It’s Melbourne, and the days are getting cold.  Clare’s school pants were showing her ankles.  She’s actually grown since last winter!  A few years ago I discovered the perfect pattern for her school pants – the “Neat Beat” pants from Ottobre Winter 2009.  I first blogged about them a couple of years ago, and this would be the fourth size I have traced off.  So if you think you’ve seen these before – you are correct.  But this time they’re bigger.

Okay, they aren’t terribly exciting, but you get the general gist. The pattern is designed for a slim child – which is why it fits Clare much better than the school pants she has tried on in the shops.  Although it is intended for stretch wovens, I have used cotton/lycra knit in the past and this time used poly/cotton knit that is fleecy on the inside. You know, typical tracksuit fabric. Clare likes the flat front waistband that dips down a bit under her belly, and the higher cut at the elasticised back.  Less bum crack!

Wide elastic is sewn directly onto the pants at the back through a facing.  Most of the rest of the construction is on the overlocker, with twin needled hems.  I have made numerous pairs of these now and can whip up a pair in less than an hour. Which is a good thing, because I have another two pairs to sew for this winter.

My girl is growing up – she had an overnight sleepover at Luna Park on the weekend with hundreds of Girl Guides from around the state! Oh, to be ten years old.