Hi Everyone!  If you are so inclined, vote for my trousers on PR!

VOTE HERE!

Colette Juniper Trousers!

I'm back.  I've been sewing some and crafting some, but just not blogging.  Sorry :-/

I busted my butt this morning and into the afternoon to finish this pair of pants to enter into the Pattern Review Pants Contest.  I started them because of the contest and of course waited until the last possible moment to finish them.  

 Here's my official Pattern Review:

Pattern Description:  Classic wide-leg trousers, perfectly fitted through the hips and falling gently to a moderately wide hem. Has front slash pockets and fly front. Pattern Sizing: 0-18. I made a 4 with lots of fit modifications. Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it? Yes! It did! Were the instructions easy to follow? I thought they were pretty easy to follow. I sewed the pocket in a different order than the instructions called out, which made more sense to me. I thought the instructions were a little too wordy. They are too conversational and could be easily simplified and still make sense. What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern? I really like the style of these pants. Something I always want to buy, but have a hard time finding in stores. The fit was not great for my body type. I do not have hips so I had to make some modifications. That was a little annoying because being an indie pattern (not a Big 4) I was hoping the body measurements listed on the back of the pattern would be more accurate. I measure 27.5" at natural waist, and 36.75" at hip and I had to take in this pattern a lot! See below. I also did not like that there wasn't a top pocket facing. I ended up adding one. Fabric Used: A vintage med. weight denim I bought at a church sale for a few dollars years ago and a vintage floral sheet for the pocketing I got for free when I first started to sew. Yay for stashbusting! Pattern alterations or any design changes you made: Okay...here we go... Like I said above I made a size 4. I was a big-ol-idiot and thought that I would make the pants straight from the envelope and not have to make fit adjustments. I even overlocked and topstitched the sides and back rise before checking fit. Derrrr. So I had to unpick a lot and make as many adjustments as I could without recutting and redoing the entire pant. I ended up taking in the side seams from about low hip to waistseam 1/4" (1" total circumference). i also took in the CB seam 1/4" (1/2" total). Of course then my facings were the wrong size! My seam allowances for the CB facing pieces ended up being about 1 3/8" and I left my front facing pieces seam allowance 5/8." This was my quick and dirty fix. I hate recutting pieces. Also, I drafted a little top pocket facing because it is one if my pet peeves to see pocketing fabric exposed inside the pocket. I still need to address a little bit of "hungry butt" but overall, the fit is pretty good for my first real pair of pants. Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others? I might make this again, but I would have to transfer all my fit changes to the pattern and I'm not up for that right now. Plus there are so many other patterns I want to try. Conclusion:  Overall, its a pretty good pattern, just not great for the hipless.

 Here are a few detail shots of the pocket and the trouser closure.

 If you made it down this far, VOTE FOR ME :)

2 Legit 2 Legit to Quit

It's Hammertime....2012 style...

I've been wanting McCall's 6514 for some time now, and bought it at the Joann's sale.    I can't get motivated to start working on my own slopers again.  I would love to design my own clothes, but right now I just want to sew and make things, so commercial patterns it is.

I cut a size 8 (ViewA- girl in the hat) and made no adjustments at all though I should have shortened the legs about 3 inches before I did any cutting.  I planned for them to be a wearable muslin...lounge pants really. And I used a very drapey gabardine that I picked up at the swapmeet for $1.50/yd.  It only took a few hours to construct them, and once I tried them on I realized I needed to narrow the leg a more and take in the crotch a bit too.  I only narrowed the outseam, because I was too lazy to pick the already overlocked and topstitched seams of the inseam and crotch.  Oh well, like I said, they are a wearable muslin.  And man...they are comfortable!

I really like the pleating on the front, but I think the elastic on the back makes my butt look long and saggy.  :(  I don't know, they are kinda cute in a weird hammer pants kind of way.  If I ever make them again, I'll definitely narrow the legs on the pattern itself and adjust the crotch for a better fit.  I do want to make the wide leg version also pictured in a nice jersey.

pocket and pleat detail.

I can't decide if these pants are Awesome or Awful?  Any opinions?

Review here.

Thanks to my newest followers too!

Marie
Jill
tshania_sedai
Lara G
Rachel-Lou

Check out their blogs!

UGLY pants! and 2 new Followers!

These Marc by Marc Jacobs Diamond Stripe pants are on sale right now for $187.60 at shopbop.


Get 'em while you still can!

Ugg.  I just threw up a little in my mouth.


Thanks Kari and Megan for becoming followers of my blog.  Kari has been a friend of mine for a few years.  She is an amazing knitter!  I wish you all could see what she has made.  Megan is cool because she too has an old Schwinn.  Go vintage bikes!

Printed Pants, WTF?

I love prints.  I need a little pattern/texture/color in my life.  I own plenty of tops, skirts and dresses in florals and other patterns. Like this skirt and the dress I will be posting soon (which may be a flop and too "printy"). I think printed pants and shorts can be hideous though! 

(from www.styleguidance.com)

(from http://www.rise-worldwide.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/spread_184pkm.jpg)

These pants are $850 at Saks.

This pair is being sold at goodorient.com for almost $58.

The last pair is by far the worst.  The hammer pants are really bad too.  

Why do I think everyone should stray away from these monstrosities?  Is it too much pattern? Do they make butts look fat? (I think this is probably the reason).  Even on the skinniest people I think printed pants look ridiculous.  If you ever catch me designing floral pants, shoot me!