Sequoia Muslin

I needed grey pants. I had been hoping that the comfy pants in my last post would suffice, but they certainly weren't work appropriate. I was having trouble finding grey fabric that wasn't real heavy, wintery stuff. Grey is a great colour year round, looks awesome with bright colours in the summer. Why was it so hard? I had a large sheet in a lovely sort of sateen fabric, 50-50 poly/cotton, but it was a mysterious blue-grey. Next to blue it looked grey, next to grey it looked blue. But it was the right weight so I thought it would work as a muslin for Itch to Stitch "Sequoia" pants. They were on sale for their release, and were quite similar to what I wanted to replace. All those pockets!!

One day hubby was going to Canadian Tire and invited me along. I don't go often but needed a few things. They weren't on sale but since we were in that area of the store, I said "Let's look at ironing boards!". And wow, this one was on sale! Nice and big (though the point end could be pointier), it was a tight fit to get it in the FJ Cruiser, LOL. I have discovered that pins disappear on the grey print, though. And for some reason my iron decided to start leaking and it discoloured the fabric. And, the surface isn't entirely smooth. It's weird, but the front and back are higher than the middle. I thought it just needed to air out and decompress, but it has remained. The ironing board was very helpful with this project--dealing with the large piece of sheet material.

I decided I wasn't going to get crazy with all the pockets, the roll up tabs, snaps, and zipper. Just a quick and easy muslin. I couldn't find any waistband material that I liked, so I just went with black cotton-lycra. I cut out the waistband pieces and got to work.

One nice thing about this pattern is she shows what steps to do if you're doing a muslin. However, her idea of a muslin includes a zipper. I did a mock fly, no zipper. This was fine, until it came to the waistband pieces. I had a big gap in the middle LOL. So I just added a strange little panel. It's okay, as I never tuck in my shirt. Sometimes they get a little loose, and maybe I should add a snap or something. Or not. Love them anyway.

Are those acceptable butt wrinkles? They feel fine! My butt looks huge though and I don't have a big butt. 

The funny gap after putting the waistband on, and before adding the extra centre piece. 

No body takes pictures of me, so it seems I don't have a real picture of the finished pants. I will get on that if it ever gets below 33C here. They are actually really cool. I did find the leg width a smidge wide. I think because I'm shorter than I should be for my waist/hip, that the proportions just get a bit off. On the next pair, I did taper them slightly.

Comfy Pants

I wanted comfy pants. Simple pants, made from a knit, but not leggings or track pants/joggers. Nice enough to wear out of the house, but comfy enough for chillaxing on the couch. I started with the pattern I used for pants last summer/fall, thinking that because the fabric wasn't really stretchy, I wouldn't have to change much. Umm. Nope. Can we say "diaper butt"?

OMG. I kept taking more and more out of the butt seam, and subsequently, the waistband. The fabric certainly has stretch--what it didn't have was recovery.

They don't look too bad from the front, or when my shirt was pulled down. But over the day, the butt got lower and lower LOL. They are a wear and wash pair of pants. 

I made the pockets with some stretch poplin print I had.  I didn't want saggy pockets. However, they are a little too structured. 

I still have quite a bit of this left. I was going to make Rob some track pants, but he doesn't need diaper butt either. What else can I use it for? It's soft, very stretchy, and grows when worn. It's like a heavier t-shirt, but not a sweatshirt.  

I Sewed Slippers!

I usually knit slippers, and felt them. Although  I have a huge yarn stash, felting wools are getting low (at least, felting wools that would make good slippers for me). I also have a large fabric collection. And I really needed slippers. I found that Stitch Upon a Time had a free pattern on their Facebook page (in the files). Looked good. I dug out some fabrics.

I used some fleece Lucy had bought to make pajamas for her BFF's Christmas present. I had some matching blue fleece that had shrunk when I washed it and was really thick. That became the soles. I got a little confused with the pattern because my insoles and lining were the same print as the outer. But all in all, they weren't too bad. And much quicker than knitting and felting!

New Year's Eve at my parents.

They also tend to make an appearance in my flat lay photos.

