Same Old Same Old...But Good Old

Kwik Sew makes some fantastic knit patterns, and this one, 3115, is one of my favorites. My fabric, from Christine Jonson, is called "Tanager", a cotton-lycra blend. It has 80% stretch, and great recovery, which makes it perfect for this, my favorite knock-around-the-house and yoga pant. I recently bought a new serger - the baby lock imagine. Since Baby Lock is introducing some new models, I was able to get a decent deal on this one, which has 'automatic air' threading. I have easily mastered the 3 and 4 thread serging features on this machine, but the 2-thread has me stumped. I need to go to class. I, Ms. Independent, and I will do it myself, thank you, ran into major headspaceandtiming issues, while trying to master a 2 thread flatlock. (That means I used lots of bad words, and the cats fled from the sewing room...) So, after 2 hours of frustration, decided to just go with the 3-thread flatlock, which I used on the side seams of this garment. The 3-thread lays more thread down, which is bulkier...which brings me to my desire to use the 2-thread flatlock.

Anyway, I ended up using this relatively light color fabric, and that's why I wanted vertical seaming to show, so I'd have a lengthening, and slimming line in my final garment. I used darker blue thread in the flatlock, and I used a narrow rolled hem. So, I did these in time to wear tonight, and soon I'll be making meatloaf and pumpkin pie for dinner. What does meatloaf and pumpkin pie have to do with these pants? Nothing. But there it is. And here are my new pants.

Just In - Philly Phanatic Takes Midtown Manhattan

The Marrakesh Express

Don't you know we're riding...on the Marrakesh Express! Don't ya know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express. They're taking me to Marrakesh! All aboard that train. All aboard....that train.

That song has been in heavy rotation on the Cat Fur Studio sound system lately.

It's because of this pattern. The Hot Patterns people have done it again, with their new Marrakesh pants.

I used a heavy textured rayon for my version, and it went together well. This pattern is drafted beautifully. Every piece goes together seamlessly and the design is faultless. I like the way the back crotch of the pants is drafted - in an "L" shape, which makes the most of one's rear assets, so to speak. (Others have commented on this before, too.)

The pattern includes full directions for creating a fly front zipper, which is incorporated into a combo drawstring/elastic waistband design. Nice. I also like the cute feature by which one can shorten the pants at the legs by installing tabs andbuttons at the side seams.

These casual pants are not super quick to sew, but they are easy to sew. Lots of good detail makes for a nice wardrobe basic

Eminently Brilliant

Nick has been trying to get me to let him install some better lighting. I kept putting him off, but the other week, he went to the Home Depot and came back with a humungous light fixture. He didn't even tell me he was doing it. So, he installed it, and I liked it so much, he installed another, right next to the first one. So now I have two large flourescent light fixtures on my ceiling. Nick's my hero. Did you know that Nick and I have been married for almost 25 years?

The sewing room is as bright as a factory floor! I can see black threads on black fabric, even in the depths of night. On the bad side, dust, dirt, and such is also very apparent. Time for a good cleaning! Fremont approves.

Beary Nice Clothes

I am going to a work lunch next week with a friend. We were told to bring dressed bears to the lunch, along with wrapped snacks, to be donated to charity. The bears are going to be judged on 'creativity' and 'best profession'. She provided the two bears. I figured I would dress them. I spent almost 5 hours today creating costumes for said bears. I decided our bears will be surgeons. Heart surgeons, since the bears are destined to be donated to children who've experienced abusive situations. I draped the pattern... then I made the surgeons masks of linen and elastic. And I embroidered onto the garments using my machine. The final garment was blue cotton. This was a case of "this is a quick project", becoming more complicated than the end result would indicate. The embroidery was the hardest part, since I hardly ever use my machine, which is an Artista 170 (Bernina), from 2000, to do embroidery. Lots of quirks to work out. But, I finally got there!

Urban Warrior With Skirt

Here is my jacket along with a shortened pencil skirt. Love this outfit! The boots are Cole Haan - 2 years old, I think. I wore flesh toned hose, as it's still in the 60's, temperature-wise (Fahrenheit).

"Urban Warrior" Jacket

Black is a magic color ( yes, it's really a non-color, if you want to be technical). Color or non color, black is serious, it can be seductive, it's dangerous, and as the color of this jacket, with a pair of kickin' boots, it says, "Don't mess with me." Perfect for day wear on the mean streets of Philadelphia.

This jacket is just another example of why I love Christine Jonson so much. This is going to be comfortable, for sure. It's timeless in style. And it shows I'm a woman while leaving plenty to the imagination.

I'm going to be wearing this jacket to work with a just-above the knee skirt, dark hose, and high boots. I'm going to wear it over pants for a more casual travel look.

This pattern is very easy to execute, and the directions are excellent. I did a few things differently, however.

First, because my fabric is rayon and lycra blend, it's pretty heavy. There is a lot of fabric draping off the neckline, so to prevent stretching, I stabilized the neckline by fusing a 1 inch strip of knit tricot interfacing at the entire neckline, and I carried it throughout the hem edge for a consistent look. I did not stabilize the sleeve hems, as I felt it was not necessary. I raised the neckline about 3/4 inch, because I want to wear this with only a necklace at the neckline. The only other thing I did was serge some narrow clear elastic into the shoulder seams. I love the ease of the mitered corners! Christine's directions make this easy. Here is a close up of the tie-end......and here is a close up of the right front hem at the corner.