Another Pair of Trousers!

Hello, hello!

This week was my youngests last day of nursery forever! 🥹

I feel like it was just yesterday that she started and now it’s already ended.

My eldest still has another week to go and then we get to spend 6 weeks together.

I am looking forward to family time, but it does mean that sewing for me slows down.

This may also mean that I will have the girls in my sewing room more often too. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing. 😂

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In retreat news, the launch was very well received, thank you very much for your support! ♥️

I don’t want to wish time away, but I can’t wait for this weekend!

Sewing, relaxing and being with everyone is going to be so fulfilling.

Janome and Prym are official partners for the weekend and I have already received the goodies from Prym. I’m not telling you what it is though.👀

There are only 3 spaces left now - a pod for single occupancy and a twin room(for 2 people) in the shared cottage.

You can see more information or book one of the spots following this link:

Book here!

 

Stitches of the Week

 

BeeSilva - Sew Your Own Trousers Workshop

We had a very successful trouser making workshop!

I really wanted everyone to tackle the zip fly and get to fitting the trousers and that’s exactly what happened.

Everyone worked at their own pace in a relaxed atmosphere and it was a really enjoyable day.

Lots of different fabrics were chosen to make the trousers in. There was corduroy, stretch denim and “normal” denim, crepe and a lace fabric that needed to be lined.

Everyone looked lovely in their trousers with some having to make minor adjustments and others none at all! What a win! This is such a good result for a pattern.

These trousers are quite simple to make when taking your time and concentrating on the steps and the results are amazing.

Since this workshop went well, I will be running it again after the summer and I will let you know when I confirm dates.

Tilly and the Buttons - Thea Trousers

I decided to make another version of the Thea’s ahead of the workshop and I love these more than the first ones I made.

I’ve used a heavy weight denim and it makes the trousers quite boxy. I was a little on the fence about this look at the beginning but I’ve warmed up to it now. I feel like I will reach for these a lot!

The rise on my first pair was quite low and I prefer a higher rise, so for this pair I shortened the front and back rise by ¾ inches and I much prefer the fit now.

Also on the first pair I made, I took it in by 5/16 inch at the sides, but with this heavier fabric I didn’t have to do that.

I made a little mistake with the interfacing on this one though.

The pattern pieces clearly state to cut the interfacing with the glue side down but I decided to use my scraps and piece them. This meant I didn’t pay attention to which waistband I was adding to and I added it to the lining side instead of the main (I used the same fabric for main and lining.)

I will definitely be mindful of this next time!

I want to make a pair of trousers now with each leg in a different colour but do I make the Thea’s again or another pattern?

Or do this at the end of the year so I can focus on creating my summer holiday wardrobe?🤔

Materials: Black heavy-weight denim from my stash

Size: Straight size 2.

The Drama: Interfaced the wrong waistband but it doesn’t affect the fit, so we’re good!

The Win: I love my new pair of trousers!

BeeSilva - DIY Pencil Pouch

Every end of the school year I do exactly the same thing!

Teacher gifts are made at the last minute and I stress myself out.

Since I had to make so many this year, I kept it “simple” and made a pencil case for one of my daughter’s teachers. I still have to make another 3 or 4 for my other daughter for next week.🫠

I drafted a pattern for them and went with the flow in creating exteriors for them in different patchwork combinations.

My youngest chose most of the fabric combinations and all the zips and pulls.

On the lining, I embroidered her name, class and year for a personal touch so they would always remember her.

They were very well received and gifts that I made in previous years for other teachers were discussed too.

The whole school is aware that I am the mom that gives handmade gifts.

Now I definitely have a reputation to maintain.😂

Materials: Craft cotton and cotton poplin, Vlieseline Thermolan, zips by the meter and zipper pulls.

The Drama: I wasn’t happy with how one of the cases came out because of the way I decided to sew the fabrics together.

The Win: Round 1 of teacher gifts successfully delivered!💪

 

Skill Builder of the Week

 

Different Fabrics Give Different Results

In these last couple of weeks I’ve made 2 trousers from the same pattern, I’ve used 2 different weight fabrics and I got 2 different results.

I made one in a lighter weight denim in which the trousers came out roomy and I had to take it in at the sides.

For the second pair, I used a heavyweight denim and I didn’t have to take it in at the sides. The heavier weight also made it more boxy.

This is a good opportunity to bring up why it is important, when making toiles, that you use fabric in the same weight as what you intend to make the final version in.

Alterations that you make in the one fabric may not be the same alterations you need to make in another fabric.

 

Maker Spotlight

This week’s spotlight goes to @tricky.pockets!

This is such a fun outfit, the skirt reminds me of ice cream! 😍

Lisa had quite the job on her hands in bringing her sorbet inspired dreams to life.

She used cotton poplin in various colours and as the panels got larger for the lower tiers, it got trickier to play tetris with the pattern pieces.

Sewing all the curves was tricky which included various steps so the fabric wouldn’t stretch out, but Lisa says it was all worth it. The hem was also finished with bias binding!

Want to be featured in my newsletter? Just reply with a pic of your make and a little about it, I’d love to see what you’ve made!😍