New trousers were needed. Thankfully not in black bengaline (for a change), but in chambray bengaline. It came courtesy of the awesomeness that is Kat and Seamstress Fabrics.

From the SA website

I chose Style Arc Barbs (again) and considered yet another modification to include pockets. I like slanted front pockets. I forgot about these trousers for awhile and did other things. When I came back to these trousers I had succumbed to a Style Arc sale and bought the Airlie trouser pattern. A bit later I had printed it out (on A4 – groan), taped it up and was ready to go.

I did a careful flat pattern measure, and put my much modified Barbs over the Airlie to compare the crotch curves. Ordinarily I’d cut the pattern but decided to trace it instead. I guess #teamtrace is getting to me!

At a sewing day I laid out the pattern pieces, cut them and stitched it up. I used the overlocker for most of it. One of the attendees at the sewing day was a retired seamstress. She and I puzzled over the SA instructions for the pockets. We agreed on a method that was possibly different to the SA method, but I’m really not sure.

I am very proud of these pockets, I took my time and I think they look lovely. So proud I took one more shot with the pretty shadows from my curtains.

Despite measuring carefully these trousers are both too small and too large for my liking. If I lost several kilos they may fit me around my thighs and bum. But they will still be too tight around my calf muscles and way too large around my waist. I’ve checked the pattern description and it says “slimline”, so I guess that gives away that it was never going to work on me!

Bengaline is an easy fabric to work with. It will press flat but also does not need to be ironed. But I don’t think I will ever like it. I don’t like wearing it as I find synthetics make me uncomfortably hot. I will use up the remainder of my stash and not buy anymore.

Costs

Fabric – 1.5m chambray bengaline  – $27.00

Elastic – from stash, I should keep better records.

Pattern – PDF download on sale, I think it was $12.00

Totals = approximately $40.00, allows money for elastic and thread.

Do it again? I don’t think so.