April 2016 – Threading Lightly

Pattern: McCalls stitch n’ save 6681

Skills acquired:

Homemade bias tape
Hoods!

There comes a time in every sewist’s life when they realize they are still learning. I’ve been killin’ it on so many projects lately (with some minor complications), I really thought I was heading up to the big leagues. Then I had to make a hood. I don’t know why this baffled me so much, but looking back on it, it all seems rather stupid.

First of all this pattern is labeled “easy” right on the front. This should not have been as much of a challenge as it was. I think some unclear writing and my own inexperience with making a hood contributed to this lesson.

Let me step back a minute on this one. I chose this pattern because I wanted to make something else besides pajama pants with this cotton flannel I had bought when on vacation in New Mexico. I specifically searched for patterns for flannel fabric and figured for this type of native-american-like print some sort of over-shirt would be nice. I thought this pattern looked cute with the hood and everything so I decided to go for it. Continue reading “Southwestern Over-shirt: Joys in the hood” →

Patterns: Sewaholic Tofino pants, McCalls M6681 & free-form pants

Skills acquired:

Adding pockets
Piping

I’ve made some PJ pants in my time, in fact I’ve made a lot recently. I decided to consolidate them all in one post, for more efficiency (another one of my job skills – companies take note!).

Pajama pants are probably the most basic garment there is. It’s the perfect thing to make when you are first learning to sew. You don’t really need a pattern, there are no zippers and they are made from basic cotton fabric. There are ways to dress them up and build off the simple design, but for the most part there is nothing easier. The most basic patterns have two pieces for the front and two for the back. These all get sewn up pretty much how you would imagine (even the order doesn’t matter too much) and you end up with two legs. The waistband gets folded down, an elastic is added, the pant legs are hemmed…and voila! Something you can lounge around in that you made all your own.

Put it in your pocket

I wanted to make my boyfriend a new pair of lounge pants since I felt like I could improve upon the pants I had made him a while back. He said to me, “If you do make another pair, could you add pockets?” Hmmm…this was something I never thought of. There aren’t too many patterns out there that include pockets on such a garment and I didn’t really trust myself to figure this out on my own. I found this handy tutorial online and decided to experiment with some pants I was going to make myself, just so I could get it right. I had a remnant of flannel which I really liked, although I did not have enough to make full length, which is why these are cropped.

It was all pretty straightforward, however I kept messing up because I had a hard time Continue reading “A tribute to lounge wear – a few variations” →