Continuing the wardrobe plan...with pants.

Recently I killed yet another pair of jeans and I really need to start replacing my old pants with new ones. Pants are tricky to do, however... I was pretty happy with the lilac pair in linnen fabric, but I need something more sturdy that will keep out the oncoming chill of autumn. This is a more fitted model in a denim-like fabric. It is not cotton, however and has a lovely no-crease quality to it. I picked up this fabric for 4 euro from a stall and thought it perfect for a try-out! The model is ok. I had to really, really shave off from the sides of the legs as it was WAY too wide for me, eventhough the pattern was for a size 36. I have a problem with getting the crotch right on the front and this time I was able to get it really nicely done. I tried my hand at an invisible zipper, but it is not really invisible....Still happy with it though.




I do like the back, the fake-welted pocket shamelessly gives away my inexperience, but again, I am happy with the result. I am sure I will do better next time. It really is a "you-have-to-do-it-a few-times-to-get-it-right" thing.

The only thing that bugs me is the diagonal lines in the back when standing still. I looked it up in my sewing book and I cannot find the cause of the problem. I can see there is tension and too much fabric under the bum (ooo I wish I had a bum!). I will really need to correct the pattern for this next time, but I have no idea where!?!?!? If any of you might have an idea or answer, please let me know....I still need to make jeans and another pair for winter!

******Update*****
I thank all the readers that posted comments on how to fix my pants! You were all very helpful and I have a good idea of how to fix the pattern now before I start in true jeans fabric. I had alread sewn this pair and am not willing to do major reconstruction on it, but I have opted for deepening out the crotch curve. As you can see, it does not fix all of the roominess in the back, but it does get rid of those sharp diagonal lines! Thank you so much all!

Granny shawl

I used to have a triangle shawl from my granny. I loved it very much as it could be used as a shawl and a wrap. ....it disappeared when I moved in with my boyfriend 3 years ago. Since then I forgot about it as crochet items were not in fashion anymore and hey, one oughtta keep up with fashion right? Wrong. I loved that shawl dearly and when I noticed these triangle wraps were coming into fashion again and crochet is now the *hot* thing to do apparently, my thoughts dwindled on my old black wrap and it's comfort. So, nothing to do about it: I had to learn to crochet and make myself one. I had already started knitting simple scarves and I figured crochet was not that different from it. I bumped into this pattern for a triangle shawl in one of those shops where they sell all kinds of wool and knick-knacks for knitting and sewing. It was hanging on a dressform and I just loved it soooooo much! The kind lady of the shop saw me gazing at it and told me: "You know, if you know how to crochet, single crochet and double crochet, it is really easy to make. And if you don't know how to, I'll show you -no problem". And I did. It was really easy to follow the pattern, it only took me a week doing a few rows every evening sitting in front of the telly with my boyfriend. AND I LOVE IT!!! 6 euro worth of skins and I am sooooo much happier now :-) I can't wait to show my Grandma!

Sleeves all set in :-)

I told you about this dress before. I have made this design together with my friend Jiska. I did change it a bit after seeing it on her. I shortened the sleeves and the hemline to give it a bit 'younger' look. I was thinking of adding some lace or ruffles around the neckline, but I'm not completely sure. Maybe I'll ponder on it for a while longer...

Coming up: this same dress in a gorgeous sequinned white linnen. Perhaps I'll leave that one sleeveless....hmmmm.

Finally something finished!

It has been a while since I was able to post. Too busy, you ask? Well, yes and no. I just did not seem to get anything finished lately, but I do have a lot of projects *nearly* finished :-)

This dress was made for an irish dance recital. It is not really a re-fashion, but it is all handmade. We have several of these red dresses for our group. The girls of this group are in their teens and have been growing a lot since we first made these. So, we had to make some new ones and re-fit some older ones. This made me try out a new concept: a two piece ensemble. The skirt and top are separate, so that with future growthspurts, we can more easily adjust skirts that are too short and tops that need more room. It will also be possible to swap skirts and tops more easily within the group.
The sleeves were cut from an older dress that was too small. They are not perfect, but they did the job.
The underskirt is also separate and simply lining fabric with a ruffle of tulle attached. I think it enhances the "fairy-like" quality these dresses have. It also helps hide the fact that some skirts are too short :-D.

I also have 2 wrap dresses that I need to finish off. They only need...sleeves. (I do hate setting in sleeves....)

Sewing together is so much more fun!

My friend Jiska and I decided we needed to start sewing together. This was quite a lot of fun as Jiska had almost never sewn before. We had bought this flowery fabric at the latest fabric market and really wanted to make a wrap dress from it. After searching a few pattern magazines we found the right (simple enough) model and went for it! It was really nice going step by step and explaining why you do something a certain way. I had almost forgotten how much I have already learnt in all those sewing years!
We started in the afternoon and after much talking, chatting, some tea, more chatting and finally some sewing we got the dress finished 'round eleven at night. And doesn't it look cute!
My boyfriend commented it looked like a "granny dress" (don't you just love guys?) and we think it might be the effect of the color of the flowery fabric. We're thinking about spicing it up a bit by adding some colorful ribbon around the collar/neckline and around the hemline and/or shortening the sleeves into cap-sleeves to make it look 'younger'. Please leave your thoughts about these ideas!

Oh, and I will make myself an exact copy of this one, as we bought 6 meters of the fabric! :-D

Lovely lilac top

I had a yard of fabric left from the pants and really wanted to do something with it. I have been wanting a wrap shirt for ages. I have been looking at all the women wearing them and they always look so nice, romantic and cute! I don't know why I never made one...(ow yeah, that is right...I did make one a while ago but it kinda sucked...that's why). I guess practice makes perfect :-)
I might make something like this again, but then a real full wrap. Perhaps also with a blouse collar on it. But that is a whole new project...

Pants!

Well, the title says it all...I made pants! I am really happy with the way they turned out. I made, or to be more precise, *tried* to make pants before and they never quite worked for me. I needed more pants for summer and I chose a lilac linnen for this model. It closes at the side with a zip. No pockets, just darts in front and back. So, a really, really easy model to try out the pattern. I did have to change the crotch a bit. Apparently I have no bum, or not the size of bum that comes with this size of pattern. I have finally figured out how to adapt for that and I think I will now try another pattern soon. I still have loads of jeans and other fabrics left....