Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Grey knit Sallie jumpsuit


Well I made this jumpsuit, photographed it and wrote this post a good couple of weeks ago now, but I have to say I'm not happy with the pictures,  I kept putting off this post and planning to get more flattering photos, but then I thought about it some more and decided that I'd blog the jumpsuit as is - ugly pictures and all and then I'll do another update if and when I get around to fixing this outfit.

so anyway....



The very first time that I saw the Sallie jumpsuit pattern by Closet Case files I fell in love.  I don't know what it is.  I've never been a fan of jumpsuits so its not that.  I'm don't particularly like the spaghetti strap maxi dress version, but that kimono sleeve, wide legged pants jump suit just spoke to me for some reason.  So after months of deliberating about whether or not I wanted to waste my money  (as someone with a 5'1", short torso and extra weight around the waist line figure I don't really have the ideal silhouette for a jumpsuit).....I finally decided to just go for it.  I bought that pattern, taped it all together and got started.



Based on my measurements compared to the size measurements for the pattern I'm a size 12 to 14 in the bust, size 16 waist, and size 12 to 14 hips.  I looked at the final measurements chart on the pattern and found that the pattern is drafted with negative ease in it and I wasn't sure how fitted I wanted it so I decided the easiest thing to do was cut a straight size 16.

The instructions say that the pattern was drafted for someone who is 5'6" tall, therefore at 5'1" I knew that I was going to do something about the length.  Some measuring of the pattern showed that I didn't want to take any length out of the top, but the rise in the pants seemed to have extra room so I ended up taking about 1.5 " out there.  I cut 1" off the bottom of the pants but that still left me with about 3 inches for a hem.  That actually ended up pretty good as the extra weight at the bottom of the pants helps them hang a bit better.

The only other change I made was that I didn't have any clear elastic to stabilise the neckline...or any of the other options it mentions, so I ended up using some black fold over elastic that I had lying around.  I lined up the edge of the elastic with the raw edge of the neckline and basted it in place. I then sewed the lining onto the main top section with a 3/8" seam which allowed about 1/8 " of the elastic to protrude when the top was turned right sides out. This gives a nice contrasting edge along the neckline edge.



As far as fit goes - its not bad....but I think that I need some extra length in the top.  The top just seems way too short to me  I'm seriously considering separating the two pieces again and adding in a separate waistband....a different colour I think would add a nice contrast.

So the final verdict..... I'm not sure....it's nice and comfortable and has been my go to outfit for wearing around the house, but I'm not sure about out of the house.  My biggest issue is around the tummy where it shows off all my lumps and bumps that come with two kids.

I have worn it out a couple of times but I don't think it's the most flattering thing.....my husbands input......."it makes you look like a middle aged housewife".   Hmmmmm well, I suppose I am technically a middle aged housewife.





Sunday, May 22, 2016

Crappy Cargo Pants

OK, so I'm not overly thrilled with how these turned out - but they are a wearable pair of pants, so I figured I should really blog them.


I talked in depth here about how I did the muslin for these pants. In the end I knew the pattern wasn't fantastic, but I decided to just go with it anyway cause I wanted these pants finished.

These pants are made from a cheap cotton purchased at the local discount fabric store for $2.99/yard.  It's actually a bit thinner that I originally thought so it's really not the best fabric for a pair of pants but it does make a nice pair of long pants for spring/summer where you want coverage but not warmth. I've worn them a couple of times this spring when I would normally have worn shorts, as when I pulled out all my me made shorts from last year they no longer fit.



The best thing about these pants are the pockets and the top stitching.   The entire pants are top stitched in two colours, green and blue.  I didn't put in a real fly but I did top stitch in a flake fly.


Two slash pockets were sewn into the front of the pants and top stitched along the top edges and also around the curve of the pockets holding them in place.

Two patch pockets on the back with arrow top stitching.  I got the placement of these pockets totally off, though I do have to say they work better slanted like this than they would be if they were straighter.  If this were a better pair of pants I'd take them off and re position them  but for these pants I really can't be bothered.


Down the side seams there are two pleated pockets with flaps.  I haven't secured the flaps with anything and I don't think I will - I hate having to undo pockets before putting things in them.

  


 The waistband is two rows of 1" wide elastic separated with a row of stitches.



I think the two biggest problems I have with these pants are.

1.  The rise is too high especially in the back and the back side does not look great this is the best picture of it and it's not great.


This is more like it.   When I move it pulls in weird directions and just generally feels off.



2. The pants leg are too wide.  This probably isn't a real issue, I'm just not a fan of the wide leg pants look on me.

I've thought a couple of times about cutting these off into knee length shorts but I cant make up my mind.  I'm also contemplating taking off the waistband and cutting off some of the rise.  We shall see.






Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Brown Corduroy Flares - and a Me Made May Update.

I know I know Its been a long time between posts - But I promise I haven't been slacking off.  It's just taken me forever to get photos of the things I've been making.  I've got three new makes to share.  In my next post I'll show you a pair of black cargo pants which I am not happy with  and the Sallie Jumpsuit in grey knit, but today I want to share my favourite new make, brown corduroy flares.



These are made using the pants pattern that I've been playing around with for the last two or three months.  It's still not perfect, but it's getting better.  If nothing else these pants are so comfortable that I may never taken them off.

They are made from a light weight, quite stretch corduroy fabric (fabric content unknown).  


The fit of the pants at the front is fairly good, though I think I could have made the front panels a bit smaller.  They look good when I'm standing up straight, but if I'm not thinking about my posture they tend to get a bit wrinkly across the front.




I think I also need to lower the rise in the front just a smidge - whilst I like my pants high waisted they are just a bit too high.


As for the back - Well I spent hours trying to get rid of the wrinkles under the butt.  I got rid of most of them - but this is as good as it gets.



The yoke was pretty much an add on after I had finished fitting the pants - I'm not sure that I like how it sits.  More work will need to be done on this on my next pair of pants.

I do however love the design on the pockets.  simple yet gives an almost quilted sort of look.

The fly front also worked nicely and I extended the pocket bags all the way into the fly to (hopefully) flatten out the tummy area.


I have this irrational hatred of buttons - I don't like doing them up and I don't like making button holes so I used three snaps to secure the waistband of the pants instead.  I didn't bother with belt loops either as I generally don't use them.  I did however top-stitch everything in blue which I love the look of.

The flare on the leg I like- I took the pattern in to fit snugly through the knee then flared it out as much as I could.  I love a good flare - and who cares if it looks a little silly on a 5'1" model.


Overall I'm pretty happy with these pants - but of course have a list of little changes I want to make to the pattern before I make them again.

Now a brief update on Me Made May.  I've been doing OK with my challenge, but I haven't been able to keep it 100%.  All my clothes have been me made, but I've slipped a little with the socks and shoes.  I always knew socks would be hard - since I only have 1 or two me made pairs, so I was hoping it would be warm enough to go without them for the whole month, but no such luck.  So I have on a few occasions worn store bought socks.  The other issue has been shoes.  Whilst I've been mainly wearing me made there have been a couple of occasions where I've resorted to store bought -mainly when its been raining.  However I also found a fantastic pair of sandals at the store the other day (of course I wasn't looking -  that's the only time I do find anything). I ummed and ahhed about whether I should buy them but then decided that there was really no reason why I shouldn't.....however it did mean I had to wear them a couple of times to test them out.

What I have found is that none of my me made shorts fit me any more so I need to make a new pair - so that has now made it to the top of my to make list.

I have not managed to take photos of my outfits each day so sorry no pictures.