Sunday, January 12, 2014

We Interrupt the Regular Scheduled Programming...

I hate winter, snow and cold.  Not in that particular order because at different times I hate different portions of it more. I especially hate it that I can't wear skirts and dresses in the bitterly cold weather cause as we know I love a dress more than anything.

As I stated a few posts back, the last couple of winters have been mild.  I've made do with my pants wardrobe which was at an all time high four years ago due to the wickedly cold weather we had that winter...okay actually two bad winters back to back with snows of two feet plus several times.  As each pair of pants bit the dust, I didn't replace them...so now I'm under the gun...cause it's soooooo cold outside!

I bought this fabric from Fabric Mart last month and was a little disappointed when it arrived.



I thought the plaid would be bolder than it was. After thinking about it for a minute I realized that the really faint plaid would work well for a pair of pants. So pants for sure because I don't want to freeze to death waiting for the bus in the morning.

This is what came out of my sewing room this weekend.



Some stats:
Fabric ~
2.5 yards of plaid wool blend pictured above
A heavy satin lining purchased from JoMars during my trip with Shams, Peggy and Noile in April 2011.


Notions ~
1.5" wide Soft & Easy stretch elastic
Olive rayon seam binding

Construction:
These pants are made from my TNT pattern so there are no new construction tips.  However, there were some fabric choices made that affect the pants. The lining I used is a heavier satin lining, used deliberately to add weight and warmth to the pants.  I can admit that I was a little warm in these during the taking of pictures but they will be perfect for commuting and work on a Monday when the office is a tad cooler.

Also these pants are underlined.  After trying out a few lining techniques, I've found that I like wearing the underlined pants best.  So that's how I'm sewing them going forward.

A few construction photos ~

I always use two red pins to mark the back 
of the pants during construction

Full length shot of the pants on the hanger

Inside out - lining, elastic, rayon bow to 
designate the back of the pants

Making pants is an automatic thing for me.  My pattern works so I just put it down on the fabric, cut them out and sew them up.  

So a few more photos of me...



A little background on the pictures ~
Here is the really important thing, the pictures of me in this post were taken by me using my new Canon!  Can you believe it?!  First can I just say thank you to Marce one more time for her help...I couldn't have done it without her. I also need to thank Shams for her assistance with telling me what to purchase. 

  • I used my tripod to take them but not the remote.
  • I still can't seem to make the remote work with the camera.  I'm sure it's me and will look for a YouTube video for assistance.
  • Marce told me that she doesn't use a remote that she uses her timer. 
  • So I tried that and it worked.  These are taking with a ten second timer and a consecutive shot of two.

Of course, these pictures are cropped and the exposures changed to get the best possible picture but they are taken by me on the new Canon. I'm proud...seriously proud that I could get some workable pictures out of that camera.  There is hope for this relationship yet! *LOL*

What's Next ~
A pair of navy wool crepe ones also made from my TNT pants pattern, a 4 gore lined flared skirt and a sheath dress both from the navy wool crepe.  The pants and the skirt are finished and will be posted soon.

Once I've finished these, I will head back to Crazy 8 Land. As a reminder, I have four pieces left to sew to finish it off and I want to work on the Vogue 8944 dress next.

Finally my pattern alterations post for the Simplicity 3833 sew-along will appear on the Rosie Wednesday blog on Tuesday, so look for it there.  My version of the dress will be made after I finish the Crazy 8 pieces.  Seems like a lot of sewing but next weekend is a three day holiday here in the US and I hope to have an even more successful sewing weekend!  Here's hoping the mojo holds!!!

...as always more later!

52 comments:

  1. What great photos! Look at you! Love these pants and the way you have pulled the color out with the cardigan. Very nice. g

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  2. That fabric made a great-looking pair of pants.....

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  3. Great fabric for pants- hope they keep you warm! The photos make you more than just a sewing blogger LOL!

    How do you make that kind of elastic waistband without a casing? Mine are always fails. Thanks!

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    1. Here is the post where I describe how I insert it: http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/2010/12/sunday-afternoon-ramblings.html. However, this elastic isn't available anymore unless someone else can find it. I'm going to have to figure something else out after my last 20 yards are gone.

