Track pants with elastic ankles

I keep seeing track suit trousers with elastic ankles in high street shops. 

Well, I fancied a pair, so I decided to use the last of my grey glitter sweat-shirting to make some. That way my existing grey glitter tops will match which gives me 3 pairs of trousers and two tops. Since I also have two dresses that's lots if choices of garments in the same fabric so great wardrobe staples.

The pattern is actually the same Lekala Sports trousers pattern as my other two pairs so it's a cheat really but gathering in the ankles with elastic does totally change the look. I did not really want to change the others because I like them as they are so I just made a third pair. It also coincides with the cold snap we are having in England when its actually minus 6 degrees C when writing this!

Beats the usual rain, however!

They are worn here with my prototype grey top that I finished a few weeks ago. I really want another of these but it took me a year to finish the thing. I love it though and am wearing it a lot.

These trousers are totally different in style to their predecessors, despite being the same pattern with s few cm added to the length. I am actually not so sure I needed to add any length because they came out a bit long. The Elastic ankles stops it being a problem but I might not bother with the next pair if I make another. They also came out narrower than expected. Well no they are not actually narrower but they seem to have a more narrow, slim leg look than I expected. I don't mind just I did not expect that. The previous pairs ( of which there are loads going back years because I love this pattern) are all almost flared. Its obviously the effect of the elastic but I just never thought they would look narrow.

Elastic ankles are made by adding about 4cm and turning under. Then thread Elastic. Though next time I will sew in my ankle elastic the way I sew in my waist elastic to stop it turning over and becoming uncomfortable. I never considered it before so just made a channel this time. Still my sewing is a process of learnimg. Thats really the point, and I pretty much learn something every time I attempt it even when its a pattern I have made before. It certainly makes life more interesting than just going to a shop and purchasing something and of course I seem to make much, much more than I would dream of buying yet spend the same or maybe a little less. Ideally I want to write that I also make quality garments. Sometimes I do, but often I just make nice stuff I want to wear, or I make something to see how it is made. I do though also make a few very well made items  that I could not afford to buy, and I also find I make things I just would not buy - like dresses. I have not bought a dress since I was in my early 20s yet in the last few years I have made quite a few and I have a couple on my mind to make right now. And I have worn and enjoyed them.That does mean I wear more interestingly (is that a word?) than I would if I bought everything.

Elastic waistband with sewn down elastic. Pockets! Unfortunately, the camera caught something hanging out of one pocket but it does prove they work!

Anyway this is a really simple pattern change but makes for a completely different silhouette.

Have a great week and thanks for popping by my blog,

Bracken