Marcy Tiltion Pants

About 2 years ago I made these pants and have worn them to death.















I decided to make another pair, but this time the longer version. I also made these out of wool. The last pair were super big in the back, so this time, I took out about 2" from the back side. There is still plenty of room. I like the first pair a little better and that could be due to one of three reasons

1. the first pair was the short version and therefore have a different shape. Showing the ankle is more flattering with this style pant
2. the first pair were fuller in the back, which changed the drape of the pants. Also the first pair was a poly rayon blend, but these are wool and actually have better drape than the first pair.
3. I'm much fatter now!

Well, all of that being said, I really do love my new pants. They are unique and were very fun to sew since they have unusual seaming and details. Not a fast pair of pants because of all of the top stitching, but I was able to put them together in 2 evenings.


Here you can see the pocket detail. The side front pants leg is made in two parts. The front/bottom part folds under to create the pocket facing. The upper/under part makes the back of the pocket.
















Another little detail is the darts at the knee. Just keeps it interesting I think.

Wristers

I've been doing a little sewing this week and will have more on that in a couple of days. In the mean time, school seems to be getting worse and worse every year, but thankfully, I have a great class and love my students. Now, if I could just teach...


But let's not go there!!! While I was in Tennessee, I was wishing I could do some sewing, but I thought it would be fun to do a crochet project. Something I could do and still be around everyone visiting. I decided to make some "wristers" We didn't have internet access at the log cabin, but fortunately, I had my trusty iphone. I went to the Lion Brand site and found a pattern for the kind of arm warmers I was looking for. It didn't take long to make them. ( I also made a scarf, which I'll show later) Anyway I made the "Windy City Wristers" and they were a big hit with DD when I got home, so I made some for her. And one of her friends. And another pair for myself. And another pair for DD! As you can see, these are a big hit with all of us, and it isn't even cold yet! I've been wanting fingerless gloves, because I hate for my hands to be cold, but need to be able to write, type, etc. These are perfect and SO simple to make. You basically crochet a rectangle and then sew up the side leaving a hole for the thumb. How simple is that?

Just in from Tennessee

Just had a great week long visit with my brother and his family in Tennessee. I really wanted/needed to relax, and that is exactly what I did! We did take a little drive over to Lynchburg and toured the Jack Daniel's distillery. I'm not a whiskey drinker, but it was very interesting.

I also visited the local fabric store, Sirs Fabrics. I have heard that people come from other states to visit this store, but if they are, they are going for the home dec. They did have a great selection of home dec fabrics and trims. Rooms and rooms. Fashion fabric? Not so much. What they did have was folded on tables and labeled things like "lining", "wool blends", "dress fabrics" etc. This kind of thing drives me crazy because I want to know what I'm buying. The prices were really cheap, but I didn't see anything I was even interested in. Of course, this may have to do with the fact that my fabric closet is stuffed full and I'm not seeming to find much time for sewing. Usually a week off is filled with sewing, but since I was gone, this did not happen. I did crochet a scarf and pair of "wristers" that I will post later. I had planned on coming home from work tonight and doing some sewing, but ended up making something to eat, cleaning the kitchen and changing the sheets instead. Maybe tomorrow...

no-sewing weekend

I really wanted to get some sewing done this weekend, but I was really just feeling under the weather and actually accomplished just about nothing all weekend. I did take the above picture with my phone Friday evening in my driveway. The sky was beautiful.

I did get as far as cutting a swatch of wool that I bought last year and washing it to check for how much shrinkage. The 4" swatch shrank 1/4 inch, so that would be about 2-1/4" per yard if washed. I don't think I will wash these pants, but They will probably shrink at least 1/2 that amount from steaming. I would like to make these Marcy Tilton pants. I made the shorter version once about 2 years ago and I've worn them so much that they are pilling and looking pretty sad. The other ones are a linen blend, but since I have this wool in my closet, these will be wool!