Here are the finished boxers. I added the buttonholes using my new toy a Griest #1 template buttonholer for low shank machines (this means YOU Mr Singer 201K). I was very happy with the results. I am planning a full photo-tour and review of the new (to me) buttonholer in a future post.
Front and back there are seven half-inch buttonholes and one additional thirteen-sixteenths vertical buttonhole which allows the waistbands to cross at the back. It's a lot of work but we all get a buzz out of using an automatic buttonhole attachment right?
The position of the buttons at the back give a range of adjustment for expanding and contracting waists. I think this design must have arisen from wartime and post war shortages of elastic.
The half inch (12mm) buttons I used were saved from shirts I cut up last year to turn into my first quilt. There a total of nine so I think can be forgiven for sewing them on with the Singer 401G. I used white thread to match the buttons rather than pink to match the shorts. Sewing buttons on with a vintage Singer is probably worth a post all of its own sometime soon.
I am happy with the way these turned out but. I will need to forget how much work they are before I am tempted to make them again.
These look great. Where did you find the pattern?
ReplyDeleteHi Richard
DeleteThank you for the compliment. I think this pattern came from Etsy. There are usually one or two examples for sale there or ebay. Getting the right size can be tricky I had to pivot and trace this one.
I wonder if Simplicity would ever reissue it in their vintage range.
G
Hi Gavin - I love this pattern and have made it many many times. Don't worry about the time it takes - after making it a few times, this pattern sews up really quickly. With todays low ride, lots of stretch fiber slacks and jeans, these don't work well - but make a decent pair of slacks and your going to find it hard to go back to those plastic/elastic ball vises they call underwear today. Also, on my pattern, I lowered the rise by an inch and they now fit perfectly. Sorry to respond as Anonymous, but I'm a total techno geek and am not sure how to respond any other way. Love that you also use your Singer 401G - I have one too and also enjoy using my Pfaff 90 treadle. Much joy to your sewing - Ron in Wuppertal Germany
ReplyDeleteHi Ron
DeleteSounds like you have a great pair of machines there. Pfaffs are not so common here in UK and tend to carry a premium price tag (good quality and short supply). My 401G is my modern machine it's the electric machine in the house LOL. Do you trace your vintage patterns to protect the originals?
G
Hi G - Yes, I buy art tracing paper by the roll and trace out all my vintage and new patterns - where the originals then go to live in archive plastic sleeves for protection. I know this sounds a bit much (I swear - I'm not a Virgo), but it makes sizing and adjusting much easier. If anything happens to the copies, no big deal. If anything happens to the original - now that would be bad. I had an Atlas electric machine in turquoise back when I lived in California, but had to get rid of it when I moved to Europe. Used a cheepy plastic for awhile, but am once again the happy owner of a couple of nice vintage machines. - - Happy sewing, Ron
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