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    2. You can get the same results with "sport elastic". It has the four channels to stitch in. You measure your waist. Subtract about 2 inches from length and cut. (You can do more or less depending on fit you desire.) Seam with 1/2 inch seam allowance. Divide elastic into quarters, matching to front, side and back seams. Pin. Stretch elastic between each seam line and stitch in channel. Repeat for each channel. (I always put the seam line at the back seam.)

      The last time I bought some was at Hancock's a couple of years ago. It is sold by the yard.

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    3. Thanks a lot!
      Taivahalla.blogspot.com

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  4. Congrats on the photos! Pants look good and hopefully keep you warm waiting for that bus.

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  5. woot! the camera tutorials look like they're really paying off, these are great. I should really get my act in gear on pants making as well. I walk to school now, and even though it's Virginia it's been pretty chilly and windy several mornings. Brrr.

    (also, I love your necklace!)

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  6. I hear ya, Carolyn! It was 35 and sunny here today, and it felt like a heatwave! Fantastic pants, and great job with the camera!!!

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  7. Really great photos .... The colours just 'pop'! Tackling sewing trousers (pants) is on my to do list for this year so thanks for the inspiration ... I love the idea of the underlining ... Does this make them hand better too or is it just for warmth?

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    1. The satin lining I used is a little heavier than the bemberg I normally use. I definitely used this lining to make the pants warmer.

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  8. Love your pants and nice clear photos. Thanks for the tip about the red pins. Great idea.

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  9. Congratulations on the camera! The photos are terrific and so is the sewing, of course.

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  10. Like you, I can't wait till the long weekend for some serious sewing! Your pants look so warm and snuggly and just perfect for this years nasty version of winter!

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  11. I need to work more on fitting pants. I usually look for a brand that fits and buy them in every color. But that is getting old. My office is also colder on Mondays. I asked Santa for wool cardigans to keep warm. I keep a fleece wrap in my office and a heater under the desk. I can't work when I am cold!

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  12. Love these! This really drove home to me that I would be best served to work out a TNT pants pattern that is simple and classic, and if I nail the fit they will be awesome. These look so great on you.

    PS Congrats on the photos, they are really great!

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  13. Terrific! I, too, am impressed with that elastic waistband. I'm going to look for a tutorial on doing that.

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  14. Fabulous! The pants look great - cozy and chic. I also love the tip about the 2 red pins in the back. I'm totally going to start doing that. Your pics are looking great! We're camera twins (I got my T3i a few months ago) and I can never get good pics with the remote. I use the time and tripod method too and usually get good results.

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  15. I spent the weekend making pants too! Great minds?? ;-)

    Fantastic pants, love the lining!

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  16. These look great! I really like the subtle plaid- it adds a bit of interest, but I bet the pants will go with a lot of different things. I should probably make some pants, too. I hate being cold and lately the pantyhose just aren't cutting it!

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  17. I like the color of the plaid and the lining. It made a great pair of pants.

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  18. Love your pants! The subtle plaid is perfect for them. I made my first flat-lined pair of pants last year and they are my favorite to wear. Stay warm :).

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  19. Yay! For great pants and for great pics with the new camera! Now can you head my way and help me figure out how to use a setting other than "automatic" on my DSLR?

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  20. That's such a classy and professional office ensemble.. yet it's warm enough for the commute. Fantastic! You did a beautiful job sewing, styling AND photographing. Woo hoo! Now you've graduated to 1st class selfie taker .. LOL. You may even find yourself using it during fitting, as many have discovered The cardigan is a perfect compliment to the plaid colors. Kudos on the entire look.

    ~Joy~

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  21. I love the look of that elastic. Have you shared how you apply it?

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  22. I am just catching up on my blog reading so this comment is for the last couple of posts. Wow wow wow. Great wearable stylish clothes just keep flowing out of the sewing cave, I am most impressed. I am sorry to hear though about your recent stresses/life challenges and I hope things are easing up for you. But I know you and I agree sewing is the best therapy.

