Category Archives: sewing

Lots of reading, not so much writing

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It has been a BUSY busy Month.

First, there was the whole recover-from-vacation-week, then a distracting and terrifying breast cancer scare (I’m all fine so far, with a little titanium interior-mammogram-visible “jewelry” to mark the chunk they removed to check on next year).

Naturally, I had to make myself a dress for the Auto Show event (TWO days before the event, this year, not the night before as for past events).

Check out those necklaces

My friend Janna (on the left) made my necklace (I bought it the second I saw it listed on etsy), she made her own necklace from antique Typewriter parts, and the necklace on the lady in this story from Engine Parts.

I assisted at a couple photo shoots for the magazine in Ferndale.  Now, I say I “assisted,” but I was really there to fix buttons, provide moral support, pick out some dresses, and lend kids money for coffee shop treats.  I didn’t actually do anything.

I learned to make an amazing body scrub at the small craft skillshare event, and I’ve been using it ever since.  There’s another coming up in February at the TrumbullPlex in Detroit where they’ll be making Valentine’s Day cards – what could be sweeter?  I’m going to try to make it over there.

I have been reading a lot about my newest obsessions, knitting and crochet. Annie is hosting a Crochet 101 series, so grab your hook and get going!  The Handmade Companion has a super-fun crochet project (an inspiration for my distraction from learning to knit – in addition to Rae’s post here).

I did write some (though -obviously- not here), including an article for the upcoming Handmade Companion Winter/Valentine’s Day issue which will show you a simple way to Springify your house while it’s still Winter out there.

I hope you’ve been learning to sew with knit fabrics on Rae’s KNITerview series.  (Click the link in the sidebar to catch up, if you haven’t).  I wrote a little piece for the series which will be posted soon.

I have even dusted off my PowerPoint guru turban this month and made some super-fancy presentations to earn some money.  I feel a little like I’m selling out, but a little like I’m really incredibly excellent at creating presentations for speaking events, so it’s a toss-up whether or not I’ll continue.  I’d rather be crafting.

Mostly, I’ve been reading, and finding myself in awe of the amazing modifications crafters are making to the Raw-edged Raglan in Sewing for Boys for the Year Long Sew-Along. (yes, there are prizes, so go enter February’s Sew-Along!)

I’d like to promise that I’ll write more often here on the blog, but I have a big, big, project I’m working on a project – so much fun – I promise only that you’ll be happy to see it when I return!  There are going to be some changes aroung the site here, and I hope you’ll stick around!

Tell me, what has your January looked like?

Alright, I am ready to admit it.

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I cannot get anything done unless I write it down first.  On paper.  With a pencil.

I know there are myriad electronic tools available, and I don’t have a problem checking things off my to-do list on my fabulous phone, but there’s something about pencil-to-paper that drives me to action.

 

What about you?  Do you need to “write it down”?

Treasure Pocket Pants Sewalong – Day 5

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Let’s finish these trousers and wear them this weekend!

Today, we’ll be measuring to ensure a perfect finish, so grab your measuring tape and let’s get started.

So far, we have a very unfinished pair of pants (as pictured below).  You can start at the Waist facing or at the hem facings, whichever you like.  Since I have clearer pictures of the process from the hem facing steps, I’ll start there.  (Note that this is the opposite order from the directions in the book, but the pants will come out the same.)

6.1_Day5Begin

 

Size and attach the hem facings

Remember when I advised you to cut your hem facings a little longer than the pattern piece “just in case”?  You’ve put these pant legs together with 3 pieces, which means 6 opportunities to have not made a perfectly perfect 3/8” seam allowance at each edge.  To still end up with Perfect Pants: measure around the hem edge of a pant leg, and add 3/4” to that measurement (seam allowances=3/8” each and you need two.) Trim your hem facings to this size, then sew the short ends, right sides together to form a circle for each leg.

Press a raw edge 1/4” to the wrong side of each circle to make things easy on yourself.

Align the raw edge of a hem facing to the raw edge of each pant leg right sides together.  Line the seam of the hem facing circle to the inseam of each leg, like this:

6.2_Hemfacing

 

Stitch the raw edges together and press the hem facing and seam allowances down, then stitch all those seam allowances in place (this is called understitching; the seam allowances and the hem facing will fold nicely together if you do this:

6.2_stitchhemfacing

 

so you end up with this on each leg so far:

6.2_attachHemfacing

 

From here, you’ll fold the hem facings to the inside of the pant leg:

6.2_foldhem

 

…and then stitch the pressed, folded edges of the facings in place. They should now resemble like this from the inside:

6.2_hemfacinginside

(…you can now fold up the facings to use as cuffs while your little guy is growing, then fold them down to accommodate his growth spurt in the Spring.)

How handsome these hem facings are!

6.2_FinishedHemfacing

 

Attach the Waist Facing

We’re going to repeat the process to form the elastic casings that form the waistband.

Measure the raw edges of the waist end of the pants, then add 3/4” to the result. (there is a typo in the book, indicating to add 3/8” to this measurement.  3/4” is the correct addition for two seam allowances)

6.3_measureWB

Cut a length of contrast fabric to 2 1/2” wide by the total length you determined above.  Mark a chalk line down the center (lengthwise) of the contrast waist facing piece.

Sew the short ends together to form a circle, the press that seam open.

Press a raw edge 3/8” to the wrong side as before.  Please note: the pressed edge will be the lower edge of the waist facing. (If you have a directional print like I do, this is important to note before you attach the waist facing.)

Now you can align the right side of the raw, unpressed edges of the waist facing to the wrong side of the raw edges of the waist end of the pants.  Line up the waist facing seam with the back center seam of the pants.

6.4_rawedgesWB

As with the hem facings, stitch these raw edges together, then press the whole facing and seam allowances upward.  Again, fold the waist facing over, this time to the outside. You can understitch here as well, or edgestitch the top of the waist facing (1⁄8″ from the folded edge).

If you want to sew a tag into your garment, this is a good time to do so.  I line mine up about 1” from the waist facing/pants seam, centered over the back center seam.

 

Leaving a 2″ opening, stitch along the chalk line to form your first casing. Leaving a 2″ opening, edgestitch along the folded waist facing edge to form your second casing.

6.5_WFopenings

6.5_WFopenings2

Cut two pieces of 1⁄2″ wide elastic to the following measurements:

18 months: 19″

size 2/3: 20″

size 4/5: 21″

size 6/7: 22″

 

Using a bodkin or safety pin, pull through one of the 1⁄2″ wide elastic pieces in the top casing, careful not to twist the elastic. Overlap the elastic ends 1⁄2″ and stitch the ends of the elastic together. Repeat for the lower elastic, then finish stitching the 2″ openings closed.

6.5_elastic

(Optional: You can also use 1″ wide elastic with a single casing.)

 

Stitch some decorative buttons on, over the faux fly, and you’re done!

6.6_buttons

Aren’t they cute?

Front View - Finished Treasure Pocket PantsSide View - Finished Treasure Pocket Pants

Back View - Finished Treasure Pocket Pants

 

Any questions? Comments? New tricks? Post them below in the comments section and I’ll get back to you.

 

The final step is to put these on your kiddo, send him outside to play, take some photos and share them with us over at the Sewing for Boys_The BOOK Flickr Group and give each other some virtual high-fives for a job well done.

Even better: If you want a high five from Shelly, take your pants over to Powell’s Books in Portland at 2 for a book-signing event tomorrow. If you want a high five from me, come to the Material Girls in Dearborn for a book signing event at 1!