All posts filed under: Pants

Do Not Adjust Your Screen – Espresso Leggings

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They really are that bright!! This colourful fabric, an ITY knit, has been illuminating my stash for over a year.   As my gym joining experience has continued and not just been a flash in the pan I thought it was about time I added to my ‘gym wardrobe’ which is over 5 years old, with the exception of the VNA top I made last year. I’ve made leggings before, but not ones that needed to withstand 6 minutes of squats in a Les Mills Body Pump class.  But for starters, and for a speedy make I dug out my TNT Sewing Cake custom made Espresso leggings pattern.   I’ve made loads of these, about 7 pairs I think, but not for a couple of years. In legs than an hour i had them cut out and sewn up except for the waist band:   And then I had a busy couple of days and put them aside.  I googled making active wear leggings as the basic elasticated waist wasn’t gonna cut it for these pants. …

Getting busy with Belize from Itch-To-Stitch

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Itch To Stitch has just released their latest pattern – the Belize skort and shorts.  She was asking for pattern testers not so long ago and I would have loved to help up but unfortunately the timescale didn’t match up with any free time I had.   I’ve never made a skort before, but have bought quite a few pairs over the years for golf, and they’re usually quite expensive.  In the last couple of years I’ve cheated and I’ve made skirts for golf and worn gym shorts underneath. This week I’ve been on annual leave and has loooooads of free time.  So armed with my new pattern (which I managed to work out how to use layers and just print my size) I set about making the Belize Skort.  This was Monday, and I wanted to wear them on Tuesday for golf! There are 5 views for the skort and shorts: View A: Pleated-front shorts with front pockets View B: Flat-front shorts with front pockets View C: Flat-front shorts with no pocket View D: Skort with …

The Amber Trousers by Paprika Patterns

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Back in May Kat Hardisty from The Monthly Stitch and Muse Patterns got in touch and asked if I’d like to join in something new for Indie Pattern Month.   In return for being given a pattern bundle I was asked to make one or more of the six garments and tell you all about it.   I chose the Getaway Bundle.  At the time of choosing I had no idea what patterns would be included, but as I was going away on holiday in June I was sure there would be something I’d want to make. And there was! It was all a bit exciting and if I’d have had time I’d had made at least 4 of the garments.  I’ve already got the Islander Jacket Express pattern traced off (from at least 18 months ago!!) but not gotten round to making it!   But time wasn’t on my side so I first off the Amber Trousers. The trousers were made in time for my hols but due to extremely hot weather I never wore them (the lowest …

The Need for Ease – Simplicity 1696

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Is it just me or do you trust the stitches more on RTW garments than something you make your self? How many times have you laid flat on your bed, sucking in your tummy in an attempt to fasten your favourite trousers? I used to do, but since making most of my clothes there’s no way I’d put my stitches through such strain!  I generally air on the side of caution and make sure there’s plenty of room to move and breathe.  And also to lessen the chance of splitting open the seams and avoiding embarrassing situations.  And often things then end up a bit too big. So I made another pair of Simplicity’s Amazing Fit trousers. I’ve made them once before in a black cotton sateen with a small amount of lycra.  Whilst the fit isn’t amazing I’ve worn them loads, mainly for golf.  I often let in and out the back centre seam depending how thin/fat I’m feeling.  Big mistake when making these the first time – I didn’t bother with belt loops. …

Style Arc Misty Pull On Jeans - aka Jeggings!

#JeansJanuary -Style Arc Misty Pull On Jeans

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I thought it was about time I wrote a post about something I’ve made.  Lately it’s all just been about what I’ve been up to in my Sunday Sevens and what I’ve got planned for the 6th February! Before I waffle on about my new trousers (which are almost jeans), I need to let you into a little secret!!  As Fabworks are now online I asked them if they would like to sponsor a little giveaway/competition on my blog for those of you who won’t be able to come to the Yorkshire Spoolette Meet Up. And they said YES!!  So it’s not all doom and gloom for those who can’t make it! Watch out for a post all about it soon! So what’s all this about?  Jeans January?  Last January I rushed out and bought a pair.  Well 2 pairs actually.  They were the first things I bought when my 2014 RTW Fast was over.  And now a year later I’m considering making a pair. All thanks to Chris over at Said & Done – Handmade my Chris . …

