Norm's 1850s suit - pants

I have had an exceptionally productive weekend. I got stuck into it and stayed up late sewing my little heart out. I didn't get as many items 100% completed as I had hoped to get, but I did get a lot of work done. First off, my Dad's costume got the bulk of my attention. I just finished his pants this evening. They would have been done on the weekend if I had actually remembered to buy buttons when I bought the fabric. At any rate, I went up to Lincraft at lunch time to get his buttons and finish them off.


I am pleased with how these turned out. They weren't an overly simple pattern to put together, but you get that with mens historical clothing. Thankfully there were actually a few optional points that I could make - like the back pockets. These were only really used in the American west, as since I am dressing my dad up as a gentleman, I gave them a miss. Plus if you put anything in them, it just ruins the line of the pants. I used the Laughing Moon Mens Pants pattern and as a bit of a review, the instructions are fantastic. They go though each part step by step with pictures to help you along. I only had one unpicking moment and that was just confusion on my part rather than the instructions. They give the correct period look. And I cannot tell you how happy I was that they actually fit him correctly. Meaning, no adjustments and no taking them in.

As for the rest of my progress, everything is still coming along. Dad's evening jacket is almost done (bought the buttons for it today too), mum's ballgown got pressed so that I can finish with the hand sewing on it, my medieval is waiting to be hand-sewn together, and mum's belt is also waiting on hand sewing. I will not be running out of the hand sewing this week. Stella can have a bit of a rest while I destroy my fingers with some needles. I am hopefully on my way to more complete costumes. But the best news of the day is that my rec leave has been approved. It's only three days, but that is three days that I can be at home working on getting my costumes done. Some days, I think that I bit of more than I can chew. But I am determined that it will all get done.