that lovely elastic waist.