They lasted about six months before I started getting holes in the outer layer of the sole. The inner layer hasn't worn through but it won't be long. I know I need to make another pair. The fabric choices are endless though. I do have some suede left from Tinkerbell's slippers and might see if I can get the soles from what's left. Or even use it as patches over the sole? I might not like the feel though. We have a Consew industrial sewing machine which I want to use for the next pair (though I sewed the suede with my Kenmore before. These have a few more layers). Rob keeps saying he's going to add pulleys to slow it down so I've been waiting. And we have only black thread. LOL.

Hampton Hoodies

Lightweight hoodies (especially with bottom bands) seem to be very popular. So I had to jump on the bandwagon. I went with the Hampton Hoodie by Peekaboo Patterns. Having had great success with my t-shirts and doing an FBA, I got to work. By the end, my pattern piece looked like it had had a run in with a paper shredder. Wait...this is my t-shirt pattern. Why am I showing it? To show what a t-shirt FBA looks like?

 Not sure what I'm trying to show here. I think the fabric is a rayon blend. It faded a bit after washing.

 I had a horrible time with the placket. The instructions seemed fine, but I just couldn't get a good result. It also seems that when I printed it, my printer cut off a bit from each page, and my pieces for the bands might have been off, and where the placket opening is on the centre front.

 Having adjusted the pattern considerably, I needed to adjust the bottom band. I did the math. I quartered and pinned. And this is not what I was going for. Having been washed a few times, it looks better, but I keep thinking I should re-do it. I didn't want it snug on my hips because then it looks like a maternity top due to my belly.

This picture was actually to show the saggy butt of the pants I made. But it shows the back of the top too. I could have done the hood in black, but I didn't have enough width to do the plackets in the print, and then they wouldn't have stood out on the front. So, you see the inside of the fabric in the hood. Suck it up.

Again, a front shot. Because these pants are pouffier, the hanging band issue isn't as bad. 

And while I was at it, underwear to match.

I decided to give the top another go with some fabric I got that I just loved. Sand and sea. My favourite combo!

Again, I had terrible placket issues. I picked out the stitches several times, and ended up with a little hole I handstitched and Fray Checked. 

 Another placket photo. I just couldn't figure out where exactly to line up the edge/point. And I don't seem to have a finished picture. Stay tuned and check back later.

Annoying the Children

I have written before about my homemade "Buffs". I love them. The kids, not so much. So when I saw a free pattern for a headband/hat/neckwarmer thingy that looked a step above, I jumped on it.
The first one I made just didn't work. The second one I made, different fabric, just didn't work. Partly my fault. With the buffs, you have the stretch going across--so it stretches around your head. This pattern showed the stretch going the other way when cutting. I couldn't wrap my head around it (LOL) so I forged my own path into the weeds. Follow the pattern.

I tried again. Followed it exactly (might have made it a smidge smaller, or larger... I don't recall). And then I couldn't figure out how to wear it. I finally did, and it was a bit too big when worn as a hat. So I stitched a small length of narrow elastic inside and what would be the back. This meant I could really only use it as a hat. Fine.

My girls hate this one me! LOL. My mom thinks it's cute and that I look like a chocolate with a white tip.

Whatever. I like it.

Killing time at Wal-Mart while someone spends her Christmas money

Not good at this mirror selfie thing. 

Dressed up for date day to the Toronto Boat show!

I Made Him Another Shirt

I saw this fabric in a destash group and knew I had to have it to make my son something! He was finishing up grade 12, and had calculus this term (and some other math last term).

 I had it done in mid-May, and laughed it was for his birthday (June 3). So, he didn't want to wear it until his birthday.

 Wow, he has a long neck. Sure didn't get that from me!

Just the Melly Sews! free men's size medium t-shirt pattern. He wore it for his birthday and his grandparents and aunt and uncle who came from England loved it. Then he wouldn't wear it again! He said he'd wear it for his exam but I worried that he'd be told to change. He did end up wearing it then, everyone loved it, and he didn't have to change. He's worn it a few times since, but he's a bit of a hobbit so it hasn't seen the outside world.

Boxers and Scrundies

My husband's underwear was so bad, the morning we left for our cruise, he was running around town trying to find some new underwear. He ended up with bikini brief style. I'm sure you all wanted to know that. At least they're better than the old tighty-(were they ever?)-whiteys. He did have falling apart sport (knit) boxers. I had bought them for him. He's not too fussy on his drawers, as long as they're not the loose cotton boxers.

