Culottes Tutorial

Culottes Tutorial

I can’t get enough culottes at the moment hence this culottes tutorial. If you like the look of the top you can find the free sewing pattern and tutorial – in this link.

So let me say up front I make my own patterns for a LOT of my stuff. But with pants, I always, always use a pattern. The whole anatomy of the hips and legs just doesn’t work with a free-form pattern. I like New Look patterns just because I like them. No particular reason. I used a straight leg pattern and made it a bit shorter. The other thing I always do is set the zip at the back. It’s so much more flattering to have the zip not visible. Struggle with zips? Check out – How to set a zip – tutorial.

You need: –

• fabric
• matching colour thread
• matching colour zip
• sewing machine
• pins
• sewing scissors
• sewing pattern

You do:-

This fabric is vintage and was given to me by a friend of a friend. Her mum moved into a care home and was an avid sewer. She had a huge stash of fabric and I was lucky enough to get some lovely pieces. Total cost of these culottes = my time + 1 x zipper. Nothing wrong with that!

First lay fabric on a flat surface. Dining table or a clean floor will do. Then pin pattern to fabric. Cut out pattern pieces.

Pin your darts in place. They are there to facilitate shaping the rear area which is more curved than your tummy. Best way to sew darts is from the outside inward so you can get a nice gentle slant.

Sew the left and right front pieces together. When sewing the backs together use extra large stitches where you will set the zip. You want the stitches to hold the edges together so they cover the zip nice and neatly – but you will unpick them afterward. Now press the darts flat and the seams open.

Pin the front and back pieces together and sew the two sides and the inner leg seam. Once that is done you can set your zip. See link to tutorial above.

Once the zip is set you can sew the waist facing pieces together and press them with an iron. Then sew the facing to the top of the culottes.

Press the facing flat and the seams of the pants as well with an iron. I usually sew the facing in place with a top stitch. Sometimes even a second row of top stitching to keep the facing from flapping up when wearing the pants. You can make a waistband if you prefer. Or use thick bias binding tape and finish off without a facing.

Lastly make a hem at the bottom your your culottes and just like that you have a new pair of pants.

Have a great green week.

Greenie.