Scraps

Sometimes I feel a bit mad when I save scraps from what I’m sewing. But I loved this color so much! It’s the leftovers from the pants I made from curtains (here  although I haven’t got a photo yet of the finished pants:P)

I wanted to do embroidery and at first thought I’d make a pocket for the pants, that’s the one to the right. From the even smaller scraps I made two little bags to fill with lavender since I have some on my balcony.

 

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Pants! Pants! Pants!

So I finally finished my second pair of culottes and I look forward to loving them as much as my first pair which turned out to be a hit.

Now I’ve made quite an effort with these, I decided to line them which I’ve never bothered to do before, but since the fabric is pretty thin I figured it was necessary. I used a beautiful robin blue lining from my stash and used an orange colored zipper- I love how the two colors clash!

They’ve got a very small hem as I wanted to use the pretty gold print at the edge of the fabric. I was a bit worried that this wouldn’t be heavy enough and make them shapeless, but I think it works.

Starting over

Lately I seem to have even more difficulties  finishing things than i usually do. I can’t remember when I finished something last. I do know when the last time I started a new project happened, though- it’s today!

I’m making a dance top, sort of like an Indian choli. Constructing a new pattern by merging and modifying old ones. This is one of the things I enjoy most of all when it comes to sewing, but to actually wear the things I make is kinda fun too. Let’s see if this one ever come that far.

Einstein and I

I’m sure many of you are familiar with Einstein’s supposed quote how the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expect differnet results?

This is my third attempt with vintage pattern Stil 6166. It has all the parts but no instructions but I’ve made enough pants to know what to do, I figured.The first pair of pants turned out nice but very loose. Which is fine and quite comfortable but not the look I was thinking of.

When I used it again I realized there were three midriff pleats instead of the two I’d made the first time, ah good, that would also explain why the waist band was way too short. So I mde he waist band longer and added the extra pleat. Now they wouldn’t close. OK. I took up the pleat but they still wouldn’t fit me, so I had to make the other pleats narrower. The waist band was now long enough to be double in the front which I used as a detail.

Linen of course stretches pretty much, and the pants are now very loose. Which is fine and quite comfortable etc etc.

Attempt three. I carefully cut the top, but just as in my second attempt I made the legs straight from the hip (which is wider than the original) , I also made all the pleats thinking I could put an extra line with a golden fabric if they don’t fit. Turns out though that the fabric bleads color very badly, so using a golden fabric with it probably isn’t a good idea. I will now sew them together, after measuring they should “just” fit, or possibly not. So back to taking the pleats up and have them too lose again?

i’ll keep you posted.

Indian culottes

My sister brought me back these beautiful fabrics when she was in India last year. I’ve cut out another pair of short wide pants, or culottes as I’ve learned they’re called. here I was, thinking I’d come up with the idea of them on my own.

The fabric is really thin, so I’ll have to make at least the upper half lined, I think. And maybe a matching blouse in the gold colored fabric?

Pantsy schmantsy

I cut out these pants a long time ago and finally sat down to sew them together, I I really needed some new ones. The patterns looks smashing although I’m not all crazy about the late seventies fashion. Not sure they look like the picture, maybe should take them in some more, but…well

If life’s a bowl of cherries…

…why is it so damn hard to take a picture of a bra while I’m wearing it?

The perspective is really weird, but it’s finished at least, and not a minute too soon, since my old ones are literally falling apart. I made it in double fabrics, but the covering cherry print rips reaaaalllly easy, so don’t know for how long this one will be amongst the living.

Wishful thinking

Yeah. Happily composing a two colored linen dress, listening to Smokie and getting pretty far when it dawned on me.

I’d washed the green, but the red was a hand me down in small parts, very soft and I just assumed it had been washed and shrunk, but when pressing the seams some red came off on the board. And sure enough. Testing a piece in hot water it bleeds like crazy. But before I take it all apart I’ll test two pieces together, maybe the bleeding doesn’t stick?

Challenges

A lot of what I make is made from limited resources, fabrics bought in thrift stores or only in small quantities  so they don’t get too expensive. This means being as efficient as possible with what I have. But the more i do this I also enjoy matching prints and paying attention to details .

I bought these fabrics today, they were sold in pieces of roughly 150 cm each,and I intend to make as much as I possibly can out of the prints. I’ll keep you posted.

Coming along

I’m working on the swimming suit I promised my mom for Christmas (it’s only March after all) and it’s coming along nicely.

I think all of us who’ve grown a chest have experienced the same frustration when it comes to swimming wear. In the stores you can find skimpy outfits in thin materials that give no support whatsoever. Uncomfortable is just the start of it, beach volleyball? forget it!

So when I finally stumbled on a swimming suit with a built in bra that actually works, my happiness knew no limits. I’ve applied that model when I constructed this one.

First I copied an old swimming suit that my mom had and that fitted her. I then made an extra top half of the front and sew some elastic onto the bottom line as. I decided to have the entire suit in double fabrics as well, for extra sturdiness, and mom has tried on the lining.

The built in bra is attached at the side seam and a band with fasteners will go across the back to make sure the elastic is kept tight.

I will try to get it done berfore this years season is over, but my personal deadline for Christmas gifts is before next Christmas eve, so I have another 287 days or so. Should work.