Edit: I forgot my TL:DR review for the Winslow Culottes. D’oh. Added at the bottom now.
Another edit: After a request, here is the Full Butt Adjustment I follow for pants (at the time I followed a different tutorial, but I find this one is better). I didn’t lengthen the waist area for the Winslow Culottes as they didn’t need that, but followed the rest.
I started my Winslow Culottes in July of last year. I’ve been having issues since last year with finishing things. I have several things cut out and in various states of completion. Some are just sitting there based on motivation. Some are sitting there because there were fit issues. My Winslow Culottes were victims of fit issues. I graded up the pattern by two sizes. I also made the back crotch a bit longer. I’m glad I did that adjustment, because it fits quite well back there and hangs nicely. The fit issue was simply bringing the waistband in a bit.
But of course, the culottes got tossed in my UFO pile and left for several months. Sad times. Especially sad, because I really loved the colour and material I made them with and they could have become a wardrobe staple several months ago. The material is a poly rayon in a plum colour.
The Winslow Culottes are super comfortable to wear. I think they are made for flowy, drapey fabric like linen, rayon, silk, soft chambrays, voiles, lawns, double gauzes, etc. Lush and lovely fabric perfect for summer. I’m kind of glad that I am finishing them up in time to wear and duplicate for the summer months. Our spring has been cold and rainy here so I am prepping like crazy for that time I can actually wear these outside without tights.
There aren’t a lot of fit worries with a pattern like this. Make sure that the crotch length is correct. You don’t need to make as make adjustments as other pants patterns due to the volume of fabric, but there is a certain amount needed to make sure that you get the right drape in the front and the back. I read somewhere that 4 inches of ease between your crotch and the culottes crotch will work out well and that is what I made my adjustments based on using my Misty Jeans pattern as if it were a sloper. Make sure the waistband is sitting in the right place and is short enough to keep it in the right place. I could go a couple inches shorter with this waistband, but I was not going to rip it back another time. I made the back pleats a bit deeper to make the change for this adjustment and left a little length in the waistband for a hook and eye closure.
I love the pleats and the in-seam pockets. I am a big fan of this pattern and can see several future versions using my new fabric obsession linen. Bonus for those who are interested is that the Winslow Culottes are on sale this week! Woohoo!
I also got another item cleared out of my UFO baskets. I made a M6754 using the peplum view C with raglan sleeves and princess seams. Like the other version I made, I needed to size way down and even with the XL needed to size down again. BMV’s ease never seems to be negative for knits so you have to size way down. I will never understand why they do that.
I think I shaved off an inch from every seam and then I reattached the peplum. I will also do a sway back adjustment for any future versions.
I love the top, but it was kind of a ridiculous amount of work for a knit top. But I will likely make it again. I’m having trouble justifying buying fabric at the moment since I have so much in my little space so I probably won’t revisit this pattern for a while unless it really fits a gap in my wardrobe. At the moment, I have enough knit dresses and tops to make me happy for a while.
So far, if Me Made May has taught me anything, I need to focus on making a couple of basic cardigans, blazers, bras, underwear, and more dressy tops and dresses. I have enough basic/casual “cake” for my wardrobe but RTW is still the icing in my wardrobe and most of it doesn’t fit quite right anymore. Once I get through the UFO piles, I’ll be making a list of things I want to make. The bra project should finally get underway (underwear…har har) for me to have bras that don’t kill my shoulders and fingers to get them on. I also feel like my objective for sewing is a bit different. I crave slower projects right now.
TL:DR Review
- Pattern: Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes
- Pros: Simple design. Super easy to grade up and make. Pockets! ❤
- Cons: A good size range, but I do subtract meanly for having to grade up a couple of sizes. Otherwise a 5 star pattern.
- Make again?: Definitely. It’s a great pattern and I see lots of these in the future in different lengths.
- Rating:
4.5/5 stars
Andie Wells Studio 
Love those culottes and your shirt! I bet it feels amazing to finish up those projects. I’ve been looking at that culottes pattern and I think the middle length version might be something I would wear. But I do think about the rise length and hoping it all drapes like it’s designed to. Things I was always think about with my broader midsection.
Thanks so much, Tanya! 🙂 It feels really good to get these out of the way. I didn’t make a formal pledge, but it’s my goal to get the majority of my UFO pile done and then in June I can cut out all sorts of fun things! 😀
I think you will find the rise is generous but also really easy to alter. I think these would work really well on you.
