Skull culottes ( RP patterns)

Having a bit of a Goth day when I wore these!

Skulls and a black lace top- I would have been so happy to own these when I was 18!

Again I am doing more sewing than blogging and its been ages since I sat down to write. Sorry about that but I decided to concentrate on the actual sewing rather than the blogging about the sewing. If you see what I mean.

The top is an old one I made a while back and rediscovered recently when the weather got hot.

I do not seem to burn so much when I wear this. Its quite hot for the UK now so getting sunburned is an issue and I rarely remember to use sun block. So despite the colour its a nice summer top.

Culottes are made from a stretch cotton lycra fabric which has been stashed for around 3 years I reckon. Definitely time I used it for something.

Yoke ( waist) is just a black tubular ribbed fabric ( cut into the pattern of course because its a shaped yoke not a straight waistband) I had a scrap of because I ran out of the skull fabric so I needed something else. Orange strappy vest just seen is also a Rebecca Page pattern and I really need to make a few more of these vest tops. They are a good basic staple. Not sure but I think RP patterns may no longer be available? If they are back online this top pattern used to be a freebie.

I made a pair of these before in a wintery glitter fabric when RP was still owned by Rebecca Page, and a pair of shorter length fluorescent velvet shorts a little after that. I love the shorts but the longer length serves my current needs better. 

The first pair and the second velvet pair both fit better. I reckon I must have made a smaller size. In fact after making and altering the waist on both pairs I recollect I needed to go a size down with Rebecca Page patterns so these are in fact a size too big I think. That makes them a bit loose. It will actually not matter because these are specifically for my recovery period after my hip replacement so that will be OK. Its something I should try to remember for my next version though. That is that with RP patterns I am a smaller size than the details tell me I am!

I can always make a smaller pair afterwards. I mentioned in a previous post I have to have this op and it's due any time from what I have been told. I went on the NHS waiting list last August so I think its about nowish I should get the op. 

Last time I swelled up - not surprising really when a large chunk had been chopped off my leg and replaced by an implant! So these being looser could be good. I had culotes last time but a different style and they were great for day wear after the op. These are much more fitted than my previous version which was self drafted.

I have also made a purple pair of these. Again they are a little large. I have not worn them as yet but may blog later about them. In both cases I had to take in the yoke. I hate unpicking stretch fabrics. I did achieve it both times though with no holes made but for the future I am trying to get through to my stupid head to remember to go down a size for RP!!!!!

I need to make some tops in my purple fabric. They will go with these and my other ( not photo graphed yet) pair as well as the rest of my "hospital" stuff. I am aiming for all purple for sleep and day wear. It may annoy the nurses to be honest but that can't be helped. It will make my life so much easier if everything goes together easily. The nurses do like you to have day clothes and sleep clothes (pjs). Mine will mostly all be in the same fabric so the difference will be minimal and I suspect they will be offering me gowns! But these skull culottes of course are my contrast. I am hoping for time to make a second pair of pj trousers and two or 3 tops so I really must get a move on! It's a bonus if these recovery clothes can be worn later though.

Also I have yet to try this but the PJs I made before I used a yoga pants pattern with a low waist. Its an old pattern though free and brilliant. Anyway I suspect the RP yoke will go on the waist of these quite nicely eliminating the need for elastic in an added on waistband which is my usual method of making these because I do not like the yoga band top. I do love the pattern though and it works well with a normal waistband. I will let you know if this idea works on my next pair of these.

Have a lovely week,

Bracken

Basic leggings that fit!

I have not blogged for some time and there is a good reason for this slackness. This year I have spent a lot of time looking through my old me-made clothing. Some I have binned or recycled. A great deal though I have begun to alter because its pretty much all too big for me. 

For example these leggings: 

steampunk, 

camo leggings,

skull leggings

There is a very good reason for my ill fitting clothing when I began sewing again after many years when I had done no more than sew on a lost button. Well no there are two reasons. 

1) I was scared of messing up my very expensive fabric and making something that did not fit. So long as the item was big it would fit. Actually, most of my early fabric was cheap rubbish but it was what I could get hold of and to be fair it was really good for practicing until I got good enough to spend more on my fabric. I still by cheap, don't  get me wrong, but nowadays I also buy "nice". If its cheap then great but if not I will probably still buy it if I can.

2) I wanted to blog so much I did not care if I never made things fit so long as I had a post to write about. Yes agreed that is sad. But honesty  means I have to admit that and I may as well be open with it rather than just saying it to myself. Well things have changed. Now I would rather do less blog posts and make things that are really nice.

So the last few weeks have been taken up re-making things. There is still a lot left I need to deal with but I am getting there and I have lots of well fitting clothes to wear now. And my wardrobe feels really nice ( although still somewhat over full!) 

Anyway the reason for my silence with blogging is I spent a quite a few days recently remaking these old clothes and now at last they all fit. Three things I have remade are these leggings, skulls, camo and steam punk patterned - see above links. I will not waste your time or mine doing before or after pictures at least not until next Me-Made-May when I may get round to that. For now suffice it to say these now all fit and I also chopped off the ruched ankles as well because they are harder to wear. Having re-made these leggings I now also know what size actually fits and where I need to adjust the pattern - for example the ankles are just baggy on the pattern and I want proper leggings with tight fitting ankles. 

The size problem was also compounded by my losing weight. I went down a dress size by accident. This meant my leggings were 2-3 sizes too big for me so that made it all even worse. 

I then decided to buy some ( quite expensive at £8.95/m) new active wear (wicking) fabric which is 4-way stretch. Although from what I have read although sellers say ts 4-way really what they mean is 2-way. But thats a rant for another time. Look it up if this interests you. But now I have sorted it and made some new leggings as well. I have a better wardrobe leggings wise than I have had for around 30 years I think. Sometimes you need to just step back from blogging and think about what exactly you are really trying to achieve. 

I love blogging and connecting with other sewers/ sewists but really I want to make nice clothing I like and want to wear and not just to make clothing.

I have cut 4 new pairs of leggings and I am very excited to be able to show you this first pair. Its actually the second pair I have sewn up but I have not yet worn the other pair so today is the first time wearing these and yes they feel good and I am really very happy with the fit. There is a snag though if you look at the back waistband right at the end of sewing I got a tuck. 

I considered unpicking and redoing but decided no its really not worth the effort since its likely only me will ever notice and I also run the risk of making a hole in my lovely leggings when unpicking them so this is staying. 

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for popping by my blog. 

Take care

Bracken