what's rachel sewing today?

Leftover purple jersey, causual pattern, sexy lace side panels... you'll just have to wait and see how it all comes together!

meeting my sewing goals: i'm going to put a fold-over waistband on everything

I mean, really? Is there anything more comfortable? My most worn RTW skirt is a black jersey skirt from Old Navy with a fold-over waistband (actually, there have been at least 3, because I wear them to threads and have to replace them). Also, they go with everything, and you can dress them up or down depending on the top.

One of the patterns included with my Sewing With Knits Crafty.com class is for just that kind of knit skirt; simple, a-line, and to-the-knee. You may remember that making some knit garmets was one of my late-winter/early-sping sewing goals. For the first skirt I used the same nice, heavy, jeggings fabric I used for my yoga-jeans, pattern also from Sewing With Knits. It made a great, comfy, casual skirt with that denim look to go with everything.

 The other skirt was made with this beautiful purple lace I picked up at Winmil Fabrics in Boston. My original plan per my pervious blog post was to use New Look 6053, that I'd used previously on my slim, black and white lace print skirt (I know, I know! A lot of lace! It's ok, it's totally on trend!). This particular lace had a good stretch to it, and since I'm enamored with making knit garments I thought this would be a nice little added challenge. AND, I had a similar purple jersey in my stash. AND, then I didn't have to put in a zipper. AND, did I mention that a fold-over jersey waistband makes for a WAY more comfortable skirt and so I want to put them on everything? I'm glad I made that choice, because I'm very, very pleased with the results.

 

 I made the lace overlay a little longer than the jersey, boot-length, so the the light will peek through the lace at the bottom of the skirt.

For the lace overlay, I combined the techniques for sewing with stretch and sewing with lace (which I had to look up on youtube because I'd not worked with lace before!). I did a french seam with a nice long stitch that had just a little bit of zig-zag.

I layered the lace on top of the jersey before I stitched up the waistband. It came out perfect, as if it were the same piece of fabric!

Before I sign off I need to put in an extra shout-out to Meg McElwee, the instructor for Sewing With Knits and designer or these awesome patterns, so go check her out. And lastly, didn't those last batch of photos come out great? More to post soon!

these are not jeggings - and i don't like my black pants

I was so excited about my black pants. I had made a test garment and figured out how to add a little more room for my bum. The pockets looked perfect. I got the zipper fly in without too much problem. They fit great.... until the knee. Somehow it looked like my knee had a diaper! I took the whole leg in a little on the side, since it was also a smidge loose all over. Still looked wrong, and because McCalls 6707 has this side panel going up the outside of the leg, I couldn't just pin and sew until I got the fit I wanted. I tried taking in from the inseam instead, still doesn't look right. I can't seem to find the right combination of slim and straight that looks good! I think I'm going to have to take apart the seams of the side panel to take some in on the back and front pieces. But I'm frustrated.... so I just stuck them into my fabric drawer instead.

I am having better luck with with projects inspired from my Sewing With Knits Craftsy.com class. I've made another ribbed jersey maxi-skirt with a fold-over waistband for my sister and these:

I found some great jeggings fabric (you know, jean leggings) on the clearance rack at Joann's, but what I made was WAY better than jeggings! I started with the fold-over yoga pant pattern included in the Sewing With Knits class. It make a wide-leg pajama style pant. I added back pockets that I copied off a pair of jeans I already love. I tried to make these little faux front pockets, too, but after I stitched them up they barely show at all. I will make them bigger next time.  And I also took took in the leg openings to match my jeans as well. The end result are not too skinny but slim, fold-over waist band yoga jeans! On me, the really look just like jeans from the back, but still like yoga pants in the front. I have yet to decided if they are going to be lounge-at-home pants, or look nice enough to be wear-out-of-the-house pants. Either way, I really like them am and very pleased with myself! And, I have enough fabric left to make a fold-over skirt!