Ah culottes…you know when this style first starting coming back, I had flashbacks to the terrible culottes we used to wear back in the late ’80s and early ’90s. All you Gen Xers out there know the ones I’m talking about 🙂
Luckily, the trend came back waaaaaay better this time than it did in my childhood. So much so that while I shunned anything culottes back in middle school, I have wholeheartedly embraced them this time around!
Since Mac showed off her amazing mauve Winslows earlier in the week (if you haven’t seen them yet, you must, they are here), I thought I’d take this opportunity round up a few of my favorite culottes patterns!
Winslow Culottes by Helen’s Closet
Mac in her mauve Winslow Culottes
Katie in her royal blue Winslows
Mac and I are both on record with our love of the Winslow Culottes! In fact, I’m wearing my royal blue Winslows as I write this post! The Winslows are the fullest of the patterns that I’m highlighting here. In their full-length version they look very much like a maxi skirt (see Mac’s full-length version here).
The pleats and fitted waist on this pattern give it a dressier look than some of the others included in this list. I could easily put on a silk tank with my Winslows and wear them out to a dressier event or date night.
If the dressy look isn’t your jam, Helen has a whole series of Winslow hacks on her blog. It’s pretty remarkable how many ways there are to mix up this pattern!
Flint Pants by Megan Nielsen
Katie’s Flint Pants
My Flint Pants are still one of my favorite projects. The fabric, the pattern, it all worked so well. For mine, I followed Megan’s tutorial on removing the release tucks from the pattern to make them flat front. I kind of wish I hadn’t removed them, though because I have rather full thighs and I think the extra fabric from the tucks ultimately would have been appreciated.
I particularly love the waistband and pocket construction on this pattern. The pattern has slash pockets in the front that are incorporated into the wrap waistband in a really clever way.
Ninni Culottes by Named Patterns
Mac in her tribal print Ninni Culottes
Katie’s Ninni Culottes
My Ninni Culottes are a piece that have never actually made it to the blog (bad blogger!) but get worn on a fairly regular basis. They are incredibly comfortable and easy to wear, and have the added benefit of going together really fast.
Mac and I both opted to toss the pattern instructions and made our ninnis in woven rayon challis instead of the recommended knit fabric. Luckily the pattern has plenty of wearing ease, so making them in a woven is easy peasy.
Coffeehouse Pants by Blue Dot Patterns
Katie’s Coffeehouse Pants
Another yet-to-be-blogged make: my Coffeehouse Pants! I made these earlier in the summer and they get worn a lot! The Coffeehouse pants are a simple elastic waist cropped pants pattern with side slash pockets. They are easy to make and easy to wear. I have plans for another pair (or two) in linen. I love that they look just as appropriate at the office as they do on the weekends.
And then next up for me are:
Jenny Pants (Overalls) by Closet Case Patterns
This is next up on my culotte sewing queue — the Jenny Trousers! I actually have some fun plans for a hack/mash for this pattern. I can’t wait to make them up and show you!
Admittedly, I wasn’t terribly excited about this pattern when it first released. The overall view is just a little too ’90s overall/shortall for me, so I passed right over them at first. But when I saw a few versions of the trousers, I was hooked! I’ve always had great luck with Closet Case pants, and wide legs/culottes are definitely my jam. I picked them up with the specific intent of making the cropped pants version.
And a few that I have to mention, though I’ve never made them and they’re not currently on my sewing list:
True Bias Emerson Crop Pants
The True Bias Emerson Crop Pants are a perennial favorite. The pleated front and elastic in the back waist makes them easy to wear, and no closures means they’re easy to make.
Megan Nielsen Tania Culottes
The pattern that started the indie culottes craze! Megan Nielsen released the Tania Culottes years ago and they are a true looks-like-a-skirt culottes pattern. These are drafted like a circle skirt with a clever little pleat at the center front to hide the leg seams.
Sew House Seven Nehalem Pants
And now for something completely different … the Sew House Seven Nehalem Pants. This pattern is based on southeast Asian fisherman pants, and they are completely different from anything else you’ll find in the indie market. I happen to love this style, but I know they’re not everyone’s cup of tea. They’re not on my sewing list yet, but I hope they will be someday soon!
