Ta-Da!

I finished my BWOF shorts #120 from the new July issue this evening. While they turned out really cute, I also think they look a little "happy hands at home-ish". Especially the waist belt. My tubes turned badly and I apparently don't know how to make a nice straight line and corner. And the front carriers look crappy. But with the whining done, it's time to talk about this pattern. While they were quite putzy - as I have said before, they're really cute and very comfortable. I wore them around a bit after taking the pictures, and was thrilled. (And no, I'm STILL not wearing any shoes and NO I would not wear them with this shirt, but I wanted to get the pictures done.) This is truly a case of the beauty being in the details. The waist belt makes them very comfortable, as you can adjust them for that extra scoop of soft serve. I found some vest buckles that did nicely for them. The teeth hold them in place (you can see it on the picture above of the back). These fit right at my waist (meaning the belt is ON my waist, so the top of the shorts extends a little higher), and I like that. My legs are short and this is a good look for me. They're a little shorter than I usually wear, but I'm not sure that's bad. I think most of my RTW are too long - hitting me mid knee. Though if I make these again I'll probably make them a little longer - or just leave off the cuffs and hem them longer. I made these straight off the pattern (um, well except the waist extension, I'll , um, discuss in a minute). I left my messy haired head on the picture for a better proportional look. There is no real waist band, just the belt, and it is just faced; fly front and one button.

Now, for the "things I did wrong" or "why these were so putzy" or "what took me so freakin' long to make a pair of shorts for cryin' out loud".

1. Failed to mark where to attach the belt on the back. Made the darts, realized I missed the belt. Ripped out the darts, put the belt in, realized I'd put them in the wrong place (the missed mark - I put the top of the belt on the bottom mark), ripped them out again and re-applied.

2. Forgot to interface the waist facing. Just plain forgot. I washed them mid-way through sewing (um, had to get a little blood out, yuck) and realized my error when they came out of the dryer.

3. My zipper broke. Yep. Broke. The pull slipped right off the top. After I'd attached the waist facing and done my buttonhole. Had to find a new one and force it in to the partially finished pants.

4. I had to put the buttonhole in 4 (or 5???) times. First one didn't work well - I think it got hung up on the inside of the waist even with my stabilizer. The rest were never in the right spot. It needed to be pretty close to the edge and I was a slow learner. Good thing I got that ergonomic seam ripper. And that I waited until the end to cut the buttonhole.

5. Had to put the button on 3 times. See #4, plus one bad experience with a new foot.

6. I changed my mind about making the pockets out of the same fabric, so I re-cut them out of some stretch white shirting fabric - much ligher weight so not as bulky and no show through

7. And finally the waist band and my inability to comprehend BWOF directions and to follow directions, in general. I cut, but didn't know what a "left underlap piece" was. What was I underlapping? I decided it may be an extention of the left fly to be sure the topstitching catches it. And that's what I used it for. Nope. Wrong. And I'm probably the last soul sewing to realize that it is an extension for the waistband to provide enough fabric to sew the button on UNDERLAPPING the front waist. Ya, it really IS JUST-THAT-SIMPLE. errrgg. Struggling with this took some real time, but the fly looks nice.

And now for a question. (or 2 - my blog, I can ask if I want to). I'd like to add a couple of bar tacks. Specifically at the bottom of the in seam pockets. How long should I make them and where specifically do I place them? And I think my belt carriers would look better bar tacked on. Not needed for strength, but I think they'd look less Becky Homecky.

AND - how do I get my tubes to look nicer? straighter edges and crisper corners? I'm not happy with the belt, Becky H!

I'll do a review on PR in the next couple of days. It may not be tomorrow - it's a busy day, but I'll get it there.

Next up are the pants from BWOF May 2009 #111. Burda still hasn't added May to the archive list, so no pictures yet. But it's a waistband-free trouser with a single welt front pocket. A couple of posts below I mentioned I'd traced out the pattern, but didn't have enough fabric. A trip to G Street cured that and I will be using thislinen-look without the wrinkle factor from the THE WALL. I have 3 yards (one was free so she didn't have to cut and put back a one yard remnant), so I should have plenty.

Here's the whole haul: I want to make some Capri's from the brown linen (REAL linen, wrinkles and all) that I paid a real price for. The swirls will probably become another BWOF blouse from last October's issue. And I just L-O-V-E-D! the green cotton. It's a quilting cotton with a border print that I think is just beautiful. It was on their display - so I switched it out for a different color-way. Maybe a dress? Not sure - it needs to age a bit, I think.

And I used my blind hem foot on the shorts. Truly, my friend, it is a work of wonder for all! Good night.