Emily Culottes – The Jury’s Still Out

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I wore culottes in the 80’s.  I also wore bright yellow full length pencil skirts and goth make up for a short time (not together, I hasten to add), but it doesn’t mean I’m going to do it all again now I’m approaching my mid 40’s. Or does it!? Whilst browsing the blogasphere, which I’m currently spending more time doing than actually sewing, I stumbled across Maris’s post (over at Sew Maris) declaring she was going to host a sewalong to make Itch to Stitch’s Emily Culottes. I can’t recall at what point I decided to join in, but that’s not important.  What is important is that I did and I made them and now I’m wearing them!! TWO days in a row!  But I’m still not sure. A few of you might have heard of Itch To Stitch Patterns.   There’s quite a few Lindy Petal Skirts floating about on the net – it’s their free pattern and is really lovely and easy and on my to-do list. The Culottes.  That’s why your here isn’t …

The Denim and Jersey Aurora Tank By Seamwork

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Back in June I printed off one of the latest patterns (then it was!) by Seamwork – The Aurora Tank. I was inspired by Helena from GrayAllDay patterns to make one.  She made one every day for a week and came up with some fab colour combos, and she also discovered that the yoke could be make in a woven as well as a jersey. I traced the pattern off back then, but it wasn’t until a couple of days before our trip to Taunton in July that I got round to whipping one up.  Not sure if it took me 2 hours – I did cut some corners. I used a remnant of a jersey from my stash, and for the yoke I had some of the stretch denim from my recently made capri pants. I thought the denim would be too thick for the inside of the yoke so i was going to use an old black viscose top. After I’d cut it out I got lazy and decided the yoke didn’t need an inside …

GBSB Capri Pants – converted to an easy elasticated waist

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I need more pants!  No not knickers, I mean trousers! Cropped ones for summer.  I’m living in my jeans and when we have the occasional warm day I’m stuck at just what to wear.  So I decided to make the Capri Pants which are in this years series of the GBSB book. The pattern looked straight forward.  Side invisible zip and facings instead of a waistband. I chose a denim with some lycra content.  Not sure how much, but they had a definite stretch rather than had ‘give’.  I sewed them up without the darts (i marked them but waited to add them) and basted the left side seam – but sewed all the others with a normal stitch length and overlocked all the edges..  I also stay stitched the waist band. I tried them on and apart from taking in the centre front seam I thought they’d be ok. I made 2 new rows of stitching for the centre front seem before I was happy with the fit. After adding the darts I then found …

Scuba Knit Espresso Leggings

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I think most of you have heard of Cake Patterns custom fit Espresso Leggings.  I’ve lost count of the number of pairs I’ve made –  for me, my mum, my niece, and even H has a pair which he wore under his ski trousers.  I thought maybe I could adapt the pattern for a scuba knit fabric and then they’d I’d be able to make some easy funky pants (ish) for on the golf course. I originally bought this check fabric when visiting Dewsbury for the Spoolette meet-up.  I went with absolutely no intention to buy any fabric on that occasion and came home with all this: So far though I’ve done quite well and made use of 3 out of the 7 pieces bought that day.  Recognise the fabric top left….arrrhhhhh…… The second fabric down is now the Athena Top. As the scuba knit isn’t quite so stretchy, I added about 1/2 inch all the way round my pattern: As it turned out this wasn’t quite enough.  The fabric only stretches on the horizontal …

The Hudson Pants #PatternParcel6

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Back in October I bought Parcel 6 from the Perfect Pattern Parcel.  This is the 3rd parcel I’ve bought but I’ve not gotten round to making anything until now. The Hudson Pants, although for a lady, looked a great style for my 12 year old son. I initially made the 3/4 length style but he felt they were a bit too tight so i chopped them to above the knee and just overlocked the hem. I’m pleased with my button holes.  My one step button hole on my machine is a bit iffy so I just did it by twiddling a few dials as I went! They were really easy to put together. I made each pocket a different colour. Not because I was feeling particularly creative, it was because I didn’t have enough fabric! I can’t persuade him to wear them inside out. He doesn’t quite get how good they look on the inside – all his clothes look like this!! On one leg front piece I had to use the fabric vertically as …