I Done Did It

I know you've all been waiting with baited breath.  Where oh where can they be?

Did she do it yet?

Has she conquered the fleece?

Or did she get buried under bobbins and brown transfer paper?

I made it out alive.

For those of you new to this adventure, my SIL innocently asked me for a pair of pajama pants.  See here for why this is so humourous. 

But we made it out alive, old faithful and me.

Here are the pants, all nicely cut out and actually resembling pants.  Not to be fooled.  Not unlike so many other projects, the devil is in the details.

This is the, *ahem* crotch seam.  Nice and straight and even.  The beauty of fleece is that you don't need access to your mother's Serger to ensure the entire thing doesn't fray into a bazillion tiny threads over time.

Here is where I ran into the weensiest bit of a problem. 

See that seam on the left?  That's the centre front seam, running roughly from your waist to your navel. 

See that seam on the right?  That's the pocket. 

See a problem yet? 

As is, the pocket is now permanently affixed OUTSIDE the pants.  Great if you want to avoid collecting pocket lint, but not so great if you actually want to keep tissue in your pants to wipe your 3 year old's nose with.

Not that my SIL would ever do something like that.

See this gizmo?  For the uninitiated, it is a seam ripper.

And one of my very best sewing buddied.  This little blue handled wonder and I have spent many negatively productive hours together.

Now this?  This is much better.  We are all on side now.  All the raw seams are on the same page, er, fabric side.  Going to make carrying loose change to tip the pizza delivery guy so much easier.  Not that my SIL would be wearing these at an hour where she would be tipping a pizza delivery guy

And here they are, in all their glorious finishedness.  Inseams on both now measure 32".

Look at that nice hem.  So nice and even and straight.  Truly a thing of beauty.

And look at me gittin' all fancy with the waistband.  Stitching along the top to keep the elastic from rolling.

And for those of you who might be moderately concerned, I did remove that unsightly thread.  Couldn't have that showing if a UPS guy comes to the door just after lunch, now can we?  Not that SIL would be wearing these at a time of day when the UPS guy would be likely to show up.

And there they are.  A thing of beauty if I do say so myself.  Now here's hoping she doesn't come up with some crazy idea that she also wants a pair for Christmas.  With only 10 months to go, I am not sure I'd have enough time to get them done.

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I Done Did It

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And Again...

At Christmas, my SIL innocently requested a pair of pajama pants for her birthday.  There are a couple of things to note here:

1.  She obviously knows my tendency to 'get right on that project'.  This is evidenced by the fact that today, is in fact, her birthday.  Today is also the day I have finally started this project.  I cannot say she didn't give me ample warning

2.  My SIL loves these pants because I pre-shrink them.  As a woman with a 28" inseam, I cannot quite appreciate the dilemma of having a 32" inseam and being unable to find (and keep)pants that fit. However, my Goose has a 36" inseam, so I can sympathize.

So, today I finally got onto this project.  Not to be confused with a seamstress or anything any close, I offer you this evidence:

Please note very carefully the big, bold letters "very easy".  If it doesn't say this, I probably ain't doin' it.

I have been making her pants for a few years now (and just about everyone else on the planet who doesn't actually know what good sewing looks like".  However, I decided to take the bold move of using a new, more feminine pattern.  I had been using a unisex one, and decided it was time to branch out.

But not too far.  Let's not get too crazy here.

Out of the package of a bazillion pieces, I actually only need two pattern pieces.  I am planning on using the pockets from the other pattern here (whoa!) and meshing the two designs together.  Quick, call the fashion houses!  I'm on a roll.  Actually, I have to do that since I know she loves pockets in her pants and I was not astute enough to notice that this new pattern doesn't have pockets.  Doh!

Here is my faithful helper.  With snacks.  Always important.

For anyone who has ever tried to stuff a toy and it's packaging back into its box, or bedding back into its bag, I offer you proof that patterns are no different.  Seriously, who puts this stuff together, leprechauns?

This is the material I am going to use.  Take a good, hard look.  It may be the last time you see it look this beautiful.  I'll let you know how it all turns out.  In about 2 months.  When we finally get together to celebrate SIL's birthday, thus giving me lots of time to procrastinate on this project, too.

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And Again...

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