Phone in arm band pocket

The running band: Trying to get back to it

Pattern: Fehr Trade Running Armband Pocket (free pattern!)Fehr Trade Running Arm Band pattern

It’s no surprise that I haven’t been sewing lately.  Summer is in full force, I just started a new job where my commute is longer and I’ve been taking some online courses to brush up on my skills – you know all the usual.  Oh and I’ve been running more.  After the success of my last half marathon in May, I decided to sign up for another one in October…and then another one later in October.  I also have some smaller races and relay races coming up that I’m trying to stay prepared for.  I’ve been running as long as I’ve been sewing, but it seemed that most of my energy that I reserved for sewing has transferred to running and running related activities.  I started track workouts with my running club once a week.  I’m also a bit more consistent with my long runs on the weekends.  I have been working a bit harder at it and I think I’m finally starting to show some improvement.

But I miss sewing. Every time I look over at my machines Continue reading “The running band: Trying to get back to it”

Bicycle pants

An update on loungewear

Pattern: Kwik Sew 3793

We interrupt this blog to bring you the picture I was hoping to include on my previous entry about lounge-wear.  Back when I was on my pajama pant kick, I made my guy some nice ones out of bicycle flannel.  I used this kwik sew pattern because it includes a fly, but I also added pockets using an online tutorial.  There is a little bit about the pocket install on my other blog post.

Pockets on pj pants

I wanted to share the final result, although these pictures are only from the waist down Continue reading “An update on loungewear”

A tribute to lounge wear – a few variations

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

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.

PJ Pocket pants

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”

It’s the holiday season…

Yes, I know it’s not the holiday season – it’s over.  But now that Christmas is over, I can freely write about some presents that I made.  This year, I don’t know why but I just couldn’t get it together mentally.  I had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit in the first place.  I felt very busy, and not able to get anything I wanted done.  For whatever reason, this year I just felt off.  Despite all my issues, I still managed to get some homemade presents made which I am pretty proud of.

I wanted to give my boss some small gift and I knew that she liked wine. Continue reading “It’s the holiday season…”

Oh Those Summer Nights

Pattern: Crudely self-drafted

I’ve been working on a few blog posts for completed projects, however it’s tough to get any of this stuff done in the summer.  Plus I really need a photographer since I have yet to get pictures of me in my new skirt.  But anyways, this weekend I did a thing!  I had a few extra minutes and access to my mom’s serger, so I tested out my own drafted pattern of pajama pants.

I used to use an old pair of pjs that had been taken apart as a pattern.  But unfortunately it was thrown out after I moved out of my parent’s house.  So I traced a pair that I had made a while back and then added seam allowances and extra space to make the waistband.

IMG_2544

I traced them on this material on a kind of interfacing that has red dots on it (sorry I have no idea what it’s called). Continue reading “Oh Those Summer Nights”

Manos Pillow

“Manos” The pillow of fate – or what can you do with an old ripped t-shirt?

New Skills Acquired:

  • Ladder stitch

The origin of this project is a funny story.  My friend recently brought over his old ripped t-shirt, one of his favorites (don’t worry he has a back up).  I asked him why he was bringing this thing to me.  He said, “I brought it over because you said you could use this for a project.  You were going to make something out of it.”

I had no memory of this conversation.   We both wondered if this conversation really did take place or if it was some strange dream he had.  But it was possible I had said I could re-purpose it….I started racking my brain.  What could I make with an old t-shirt with un-repairable rips in the seams?

I know people like to make t-shirt quilts, but I am definitely not a quilter.  And I don’t Continue reading ““Manos” The pillow of fate – or what can you do with an old ripped t-shirt?”