With finishing my one pair of pants last week and they actually look wearable, I'm still working on a decent pair of capris, I got excited and went on a fabric splurge. I have 8 yards of linen/cotton blend in the tan, which really is more brown than tan, 5 yards of cotton/poly twill in the blue, 6 yards of cotton twill in the olive green, and a 24 yard bolt of 12 oz denim for jeans. The last time I bought a bolt of denim like this it lasted for years. Unless I really get into making jeans this bolt should last me the rest of my life. I plan on making pants in all of these and I possibly have enough of some fabrics to make more than one.
A humorous look at the crazy things that happen in my everyday life as a wife and mom.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
Cheap & easy VS learning though experience
My mom has sewed since she was a teenager. Growing up she sewed for me and my sister. She has an amazing ability to look at a thrift store sheet and turn it into something wonderful. But yesterday when she was showed me a pair of thrift store capri pants that she wasn't that happy with I was scratching my head in wonder why wouldn't she taper them in slightly and hem them up if that's what was bugging her.
As we discussed the pair of pants I spend the last 3 months working on and recently finished, it dawned on me why she wouldn't try to fix them. Although she has decades of sewing experience, she stopped sewing for herself when things started to require a bit more work to get them to fit. Knowing how much time I put into my pants she asked if it would of been easier/cheaper to just go buy a pair.
Short answer, maybe, long answer, not really. I didn't start this project looking for a quick and easy fix. I knew when I started I didn't know what I was doing and set out to learn; because I felt my options for ready to wear pants were limited. I'm not willing to spend $70+ for a pair of jeans, and I'm not ready to go with all elastic waist pants. As my daughter pointed out, "Those are Grandma Pants." I've never been to worried about keeping up with the latest fashions, but I still have ideals of what I like and what I think look good in and I just wasn't finding it in the stores.
Thanks to all my hard work and the help and guidance of some wonderful women, on the internet, who were very patience and took the time to point out my mistakes and how to fix them, I now have a pattern that I know fits and doesn't look half bad, and I can make design changes for different looks. Depending on what kind of fabric I use, I can make dress pants, casual summer capris, or work pants all from one pattern. I also gained the knowledge and confidence to tackle fitting a jean pattern for myself. When you weigh the skills I learned and the multiple pattern options against the cost of the fabric, my time, and the frustration of looking for ready to wear (more than once a shopping trip turned into a crying fit in the dressing room), I think I came out ahead.
As we discussed the pair of pants I spend the last 3 months working on and recently finished, it dawned on me why she wouldn't try to fix them. Although she has decades of sewing experience, she stopped sewing for herself when things started to require a bit more work to get them to fit. Knowing how much time I put into my pants she asked if it would of been easier/cheaper to just go buy a pair.
Short answer, maybe, long answer, not really. I didn't start this project looking for a quick and easy fix. I knew when I started I didn't know what I was doing and set out to learn; because I felt my options for ready to wear pants were limited. I'm not willing to spend $70+ for a pair of jeans, and I'm not ready to go with all elastic waist pants. As my daughter pointed out, "Those are Grandma Pants." I've never been to worried about keeping up with the latest fashions, but I still have ideals of what I like and what I think look good in and I just wasn't finding it in the stores.
Thanks to all my hard work and the help and guidance of some wonderful women, on the internet, who were very patience and took the time to point out my mistakes and how to fix them, I now have a pattern that I know fits and doesn't look half bad, and I can make design changes for different looks. Depending on what kind of fabric I use, I can make dress pants, casual summer capris, or work pants all from one pattern. I also gained the knowledge and confidence to tackle fitting a jean pattern for myself. When you weigh the skills I learned and the multiple pattern options against the cost of the fabric, my time, and the frustration of looking for ready to wear (more than once a shopping trip turned into a crying fit in the dressing room), I think I came out ahead.
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Finishing up my pants
I decided since I was desperate for something to wear to go ahead and make a pair of pants even though I'm not quite done with the fitting process. These are looking ok, but there's still room for improvement. I figured the problem I was having with the inseam wasn't going to be that big of a deal if I made regular pants that I could roll up into capris. There's a button tab on each side of the legs to hold the cuffs up once I get the buttons sewn on the outsides. I also love cargo pockets so I put some on, although they are a little low. I could raise them up at least 2 inches, but for this pair I'll just leave them, and they're a little baggy, but I'd rather have them baggy than to tight. I just need to sew the waistband on, hem them up and sew on the buttons.
Friday, March 29, 2013
So close, but so far
My pants fitting saga continues. Just when I think I'm good to go, something's wrong with them. I've worked on getting the crotch right, adding to the waist & hips, getting them balanced, adjusting the waistline, adjusting the darts. The only thing I thought I had left to was to level out the hem. So just as I was getting excited about making a pair to wear I'm told they're still wrong. The back is to baggy and the front crotch is to long.
I don't know what to do anymore, but I'm desperate. I went looking for jeans the other day and the only ones I found that fit were out of my price range. I had a favorite brand, but they've been discontinued and replaced with something I don't care for. I guess I really only have one choice here, become a nudest.
I don't know what to do anymore, but I'm desperate. I went looking for jeans the other day and the only ones I found that fit were out of my price range. I had a favorite brand, but they've been discontinued and replaced with something I don't care for. I guess I really only have one choice here, become a nudest.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Pants & Fauxhawks
Boy, it's been a long week, and I feel like I've accomplished nothing. I had things to do this week that I couldn't ignore, so that left no time to knit or sew, not to mention the house is a disaster and laundry is piled up. I guess now you know where my priorities are.
Yesterday I was able to sneak in a pants fitting and finally got the thumbs up to go ahead and attempt a wearable muslin. I'm just a few tweaks from finally having my pants pattern perfected. I was so excited I decided it was time to buy some new fabric to do them in. Up until now I've been working with this polyester stuff I picked up on ebay for a bargain. It looks nice but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing polyester pants. I bought it specifically for pants muslins. I picked up some navy twill, and I'm debating if I want to do them as capris or full length pants.
While I was at the fabric store, I picked up some fun fur to use in an upcoming baby shower gift. I'm making matching father/son fauxhawk hats. How cute is this? I knitted the baby one up in just 2 hours. It was a fun little project and a nice break from my hectic week and all the weeks I've spend on my pants.
Yesterday I was able to sneak in a pants fitting and finally got the thumbs up to go ahead and attempt a wearable muslin. I'm just a few tweaks from finally having my pants pattern perfected. I was so excited I decided it was time to buy some new fabric to do them in. Up until now I've been working with this polyester stuff I picked up on ebay for a bargain. It looks nice but I wouldn't be caught dead wearing polyester pants. I bought it specifically for pants muslins. I picked up some navy twill, and I'm debating if I want to do them as capris or full length pants.
While I was at the fabric store, I picked up some fun fur to use in an upcoming baby shower gift. I'm making matching father/son fauxhawk hats. How cute is this? I knitted the baby one up in just 2 hours. It was a fun little project and a nice break from my hectic week and all the weeks I've spend on my pants.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Making progress
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Taking a mental health break
So I spend the morning playing on facebook, doing laundry, straighing up the kitchen...anything to avoid the sewing machine. Then I thought maybe there was somebody at the local sewing machine dealer who could help me. Turns out they couldn't, but while I was there I got to test drive a expensive Janome. I'll never be able to afford it but it was fun trying it out.
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