My first Jalie - Eleonore pull on jeans

I don't really believe in love at 1st sight but this pattern was it. From the moment I saw it I knew I wanted. I have a RTW with exact same construction and it has been very comfortable to wear specially with my waist size varying a lot because of my pregnancy.  They are also a lot more easy to sew and fit like this and they don't really look like pull ons right... This is my 1st Jalie pattern to try:

I must admit I was really impressed with the tips from the instructions and the little details. They really matter and make a difference. I sure want to try another of their pattern after this one. The pants were really fast to assemble so I took some time to embroider the back and pockets with some abstract motifs. Maybe not the best choice in designs but sine this was a test pair I didn't want to think to much on that.

 The fabric is also a very cheap coupon because it had some stain that  actually washed out but I could easily avoid as well since it was close to the edge. Not sure what the fabric really is the texture is not very common to me but it has a nice touch on both inside and outside and a good weight and the most important the required 20% stretch.

 Now I can't wait to make more in all the stretch denim fabrics I can get my hands on but that will probably be more for the fall.

 

Nautical themed matching outfits for me and my son

   I really liked the recent sleeveless elephants hoodie I did for my son so I decided to do one more. I had still soft lightweight stripes knit and I paired it with a nice regal blue knit. They both are recent purchases.  My knit stash increased a lot lately and there are some more that I have my eyes on them but we will see. At least I sewed a lot as well. I didn't want to have any more left overs so I decided to cut until both fabrics are gone. I had this pants pattern traced for my son a few weeks ago when i decided to do a summer wardrobe for him as well but I didn't had a chance to sew it since the other 2 that I tried 1st were such a success. O I decided it to test it now. And since I still had some fabric left I pulled my old TNT top pattern - Vogue 8649. This top is not very flattering on me since my pregnancy belly is not all gone but I felt very comfortable in my flower power tee and the fall leaves top that I decided to sew it again.
    So for my son I used Ottobre 3/2015 #20 - Hello Shark sleeveless hoodie  and 3/2010 #17:

   And for me good old Vogue 8649:

This shirt ended up larger then the previous one- quite different knits and I added a pocket that I unfortunately placed it to low. For the pants I added about 1 inch length and cuffs and ended up quite a different look. I also didn't do patch pockets in the back but faux welt pockets.

For my top I skipped the back seam, did small pleats instead of gatherings, cut front on bias, did contrast bias finishing on sleeve as well, took it a bit on the sides.

 I love coordinating with my son:

 

The gray elephants in my life - Ottobre 3/2015

Like I said before I was exited to try the 2 men pattern from this summer issue of Ottobre Design Magazine.I already tested the tees - here - and they were great so I sewed 2 more in organic cotton knit from etsy for the front panel and french terry from Cameleon Textil in the back.

As you can see from their sketch the front is lower then the back. But what you cannot see is that the front is really lower then the back. Once i was ready to attach the waistband and looked at the pants I was like WTF. I admit I know  nothing about men pants but the front piece is 2/3 of the back one length at the crotch. I thought it was an error on my side cutting or tracing the pattern but no. Is this really normal?

  I had no idea what sizes to use so I went to using the tables and did the same as for the tees 52 for my father and 56 for my husband. I ended up with really really large pants. I manage to salvage a bit on my father and he can wear them with a belt. But they still are to large. For my husband I just added elastic waistband from the beginning and they are can be used as sweat pants since the woven fabric is lightweight and stretchy but the back looks all wrong.

 But both my father and husband been very supportive and said they can still use them even if they have been quite a failure in my opinion. At least now they can match with Andrei since the pants are from the same fabric as his knickerbocker bermudas. And of course I needed to do a new tee with elephants for him as well. Unfortunately I didn't have enought from the same fabric for him but I found similar ones and used another Ottobre 3/2015 design - the #20 Hello Shark sleeveless hoodie. Now this a a totally different story. I was unsure in the beginning but working with Ottobre and having so many items to love  I got courage to try new things.

The moment I seen my son dressed all the doubts vanished. This is a cute and fun tee. I did it a just a bit larger to have it next year as well maybe...

All 3 T-shirts were a great success. Good fabric, good design and good fit. And even with the failed pants everyone seems to be able to enjoy playing in this new outfits:

Playing with Vogue 8856 to burn some stash

One if the goals for this summer was to try new patterns. So one day I gathered my courage and traced vogue 8856 both size 14 ( for me ) and 22 for my mother-in-law. And the next two days I sewed 2 of this.

It is an unusual pattern so I didn't expected much from the 1st try. I just used some knit blend I wanted to get rid of. I thought is bad fabric but it seems is quite nice on the skin so I may still wear this top around the house:

As you can see is all wrong. I cut some pieces on the wrong side and then I had to change some others. The gatherings and hems are terrible as well. But once I seen it is not going to fit right I just wanted to be over with it. It is a short dress for me.I also added sleeves even if I knew it will not work with this neck line but I just had to try it and see for myself how the are pulling down. I thought this fabric is bad quality but it feels quite good on the skin so I may still wear it around the house.  The back looks like I have some sort of tail and the front is also to heavy and the gathering to low.... It is pretty much a failure but now I have a starting point if I want to venture and really make something from this pattern for me.

But since it is one of the very few patterns I have in a bigger size and I already played with it I sewed one for my mother in law. She is a tall woman so I thought this might work for her. It was to long and to large for her as well but after a few adjustment I think I got a decent version. at least in this knit it doesn't pop as much as mine:

For her version I reduced the back insert by a little bit and I think is better like this;

I will probably try to do a decent version for myself one day but who knows. I like this unusual tops a lot on paper but it seams that not so much on myself.