Impossible Trousers and How to Make Them!

Bernadette and Rachel: secret pants Zach: impossible trousers

"It all seemed rather phallic and nonsensical" applies in so many facets of life.

The back seam construction is actually how a lot of doll pants and hosiery is made, or at least, used to be made. A lot of Barbie doll clothes from the 80s and 90s used this technique, so that there was no inseam or side seam to add bulk to the silhouette as seen from the front. So when you revealed the final pattern, it made perfect sense to me, as I've made a number of garments for dolls like this over the years.  This project turned out really well, I'd like to see the rest of the coordinating pieces, this needs to become a full "uniform".

I used to make medieval clothing and when you were showing the other trouser pieces I was thinking, man, where was the evolutionary line from medieval clothing to that? Then you found the picture of the pants with the back seam and I was like, oh, there it is. Hosen have a back seam and joined hosen have a very similar shape to what you discovered. Funny enough, if you get stuck again, go backwards in time. Because whatever bizarre thing you are looking at evolved from something more simple. I've done a tiny bit of research into Polish clothing and it looks like they wore their clothing styles for a lot longer than Europe did and tended to be behind the fashion curve (or perhaps it's better to say they had their own fashion line that was not influenced by the rest of Europe's nearly as much). So the fact that you would still have medieval seaming in Hussar pants doesn't seem too crazy.

this is literally an almost identical pattern to how all medieval hose (pants) where cut, all my hose patterns from the 9th to the 16th century are variations on this. they are all cut like this and also on the bias to get more stretching to get them tighter

It's not just tailoring, it's historical research, detection and trial and error. Fascinating stuff! I suppose, once you're dealing with clothes, far more perishable than most other possessions; then paintings, fashion plates etc become essential in relation to recreating styles. I really like how historically recreation offers such remarkable insights. Thanks for an entertaining video!

You know, if you published your own drafting-method book, we'd all buy it in a heartbeat? Just putting it out there... Thank you. This was a wonderful distraction. Absolutely astounding work. I always learn so much. - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi

"It's fine to make mistakes" - Sooooo true, and it's part of the creative process. This fear of mistakes we get taught in school stifles so many people's creativity. Also, the trousers are gorgeous! Lovely video.

Thank you so much for this video! I feel that there is a huge lack of historical men's clothing content on YouTube. I am always watching and loving Bernadette, Nicole, Cathy, Noel, Abby, Morgan, and Karolina and although sometimes they occasionally venture into traditional tailoring techniques, I pine for more content for pieces I can make for myself rather than for female presenting persons (not to say that I am not tempt. I've had a few failed attempts at cutting bias breeches, just couldn't wrap my head around some of the diagrams in books, and internet content was much more limited at that time. This video is sparking my enthusiasm for another go at it. I've enjoyed your other videos and hope you are able to find time to share more!

There was I getting cross because my buttonholes weren't turning out perfectly neatly, and lo and behold, a wonderful close-up of your buttonholes looking exactly like mine! Thank you for the morale booster and the reminder that real life sewing rarely looks like a textbook illustration.

It is criminal that this channel doesn’t have more subscribers.

This has very quickly become one of my favorite channels, I absolutely love the humor and the way you present things. Glad to see another video popping up in my notifications!

Making a hoodie cord into a braid is just wonderful! This is what real creativity is like.

That is the most bonkers trouser pattern piece I’ve ever seen, but, WOW!, doesn’t it go together like magic? Love, love these pantaloons. The colour and cording are 👍🏻👍🏻

Omg the fashions! So dashing!!! Its refreshing to see a man historical fashion recreate on youtube! I love the masculine fashion of the era you are focusing on! I am LIVING for this!

Oh yeah those kinds of pants with the seam down the back are fun, I first learned about them with late medieval joined hose, and I gotta say it's a lot easier seaming them up than having an inside seam and trying to match them up with the crotch seam so they do a nice cross right at the bottom which also bulks up the area, ya just sew together around the crotch then seam up the backs and youre golden!

Now, I must see Bernadette make a pair!!! Simply love watching you create and the process that leads into that!!

Who would have thought a video on making Regency pantaloons could be so amusing and brilliant. Fantastic result. Love anything with braid.

I actually have a pattern of this, from a deceased estate here in Australia, of an individual who bought resources from Colonial Williamburg (or some other similar place accordingly but it does say williamsbug somewhere from memory) about 30 years ago or maybe even more. I was STUNNED...and could never work out how they went together, so THANKYOU for showing me. Will never need them myself....husband has even less chance of wanting to wear them, but kept them anyway!

Its so refreshing to see someone on sewing YouTube paying such attention to details. And I must say that you are absolutely talented in the craft of hand sewing. Bravo! 💞💞And congratulations on finally figuring out your YouTube password 🔑 😉😂