How To Make Genie Trousers

Not my usual Sunday afternoon activity, but I think this comes under the category of "Ox Fallen Into A Pit And Other Crises" [see Luke 14:5]

A young friend at church unexpectedly needed a costume [genie pants] so on getting home from church, I went up into the loft with a purple trug and collected some bits from the Great Stash

The pattern, from 1970, cost 6/- [that's 30p to you young 'uns!]

I ironed my fabric, and carefully made a 1½" pleat down the middle, [ie folding 3" out of the way] and pinned it, before I put the pattern piece on top.

Two comments at this point 1 - yes it is the same as the fabric used for the Edwardian dresses!

2 - the picture below is from the Internet, as I only discovered when I had finished that my picture of the pattern piece had not come out!

Lay your pattern on the doubled fabric, and cut round the top of the body. BUT when you get to the legs, cut along for an inch then cut straight down this will give you plenty of bagginess in the legs. Allow an extra 1" along the top and bottom for casings. Remove all pins, flatten out the pleat you put in earlier.

Sew the front and back seams, then the inner leg seam. Sew A casing along the waist and others round the ankles. Thread with elastic. I used a piece 24" long and two pieces 8" long. Sew a couple of bits of tape or ribbon at the waist for hanging purposes.

I also wrote "front" and "back" inside the waistband - with pants this baggy it isn't always obvious.

That's it! Because they are baggy, fit isn't too crucial, and extra length will be accommodated by the elasticated ankle. If they prove extremely too long at the fitting, I shall just shorten them with a quick pleat all round at ankle level.

One hour from stash to blog - that's not bad going!! and Bob is still watching the Grand Prix [Jensen Button's car has overheated!]