Dragon scale trousers to go with my hoody

 

Well I knew when I made my dragon scale hoody that I would also make these track pants but to be honest I suspect its going to just be far to OTT even for me on an outrageous day to wear them together. Maybe in winter as PJs but not I think out and about. 

The outfit with the matching hoody is just too much. I might handle them worn together on a holiday when as they say "anything goes when know one knows your name"😀.

These are the Lekala Track (Sports trousers) pants pattern, but I got rid of the side splits at the hems, where the pattern used doubled fabric. I did not like that when I did make them on my original version of these.  Can't believe I made them right back in 2015! 

The fabric is just too thick and cumbersome round the ankles in that design so I changed that on my second version and every subesquent version and it was a good alteration to make. So long ago now I doubled over the hems part and taped it to the bottom of the trouser legs and have used the pattern like that ever since.  Really I should probably trace around it and make a new pattern and I will one day when the current downloaded pattern starts to disintegrate. Right now its a lazy option but works a treat.

Of course ankle splits in trousers have come back into fashion again so you could do worse than to use this pattern for making trousers with them because in a nice lightweight fabric they would give a good finish but I tend to make heavier weight trousers from the pattern which is why they were to bulky round the ankles with doubled over fabric. If I was to make ankle splits I would just have the single layer there anyway and leave the side seams undone and hemmed with splits, Anyway, this is the version I like to make.

This is one of my TNT patterns and no mistake. The fact it was, when I got it, also a free pattern, really does make this a great pattern to own. Lekala don't give as much away these days. I just wish I had downloaded more when they did. But still this pattern is really good for me personally and its definitely been well used. I suppose because Lekala are now known to make good patterns that fit, so people just go there anyway and they don't need to give so much away.   I would recommend this pattern for a basic pair of track pants even now you have to pay for it. This and the other free pattern I keep using for yoga pants are my staples for sports trousers - and leggings as well of course.

 

I have no idea what number this pair is now. I have made so many of these. I even made two pairs in grey glittery fabric and have at least enough recently bought similar fabric for another couple of grey glitter pairs. Though my newest tracksuit fabric is a darker grey than the original glitter pants were. I plan to make them when winter is a bit closer. 

The difference between this pair and the red camo ones I made recently is in the hems. In the case of this pair I just sewed round the edge to stop them coming undone on the side seams, and left the hem edge raw. It kind of feels more "beachy" if beachy is a word.

I did similar on my camo version which are now very old and pilly though still worn for gardening and decorating, and anything dirty. In that case though I added a second layer at the hem and sewed a strip of fabric round the bottom meaning there were two layers of raw edges. I made two identical pairs of the green camo ones as well.

I reckon maybe that hem looks better? I still haven't decided on that score as yet.

They are worn here with a black ribbed top McCalls top and my white fleece. I reality both work better than my dragon scale top which matches fabric-wise but the overall effect is just a bit too much for me. 

Ah and yes, hair colour is "Electric Mango" . It has not quite covered all the blue streaks up as yet and I am still getting used to my reflection in the mirror, but so far so good.

Have a great weekend

Bracken

Red camo trousers

I have been really busy the last week and signed up to a new fitness course which took far more time up than the actual attendance at the course. Never mind, though it has made me much later getting round to posting on the blog.

Ah and I changed my hair colour though not too sure about this right now. I am still getting used to it. Worn with a similar coloured (and me made) tartan hair band its been a good change I think. I really like this hair band with my new hair!

Not sure how long I will keep this though, the hair that is, because its a semi-permanent so is already washing out. Top is indigo and underneath supposedly bright pink but I did not bleach my hair first so its all over natural blonde. The end result is a kind of burgundy colour underneath.

 

OK so about my trousers: I decided the last few items I made in velvet should be the last for a while because its all getting a bit same-ey. That is both my blogging, and also my wardrobe variety.

 I do love velvet clothing, but it has some downsides. Well also some upsides in that its warm and cozy in wet, rainy Britain. But the downsides - well its not a good fabric under things like fleece or knitted jumpers. It tends to move up or down and twist about if you wear under fleece making it uncomfortable so its a great fabric in winter ( in the house) when you tend to stay at home more and hiberate and maybe have a fire going, read a book or knit and snuggle under a blanket, so its nice and cozy to wear - hence also velvet is great for lounge wear. But velvet when worn in winter under fleece which I really do need when its cold, is not so good and not really comfortable. Now its spring I want to go out more so I am wearing fleece quite a bit and fleece lined jackets when its really wet and nasty. So velvet is really not working well right now.

