The sewing thread

Laura_Elsewhere

Yes, dressmaking-in-the-mind works wonders, doesn't it? And I can always afford the most amazing fabrics in my mind too!

Right, having postponed the blue summer skirt from a couple of weeks ago, I've decided to bypass it, even thought it is still summer, and instead on Wednesday I shall be cutting out a pair of Deliberate Trousers in green cotton, to wear in summer or autumn or spring weather. That way, they'll be ready for the cooler weather when it comes, rather than finishing a summer skirt at the very end of summer.

They are Deliberate Trousers because a couple of years ago I made a divided skirt but stupidly forgot to put in the huge inverted box pleat when I chalked it out on the fabric from my diagrams, and so ended up with mid-calf length trousers with 84-inch hems on each leg...! Basically the legs are each nearly circular skirts, sewn together at the crotch...
They were experimental anyway, but they remain the only thing I've made where total strangers come up and compliment me on what I'm wearing - twice in one day once!

So, obviously, having invented a garment that makes strangers come and compliment me, I haven't made any more...!

Until now...

So those were meant to be a divided skirt but became Accidental Trousers, these are Deliberate Trousers

Here are the Accidental Trousers. Incredibly comfortable, and very practical.

PollyWollyDoodle

I can!!!8217;t see a picture? I love the idea of Accidental Trousers!

Grrmph. Note to self. When inserting eight buttonholes in a dress, it!!!8217;s a good idea to do one or perhaps two and then check that they are where you want them to be. If you sew all eight, and then decide that they are about a centimetre too far from the edge of the dress, it will take a long time to unpick them. Like a whole evening. Just saying.

At least I hadn!!!8217;t cut them!

silvasava

Polly - I've learnt through past mistakes to always start at the bottom buttonhole then if it's not quite right it won't be noticeable

PollyWollyDoodle

That's a brilliant tip, thanks. I absolutely love the one-step buttonhole on my machine, so sewing them is really easy but unpicking them is a bit of a job.

I measured everything really carefully, read all the advice on button placement etc but didn't actually look at it to see if they looked right. I'm ready to sew them again today.

Laura_Elsewhere

Ah, I copied and pasted, so the pic is visible to me, but I'll try a proper insertion to see if it works for you...

Any better?

Laura_Elsewhere

Anyone got any advice about putting a half- or full lining into trousers? I'm considering lining the dark green Deliberate Trousers - it's only sheeting-cotton, after all, not actually ideal but never mind, it's still a prototype, really.

Anyway, I have some black viscose lining, or some dark grey ordinary lining, you know the slightly rustly stuff?, and wondered about putting it in to about mid-thigh - maybe attaching to the side seams to anchor it?

All advice on lining trousers much appreciated! I did line my window-blind shorts, which was very straightforward but then they haven't the swirling great tons of fabric these have. But I assume I just do the same as for the shorts or for a full skirt, just cut it shorter in the leg and maybe hand-stitch it to the side-seams, or maybe just to one side-seam, to anchor it?

PollyWollyDoodle

Still no pic of the trousers! Sorry, lining is on my list of 'challenges' , I have yet to try it although what you're describing sounds right to me.

I've finished my dress, http://http://www.burdastyle.co.uk/product/b6760-burda-style-dresses/360694 and it's been quite a confidence booster. First time using a Burda pattern, I hardly had to make any adjustments, although this is quite a loose fitting design anyway. Maybe German women are more, ahem, traditionally built than their British and European counterparts?)

The instructions were really sparse, this would definitely not be good for a beginner. However, I realise that I know more about sewing than I have given myself credit for, I managed to get the collar right (at the fourth try!) and finish the buttons and buttonholes.

I'm not sure I learned any new techniques from this, apart from finishing my facing edge with bias binding. I am now in love with the bias binding technique, I will be using it a lot more. I thought I would try blind hemming the dress, but this was a bit of a disappointment. When the hem was straightened out the stitches seemed to me to be quite large. After playing around for a bit, I decided to just hem it by hand, which is what I usually do.

So, while I'm quite proud of myself for finishing this, and it feels really comfortable, I wore it to a friend's tonight. She went to her bedroom to show me something, and I caught sight of myself in a full-length mirror. I'm not sure the all-over floral design was a good choice for me, it looks as if I've nicked the loose covers off the sofa! Instead of the chic fitted dress that I feel as if I'm wearing, I saw a middle-aged woman in a rather frumpy and very floral dress. So, although l have enjoyed making it, I'm not sure how much I will wear it. I'm going to follow the rule of wearing it at least three times, to see if it grows on me.

Now on to the next challenge, shortening my friend's bridesmaids dress. I don't think the blind hemming is going to work, so I'll probably end up doing it by hand.

silvasava

I made a 'rajah suit' many years ago of a heavily embossed metallic scratchy fabric and lined the trousers the lazy way. I cut the lining the same as the trousers and sewed it on top of the fabric as one piece. Difficult to explain - two pattern pieces sewn as one IYSWIM.

Wraithlady

Re lining trousers, I'd do what Silvasava did and just treat the lining as a shorter pair of trousers (excluding pockets etc) then just join the two at the waistband.

If the lining keeps riding up or twisting, then attach them to the outer side seam with a length of cotton, but I wouldn't bother otherwise

[Deleted User]

My temporary ban has finished and I have enjoyed the time away, it has broken my mse addiction and I have a new small tight group of online friends. My being has changed from stressed to very happy, content and fulfilled


I have bought a lovely new house, 5 minutes walk from everywhere, in an art nd crafty market town


I will feel cocooned and cosy, it has that clearview solution 400, underfloor heating and a very high spec of finish and appliances. The best insulation possible, even better than here.


I lose 200 sq feet. Still 4 bedrooms and one will make that perfect sewing room again but with added spinning and knitting crafts

One last thought about genes and genetics. I have 50% Polish, eastern European genes and 50% dutch and was born in the uk. My family genetic line comes straight down from 1350 and all the way it is farming, horticultural and baking. That is where I got my skills. These are my indie genes, you can combine those 2 words and create another spelling to a misused word. I live amongst people in my rural county, who have a similar line of uk genetics, running through generations, farming and baking mainly. We all knew how to live in peace and harmony with the land and its wildlife. I will say no more now, my stay with mse is over