This week, I really did keep it to 30 minutes, Monday through Saturday. Sundays don't count, but I usually do the prep work of tracing and cutting that day. I really wanted to see what I could do in 30 minutes. Ready, set, here we go:
This week's project was a pair of capri length trousers for my daughter. She needed one more pair of shorts or trousers for the summer and liked this pair from Patrones:
The only problem was that the pattern is sized up to a size 10 and she needs a 12. Upon closer inspection of the line drawing, I realized that the trousers had an elastic waist and remembered I had a pattern in larger sizes that I could modify:
I've made Simplicity 4162 before, and these are your typical pull on elastic waist trousers. Sunday I cut everything out, including pieces for the cargo pockets and ties.Monday: Side seams and pockets. I finished and stitched the side seams, leaving 3" unstitched at the bottom and pressing the seam open. I then started work on the pockets, including holding up a side to my daughter to figure out where the pockets should be stitched.
Tuesday: Finished the pockets. This part takes the longest because of all the topstitching, but the result is worth the two days spend working on it. There are no spots on the garment - I need to remove the water soluble pen marks for pocket placement.
Wednesday: Major construction and elastic. This part of course went quickly, as all I needed to stitch were the inside leg seams, the crotch seam and the elastic casing.
Thursday: Attached the tie bands. The bands were cut 2" wide by how ever long looked good. I know that's not very accurate, but I sort of eye balled about how much to go around the leg and how much I need to tie for both ends. The hem edge was gathered and stitched to the band, folded in place and topstitched all along the long edge.
Done!
Friday: Tracing day. I traced off BWOF 4/09 #102 to wear as a summer nightgown and I also traced off another bra pattern. That's all I had time to do, but that is progress!
Saturday: Cutting day. I was able to cut out the BWOF top. This took a little longer than 30 minutes, but it is Saturday and I wasn't cutting it out of fabric from the bolt. This is a wardrobe refashion, cut from one of my husband's old dress shirts. This will be the 30 minute project next week and I'll give the details then.
Parting Shot: New Fabric. My son wants to make his own quilt this summer and enter it into a show. He's already designed it himself on the computer in EQ5, so we went fabric shopping today. We have a plan so that he'll be finished by vacation.
14 comments:
love those capris, they look terrific on her. I'd love a pair of those for myself!
Those capris are awesome! Tell C that if he gets his quilt top done by the time you visit here that he can use the longarm to quilt it if he wants.
Great capris! I do see a little blue there near the waistband. Is that a tag to determine front from back; if so, what is it? Something like ribbon?
Great capri's, love the BWOF pattern, and think the excitement in your son's eyes holding his quilt fabric is absolutely adorable!
What a great example of what 30 minutes of sewing can accomplish! The pants look great!
I can't even organize my thoughts in 30 minutes, let alone make anything! Cute pants!
I love the pants. Well done for sticking to a plan!
That picture of your son is gorgeous! I don't know him, of course, but it seems to me you've captured something that gives away a little of his character and talent. I can see the little boy in him, but also a hint of the man he will become. I really look forward to seeing how his quilt turns out. It's a wonderful thing to see the creativity coming out of a child as they do things like this. I just recently taught my niece to knit and she made a poncho on very large needles (she's 9). It made my heart soar.
I hope you post pictures of his finished quilt. It looks like it is going to be a gorgeous one.
Your daughter's capris look wonderful!
I was planning to make that BWOF top too (why don't I look surprised???)!!
How cute--the capris look fabulous! I have been gone for a while and love coming home to see what you have created while I was loafing! Love the quilt fabrics your son chose, your newest art garments are as incredible as I would expect, and I think your red/blue dress and jacket are so sophisticated. Thanks for the wonderful shared work!
Lynda in LV
Your daughter looks so happy wearing her new capris. It's great how you modified the Simplicity pattern to look like the Patrones pattern.
I love the idea of devoting 30 mins minimum a day to sewing. Your daughters pants turned out nice. Your son's a cutie. I can't believe he can design his own quilt. What a smart boy. Look forward to seeing his progress. I'm working on my daughters wedding dress with a side zipper and I'm trying to decide if I should hand pick the zipper or put in an invisable zip with only having done one before. Nervous.
Those are adorable pants on your DD. Love that your son is making a quilt.
Post a Comment