Velvet though is also good when its just a bit warmer because you can get away with no jacket when with other fabrics like cotton jersey, you need one, but then once the summer hits and the hot weather its only good in the UK for evenings. But now I have loads of choices. Its getting now so that I have velvet tops, trousers, velvet dresses, sweatshirts etc and little else. So its time I start to make some "spring"clothing. And time I use different fabrics - like cotton.

 

A while back - I think January or February - I bought a pile of cotton french terry fabrics. All Oketex as well so will be nice to wear and I can use the small offcuts for baby clothes - a project in the back of my mind only at the moment, but still there in my thoughts. And a great use of smaller bits of fabric which I tend to store for ages usually and thats not good from a stashing view point. I am still trying to reduce my stash despite the recent purchase of these french terry fabrics.

Ok so not a new pattern but very much a Tried 'n' Tested (TNT) one - the Lekala Sports Trousers. I made several items recently using this pattern ( glitter sweatshirt trousers, christmas red furry trousers etc etc - I could list loads but you would probably find them a bit boring really cos they are pretty much all the same), and actually the very first clothing item I ever made using an overlocker used this pattern so I really love this pattern. Its not super fashionable but for some reason these are my track pants of choice - again and again - and again!

The red camo is about £8:50 a meter from Pound Fabrics in the UK which is about half the usual price I think and its very good quality. I have added the link incase you want to check it out. No I am not affiliated in any way with them. Just think they are a good supplier and reliable and so far have not ripped me off which is something I cannot say about their nearest UK rivals. Last time I looked they still stocked it. Its actually about a third of the price of similar (identical?) fabric in my local Arts and Crafts shop!

Its a loop back, not a fleece back, so is a good lighter weight french terry and I like it so much I bought an extra 2m of this in fact to make a hoody for my partner. Its exactly the sort of fabic he likes for tops. We will just have to be a bit careful who wears what and when because I do not go in for that "His and Hers" look and even if mine are trousers and his a top I prefer to wear something different to him.

Here I am also wearing my black lacey top made using a My Image pattern. I really want to try a few more My Image patterns. They are Dutch and produce a magazine similar to Burda.

Also my blue furry hoody

So these are the photos: 

I am also making another pair or maybe even two pairs of these trousers out of french terry - different patterns though. But bearing in mind my problems getting motivated with sewing which has been an ongoing problem since December, this week has really perked me up. Maybe its doing some exercise? Not sure. Maybe its just that the weather has been nice and my sewing room is based in a conservatory so its very cold when the weather is cold and hot when its hot etc. But personally I like hot.

Also, I think the change of fabric has also helped me to get my sewing mojo back, which is a bonus. And with a bit of luck I should carry on sewing steadily now, and maybe make a few items for this spring. I really want to cross off a few "wishes" from the new year wish list  as well over the next few weeks. I have actually got round to cutting some of these wish list items out this weekend too. Just need to get round to the actual sewing up bit, which is often the harder bit to actually do I find. I have lots of cut out garments still stored in plastic sandwich bags in my stash and some have been there years now.

 

Have a great week won't you and hopefully see you back here sometime next week,

Take care

Bracken

Black and leopard velvet Lekala loungewear

 

OK so another pair of Lekala Sports Trousers made from left over black lycra velvet from other projects. Two different black velvets in this case but you can't tell.

The pockets are made from bits left over from my top. I still have the top though do not seem to wear it any more.

 

 Its not well made being one of my oldest me-made items. I made it before I understood how much different fabric influences the design. I used the very soft cosy leopard print on the front and a stiff ribbing on the back. At that time I was rubbish at unpicking overlocking and used to just cut things appart which of course made them smaller when resewing so I left this top alone but its never been very comfortable. Despite that I still own it because I like the designand for the time I made it it was one of my best makes ever. Time changes how you see things so much!

I am going to see what small offcuts I have in my stash now and change the back panel -so remake it so that I like to wear it. It will fit in very well with the other velvet loungewear I have been making. An amazing thing about blogging is when you look back at things like this you realise stuff - like how I can resurrect this top. 

 I also made a top and skirt and some yoga pants that I still wear.  The leopard print is more stretchy than the black. I do not think the leopard is a lycra velvet. Just polyester I think so does not have good recovery. It will work fine for pockets and waistband.

