Culottes Are Cool

My grandmother was an avid crocheter, and she taught me the craft when I was 10 years old. She was always creating something with her hook and yarn. (She had her designated spot on the sofa with her yarn basket next to it.) It’s the only craft I remember her doing. After she passed away almost 10 years ago, I was so surprised to see sewing supplies in the back of her upstairs TV room closet. I proudly took home a thread supply that will last me for 20 years, craft magazines over 50 years old, and patterns from days gone by.

So many fun patterns! Many contain yellowing, discolored tissue paper and dry, easily tearing instructions–with sizing and measurements that are unrelatable to today’s body types. I am a size 4 yet I would need to use the size 12 or 14 from a pattern printed in the 1960s or 1970s. Those women of yore were dainty lasses!

I chose to make a pair of culottes using a paper pattern that only came with one size in the envelope. It is a size 16 but its measurements are only an inch or two off from my own. I was inspired to make this pattern first because my grandmom loved her culottes. And honestly, they are a pretty fun design so I think she was spot-on with her style. This is also my first pants project with an invisible zipper. I am so over due!

I know I am supposed to make a muslin for every new pattern, but I admit that I don’t. I agree, it’s a bad habit. But for this one I told myself that I would do it, reluctantly, so I compromised by choosing a fabric I like off the clearance rack If it worked, of course that would be a bonus. If the sizing made it unwearable, I told myself BEFORE I even started cutting the pattern that I would let it go with no emotions attached about wasting time and money.

Round one of the culottes was completed. I could follow the instructions well overall, and I didn’t struggle with the zipper. I was mentally prepared for that challenge if it presented itself! And the result was wow!! I loved the style but yes, it was too big to wear appropriately.

Still reminding myself that I am in the muslin stage, I let myself take a try at tailoring the fit to make them wearable. If I wasn’t able to do this to the garment in the its almost completed state, then I would hack it up as needed for a pattern for my next attempt. I think these culottes are more of a high waisted fit which I have never worn. I let out the waist and brought in the hips. The crotch of the pants turned into a drop crotch style so that definitely needed to be reworked. I utilized the sizing of another pattern, New Look #6354, to help me better fit this area.