The Sewing Revival Classic Pant

I have no linen trousers and I needed a couple of pairs of comfortable, lightweight trousers to explore the capital of Zanzibar when we head there on holiday in a couple of weeks.

The Sewing Revival Classic Pant popped up in my feed just at the right time, so I plumped for them without looking elsewhere as they seemed to exactly fit the bill with their simple straight leg shape and elastic waist section at the back.

I had already picked up a couple of pieces of linen/viscose from one of Fabworks’s amazing deadstock linen drops over the summer.

I think this is it but I can’t find the oat coloured one.

Having already worn these in our recent late summer heat wave I can report that they really doesn’t crease too much either.

First, I wanted to toile as my measurements put me between sizes and I didn’t want too much excess fabric gathered around my bum.

The pattern tells you to go with the hip measurement.

After a lot of head scratching, I went with the size 10, to match my waist measurement, even though the size 8 was correct for my hip measurement of 37’’. The finished measurement table was telling me there was very little ease to the hip with the size 8. Less than an inch!

I used a perfectly sized left-over piece of Meet Milk Tencel canvas from my Tello Jacket and made up the shorts version with no modifications. They were perfect!

Tello Jacket by Pauline Alice – for Simply Sewing Magazine

So, moving onto the linen I made up the size 10 again. This time the fit was not so good!

From my recent trouser experience I had remembered to extended the rear crotch length. Well, this came right out again immediately after the first try on. So much extra fabric at the back of my thigh!!!

Then I had to take them in by 1cm down the rear bum seam to reduce more fabric ponding around my bum and get a fit I was happy with. They are pretty good now but really I would have been better off going with the designer’s advice of basing the size from your hip measurement. But then they are already a bit of a wiggle to get the elasticated waist over my bum.

I had pre-washed my fabric and these have already been washed twice again. They are becoming more relaxed with each wash, exactly what I was hoping for. I’ve left a deep hem in case they shrink a little going forward.

You may have noticed I added rear patch pockets. I took these from my recent Itch to Stitch Pull on Jeans pattern – I think these trousers needed them. Next time I would locate them a little lower.

I’m not an avid fan of elastic waist trousers but love this flat front and these now have JUST enough fabric to get them over my hips and nothing else so are not too ruched around the back.

So a couple of successful breezy makes with a bit of tweaking that I have already enjoyed wearing in the out of season heat wave we’ve just experienced.

Love, Lucie xx