Long linen breeches
Historical note
The linen breeches from the Louvre Museum are dated from 545 to 645 CE, which marks the transition from Late Antiquity to Early Middle Ages. Like most of the other findings of trousers from this period, they have the following basic pattern pieces: a large rectangle that forms the trouser-legs, a smaller rectangle on the back, two triangular inserts and a gusset to create the crotch. However, one of the most interesting aspects of these trousers, making them different from other similar items, is that they were probably made of re-used fabrics. The scientists made such a conclusion due to the fact that the rectangular back piece was made up of one large rectangle on the left side with two superimposed smaller rectangles sewn on.
Another special feature of these trousers is a strip of fabric that was sewn to the centre of the front. Its width is about 4 cm. The purpose of this strip currently remains unknown.
As for the cut of the trousers, it has to be mentioned that the gusset was sewn directly in the centre of the bottom edge of the back piece part. Because of this, the seam’s stitches, as well as the seam allowance, lay on the gusset. Another interesting detail concerning the cut is that the hypotenuses of the triangular inserts are about 3 cm shorter than the length of the front parts where they were sewn on. Because of this, the oblique side seam had to be stretched 3 cm on the bias to fit the front part.
The top edge of the trousers front part represented the selvedge of the weaving. It means that any further finishing of a hem was unnecessary.
The trousers height is 70 cm, with a circumference of 104 cm and a leg length of 57 cm.
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