#MMMay16, Day 20, I feel very "punk" today!

 Today I decided to wear my lovely tartan leggings

10: Tartan leggings with both versions of my self drafted top together. 7: Dark navy top with a step by step tutorial guide to making
This top has exposed seams though you could wear it with them on the inside just as well but I like the slight punk feel to the exposed overlocked seams.

I am actually wearing two tops in different lengths both made from the same pattern and same material just the self-striped fabric has the stripes going in different directions on each top. It was just an experiment and until today I have never worn both at once but I like the effect so may well wear them like this again.

I feel very "punk" today!

Reggie-dog has photo-bombed me again! This dog just loves being photographed. Honestly he rushes in as soon as my partner gets the phone out and starts taking photos.

This outfit I really like. Should have tried this outfit sooner because I have been struggling a bit with #MMMay. Still thats the point isn't it?

Thanks for reading and see you soon.........

Bracken

Me-Made-May Challenge Day 1

Today is the first day of the ME MADE MAY challenge which I signed up to and here I am wearing my me-made tartan leggings - also found here:10: Tartan leggings
Me- made raglan sleeved top from free pattern - also found here:
25: Comparing the free raglan sleeved T shirt patterns available on the internet
and my Me-made hand knit slip-over made from vegan recycled silk sari-yarn I bought online from a seller in New Zealand. I searched and searched for this because most of this kind of yarn is actually made from proper silk. This is Rayon silk so synthetic and vegan. This was hard to knit because the yarn kepts falling appart whilst knitting. Also it occassionally still splits and falls appart whilst wearing so although its a lovely idea to recycle Saris like this it does not really work well and knitting this stuff is horrible. Thats why I never did sleeves. I still have some of this yarn left so may find a use for it eventually. Maybe the real silk stuff is better but somehow I think probably its exactly the same.

Good thing its a Sunday because I think this particular mix of clothing is a bit bright for my working life and having gone through my me-made stuff I am thinking I may have a bit of a problem with everyday clothing for this challenge since everything I make, just about, is bright and my bought RTW clothing is much more neutral and "boring"! Might end up mixing them together yet to get a wearable working outfit. Still onwards to the challenge............

Thanks for visiting my blog, Bracken

10: Tartan leggings

Tartan leggings for the theatre

This is View C of McCall's M6173 leggings pattern.

I bought this stretch tartan a few months ago now just because I liked it but with no real idea of what to make with it so it has just been sitting there waiting. Anyway tartan is kind of Christmasey and we were going to the theatre to see Vampomime which is an adult pantomime about vampires. It seemed a great time to experiment with this tartan. Its a synthetic stretch which I originally thought was just polyester but having worn these lots and no knees have appeared I think there must be some lycra in this fabric as well which is great because it was pretty cheap. Again from Weston fabrics on ebay.co.uk

There are no side seams since each leg is cut all as one piece which makes construction very quick and easy. The seams are overlocked and the hems are stitched using a twin needle. 

The pattern says view C does not have a waistband but without one they would have been low hipsters which I did not want. You are meant to just fold the top over and use elastic for the waist. I must be too long in the body anyway for this pattern.To make them work I used a piece of 3inch black elastic for the waistband. To attach it to the tartan I used a stretch zigzag stitch. Not the normal zigzag but one of those that is made up of lots of little stitches which makes it even more stretchy than normal zigzag. I stitched two rows of this stretch zigzag stitch just to make sure it didn't come off whilst wearing. 

 This view has very long legs which you could ruche but I have just left long and let them ruche naturally around my ankles. I very much like the long leg length though which I have never had on shop bought clothing. I am sure there is some abreviation to use here for reference to shop bought stuff but cannot remember it!
Anyway my idea about using a piece of black elastic for the wiastband is good and bad. Originally I left it full width and made a very high waisted pair of leggings. I didn't like them not being a fan of high waists. If you are a fan of a high waist it would be a great way to achieve this from a normal waist height legging pattern. Then I folded the elastic in. This does work. 

 

In fact I have previously owned trousers with this but to make it work you would need to top stitch it along the edge along the outside of the waistline to keep it in place. I then folded the elastic double and this I like so that is how I have left them. I am intending to make another pair of these because I have lived in them. Probably with a normal waoistband or maybe with a thinner 1 inch elastic one but not with the three inch elastic bacause although it ended up working perfectly I think there is a better way. I also almost managed to match the tartan. It is slightly out on the back but does work at the front so I am reasonably happy with that. The only problem I have is I wore them with a jacket that has velcro and it caused pilling on one hip but other than that I love these and the fabric I made them from.

Thanks for reading and hope to see you again soon

Bracken