Hudson Pant

I decide today, after making my 4th pair last night, that these absolutely deserve a blog post of their own! My sewing lately has been pretty repetitive, lots of Renfrew tees being made, and I've finally stumble on some 'not so scary to fit' pants!

Not to say I didn't have fit issues- I cut the first pair in my usual size, not measuring and -I thought they were OK! Comfy, if not a little heavy as I made them in Ponte double knit I got at Spotlight. After looking at a few more pics I decided to make another pair based on size, and the magic happened!

  

 Non-daggy stretch pants! ( I went back and unpicked the first pair and resewed, after my 3rd pair came out good as well. Hey, I wasn't letting Liberty pocket trim go to waste!)

 The Ponte is a nice firm weight (I'm learning a lot about knits lately, besides being quick and easy to sew!) but I have had some pilling issues with it that is annoying me.

  

I know skinny jeans make you look smaller than big baggy's, but I finally realise the same with all pants! And these aren't 'leggings', thank God, so the whole 'leggings as pants' debate can be avoided! Saying that, depending what you make them out of will decide whether you wear them out or not.

My black and orange ones have pilled the most, but I just shave them with my fabric shaver; I'd easily wear these out and about. I'm having heaps of fun with the fabric/rib colour combos!

 

The next 2 are out a unknown knit of the $2 a metre table at GJ's Fabrics. I've started bypassing the quilting cottons and heading to the stretch section first nowadays! It's much lighter, but has excellent recovery- I don't get the 'baggy knees' after being on the floor etc.

 Being lighter fabric, it tends to be a lot more wrinkly around the butt and shows off EVERY bump- so maybe not so much a wear-out-of-the-house pair, at least if you don't want to embarrass your pre-teen! I suppose if I was really worried I could do something about the wrinkles, or the butt at least! But, meh....

After loving my "Saggy Baggy Elephant" ones, (named after the colour and my butt, NOT the pattern or style) I went back to GJ's and found the same knit in 2 different colours- beige and brown. Mmm, attractive! But still, at $2 and 110% comfort I was sold- matched up with the blue I think there pretty passable.

 

The waistband has elastic, which means you could avoid the drawstring, but to me that gave them a tracksuit pant feel, the drawstring doesn't. I managed to find my drawstrings in the stash- a 3 pack of coloured sports shoelaces did the trick, and a roll of white cord from the oppy saved the day!

 

Found this as I was uploading my pics- I really need to find a better photographer, or just post selfies, right? Grrrr...

I even made some mini ones! I used McCalls 3665 as the base, adding the all important bum ruffles, and then added some cuffs and the 'comfort' waistband.

 

And the recipient of those? Henry's baby sister, Penelope Eve. A new niece and cousin for me and my girl.

Pattern from here, one I've wanted to make for many years, and am pretty happy I have a niece to make it for!

Building my handmade wardrobe....

I've been trying a few new patterns out lately, mainly because they get sold at (good) ridiculously cheap prices at the Spotlight sales! But there are some good free patterns out there too I have been trying out.

I picked this one for all the styles;  I used some op shopped chambray as a muslin. They looked rather uninspiring on the wall....

But super comfy on! I'm going to 'teach myself' how to make the crotch line a bit higher, so they're not as baggy around the bum! But I feel pretty cool and comfy in these!

I teamed it up with a new tshirt- still love my Renfrews, but like to mix it up a bit! This free pattern is awesome!

I tried out the Hemlock Tee; this is a one size fits all free pattern from Grainline Studios. I have made a few other things from these patterns. This is my 2nd version, the first was so small, as I didnt print the pattern out properly! I would have liked this a bit looser, but it's super comfy, and I'll definietly make it again- so quick and easy!

I finally made a wrap dress-  I procrastinated long and hard, as I had 3 patterns to choose from. I used a $10 a metre cotton/lycra from Rathdowne Fabrics. I'm glad I went with Butterick B5454; it had no facings! and was a 'true' wrap, has cute pleats at the shoulders...and super comfy too boot! Which reminds me, I need to get new winter boots this year, which will be great with this dress!

I got a bit crazy with the pics- I had to take most of these pics on the same day, after work- I blame tiredness, and a cheeky photographer! 

 Oh, this is the ' no spillage' shot- it is one good wrap top! (Always photobombed by the dog)

And a few more of the Deer and Doe Plantain Shirt I mentioned at the top of the post- using up leftovers! The blue one has 2 slightly different colour navy's on the front and back; I figured only I will notice that! (And you now you're reading it). I added a pocket, as I didnt have enough navy for the sleeves, and they looked odd on their own!

The cat had to get in on the pics!

Ok, back to boring pics from now on!

Stop the Press!

I haven't felt the need to urgently blog for a while, but I want to share this pattern with everyone! It arrived nice and quickly on Monday after I bought it from here; and that wasn't very long after it was released by Tasia.

I have been DYING for a good PJ pants pattern forever, the commercial patterns I have I think are aimed at people with nappies- saggy bums! and low crotches. Anyone else noticed this? So to say I had high hopes is an understatement!

The first pair was a muslin- and I hoped wearable. I used some vintage flannel from the stash. I cut a straight size 10 (I went with the hip measurement, not the bust or waist) and did recommended seam allowances etc. I left the piping off the trial pair. And I LOVE THEM!

 

 

 Sorry about the bad iPhone pics- I was so excited when I got home I got the mini photographer to snap some pics! The thick flannel was going to annoy me around the waist I thought (nothing like feeling slim in your bedroom/ lounge attire!) I used some ribbon from the stash.

