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Any plus four aficianados out there...

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
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2,277
Location
Germany
Thanks guys, yes the flecked fabric is spectacular. I will post tomorrow a photo of the knickerbockers worn by me.
They are a perfect fit for me (36 inches waist) - so I keep them. But I will let you know Pat, if I ever intend to let them go.

The kneeband construction is indeed a simple tunnel with shoestrings. It actually secures quite firmly below the leg.
 

Nick D

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2,166
Location
Upper Michigan
How many darts are taken out of the front and back of the cuffs? I see one in the photo laid flat, but are there two or one on the other side? How long are they?
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
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2,277
Location
Germany
One dart on front, one on back, the inner seam is also darted, while the outer seam has the wedged gap as you can see. Each dart is 5 cm.
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
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2,277
Location
Germany
When worn...
Knick.jpg
 

Pat Spade

Familiar Face
Messages
71
Location
Ruhr Area
Wow. This is indeed a very nice pair of Knickerbockers....and a very interesting pair of "Pantoffels", although they do not match;)

I fully understand that you will hold them, something like this is ultra rare, I think...
 

Fastuni

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2,277
Location
Germany
The house-shoes are from: http://www.pantoffeleck.de/
A tradtional German house-shoe maker holding on the designs from the the early 20th century.
They are great and warming, but run about a half size large. I put lambskin insoles into mine.
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
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2,277
Location
Germany
It has a jacket, but alas not a proper suit coat, but a short DB Ski-Jacket. It doesn't look good on me.
 

willyto

One Too Many
Messages
1,616
Location
Barcelona
That's a fantastic fabric! I would love to see the jacket too.

I think I'm starting to like plus four and I don't think it's a good thing...
 

Pat Spade

Familiar Face
Messages
71
Location
Ruhr Area
I think I'm starting to like plus four and I don't think it's a good thing...
I like them too, it began a while ago...sadly (or luckily for my wallet) there are no good reproductions out there, afaik, and something like Fastuni`s in that shape and fit show how often up...once in a decade?
 

Michael A

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,287
Wow, those are some fabulous tweed knickers. I experimentally converted a pair of wool dress pants to short pants last fall. The impetus being that I was tired of ruining pants while I was bicycling. They turned out nicely from a function standpoint. If not so stylish as the vintage ones.

10-3-2015 My Knickerbockers by Michael A2012, on Flickr

Same set different view. I just darted the side seam on one side and took a V out of the other side and attached a strap at the bottom made from the excess leg fabric. I used velcro to attach it since it was a first experiment. Old drafting books show a number of different button, hook, etc schemes. I like the drawstring me on the tweeds.

P1150565 by Michael A2012, on Flickr

Michael
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
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2,277
Location
Germany
Nice. If trousers are straight cut and have plenty of width, one can easily convert them.
The more darts, the better it falls.
 

Michael A

I'll Lock Up
Messages
6,287
Nice. If trousers are straight cut and have plenty of width, one can easily convert them.
The more darts, the better it falls.


Thanks Fastuni. I'm actually aiming more in the Breeches/Breeks direction than in the Plus Twos/Fours direction so I think that opens up a lot more pants to successful conversion. As sewing goes it's quite easy and I recall doing it in less than an afternoon. Compared to the tartan shirt and flat cap in the first photo I posted above, both of which I made, it was a walk in the park. And as it happens I was at a local thrift yesterday and picked up these,

Shortened (by someone) LL Bean Wool Herringbone Pant by Michael A2012, on Flickr

LL Bean heavy wool cruiser pants that someone has pre-shortened for unexplained reasons. They now fall 7" below my knee and are, I think, perfect candidates for knickerization. A very heavy pant and with suspender buttons even. I couldn't pass them up for 25 cents.

I wear the breeches for bicycling and walking the woods, so I prefer the more minimal size around the calf as the more practical design for the uses.

Michael
 

willyto

One Too Many
Messages
1,616
Location
Barcelona
Looking around for a way to convert trousers to plus fours I found a link to a document from a cycling forum:

tI1yJ3Y.jpg


G0Q3rFX.jpg


Unfortunately it has no pictures but it could help someone who wants to make the conversion.
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,277
Location
Germany
This German instruction from the 1930's is illustrated and easier to understand (for me at least... :D).

In the end one only needs wide enough throusers, cut or sew in curved "wedges" and make a hem-strap with buckler or add a string or button.

Source: www.return2style.de
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