Drawers…

Ma’s out, pa’s out, let’s talk rude:

Pee!  Poo! Belly!  Bum!  Drawers!

This was one of my mum’s favourite ‘naughty’ rhymes when she was a kid.  I know, right?

Anyway, I finished my victorian open drawers tonight.  They are from the Laughing Moon pattern, and were very easy and straightforward.  1 piece for each leg, some binding, a waistband and the tape/ribbon to tie.

I used an old cotton sheet, very well washed, soft and nice to touch.  I haven’t taken great care over these, I’m not into re-enactment or historical accuracy, I just wanted the practicality of some appropriate drawers to wear under my corset.

I shortened them quite a lot- I’m only 5’3″ and these allow for them being almost ankle length.  My finished drawers are just below the knee.  I had to do some maths to decide on the measurements, as I wanted to keep the pintuck detail around the legs.

There are 5 3/16″ pintucks around each leg, plus a narrow hem, and you sew all of this first.  Oh dear.  My pintucking accuracy is shocking, truly awful, even though I drew the lines with a ruler and pre-pressed the folds, they are all over the place.  I’m just a slob, what can I say?

I console myself with the knowledge that anyone who is ferreting about close enough to see the mess I made will be easily distracted by a swift expolitation of the advantages of divided drawers.

Ahem.

Fortunately, it really doesn’t matter, all the wife noticed was pretty pintucks, and amidst the divided leg hilarity, no more was said …

Having joined the ‘inner leg seams’ (I flatfelled them for tidiness, and to reclaim my sewing credentials after pintuckgate) you bind the open edges.  To be honest, I could just have turned a narrow hem, but I was feeling obedient.

Then both legs are gathered and attached to the waistband [two options, I chose the slightly shaped one], with a teensy overlap at centre front.  Modesty, I laugh at you!

I found some off-white twill ribbon with a slight pink thread running through it, and it happened to be the right length, so it got picked.  My design skills are highly honed.

And that was that.  Only a couple of stupid messes (if I ignore the pintucks) like sewing the binding on seam side out, blah blah.

I think I’ll be very happy in my new divided life, and will probably need more than one pair.

What do you think?  Don’t be scared, I’m wearing knickers underneath!