I need to get on making myself some bras too, but something else always seems to come up. I think you may be changing my perspective on culottes; those look fab!
Thanks so much! 🙂 Bras are the thing I procrastinate a lot on before I make them and then I make a bunch at once. It’s weird how labour intensive I think they are when I start, but it’s a similar amount of time with a shirt dress just different. I love having homemade bras, but not making them.
These are awesome! I wasn’t really considering this pattern but you make it look great and it really pulls off that shorts that look like a skirt thing. I love it with that top too, so yay for a whole new outfit. I’m definitely focusing on basics this MMM. Now that I’ve found a pull on jean pattern I like, I need more tops! This one looks great though I guess I might just draft a peplum for an already well fitting pattern rather than wrestle with the big 4 knit ease issue. For some reason I’m really feeling the peplums lately (and likely 2 or 4 years late 😉 ).
Thanks so much, Megan! I love a nice peplum….several years late to the trend, too. I hated them when they were first out, but now I love them. Same with culottes. Don’t tackle the big 4 knit ease! Stick a circle on a concord tee and call it a day. LMAO.
I’m focusing on my UFO pile this MMM. It’s so difficult not to cut out a million new things. 😦
Andie!! These look so great on you, I’m so glad you decided to revisit them and finish them up for summer. The colour is really pretty and they totally have that perfect ‘secret shorts’ fit on you. Thanks for sewing!!
Thanks so much for the great pattern, Helen! 😀 I can’t wait to make more versions. I really love the refresh pictures you did. ❤ I might copy all those. hahah.
I have been coveting the Winslow’s but I didn’t want to have to grade up. After seeing these I might just have to suck it up and grade up! I think these look so great on you!
Thanks so much! It was really really easy to grade up. There are only three pieces that you are grading. 🙂
Oh, that’s good to know! Thanks!
These look awesome on you, Andie! I like how they seem deceptively like a full skirt with all the benefits of wearing pants. And sewing your own accessible bras is a great idea – I bet you’ll save a shit ton of money that way.
Thanks, Siobhan! I make all my own bras already. Although, I haven’t made a new one in a year since I couldn’t figure out a new design. 😦 But I just need to take the plunge! 🙂
Cute! They look so comfortable and perfect for summer – and purple! I’ve been eyeing the pattern because everyone looks so good in them.
Do you have plans for the longer lengths for cooler weather?
Thanks so much Bobbi! 🙂 It’s a bit cooler today and I am wearing these ones with leggings, boots, a long sleeve top and a scarf. But I also think the longer lengths would work well for warmer weather. Wool crepe fabric would be perfect for the longest length.
Love those purpose Winslows. I am convinced I need some now. But I haven’t been sewing AT ALL for a while (life in the way), so I can’t convince myself to buy the pattern just yet. Even though it’s on sale. Wahhhh. If only I could get them to sew themselves. Hahaha!
Thanks so much, Debbie! Pesky life getting in the way of sewing. 😦 I hope you got the pattern in the sale and get some time to sew. 🙂
Fantastic, I love them on you! THIS PATTERN IS NOW ON MY MUST HAVE LIST. It is time for me to learn how to do belly adjustment. Thanks for picking the winslow culottes back up gain, I so relate!
Thanks so much! It won’t be difficult to make adjustments for this pattern, if you were thinking of it. It’s a pretty easy fit. 🙂
These culottes hang so nicely! They remind me of all of your beautiful dirndl skirts. It’s so nice to be able to bang out a UFO. I swear sometimes things multiply on shelves and age there (not like fine wine) for months breeding disgust and eyeball rolls, and then you get brave enough to pull it off and clear it out and it’s a simple fix just like this (sewing on lost buttons, I’m looking at you!).
Thanks so much, Elizabeth. I also thought of those skirts. 😀 The UFO issue is a big one for me, but I am over halfway through! 😀
I’m really interested in how you sized up this pattern. I have a pair of culottes that are tight on me, from RTW. When I was smaller, I wore them a LOT. My size is outside of their sizing, and I would love to make these up, but with the pleats, I’m not quite certain how to size them up. Any hints would be most welcome!
THANK YOU! The crotch is a good four inches too far back on me and I hadn’t yet seen anything about this being a problem for others. As it’s my first article of me-made clothing in 25 years, I was wondering if I had done something wrong! I’m going to go attack them again, you look so great in yours!
Congrats on your first garment in 25 years! It’s definitely a low crotch curve for the Winslow Culottes. I hope you get the fit you desire for them! 🙂