These are just comfy track pants. Nothing special other than I used velvet for them. Worn with another basic - albeit also in velvet - my cream top. I do not seem to have ever mentioned this top on the blog before. I think the pattern is Burda's Lydia top but its been a while since I made this so it may not be. I made it from some real rubbish I bought from an online seller called Pound-a-Metre. I really would avoid this company if you come across them. For the start most fabric is not that cheap, it takes at least 3 weeks to arrive by which time they usually seem to have run out of what you paid for. They will not refund so you must choose from what they do have. Even when you get the right thing sent you its often damaged. The cream velvet I used for this top should have been white ( bought specifically for some colour blocking so it did matter to me that it was not white) it was damaged so a large part was thrown away, and was no cheaper really than some other discount fabric sellers who dispatch quickly and give you decent fabric and importantly, they send you what you order and do not miss-represent what they have to get you to buy it - eg say its lycra when its cheapo crap polyester velvet. I am currently buying for their competiter Pound Fabrics and from Minerva who of course are very reputeable. So far they (Pound Fabrics) have not managed to mess up 8 orders so doing well so far and you get it within 3 days to a week.

Anyway rant about fabric sellers over

Have a lovely day

Bracken

Orange tiger velvet track pants

 

These are my latest pair of TNT Lekala sports trousers. They are in real life orange not red as they seem to look on here. They are worn here on a very hot day with my ancient 1996 camo halter neck. I made a similar one recently by just drawing round the old tops and making a pattern - which worked as well ! and I intend to make several more because on a weekend when I do not have to work or represent the organisation I work for publicly I prefer to wear just these or similar cropped tops instead of bras and have done so since the early 80s. I never actually owned a proper bra until I decided at about age 46 I really ought to do so and I have to say life has never been so comfortable since. Tho I am respectable and toe the lie when I go to work. These old halter neks are really very pilly and old now tho and its time to make new ones. I have not found a good enough pattern anywhere so making my own is the best option. Tho I am making them a bit longer than the 90s ones. My body is not so toned as in my 20s and 30s and its best to cover me up these days.

I have to say they are wrong for the weather now its become hot. I made these to take to Scotland with me but never actually wore them. They are very warm being stretch lycra velvet ( from Minerva). I love this fabric so much I have bought some more to make a pair of leggings and I am hoping to be able to make some kind of top from the offcuts of the two items.

Below with my self dafted navy top - I need more of these as well. These are based on another 90s favourite top - the original OMEN tops. They were mesh - fishnet and a finer mesh and I loved them. I make these longer than the origial version too. Well maybe now the 90s are back in I can make both long and short versions. That will use more bits of fabric and ensure I can fit into the future fashions regardless of which way the world moves.

They are loud though!

No doubt about it.

The waist band is just elastic and the pockets have a black sports wear type of lycra polyester inside as lining. Nothing particularly outrageous about the making of  these other the the bright orange tiger print itself in fact. I have now made I think 6 pairs of these so I pretty much know what I am doing. Tho again I made them without the side splits. I have only ever made one pair like that. Its a bit too 90s, tho now the 90s are back it could be a look to make up. Not for this fabric tho!

The seams have a kind of white sheen on the pictures which does not show in real life. The backing is white and this is a print on velvet so I assume thats what causes that effect.

I am expecting these to become a very favourite pair of trousers though they may be slightly too bright for me when I am not feeling that confident. I had just 1.2m for these and they worked out fine. I think it was £6.99m which is reduced in their sale stuff if you want some of this fabric. Also with Minerva you can buy eg 1.2m or 1.6m whereas most online compaies you are stuck with a dead metre or half metre and that often means lots of wasteage if you cannot think of anything to make with the offcuts. Being the kind of person with a large stash I obviously keep all my offcuts and eventually I find a use but at a differnt time in my life that would not have been a posibility and I would have ended up chucking out the extra which would be a waste. I am sure thats what happens to lots of people.

Looks like we will not get to Step 3 in the UK - as in no more restrictions  and not wearing masks - for possibly another month by the sounds of it. We find out later this week I think. 

I have no idea about the rest of the world now we are sadly not European anymore and we seem to just not hear about other countries as much now in general - not just EU but everyone so stay safe everyone and take care of yourselves.

