Sewing fiend!

I know I haven't been on here for a little while, but I have been very busy is my regular life, but did make time-- especially over the 4th of July weekend-- to get some crafty stuff done. It was mostly sewing, which is good, and it was my best attempts at doing some clothing alterations, as well as attempting to make my first functional garment, which is still a work in progress.

Well, I'm sure you'd like some photos too, so even though it's not exciting, here you go!

Drew had at least 4 pairs of jeans that he had ripped huge holes in the left knee. Consistently the left knee too. (Oddly enough, if I have a hole in the knee of my jeans, that's where I get it too. Hmmmm....) They weren't really patchable, and since he's a growing kid where these will be too big for him soon enough, it made more sense to recycle them and make them shorts rather than me going out and buying him some new shorts anyway. I took photos of one pair that I did, but like I said, I did FOUR pairs, which is 8 little pant legs, my friends!


As you can see, the left knee is severely ripped. No turning back now!


And here's after! Shorts!

While I didn't do anything fancy to make them shorts, it still took some thinking. First, I had to make sure that I made relatively even cuts on both so the legs would be even. And even then, once I created the hem, I had to make sure they were the same length. Some weren't completely perfect, but for the most part it was pretty damn close, even if I did use a measuring tape as I made them. One of the tricky parts was that at least 2 of the pairs of jeans were painter's pants style, so they had pockets that were very low down. I actually had to hem into the pocket itself, but it wasn't too bad. I don't think people will really notice that too much. As long as the hem is neat and the thread isn't too noticable (I used gray), I figured it would look fine, and it does. When Drew wore a pair that I had done and I told my sister who does some sewing that I had done that, she seemed fairly impressed.

The other item, as I said, is a work in progress. It's a variation of sorts of the tunic pattern that was in the S.E.W. Workshop book (my "sewing bible"). Essentially, I remade the pattern using this really nice and pricier fabric, made my adaptations/adjustments to the pattern so it'd fit me, and made it longer so it could be a dress instead of just a shirt. I worked on it for most of the 4th of July weekend, but I didn't finish it yet. I have to work in the darts at the chest, but I need JC's help or a dressform for that. Since I don't have the dressform yet, I have to get him at the right moment. He's reliable, as he's helped his mother with sewing projects, and in some respects is a better sewer than I am. Once I have that done, then I can finish out the armholes (made the bands longer this time, so there should be no complications), and hem up the sides and bottom, and I'll be done! The neckline isn't perfect, but I think I still did a pretty good job of it for a beginner. I even used a contrasting thread to finish it, and it looks cool. Perhaps I can finish that this weekend, which would be great. It may end up looking like a mini muumuu on me in the end, but you don't learn until you try, right? Photos will come once it's done.

Oh, and what's this that the Threadbanger report had tried to slip by, that there might be a Threadbanger Sewing Machine made by Janome in the future! Oh what teases they are! If they did, that would be cool. I guess I'll have to stay tuned to see if they provide more details.

Keep sewing!