They sit on the hip more than the waist, and have a normal sized crotch and butt! Yippee!

  I have the next ones cut out- and these will include the piping, my first time making and using it!. I'll be in time for the pajama party!

 I think I'll be making a lot of these- summer, winter, shorts, and as tracksuit pants too. I wonder if I can match my Renfrew count? Six new ones last weekend, which I think takes my count to 12? These were all made with leftover fabrics too from other garments (expect the bottom left striped merino, it was just taken in a lot, but I count it as a new one!)

Sorry, more pics of me and my moon tan legs!

 I had to put that title, as I even I didn't know how white my legs were until I saw these! Can you tell I don't sun bake? At least I have a low chance of skin cancer on my legs teehee

My goal for this year (not a resolution, just a little goal) is to make more of my work wardrobe. I mainly wear pants and tee shirts, in winter with cardigans, and of course the skirts I made. But I wanted much more handmade work clothes that bought! So this post is to show off my three tee shirts I made, and the pants I am now living in!

These are the fabrics "Santa" put under the tree from Rathdowne Fabrics (well, actually, I did, and they weren't wrapped and I paid for them. Thanks anyway, Santa!) They were all different weights which made it interesting! I didn't end doing a production line because of that, but they were still pretty quick.

This is the pattern.... again!

This is a slightly 'slinky' fabric, ie I think it has a fair bit of polyester in it. Little Miss told me it was swimsuit fabric, but definitely not like the bathers I made her! I was worried the higher amount of polyester would make it a bit smelly at the end of a sweaty day, but I wore it to work all day and it's fine! And very comfortable. I left the waistband cuff at the bottom for this one, and love the sleeve cuffs, they are just so comfortable! Oh, and the fabric was quite cheap as it was a remnant.

 

The 2nd one is a thick cotton Lycra, about $10 a metre, I may have gotten a metre and a half, I cant remember. This fabric is the bomb! So spongy and comfy, and even on the hot day Monday I was cooool as a cucumber! The other reason these fit so well is I've lost a bit of weight and went down a size on the tee, so they fit a lot better I've realised!

  

And finally a black on- much batter than the one here, the fabric in the last one was too thin and had holes in the armpits from the needle along the seam. This is a touch thinner than the white cotton Lycra, still soft and lovely though. I left the waistband off this one (got lazy by the end) and used the twin needle for the hem; if it's not as comfy when wearing, I'll add the waistband back on.

Lookit that fit! My next job is new shorts, I'm sick of the sight and the wearing of these ones! But they were op shopped for a few dollars and have lasted a few years, so I shouldn't complain!

Tips for sewing with Lycra? Overlocker! (or serger). The top shiny fabric I still sewed the seams on the machine then overlocked with 4 threads; knowing how the last one got holes and the wear and tear I hope to get out of these, I didn't think I could reinforce the seams enough! And practice. We all fear something before we try it, then it's lots of practice, and being prepared to chuck out the fails!  I expect many more fails as I learn all about sewing stretch fabric!

Oh, a stretch needle too is great.

I also ran up some new pants from this pattern (which was half price at the last Spotlight sale = $2.50) and some of the ex-curtain fabric I was gifted from my daughters school (don't think I blogged that- I was told to 'take what I want' and ended up with about 10mts! It was going in the bin after all....)

They are The. Best. Pants! Elastic waisted, so no stressing your fly is undone all day! Yes, I have entered the 'stretch oant' stage of my life I think...letting it all hang out!

Outfit one TICK

 

A bit of a sewing craze over here

Finally finished these pants I started at Sewjourn, can't believe they fit! I was worried, as I made a 7, and the Little Miss is heading into 8's and 9's. I forgot sewing patterns are usually a bit bigger. I made View C, but once they were on she decided she didn't want to gathered bottoms, and DID want pockets. D'oh!

At least she'll wear them!

She got lucky today as well, as I made her a needle book, anything for some

peace and quiet!

Have to throw in this hair shot (not trying to be too weird). but I just don't think it should be allowed- unbrushed since last night, falling perfectly, I am SOOOOO jealous. Can't believe I made her, sometimes!

Happy pants

Well, I was pretty happy with them, I would be happy wearing them, was the recipient happy? No. 'They're too daggy' was the comment. Particularly the pockets, apparently. Kate, can we swap children? Or maybe they just need to hang out a bit, so she appreciates me *sniff sniff*.

Anyway, she wore them yesterday and today, despite some unknown primary school aged boy telling her they were 'dumb' (Reinforcing my "all men are pigs" mantra) and looked so cute, I could eat her.

These are the 2 pairs.

If you remember, the pattern is from here, and I'll do a quick review. Great instructions, easy to follow, and the first pair is definitely the longest, the 2nd took about 1/2 an hr! I liked the tissue paper patterns initially, but traced it off on tracing paper, which is a bit heavier than my normal greaseproof paper, so it was a bit harder. I also (der) forgot to add seam allowances so they are just over locked, and won't fit her for long!

We are having a visit from Nana and Pa Pa this week, my Dad and his partner, so Little Miss had her first baking experience. Oh, I did it when she was a week one, but then sewing became more interesting, and I stopped baking. She loved making these with Nana, I enjoyed eating them har har.

I also made her this- it was originally floral both sides, with a big diamond cut out in the middle of one side, to put the doona in through. Fine except she kept waking up with her legs inside the doona, annoying! So I kept one side floral, and used the effalunt fabric on the other side, with a bit of chenille to widen it. It's lovely, she loves it, I'm enjoying sleeping under it at the moment in the lounge room.

I swear these fit her at the beginning of winter!!