More of the same

 

This is getting embarrassing. I have made yet another pair of shorts. From the same pattern. Not a current or trendy pattern mind you. Just an old Burda magazine one. In life, when I find something I like, I stick with it and sewing is not much different.

The fabric is a wool plaid which I picked up at The Fabric Store last Wednesday. Sewn up yesterday in time to wear back to work.

I tend not to go for plaid since it can be a nightmare to match up. I cut the pattern peices individually so that I could best match up the lines. Instead of consulting my sewing reference I just dove in and thought I would cut the waistband on the bias grain.

 

Once again I finished the facing with voile cut on the bias. I did mean to change the bobbin thread to white to blend with the fabric, but as you can see I forgot too.

 

My next project is not going to be shorts, but I am not finished with this pattern forever. I really want to make a yellow pair but I need to find the right fabric first.



Sewing nemesis: curved waistbands

 

Do other people have a sewing nemesis? I am sure I have a few but the one on my mind is a curved waistband. It doesn't matter how many times I have sewn one, I am always left thinking I could have done a better job. Generally it is lumpy bits where the seams intersect or the waistband facing seems to grow in some places.

 

 

 

 I have sewn up yet another hybrid Jalie 2805/2806 tee in a Crafty Mamas printed cotton lycra (purple colourway) and Burda #120 10/05 altered with my pants block and shortened to above knee length. This time in a gorgeous charcoal linen fabric that I bought at a nearby fabric sale.

 

 This is the best backview I have had. The only wrinkles of from the linen itself.

 For the waistband, I actually followed most of the directions from Tany's excellent blog.  This involved reading the instructions rather than just scanning the pictures. Of course, my waistband is slightly different, but it is mainly the seam technique. I actually trimmed the seam allowance before applying a some bias binding (voile fabric instead of bias organza). Now normally my edge is either flush with the seam but lumpy at the side seams (as I fold the seam allowances of the facing under) or it is a little wonky as some parts of the facing hang a little longer (for reasons unknown to me). Using a thinner fabric to bind the edge has reduced the lumps somewhat (next time I also need to remember to clip the corners more before overlocking) and since I pinned the facing to the seam edge, the facing is even for once.

 Pictures always look better when my daughter is with me.

Red shorts this time

I followed up my blue shorts with some red ones. I have had this 1 metre piece of red stretch cotton sateen in the fabric stash for sometime. The fabric store cut it wrong and so I thought I ended up with a piece only suitable for the kids. A little while ago I dug this out and thought I might be able to manage a pair of shorts for me. I am selfish like that (besides, I made a pair of red shorts for J last year and they still fit).

 

 I have used a stretch sateen for shorts before and it is not really that great for pants designed for non-stretch wovens. One of two things can happen. The pants get the baggy, saggy elephant look. Or they constantly slide down and you are forever hitching them up. So I cut this on the cross grain for stability.

 

I did not have enough yardage for pockets, so I pinned the pocket piece to the front, matching the pocket seam lines.

 I really, really wanted a pair of red shorts to match my new red sandels. I have been hooked on buying Dansko shoes ever since reading about them on one of my favourite blogs (the slapdash sewist).

The pattern is exactly the same as the blue pair. I have retraced it into a shorts pattern, and adjusted the hem so that the hemline is the same circumference as the fold up portion of the hem. Makes a huge difference when it is not tapered in.

Thanks for the feedback from my last post. I also posted at my regular forum site (Crafty Mamas) and there does not seem to be a general consensus. There was suggestion for a darker belt, so I may make that in the near future. I have already moved on to my next dress for J, so have to remember to look for some next time I am at the fabric store.



Shorter shorts

Even though it is school holidays, I managed to sew one garment this week. I did have a very busy three days helping run a camp at church and also caught up with a friend for lunch, shopping  and a movie. That is my excuse anyway.

 

 I have been meaning to make myself some shorter shorts for some time now. These are my tester pair to get a feel for wearing short shorts. I was thinking these would end up a little shorter but the fabric would not cooperate and looked  horrible every time I looked in the mirror.

 The pattern I have used it Burda #120 from 10/2005. An oldie but a goodie. I measured the shorts so they would be 47cm long when finished, but I think these sit lower and so are longer than I measured. I think in future I will cut it to a 42cm length.

 

 I have plans for a few more pairs of pants and this pattern worked out pretty well with using my pants block. I think I will trace a seperate pattern and make sure the hem are even when turned up. I ended up easing in the shorts because it was slightly tapered and therefore a little to short when turned in.