Foundations Revealed

Really enjoyed this. Think I'll try a pair myself soon!

Glad you enjoyed it! Hope you have as much fun making these as I did!

These are great! I have always had a thing for tap pants. And by the way, I totally love your machine... But truly funny, I used to work in a lingerie store and when someone would ask for the "peek a boo" pants (couldn't even call them split crotch, heaven forbid lol) we were like, oh dear, one of *those* gals... But the smaller the normal undies, no prob! Too funny how things change over time. Especially since I have some closed mid victorian drawers and those (apparently - as in someone told me this) were closed for sporty endeavors, just in case they might show (falling during ice skating, etc)... Maybe it was worse back then to have closed pants because you were assuming they might make an appearance... That's just guessing, of course :)

From the little bit of reading I did on the history, it seems the early closed drawers were quite frowned upon. Underwear has a fascinating history, that is for sure!

Heh, yes. I guess there's an element of "no-one should be seeing these who you wouldn't allow to see you naked anyway" perhaps also a notion that it is more "hygenic" to get fresh air "down there" than not?

But on a purely practical front if you are wearing your drawers under your corset (which you should, because you want your chemise under your corset because washing corsets is much harder than washing chemises) then closed-crotch drawers are a pain in the bum to manage when you go to the loo (especially under all those layers of petticoats and skirts).

Yes, these are some of the exact reason for the open drawers. And women were still wearing some pretty complex layers of undergarments judging from the collection in Ms. Conover's lesson.

Love the photo of your Pfaff! I had the same model and loved it.
Great tutorial-thanks.
Just wondering if open drawers would have actually been more practical when the toilet was seperate from the house?

Oh man! Speaking of your machine, I grew up on the same model! I've got my gran's Singer (from when she got married!) right now, but someday I'll have both.


On the article, awesome! I've always wanted to do some tap pants, and though they look simple to draft up I just somehow never got around to it. Thank you for exploring the draft with us.

Wonderful tutorial! Thank you so much. I am inspired to make a pair, too!

Glad you all are enjoying the article!

The Pfaff was a recent acquisition from the local thrift for a whopping $40! And it was in pristine condition. All of the attachments and parts except for the oil clinker. It even had the original owner's warranty certificate which stated the machine went in to service in 1956. And it sews like a dream!!