Sunday, January 31, 2010

Mum on beach duty check: comfy tee yes, birkenstocks, yes, sun hat hair, yes, bermudas, yes, lots of wet towels, yes OK take the photo.



I really hope you managed to get your free download bermuda shorts in time because when I went back to the Mane-ladies-privates (thanks Miss Smith for enriching our vocabulary!) site I noticed they'd removed well over half their free downloads. Including aforementioned shorts and a beautiful jacket I was intending to make but now I can see it's just not to be. Nevermind, I took solace by downloading a very cute knit dress that I hope to be brave enough to attempt some time soon (the bravery including no instructions and working with knits)

Fortunately, I am about to get some home grown help on the knit front soon. Palmer/pletsch have now added "fitting knits" to their weekend workshop options. Woo hoo! (Here is the list of instructors for Australia and New Zealand)

Gail mentioned in a comment that knits don't really need to be fitted - and some knits definitely don't - but some really do - an unforgiving knit on me will be saggy at the shoulder and back, but pull very tightly across the bust in a look best described as "hello Dolly!"

Anyway, I refitted my shorts grading them up a whole size and a bit extra to be on the safe side because I was sewing a cotton drill that tends to hold its shape - more than you'd like it to sometimes. They are now a good fit, although I will tweak the pattern a bit more adding a bit more to the front crotch length.

The reason I ended up with the drill is that I went to Global Fabrics and came away with 2 Merino knits, completely forgetting the reason I went there in the first place. This is a scrap from another project and I hunted for something to finish the facings and pockets with as I didn't have quite enough fabric.





I decided to sew the back welt pockets this time, using this tutorial kindly forwarded to me by EmilyKate. However, due to my loathing of fake pockets I made real pockets by adding a button loop closure and sewing in a pocket bag. One thing I didn't do but should have is topstitched around the edges of the pocket like you often see in commercial shorts. That reduces the stress on the seams and helps the pocket to hold its shape over the course of a day.



I also for the first time used the blind hem foot for the bottom of the turn ups. Since I plan to sew a few knits shortly I thought I'd really best get my head around it.




ratings out of 5

sewing enjoyment **** the welt pockets were a nice detail
wearing enjoyment *** comfy fit, very practical with ALL those pockets - a great mum-at-work short but cotton drill is hardly a pulse raiser in the fashion stakes.

Overall I'd say I'll get a lot of wear out of these shorts as we enter our hottest month but I'd be looking to remake them in some heart singing linen for the next summer season.


Costings: cotton drill Nicks, $2, contrast fabric men's shirting from Working Style discounted at Nick's, $1, buttons $1 Salvage, zipper 65c from Geoff's cotton $1, interfacing $1 $6.65

17 comments:

  1. As always your work is beautiful. Love the details. And your sense of humor is right on the money. Can't imagine the warmth there--here it's -7 Celsius.

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  2. Lookit your welt pockets! So impressed.

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  3. Oooooooh! Smashing, pretty moma indeed! That is one bloody good welt pocket tute eh? I love you colours and I love that you did the inner waistband and fly facing in the plaid.
    Missed out on the bermuda pattern myself, drat it, but have heeded you advice to get in quick and downloaded a high-waisted pleat skirt and knit crossover top that look quite lovely.

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  4. Your persistance has really paid off. I wish I had your dedication to return to a pattern and make it work. Nice shorts!

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  5. Dear Mary Anna,
    Please stop being such a super awesomely perfect sewer as you are making me feel inadequate. Please post some crap craft projects soon to make me feel better.
    Your sister,
    Miss Smith

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  6. Oops, forgot to add...would love to see step-by-step the blind hem for your turn-ups as every time I have thought about doing that, I couldn't quite figure out which bit went where.

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  7. Oh, I really like these - I LOVE your contrast at the pockets and such. Way cute!!
    We had over 6 inches of snow today. I don't know what the total is yet as it was still snowing when the kids came in at dark tonight. It amazes me when I come to a blog such as yours and see you say it is hot!!! I guess we each think of everybody being in our own world and my world is rather cold and covered in fluffy white stuff at the moment!!!!!!

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  8. The contrast fabric adds such a cheery note! A sewing workshop -- can't wait to hear how it goes.

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  9. Very funky shorts, indeed :-) I love the plaid details and that impeccable welt pocket. Will definitely check out the tutorial.

    J

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  10. Awesome shorts. Isn't it nice to get some good weather at last? Well, ok, the weather has probably been better up your end of the country, but as you know Dunners, you'll know how pleasing it is for us to have been able to go to the beach on the last day of the holidays. Went out to Aramoana, saw heaps of seals and waved to the cruse ship as it went out. Follow that with fish and chips for tea and you have a good summers day. :)

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  11. Fun and cute!! So glad you were able to get the pattern to work for you.

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  12. Love the contrasting print for the facings etc and the welt pockets look great.

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  13. so cute. you have nailed the welt pocket! have you done a tutorial??fly to chicago for a private lesson???

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  14. Ah, if only I were a details girl... I am so jealous of your perfect welt pockets. Also your beach weather.

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  15. That is a really nice welt pocket with contrasting pockets. Nice sewing! Enjoy that beach. I am in much snow.

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  16. ahh, there's nothing left to say, the welts look good, nice shorts etc but hey I didn't know 'bermuda, bahama, come on pretty moma' was a song and I looked up the muppets on You tube: that frog can sing. Of course Miss Piggy had to sabotage it at the last minute. That girl has to be in the limelight.

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  17. Hey we also looked the song up on you tube and watched the muppet version. like Miri I did not know that it was a song title. Nice shorts

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