My 100th blog entry…and I’m only talking about leggings

On December 4, 2022December 3, 2022 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Uncategorized1 Comment

Patterns:

Sewaholic Pacific Leggings
Fehr Trade PB Jam Leggings

I can’t believe it, but I’ve written 100 blog entries for this blog! It’s been such a sporadic journey as I try to write about my sewing. I have good intentions that never seem to carry out as work and life always get in the way. And I’ve also done nothing to promote myself and get myself out into the sewing blogging community. I am even worse at keeping up with my favorite blogs. My reading has dropped off more than my writing. But I have slowly kept at this somewhat, even though I’m pretty much writing to an empty audience (by my fault of course). My take two project have been going slowly, but 2022 is coming to a close and there were a few project ideas that I will not get to this year. In fact, I was hoping this month to write about my second attempt at a skirt, but I haven’t had much motivation to finish it and I’ve been moving on it a lot slower than I hoped. As I tried to work up some motivation to just get the darn thing finished, I ended up making some more leggings instead. After my pretty successful attempts earlier this year, there were some other ideas I wanted to try, even though I technically don’t need any more leggings this year.

The first pair was from a pattern I’ve already used, the Sewaholic Pacific leggings. I like the different panels on these, but I wanted to try to make a shorter version with the zipper in the back. I didn’t include the bottom leg panel and adjusted it so it was the length I wanted. I think maybe next time, I may have to keep all the panels and just shorten the leg to where I want it. The bottom of these kind of bunch up in a weird way, probably because it’s not designed to be the bottom. I think I didn’t quite taper the bottom correctly to create the right hem.

They are not bad though, and I did some topstitching on the legs using a kind of flatlock stitch, which I like. I also added some holes on the inside waistband so I have the option to add a drawstring inside to help with fit. The last pair I made felt a bit loose and I’ve had to hike them up when I run sometimes. This will hopeful secure them, I just need to find a good drawstring that will work to insert into them.

As you can see I added two button holes into the waistband on the inside, so I have the option to add a drawstring on the inside to make these pants more secure.

For the other pair, I took a chance on a new-to-me pattern by Fehr Trade, the PB Jam Leggings. I was excited to try this pattern out with this yoga-wear fabric I had bought a while back. It had such cool colors in it and an interesting design, that I thought it would be great with some color blocking. I needed to find a solid color that would work, so I settled on this navy blue lycra spandex, which I was actually able to use for a number of other projects as well. This design worked perfectly for what I envisioned for this fabric as it had these curved side panels and also a section at the knees.

I think they look pretty nice, especially for a first time. It was tough lining up the front and back legs so that the side swirl lined up okay. It’s still not perfect, but after basting them 5 different times, I was finally able to get it the best I could.

They are definitely very fitted! I definitely can’t gain any weight any time soon, but hopefully that won’t be too much of an issue, since I’m jumping right back into marathon training. I actually got an invitation to run the Boston Marathon from my running club! I’m so excited and nervous at the same time, but I think if I can focus on my training, I can get good results. And now I have some new pants to train with!

Reflecting on 100 posts, it’s been a pretty great 8 years of sewing. I’ve learned a lot since that first skirt I made back in 2014. I’m not sure I would have known then that I would still be keeping up with making my own wardrobe. But I’m glad to have stuck with it, even if my projects ebb and flow the way they do. I’m hoping to still have a few more posts this year and I definitely have many projects lined up for the winter. Maybe I can even get out there so I can get people to read this blog…well one thing at a time anyways.

Thanks for reading, whoever is out there!

The running band: Trying to get back to it

On August 15, 2016November 20, 2016 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Small Projects, Uncategorized4 Comments

Pattern: Fehr Trade Running Armband Pocket (free 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” →

Run for it! A reflection on running as I sew with spandex

On May 16, 2016August 16, 2016 By qplourdeIn Sewing Projects, Uncategorized12 Comments

Pattern: Fehr Trade Duathlon Shorts (3-quarter length)

Skills acquired:

PDF patterns

I’ve never considered myself a runner. When I was in middle school, we were forced to run a mile and a half in gym class and it was always a day I dreaded. The gym teacher made fun of the way I swung my arms when I ran. “You look like this,” she said, while she made some exaggerated movements. She called me a retard. She said I was un-athletic. This would turn anyone off from running.

I didn’t really pick up running, except for the odd jog around the neighborhood, until I started having some real life problems. Lack of control in my life situations created major anxiety. I was not myself, I was just a walking bundle of nerves and hurt feelings. I wasn’t sleeping properly and so I slowly introduced a running routine to “tire me out” during the day. It also relieved some of those anxious feelings:

Oh you have to move – run 5 miles to feel better
Grad school is getting to you – see if you can make it to 6 miles
You didn’t get that job – run 3 miles faster than you have before

Everything would play through my head during these runs, and I started to add more Continue reading “Run for it! A reflection on running as I sew with spandex” →

No Sweat! Workout Pants

On July 6, 2014November 27, 2017 By qplourdeIn Sewathons & Contests, Sewing Projects, Uncategorized4 Comments

Pattern: Papercut ooh la leggings

I was inspired to make these leggings by Karen’s Sporty Summer Sewathon, and also in an attempt to get me back on track with my own exercise routine. This past year, my active-ness has ranged from triumph – running my first half-marathon (Yay!) to disappointment – having to drop out of my second half-marathon due to injury (Boo!). But I’m ready to put all that behind me and get back to work! Oh look a button!

I immediately liked the Papercut pattern, because the seams are actually quite flattering and more interesting than your normal boring leggings pattern. In order to make these leggings into a pair of practical running pants, I knew I had to add a back pocket. Often for races, I need a spot to hold a car key, license, and maybe even some cash. Instead of constructing an actual pouch, I thought it might be easier to just double up the waist area and create a pouch that way, similar to another pair of running pants I already had.

I cut two panels of each and serged the front and back of each separately. I then stitched the waist pieces together, seams on the inside, and used it as one piece when attaching the legs. I used a serger on all the seams, because, you know…knit. I decided to use an invisible zipper for the back pocket, in order to keep that clean, legging-like look. I cut a slit on the back panel, sewed in my invisible zipper (cut to fit), and sewed a seam Continue reading “No Sweat! Workout Pants” →