I somehow joined a Facebook group for "Stitch Upon a Time", an independent designer. Probably joined for a free pattern. Wonder what it was. They hold sew alongs (SAL) frequently, and put the pattern choosen on sale. Well, boxers and lady's underwear patterns were on sale. I'd been wanting to make my own, but did not really want to just "trace your undies and cut out". I picked up a few different patterns, from men's boxers to a woman's thong and several in between. I followed along with the sew along and made myself a pair of plain black undies (Scrundlewear) and a pair of Scrundlewear boy shorts for Megan's birthday (along with a George & Ginger Lovesick bra for each of us).

Apparently, I don't have a picture of the Lovesick Bras. Megan's was all black and mine was black outside, rose inside. How could I not have a picture.

Christmas was coming and things were getting busy. I had plans, and material, to make lots more underwear. But no time.

First up, Boxerwear for my husband. He had had a miserable Christmas Eve with his family and I was hoping to cheer him up. I had been told this green fabric was cotton lycra, the "same" as the black cotton lycra I had bought from Megan's sewing teacher and we had used for our leggings (did I blog those yet?). Well, it's not the same. There's hardly any stretch, especially vertically. I also did not make any modifications to the pattern. I took the elastic off an old pair of boxers. They fit him, and he liked them, but after a while, they were a little saggy, and they tended to pull down when he sits. 

And....I didn't realize it mattered when sewing, and I mistakenly made them with left-hand entry. He calls them his British boxers LOL. The Scrundies I made for me, to match. However, I can't pull them up high and they sit in a weird place on my fluffy belly. So I don't wear them.

I created a little wedge in the lower back seam for a "large butt adjustment" and took the back rise up a bit too. Made sure to make them right-hand entry this time! He liked them much better. The striped material is left over from Hugh's shirt. 

I also made a pair with a covered elastic waist. These are also from material leftover from another of Hugh's shirts . It feels like a rayon blend. 

I had to get back to making me some! These are all rayon scraps leftovers. So comfy! I can match my husband, my son, and some Buffs I made!

Trying to make the most of a small piece of fabric!!

I cut up a rayon blend shirt of mine that had gotten too stained. Love these!

This pair is NOT from leftover fabric LOL. 

I didn't think it looked lacey until I sewed it up. 

Matching ones for me!

I found this fabric at Value Village. It's SO soft. I think it might be bamboo. The colour is ho-hum though. He doesn't mind and quite enjoys this pair!

Using up even smaller scraps for myself!

This pair did not go over as well. 

He feels the rainbow is too "gay pride" is. I just thought it was a fun way to use up fabric that both had stars. He still wears them. I'm not sure who else sees them and thinks he might be supporting the gay community (which I hope he does...since his brother is gay!).

A bit of fun for me. Had to come up with a nice way to cover the seams at the front since the striping didn't match at all on side. However, these sit too low and don't have a lot of vertical stretch. I really need to add more rise. I did add some, but not enough. I cut the fronts angled slightly off the fold (meeting the fold at the crotch), so there is more belly room. I also made the waistband wider (just easier with my cutting ruler, and I like it), and the leg bands, I cut them so they taper to the middle of the band, which is at the crotch. 

My dad wanted in on the action. I made one tester pair, which I don't have a good photo of, and mailed them off. I had to piece the fabric so there was an extra seam at the side, but not right at the side seam. But he still wears them. The top pair here is "Poe", with ravens, the left is deer heads, and right is moose heads with safety orange. He doesn't hunt anymore but you never know when you might be in the woods and need to drop your pants! LOL. He loves them. Makes sure to wear them for any medical appointments that involve dropping his pants, and to aquafit.

Using up limited scraps for the fly! 

Not sure why it's upside down, LOL! They aren't in real life. Okay, and they're eagles, not woodpeckers, but still. Fun!

More fun with the scrap bag! I had bought a LARGE bag of scraps locally, back in early January. Rob's not into monsters, or zombies, but I couldn't resist this combo. The green is from Urban Custom Fabrics. It's bright!

