Some thoughts on the pattern and my various iterations:
- This pattern is very versatile--I see it as a canvas of sorts that can be styled in many different ways. While the trousers are high-waisted you can easily style it to highlight this feature or wear it with sweaters or shirts that aren't tucked in.
- This pattern is really easy to sew up and is one of the few patterns I haven't had to make any alterations to (this is probably why it's a TNT). The straight and slightly flared legs suit my body type really well. Oddly, I'm also short-waisted but this pattern works really well for me.
- The first time I sewed up this pattern, I had a horrible time figuring out how it actually attached together. I think I've sewn or pinned the pant legs wrong (either the wrong legs to each other or inside out..) on every single pair I've sewn! Hopefully with version four (which I'm working on at the moment), I'll finally get it right the first time.
- Somehow in the process of making several pairs of trousers, I have misplaced my pattern directions! So, I made pair three without directions. I attached the waistband first and did the zipper second (which the pattern, If I recall, has it the other way around). It was a bit more fiddly this way but they still turned out fine.
- For the first two pairs I made a lapped zipper (in the first Navy pair, the zipper is on the right side, on the second and third pairs the zipper is on the left--I think I like right side better even though it's backwards), for the last pair I inserted a handpicked zipper. I definitely like the lapped zipper best on these trousers.
- For some reason, I think I need to insert a zipper guard on pair two (my green trousers) as the zipper tends to rub against my skin throughout the day. Might be because that is the only pair that I used a modern zipper in (funny, eh?).
- For my new pair (black trousers), I used a slightly shorter zipper as it was all I had in my stash. Not such a great idea and I have to do a bit of a shimmy dance to get them on! Since that is pair that has the handpicked zipper, I may go back and re-insert a longer zipper.
- I really enjoyed this challenge. I already wear my me-made trousers at least weekly, so this week was a great opportunity to try out different styles.
- I love being able to be able to wear retro inspired looks one day and modern looks the next. These trousers are perfect for spanning many decades!
- One of my favourite parts of the week was trying out different hairstyles. I usually set my hair overnight in pin curls at least once a week. My hair is getting long now and I've been needing a change in the hairstyle routine. So it was fun to experiment with different styles. I plan to keep it long until after David's graduation (and the 'Gilda gown' I'm making) but then I hope to cut it a bit shorter (a little shorter than shoulder length) for the rest of the summer!
