Trews pattern

[Pleater]

According to my book of costume, trews are intended to fit close to the body, and are cut on the cross - the bias of the fabric, so as to be flexible.

Trousers are cut on the line or the stright grain of the fabric.

The link given by Southern Breeze is to what I would call trousers, not trews, as they are cut on the line of the fabric.

Patterns for the different garments would not be interchangeable due to the different properties of fabric cut straight or biased.

Trews, originally seem to be cut with very little wearing ease and for someone used to the loose cut of modern clothing they might be a bit too close for comfort.

It is probably more economical to cut trousers on the straight of the grain than trews on the bias, so a change from trews to trousers of a similar style but tailored slightly differently would have saved a bit on the cost.

[beerbecue]

Originally, trews fit close to the body. Even military trews do not follow this design any longer... It seems that the original trews may have evolved from the socks that were made on the bias 'back in the day', which also fit tightly, had one seam down the back....

Although the fabric is cut like trousers, trews is an acceptable name.

From what I found, although they are more like 'modern' trousers than they used to be, trews are high waisted, tend to lack an outside seam, have a fishtail back and are straight legged...

IMHO, I would have tartan trousers made up.... If you want to wear kilt jackets and what not, have the waist made higher....

Check out these links for retail suppliers and descriptions....

http://www.nicolsonhighlandwear.co.uk/list/trews.html

http://www.highlandclans.com/Tartan_Trews.html

http://www.lindaclifford.com/Trousers.html

[Planopiper]

We generally think of trews as high-waisted, close-fitting pants, probably because we generally see them in period pieces or in older artwork. At the time that trews were more generally worn, I think all trousers were of basically the same high-waisted, close-fitting pattern. 'Trews' is just that weird Scots way of spelling words the way they pronounce them and pretending that it’s a different word. Trews are trousers. So if you want trews of a more modern design, then you want tartan dress slacks. Nothing special there other than the material. Quick searches in Google and Yahoo didn’t show any photos of trews with the material cut on the bias.

[beerbecue]

I have two poly/wool tartan remnants of approximately 2 1/2 yds. x 56"....

I am calling the local seamstress today....

WooHoo!!! Gordon and Hunting Stewart trews for me!!!!

[slohairt]

Trews evolved for military purposes in the same way kilts have. Many regiments still wear them. You could look at their websites possibly for pictures.
As for trews just being a "weird" Scots way of spelling a word and pretending it's a different word, that is untrue. Trews is a Lowland Scots adaptation of the Scottish Gaelic word Triubhas meaning trousers.
Lowland Scots (called "Lallans" by native speakers) is not some weird method of phonetic rendering, it is an actual language which differs greatly from standard English. (Many Scottish posters on this site would take you to task for saying that!) Some would argue that it's simply a dialect but most experts agree that it's a separate language in its own right. As for Scottish Gaelic...it's about as close to English as Polish!

Is mise le meas,

Seán Liosliath Ó hAirt

[Planopiper]

Ok, the word 'trousers' is derived from 'trews'. I didn't do the minimum research but now I have. I take back the comment on pretending it's a different word, in this case. But it still pertains to a lot of text I see where people are trying to show how Scottish they are by spelling things phoneticly and using lots of 'ach's and 'ooo's. But that's another topic. It still looks to me like a modern version of the old trews would just be plaid pants.