Botanic Trousers

Late last year I bought myself a pair of lightweight rayon culottes, which I have absolutely lived in over summer.  They've been  dressed up, dressed down, and have made for perfect work wear too.

I recently saw the Botanic Trousers by Pauline Alice patterns on Instagram and decided to try and make some of my own.  They appeared a lot wider in the leg than I wanted, but a lot of sewers seemed to have made them in a stiffer fabric, which meant they wouldn't drape as well.

The pattern was duly purchased, downloaded and assembled, and some lightweight eucalyptus tencel in a dark blackish greenish (licorice) colour was my fabric of choice.

My waist and hip measurements put me as size 40 (European sizing for this pattern) and I decided to lengthen the pattern by 3 inches seeing as I'm taller than who the pattern is designed for.

The pattern itself is a very easy sew.  There is no zip, they have pockets, front pleats and elastic at the back, In fact, the only part I didn't like was the instructions for attaching the waistband with the elastic already attached.  I unpicked it twice and eventually put the waistband on first and then threaded the elastic through and attached it at the side seams.  At this point I have omitted belt loops and the the self fabric belt.

Overall I love how they look, they fit comfortably around the waist (could be a little tighter) float beautifully as I walk, and I love that it looks as though I'm wearing a skirt but I'm actually not.