Great !!!

[Epona UK]

Nice to see a BB devoted to Western in the UK at long last, found it by accident. I'll be back !!

Epona UK

[floppy]

hi, glad you found us!:)
ehm..i just been nosing through your web page (i come from chelmsford,essex but im not there anymore i live in germany now) anwyay i was wondering if you could help me!:)
my mum bought me a pair of long suede shire chaps with zippers down the sides but they are somehwat biggish for me.
How would you rceommend making them smaller? my mum is a dress maker and all she has done so far is taken them in a bit all the way down to the knee but they are still big.
I read you page on obtaining measurments of oneself for you to make chaps...but how much extra allowance for movement do you give?? Becuase now i would like to get them adjusted properly by my mum for next autum/winter (i only wear them int he colder months)
hope you can help!:)
thankyou,
flossie

[Saddlebags]

Hi Epona UK! Have you had a look around the site? Please, Please have a look at http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=4721 . It is a page asking for help in starting a western page. I am from the UK and have always wanted to give western riding a go as a change to english, but have never done it. I had the idea that if Outrider (the organiser of the new page) could organise an article on Western riding in the UK it would be brill. He replied saying it was a good idea and asking if anyone in the UK could help with this - and I think you could be the one!!! Please have a read, it's just a thought. Thanx,:) Saddlebags

[Epona UK]

Wow, you don't waste any time !!

Doing articles could be a little tricky, I am very much the new girl here, and I certainly don't want to tread on any toes!! There are other instructors in the UK, you will find a full list on http://www.wes-uk.com although if I can help, I will.

What a small World, fancy you living in Chelmsford ! It's a bit difficult to give a lesson in pattern cutting on a BB, as so much depends on the type/weight of leather, the original cut, and the position of the zip and belts. I only alter chaps which I have made in the first place, apart from the fact that I have the original pattern and measurements, the chaps I make are to American patterns. I would hate to advise you wrongly, and without seeing both you and the chaps, I couldn't be sure I'd get it right, and I do like to be sure. If on the other hand you happen to be planning a trip back to Chelmsford.........:D

Epona UK

[Outrider]

Just an old Texas cowboy here trying to add a little mystique of western riding for my English riding friends. If you know about western riding, there is no reason why you couldn't contribute to the page. I have several topics in mind. How about emailing me at horizons@n-link.com and we can talk about it. Happy Trails!

[floppy]

indeed a small world :)

i understand...my mum has so far altered my chaps without cutting anything away just making on big long tuck..
but because i have never had a pair before and i havent found any here in germany im not actually sure how close fititng the show be...i know that they are still too big...
hehe the guy int he shop told her they are the smallest ones you can get and they fit my mum but im somewhat taller than her with longer skinny legs...:D
they have a belt at th eback and front to adjust and thats fine (i just had to punch an extra few holes to make them smaller :D)
its just int he leg area they are too big...i guess it would be easier to just sell them adn buy a new pair but the shops here are very expensive and i th eones i have seen arent as ncie as mine ones..

[Epona UK]

Hi Floppy,
I can see your problem, I have been to a few shows in Germany and know just how expensive stuff is. I wondered if you had thought of getting some by mail order ? There is a very good saddlery in Ohio, USA called Arcaro's web site http://www.arcaros.com who do a very good service, you can order from their on line catalogue, or ask them to send one to you by snail mail. They do some very nice "off the peg" ones for around the $50 - $55 range, it's as well to check what your taxes and duties are likely to be before ordering, you don't want a nasty surprise on the doorstep :eek:
If on the other hand you would still like your Mum to alter the ones you have, they do need to be pretty close fitting in the upper leg, but allow more at the knee so that you can bend your legs. Any alteration needs to be done on the side without the fringe, the zip will have to come off to be repositioned after the "spare" bit has been removed.
I hope that this is at least of some help to you, and Mum.

:D

[floppy]

thankyou :)
we thought about just making abig tuck until i find it a comfortable fit and once its comfortable then to chop off excess and reposition the zip.
What about the lower part of the leg? should that be tightish too?
(my zipper goes don to the top of my ankle the chaps themselves go down to my heal..sort of boot cut..hehe so it allows for any thickness of shoes)
my mum said whaever we do to make sure they allow me knees to move but the bottom part shoudl that be tight too? so far we have only adjusted down to the knee..
thanks again..i hope you enjoy this board :)

[Saddlebags]

Epona UK - please consider what Outrider has said. It would be a brill thing to do.:cool:

[Epona UK]

I have already been in touch with him by e mail, there are other articles already in the pipeline, so I will have to see what can be done.

[horselover]

My old instrucotr gave me a pair of brande new chaps that didn't fit me but all I did was take them to the tailor and he tok them in for me. You want them to be very snug around the thigh, al little looser at the knee, and then mine kinda flare a little around the ankles. They have a fringe, and the tailor left it on- as I requested- he just took out the zipper, cut a bunch of leather and repositioned the zipper again. Turned out very nice and only cost me $20for a $200 pair of chaps! :) I wish I could explain to you better what the tailor did, but I really can't as I am not much of a seamstress, although I did used to sew clothes for my Barbies!:p

[floppy]

hehe thanks at least i knwo im not th eonly one with this probelm of beign clothes too big and wanting to keep them..i thought about going to a tailor because my mum was fussing about having to take the zipper off etc...shes too busy at th emoemnt ebcuase she has an exhibition to prepare for the end of this month so i will ahve to wait...
my chaps flare aroudn the ankles...but im still wondeirng how snug they should be from the knee to the ankle..i have had to use homemade clips to stop my jeans or my chaps rubbing my legs...i clip one sid eto my jenas and the other side to my chaps...works wonders but i loose them shoudl i have to dismoutn and hold horses while friends go and look for lost horse 'boots' :D

[horselover]

That would definately mean there is too much flare in the ankles. You want the chapds to prevent chafing, not cause it. :) Get it tailored tighter around the lower part of your leg if it is bothering you.

[floppy]

yup i will get it sorted...before autumn..i woudl have done it sooner but i was in such a need for the extra warmth during the -8 temperatures my mum only had tiem to alter part of them before i went riding and during hte colder months i tucked my jeans into thermal ski socks so i didnt have a probelm with cahffing :)

[Epona UK]

Just a thought Floppy, but where exactly is the zip positioned when you ride, on the inside of your leg, or the outside ?

[floppy]

outside..it would be somewhat uncomfortable on the inside :D

[floppy]

well i finaly found a leather man and he altered my chaps for me...they fit nicely and will hopefully last me a long time...so im happy...its just too darned hot to wear them at the moment!