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  23. Great photos Carolyn! Your pants look awesome as well! ~Teri

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  24. Great outfit, perfect for this nasty weather. Like you, I hate to be cold.

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  25. Hi Carolyn, great looking (and fitting) pants. I'm interested in how you underline. Looks like you serged the two fabrics together for each section, then machine stitched the seams. Do you ever serge the fabric edges together after you sew the seams?

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    1. Robin if you serge the fabric edges together after you sew the seams, you'd have to baste the fashion fabric and lining together prior to stitching. I'm lazy. I only one to sew them once. So I serge the two pieces together prior to stitching the garment together.

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  26. Perfect pants for the weather you are having and congratulations on the photos!!

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  27. Gorgeous trousers!!! They have such a lovely drape to them. And, the lining is too perfect, great colour and sheen. Congrats on getting use out of your camera! I will be blogging an outfit this coming week and also using my new Canon camera. A bit frightened, even though it is an automatic, but has so many more features than my old, extremely basic one, that I am unsure of what button to even press to turn in on. :) Luckily, Mr. Manual came with it.

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  28. Yes, I agree I like that faint plaid for pants too.

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  29. Great pants - you inspired me to make a couple of lined pairs myself last weekend, although I lined rather then underlined. Do you find that the seams allowances (the wool fabric) irritates your skin? I'm guessing not as it they did you would probably not make them this way!! And great photos! I've been using a tripod and an App on my iPhone as the remote - so far so good!

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  30. You go girl! Great photos and trousers - your perseverance paid off. Rachel :-)

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  31. Your pants look great on you. I've never thought of lining pants before, but they look so warm and the feel of satin again your skin would be so much nicer than the wool. Nice photos :-)

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  32. I love your pants, that fabric looks perfect for the style and as Tim Gunn would say...Carolyn, you "made it work"! Great job!

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  33. These pants look great. I love lined wool pants, they feel so luxurious on.

    Congratulations on your new camera. In order to use your remote, make sure the camera is set on the automatic timer mode. I made that mistake when I first got a remote for my Canon, and now it works great!

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  34. carolyn, YES! of course you had me at your opening sentences (i think we need thigh high brocade boots so we can go back to dresses here), but your panted ensembles never fail. AND YOU KNOW I'M DOING A HAPPY DANCE ABOUT THOSE PHOTOS!!!

    now we have to work out that timer. only reason i don't use mine is because my g12 won't work with a wireless remote ;) with that reticulating screen, it opens up a whoooolle new world....

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  35. And now we're back to dress weather today!!!! What a crazy winter this has been. :) I love that you change up the lining depending on the weather you intend to wear them in-- that's really smart!

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  36. you look perfect in that outfit

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  37. Great looking outfit.

    If you wouldn't mind a suggestion, these cotton tights - http://warmlegwear.com/tights/cotton-comfort-tights.html - are warmer than regular tights. Still not warm enough for the coldest days but they could add to the number of days you can wear a dress.

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  38. Great job on the pants and the photos, did you start with a pattern for your trousers? They are just the sort of thing I need for work but I'm not ready to tackle self drafted garments yet. helloushandmades@blospot.com

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  39. Great looking pants! Congratulations on mastering your camera!

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  40. Oh, I just love the fabric and think a faint plaid works very well for slacks. They turned out beautifully and look very cozy. Is the fabric wool? May we please ask what pattern you use for your TNT pants pattern? Just wonderful and should keep you warm too.

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  41. Love your pants and the way you have styled them!

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  42. This has been a great blog. I have been learning how to sew recently. Thanks for sharing again. http://www.sewing.net/usedsewingmachines.html

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  43. Your pictures are clear and nice. I like how you lined the pants more like like an underlining. Looks like it works nicely and saves times too.

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  44. You are my hero! Pants scare me more than any other piece. I have sewn myself plenty of skirts, dresses, jackets and cardigans, but I think pants scare me so badly because I have such a hard time finding a good fit in a store that I can't fathom making a pair on my own that will fit well. But you have inspired me, and I am going to try my hand at the pants in Simplicity 1593. Wish me luck!

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  45. congratz on the camera operation! the pants look fantastic!
    -dani e

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