Preparing for last years Jane Austen Festival in Bath was a very stressful time, because I was trying to make a costume for Robert, as well as a new spencer for myself (my ivory satin spencer split across the back!)
A tailcoat pattern had been purchased, so I began work on it in calico only to find that nothing matched up right, or the instructions were sadly lacking, so I collected together all the images of extant garments I could find to guide me...and bought more calico.
The Festival drew ever nearer, and I still had not started on trousers, so I set to using patterns from Norah Waugh's The Cut of Men's Clothes, as quickly as I could. The fall-front was worked out, but I was having problems with the back and fit. As it was still unfinished on the day, we had to cheat...big time!....but we got there and had a great day...
Back home, I unpacked the costumes and vowed to find a suitable pattern. The pattern I purchased from Nehelinia Patterns www.neheleniapatterns.com was Kannik's Korner Man's Trousers...
All I can say is that the folk that were making trousers when the days of denim jeans and mass production must have breathed a sigh of relief!
ReplyDeleteThe photo of Robert was taken before we did an emergency re-pin, so his trousers had started to sag a bit.
ReplyDeleteHe still looks good Sandi, good luck with the pattern, its great to know you can still buy things like this :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Val...yes, there are patterns galore for all kinds of historical costuming, and I am constantly surprised at the diversity and quality on offer.
ReplyDeleteI bought the Kannik's Korner pattern from Nehelenia Patterns which is in Germany (would it have been cheaper to buy it from America, I wonder?)
The next blog about making these trousers will be written when I have made a bit more progress...and Blogger lets me sign in properly!!