Pants adjustments

Making pants (real slacks that fit correctly) are among my least favorite things to sew. Especially since if I'm fitting them on me, I have to talk dh into helping, which he will do, but doesn't understand fit or sewing, so I have to talk him through it.

I've gained a lot of weight over the past 6 years, and I'm in the process of losing it, so my clothes, in general, don't fit well. I decided to make myself a nice fitted pair of slacks, get the muslin done, and then use it to make a few pair that will work until I lose more weight and they just look terrible.

So I adjusted the pattern accordingly, got 'em all basted up - front crotch too high, had to take out, pull in darts a little better...works! But...my butt seems to have grown. Even with them finished (as of last night), I can't wear them because my butt is bigger and they're too tight.

~sigh~

Purses

I've never been a huge purse person, really. But I got an idea from this:





The main problem, of course, is that I am SOOOooooo not the beady bling type. So I got a pair of jeans from a rummage sale ($.50, big spender!) and gave it a try. I didn't go for the boxy look, either, but more of a soft bohemian look. I also went for long, jeans handles.

I'll post a pic later - I don't have it off the camera yet!

But then, I started thinking - of my old college jeans. I wore those to everything. Everywhere. Lots of holes, patches...but also, drawings. My cousins' husband (then boyfriend) drew my eyes on them at a concert when we were waiting for grass seats. They are extremely special to me...but of course, they dont' fit anymore!

So, being brave, I cut into the jeans to make a purse (trust me, I know that twinge when you think of something you love being cut up into something else). I cut off all the drawings and ripped off the patches. I thought later that I should have taken pics along the way - it also occurred to me that I didn't have a photo of the jeans before - or of me in them! Ah, well.

I cut them off just at the crotch and evened them out. Then, I took all the old drawings from the jeans and cut them into spiffy shapes and pinned them on. I decided to sew them with a 1/4" seam only, but then they'll fray into the seam, which I think really looks cool (I helped a few of them along). I re-stitched all of the patches, then decided to make a bottom for the bag (bad pun, I know) - but I didn't want to put anything like cardboard in there, so it's really just flat with a gusset.

Stitched it all up - lined, and...


Voila! My cool college-jeans purse!

I love it!

I also put together a black lining with black ties to hold it together. Then, I decided to continue the theme and cut some of the lining as a belt, but sewed a white seam and fringed it to the seam.

I am ecstatic to have my college jeans where I can see and enjoy them!

Next up: a pillow out of my dad's old sweater (to give to my nephew, my dad died 15 years ago) and a pillow out of a loved t-shirt that I can't fit into. I love the repurposing of these clothes. I think it may be a passion.

Pics soon!

My studio

I love that I have the studio set up downstairs. I haven't had a sewing room this nice in...well, ever. I have about a quarter of the whole basement (half of the finished side) set up into the perfect sewing space.

I've been working on some summer/fall/spring clothes for me. I'm in the process of losing a lot of weight, so I move in and out of clothes sizes very easily. It's tough, because I need to dress nice for the JOB. So - I've taken it up on myself to get some decent clothes set for the grand weight loss scheme. It's going well.

I have so many UFO's, it's scary. I actually went through lots of them last fall as I re-established my business - a lot of them were very out of style. So that helped get more room...for more UFO's!

Do we ever get them finished?

Anyway - I've been making up some garters, pillows, and maybe some nighties for a local gallery. That should be fun!