​Zipping up our latest design! Military inspired high waisted culottes for ya. For this design, we experimented with button holes, volume and our love for pockets.

These are definitely not your basic pair of wide leg pants. Here is some insight into our experimental process with the patch pockets and some sewing tips on buttons and button holes.

Not all pockets are supposed to be functional. Although, we did test it out and YES, you can fit a laptop in the larger pocket. Both side seams rock a smaller (usable) patch pocket.

We played around with the placement of the larger pocket (just on one side). Notice how the larger pocket is pulling the main pant leg? Due to its size, the side seams at the opening needed to be placed further away from the Center Back/Center Front of the body to avoid this. Nonetheless, we still love the drape of the over-sized pocket!

Voila! ​This was a quick sew, under a week, in between clients (sometimes not in between hehe). Almost no hand sewing was used for these design elements.

Happy Sewing!
Designed, photographed and written by Sheila Wong Studios

Creating body in a garment can be achieved in several ways. Gathers, pleats, tucks,  godets, panels and more. For this vintage design, a mix of mild gathers along the waist and a center front inverted box pleat provided body in the skirt section. An inverted box pleat is like a secret box pleat. Only visible when wearer is in motion or opens it up.

Done and done! For the purpose of instructing, we have left all the thread markings and basting stitches in the final garment.  Fun Fact: We have several garments in studio like this to aid with instructing our clients.

If you would like to learn more about couture hand sewing techniques feel free to contact the studio. It is easy enough to inject small bits of couture techniques in a project or go full out on a fully hand stitched garment. You decide!

Happy Sewing!
Designed, photographed and written by Sheila Wong Studios.