Two Week Breeches Challenge

Breeches have a reputation in the world of 18th century sewing of just being the worst. From a purely sewing perspective, they are a massive pain. The construction includes putting together over 20 pieces of a jigsaw that was created by a drunk person, and the icing on the cake is the 17 buttonholes and six eyelets that you get to sew. When you then add in that they don't fit anything like modern pants, you have a perfect storm of frustration. I know people that have been doing historic sewing for years, and they flat out refuse to make breeches. The common opinion I've found is that, it's worth the extra cost to not have to do it yourself.

I have made one pair of breeches. Yes, they were incredibly frustrating. Bad directions and jigsaw pieces aside, I was convinced that these things were not going to fit when I was making them. My mantra of desperation was "but I measured." I nearly gave up in the middle of the fiasco to start making a larger size, but I ended up persevering because even if they didn't fit I knew that I could sell them. Surprise, surprise: they fit like a glove. My after thoughts were: "Eh, wasn't as bad as everyone said."

Maybe it was blissful ignorance, maybe it was sophomoric confidence, maybe it was buzzed planning, but I have decided to do something stupid. While others run away from the fire, I have decided to run toward it. Who says that breeches have to be a pain project that takes forever? Ok, everyone says that. But I say: nay!

We have an event coming up in two weeks. (Actually a week and a half now; I'm posting this late.) I would like a new pair of claret colored breeches to match my waistcoat, so I am going to try to get them done by the event time so that I can look Macaroni AF.

"But Sean, two weeks is a long time," you say. Why yes it is, if all you are doing is sewing. I will be doing much more than sewing. In fact, I will only be able to work on these at night (even on the weekends) after the baby goes to bed. I will be doing these all by hand, with 10 stitches per inch. If the tiny stitches don't kill me, the buttonholes will.

Wish me luck, and here goes nothing...