Spot On

Crazy 2 months - lots of relatives and friends staying, managed to sneak in some sewing but no photos.  So today a trip to the beach with a basket of clothes and a husband with  a camera for a small photo shoot.  More to follow over the next few days.

Little bit crinkly due to one day at work!

These shorts were were not what I envisaged making from this fabric and are really a bit of a departure for me style wise but I'm really pleased with them.  They are this 'Pleated Shorts' pattern from Burda 02/13.  I had been eyeing the fabric up in Spotlight for ages (its a japanese seersucker apparently- stretchy woven, strange weave but not like seersucker).  They had it in a few colours- green, orange, yellow - very 70's.  Anyway I managed to get to Spotlight in Bunbury just before christmas, my 1st visit since moving from Albany in August.  Needless to say I got in a bit of a sweat running around with fabric under my arms, trying to put lots back .. I think I had a felt holly garland fabric thing going on at the same time.  Happy days this fabric was now less than half price and I splashed out $18 on 3 meters.  Still planning to make the tunic from September Burda with the rest..and Skye has requested some shorts for her too.. think I have enough.

So the shorts - cut out a 12, serged, interfaced the waist (left this step out on the last and only other pair of shorts I have made and it rendered them unwearable) sewed, let them out a bit around the waist, congratulated myself at their good fit and my insertion of an invisible zip.  Wore them to work the next day - not really the best move due to torrential rain but I had finished them the day before so you have to don't you.

Good things:

• the funky stretchy material.
• Its a nice cut, I was worried the pleats would just make them too big but they don't.
• The pockets - super easy to slip your hand in, much better than inseam ones.

Less good:

• Well I still haven't made any bottom half things with a front fly and I kind of want to (but don't which is why I haven't).
• The side invisible zip is really fine but I have to breathe in and yank carefully to get it onto the waist band.
•  Maybe summers nearly over and I won't get the chance to wear them too much.

The top  - I made this one about a year ago but never wrote about it so thought I would kill 2 birds with one of those proverbial stones and get them together.

 

 

Its great I really like it and have worn it lots.  Not brilliantly made but its heavyweight cotton spandex - stretchy but holds you in place.  I only had enough material for 3/4 sleeves but I think they make it more versatile.  if you are making this I would definitely recommend using a spandex knit as with all the wraps around I think it could all go saggy in a strange way if you didn't.  Its this pattern again from Burda.

The sea without me in the way!