Bracken

Glittery grey track pants

I bought the fabric for these just after Christmas. Its actually the most expensive fabric I have bought to date. I paid £45 for 4m. This was the cheapest I have found and believe me I investigated this very well for about 3 weeks before buying. Its from here:

https://www.fabricsforall.co.uk/online-fabrics-store/Lurex-Sweatshirting-Grey-Marl-p248221045

By buying 4m I got free postage keeping the price right down. From the 4m I managed to very carefully cut the Lekala sports trousers and a Burda sweatshirt. Since I should have needed closer to 4.5m according to the instructions for these patterns I am very happy with myself though have had to use a contrast for the trouser pockets to achieve this. I had to use two different swimwear/ leggings fabrics because I cocked up at the start and sewed the pocket piece to my crotch seam meaning I cut off half the pocket lining - well a disaster believe me. And sad cos I ruined my bats fabric I had left over from my bikini.

Despite the odd inside pockets - one is camo and the other skulls - which I actually quite like - these are otherwise a big and I mean BIG success.

In case you have not noticed - because its really hard to see on the photos - these are GLITTERY! All over!

 So they are not really grey marl. They are glittery marl. Lovely!

I left the hems raw edged and long which I like but has meant I have ended up folding them up when dog walking over the fields else I get covered in mud. I usually add a second layer to my track hems like this:

This time I did not bother. They are simply a raw edge and I like it.

I nearly bought another colour of this fabric. I have seen similar from different sellers in several colours but this time I just wanted a very normal grey. I may have to buy some on payday in another colour to stash for next winter. Oh stashing again!

 

The trouble is the average going rate if you do not buy one of the 3 choices of colour from the seller I got this from is its about £18 per metre and then postage on top of that as well. So I am thinking I need to stick with the colours here - cream/ beige, grey or pale pink. The is a brighter pink available eslewhere and also ochre and orange, mint green and blue as well as navy. But I cannot afford them! There may not be any left by next year tho so seems sensible with this kind of special fabric to get some in stock ready. In a different colour though.

Oh yes and this is cotton and lycra so a bit different to the average sweatshirting and it does stay in shape - knees wise. I suppose being cotton this could be dyed so I might just buy the cheap colours and do that.

I washed the fabric before cutting out to ensure they did not shrink of course which is a good thing to do especially with very expensive fabric though I tend to do this with even the cheapo stuff. Its a pain but its worth it and hanging over doors ( which the other half moans like hell about ) keeps it flattish when drying or at least as flat and even, as I can not find anywhere to actually lay it down flat. Of course its hanging really cos on a door but at least its not all rucked up. 4m is a lot to dry as well. 

I was originally intending to use the same pattern as my recent black terry track pants. In fact I made the black track bottoms as a muslin for this fabric.

 

 Its a good thing I changed my mind because I would not have had enough to also make a top which I am going to do asap. I was reading an email from some fashion shop ( H&M or New Look?) and the new season looks are wider and more flared than my black closed ankle terry ones and I just decided to go with my much loved previous style from Lekala. I think it was a good idea. Though I think perhaps the Lekala are not as wide in the leg as some in the shops. But again I could not have also got a top cut from the 4m I had. I have to get that sewn up soon really I do. I want a tracksuit now.

Its a cop out I admit because I have made 4 pairs of these Lekala trousers before and I always love them though this time I finally taped the bottom bit of the pattern leg which is meant to be a seperate 90s style side split onto the bottom to make them a one piece leg, I have until now just pinned them together. 

 Well no I have made 5 pairs actually but 4 pairs of track pants. The others were just woven cotton and were rather boring and I no longer own them but the pattern is useable for ordinary work trousers too. 

If you want side splits you have to double the bottom panel to do this and have the right length because if you see my red pair this is what they are really meant to be like - sorry picture is rubbish but there are a bottom panel on the legs with side slits in the ankle which you can just about see and I expect is about to come back in fashion and that will make this a pattern worth owning again:

I realised when I first wore these I have not owned a pair of grey track pants since the mid eighties.

 

Of course these are glittery. The trousers are worn here with my red fluffy cable jumper.

 The only bad thing about making these is the fact I used the old Lekala pattern and did not follow my objective of using some of my newer ones. I have literally hundreds of patterns I have never used yet. Still its worth it to have an item of clothing I can truly say I love.

On to make the top part now to go with them. More on that asap.

Bracken