I can’t believe how much I’ve learnt about sewing by making these trousers. If you want to get to know your sewing machine a little better, then this is certainly the way to do it! I’ve used about four different feet to do things I didn’t know were possible, and numerous different stitches too. AND I put an actual zip in! This is so exciting!

The waistband and belt loops were pretty tricky, mainly because it took me so long to get my head around the instructions at that point! It really made my brain hurt…but not as much as the blind hemming. That was the most confusing part! I managed to work out that I own a foot for that bit, but even though I was reading the instructions in my manual, I just couldn’t work out how I needed to place the fabric. But thankfully, I found this super helpful video about blind hemming – phew! Really could not have done this without it!

One thing that I didn’t attempt here was a buttonhole – I cheated a bit and used a hook and bar instead. That’s actually what Tom said he would prefer, and it saved me having to learn something else for this! I’ll be having a play around with the buttonhole foot at some point soon though.

I’m so SO pleased that I’ve made these and that they actually look like trousers! There is just one problem…when measuring up and thinking about sizes, we decided to make the smallest size, but they are actually a size too small! I couldn’t believe it! Although I was a bit disappointed at first, Tom did remind me that this was meant to be a trial run anyway And I really have learnt such a lot from making them, so my next pair should be even better!

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I recently asked Tom if he would like me to make him something, as I haven’t made him anything since the wedding waistcoats and I seem to have lots of things for me planned! Anyway, he said that he’d quite like some trousers. Hmm, trousers. From what I knew about trousers, they’re quite tricky – but I like a challenge, so I said ok!

The pattern I’m using is from Burda Style No.7022, which is ‘average difficulty’ apparently! I’ve made quite a few notes to myself on the pattern so far, and it definitely seems like a pattern that would be easier the second time around. That’s assuming I make these again after I’ve finished! I am actually really pleased with them so far. I’ve had to learn quite a few skills quite quickly! This is the first time I’ve made pockets, as I avoided doing them for the waistcoats!

The back pocket took me ages – mainly because I was trying to work out what the pattern meant at this point! After a long, long time I finally got it put together, but it didn’t turn out quite as I thought it should…but it looks ok (I think!).

I think what I found most frustrating was that this is actually a fake pocket – all that effort for it to be sewn up!

The next job is to baste the legs and stitch them before I can start to put them together. Helen very kindly sent me a link to some amazing trousers on the tomofholland blog – if I can make mine to look half as good as his, I’ll be really pleased! Wish me luck!

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