How to Sew Jodhpurs
Jodhpurs are the traditional white or cream colored paints that just about every horse rider knows about. They are made to fit tight through the calf, but are full in the in the thighs and seat area. Jodhpurs are not always the easiest to find, but you can sew and create your own jodhpurs.
Materials Needed:
- Pair of trousers
- Tailor's chalk
- Sewing machine
- Thread
- Find a pair of trousers that you can use to convert into jodhpurs. Try to avoid pants with double seams or that have seams like in jeans that are flat felled. Make sure that the trousers are full in the thighs and are comfortably fitting around the waist.
- Find material that is heavy enough for the trousers to be converted to jodhpurs. In order to get the look of traditional jodhpurs there has to be enough weight or fullness in the thigh area of the pants.
- Try on the trousers inside out. This makes it easier to mark them to be cut.
- Use tailor's chalk to mark the bottom of your knees. Get someone to help you if you can to mark your trousers for you. Anything below that mark needs to be tight fitting around your calves. Remove the pants once you are done marking them.
- Lay the pants down flat on a table and use tailor's chalk to draw the shape that your want your jodhpurs to be. Use the knee marking as a guide to know where to taper the pants. Make sure both legs are even and remember to allow a couple inches for seam allowances.
- Set the sewing machine to make the longest stitch possible. Sew your pants on the machine along the lines you marked inside out on the pants.
- Try on the jodhpurs and see how they fit. Look at them in a mirror, and sit down in them. If you are satisfied with the fit, go ahead and finish the pants by sewing the seams in place. If you are not satisfied, make any adjustments needed, and then sew the seams.