In the Stitch Upon a Time Facebook sewing group, there is a lot of discussion on boxers. Does your husband go through the gate, or over the fence? LOL. Some people talked about a H opening, and then I saw the new Jalie boxers. and someone posted a great shot of their husband wearing a similar style. So I gave it a try. The nice thing is, there is less fabric in the fly, so even better for stash busting, and the hot weather. Rob was concerned that these boxers are too hot for hot weather (and his office is hot!).  

To help with the heat issue, I got some athletic mesh. This stuff is really lightweight, and so soft. This colour was supposed to be blue, but it's more of a green, I think. When he wears them, the outer band is a little low, I think, but he says he doesn't fall out LOL. He really likes them. I did a hem on the legs instead of a band, so they might fit a bit looser and not feel hot. However, the zig zag stitching has snapped in a couple places. He actually suggested I buy more of this fabric! So I did. The red is gorgeous, and the grey is great too. I don't think he'll like the raspberry, but I think I will! One more pair for him in the works.

Where Did These Come From?

What a crazy first half of the year. Starting work as a substitute teacher (supply teacher, or occasional teacher are the terms in Ontario) right before Christmas really changed my life! And then I got sick in mid-February and had to take a pause. I spent a lot of time sitting on the couch, knitting. After the first few days, it was mainly an energy thing, as well as the brutal laryngitis. Finally got my energy back in mid-March and then got sick again on April 1 (Easter Weekend). That was a doozy. High fever, chills, couldn't sleep, then the sore throat, and then the cough. I couldn't even knit. It was so bad. Luckily, this time, my energy came back much quicker (but the cough stayed around for a few more weeks).

Somehow, in all that was going on, I managed to finish two pairs of socks. Just plain and simple.  The first pair I started mid-January and finished in early April. I think the yarn is Austermann Step Duett.
I did another "tomato wedge" heel. One seems to have an extra couple rows above the heel, or in the top wedge. They're very soft. The foot feels a smidge long, but it's okay. My notes say I used 75gr, but what am I going to do with the left over 25gr? Save it for mending. Fine, I'll count these as 75gr.

The second pair, I needed a new sock project quickly. I grabbed this yarn from my bin. I bought it from "The Heritage Shop" in Bancroft, a few years ago. There was a receipt in the bag, it was 2 balls Confetti sock yarn, $4.79 each. Total, $11.02. There are two taxes listed, so this person bought it before the HST. There was a printed pattern for kids and adult socks. No details on the pattern as to the creator. I thought there was a store price sticker on the label, but I can't find it at this moment. There was already one sock almost completely knit, but of course, not my size. These ones knit up really quickly. These ones are not as soft, though better after being washed. I went back to the Fleegle heel and they fit really well.

I certainly don't need green, blue and red socks. But I don't have much enthusiasm to knit.  What is there left for me to knit? I've barely worn the Campfire Cardigan. I have several other sweaters and cardigans I made that I don't wear. I even seem to have lost the teal crochet cardigan I made last summer. I have lots of mittens and scarves, and a few hats. Lots of shawls I use more as scarves in the winter. There's no babies in the family. None expected. My "In Stock" bin is overflowing. I sewed some slippers at New Years, so I'm not ready for my usual felted slippers. I just don't have the motivation :( I have started a little baby jacket, it was to be a simple knit, but of course, I had to go and change it up. I see new patterns, but think--none of my yarns are suitable, I don't want to buy more, will I really use the item, etc. I have A LOT of yarn. I had bought a lot when I started making newborn props. But that has fizzled. I can just "knit it up" but I can't seem to sell anything I knit unless it's a custom order, and usually then, I don't have the right yarn. Yeah, it's a vicious cycle!

As usual, I got bored as I went up the leg. So I switched to a P1, K7 pattern. Then, after a bit, it became P1, K3,P1,K3. Then when I knew I was getting close to the finish line, I went for the traditional P1, K1 ribbing.  Oh, upon closer examination, that's not what I did. That's what I should have done.  A nice gradual way to give some shape and stretchiness to the top of the sock. Again, not sure of how much I used, but lets go with another 75gr. Okay, fine. I'll go weigh them. Lovely. Only 73gr. 

Yarn In:     100gr
Yarn Out:      75gr + 73gr +318gr= 466gr
Balance:     366gr OUT
Costs:     $2.53/185days= $0.014/day