Making Breeches
Rickrack, Rolled hem, Pinked and button-hole stitched, Hanky-edge.
It has come to our attention that Hittys exist in the world who actually have no under clothes. This situation has even been known to happen in the Quimper Hitty cupboard.
Some Hitty dolls like the freedom of cavorting around in breeches and wear them under sun dresses, or as comfortable trousers.
I have been asked by some friends to prepare a blog tutorial on my method of making breeches, and hope that this might be useful. I used a lace-edged hanky to make the ones illustrated, but there are various ways of finishing the hems as illustrated in the picture above.
Click on any picture to get into the gallery, and then navigate by using the forward and back arrows. Please note that all the stitching is done by hand, as I find it difficult to get the machine to sew doll clothes without chewing them up.
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- Pattern and Hanky. Pattern is drawn on quarter-inch squared paper.
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- Gather back edge of slash.
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- Stitch the two edges of slash together, and overcast raw edges.
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- press the seam towards the back.
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- Fold over twice and stitch centre back opening each side.
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- Cut a waistband measured to fit your doll, plus seam allowances. I have folded in the sides and one long edge of the waistband.
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- Gather waist edge to fit the waistband.
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- Stitch the waistband to the breeches. I have stitched the unfolded long edge to the inside of the waist seam.
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- When the band is folded over to the outside, the folded edge of the waistband will cover the raw edge of the seam.
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- Topstitch through all layers, securing the sides of the waistband as well as the long edge.
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- Waistband done, Centre back opening done. If you haven’t used a lace-edge hanky, this is the moment to finish the knee edge, by rolling the hem, adding the rickrack or whatever.
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- Fold the breeches in half, overcast between the two pins, about half an inch. Sew through the bottom half of your finished seam, taking small stitches, and leaving it open at the top.
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- Press open the overcast seam.
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- Sew up the inseams, and then overcast to finish the edges.
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- Almost finished Breeches from the front – see how the back is slightly taller than the front? This will make it so Hitty can sit down nicely. All that is left is to add your preferred fastening – button and loop, or snaps or whatever
Sun dress and Rick Rack-edged breeches
Constance approves of these breeches – they match her pleated pinafore which she is wearing as a sun dress! The Pinafore instructions can be found if you click here.
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What would we do without the great instructionals you provide us with? I need to get busy and start making some breeches for the gals here. Thank you so much!
I hope your dolls will be suitably attired for all circumstances, including cartwheels!
Uh Oh! Hand stitching???!!! I don’t suppose I could get the Hittys to stitch their own…
They are lovely, though. And we really admire the slashes.
I’ve had some luck persuading Rose to do some hand stitching, but most of the Quimper Hittys haven’t the patience.
How lovely that the QH’s are all going to have carefree summers in their spiffy new leggings!
Spiffy alright! Constance likes the ones trimmed with rickrack!
What great timing! I seriously need to provide the Bonsai Hittys with many pairs of breeches. Thank you so much for providing great guidance!!
Oh good – I hope they work for you! All Hittys appreciate new garments whether visible or no.
Oh! I do like the roominess in the seat! Even a Hitty with minimal bummage has need of sufficient coverage. Thank you!
Yes, the roomy bottom is one of the things I like about this pattern too!
very elegant – each with its own personality, Thanks for the tutorial, now if I only had a Hitty to make them for… ! think I need a human size pair for myself.
It is easy to make these whatever way you like…I agree you need a Hitty!
Wonderful tutorial! How kind of your Hittys to model and share this information to less privileged dolls.
I am sure your dear dolls would enjoy a pair or two – each!
Thank you . I have only made the very simple type of bloomers. These are so much more sophisticated and also
very attractive! Appreciate the help and the great photos.
The Quimper Hittys say this is a good way to use up dressmaking scraps!
Fantastic, what a wonderful tutorial!
Thanks very much, let me know if they work for your Hittys!