Some readers may have picked up on my comments about our forthcoming trip to Borneo.  We leave in only five days, hooray!  Borneo has lots of jungle, and lots of jungle has lots of insects.  The girls needed some cool summer pants that would keep both sun and insects off their legs.

I turned to Pattern Emporium again and used their women’s Harem pants pattern. There is also a kid’s version. My girls are small, but their waist/hip ratio means that the women’s patterns work better for them in bottoms than kids’ patterns do. I sewed size 6 for Stella and size 8 for Clare, which pretty much aligned with their measurements.

From the Pattern Emporium website:

• 2 Fits: Slimline & Relaxed
• Tapered legs for a flattering fit
• Full elastic waist
• Elastic ankle finish
• Easy fit
• Low waistline
• Pockets – 3 Easy Pocket Options, 2 Intermediate Pocket Options 
• 2 Waistline Options – Elastic, Drawstring
• 3 Leg Finishes – Elastic, Lounge Pant, Tab Front

We decided on style D, with the curved topstitched pockets and elasticised cuffs, in the slimline fit.  I added two inches to the rise of the pants by extending straight up from the crotch and the side seams of the front and back leg pieces, and made the corresponding alterations to the pockets pieces as well.  My girls don’t like to wear their clothes on their hips; they really prefer a high waist with the waistband where they are smallest.  That’s a major change for Clare who spent her primary school years with everything pulled down onto her hips!

The fabrics are all rayon prints (all wovens) from Spotlight. Stella came with me to choose them. I am always fascinated by her choices – they’re not always predictable! I made sure that I prewashed all the fabrics before cutting out, as is my usual practice. Rayon shrinks. These were straightforward to sew, especially once I got to the fourth pair! The girls are happy with them, and I think that they will be perfect for the Bornean jungle.