Shorts!!

I have been trying to charge ahead and sew projects and not worry too much about whether or not they are perfect. I have a tendency to overthink, to want to get everything just right, but that results in constantly running to the bookshelf or the Internet to look up a technique again, or no sewing happening at all because I don't feel confident, or never cutting into the "good" fabric because it might get ruined.

My new mantra - A completed article of clothing with some errors is GOOD. Can't be worse than ready-to-wear. (That is so true!)

So my latest project, nearly done, is a pair of shorts! The Sweet Shorts from Pattern Runway. I am making them in linen that I have had sitting around for a long time. At this point, they are done except for the hem bands. I made welt pockets! I put in an invisible zipper! I adjusted them to fit my shape! (Well, they have turned out a little big, but I tend to like my clothing loose anyways.) Here's a not-very-good photo. Feel free to gasp in awe at those awesome pockets! That clean finish!

(I'm going to have to work on my photo skills.) However, I am very proud of these shorts, and I hope I don't mess them up on this final step. I did manage to use the wrong pattern piece to make the welt pockets, cut the wrong pieces out for the front pockets several times, and sewed them together backwards - yet I didn't give up!

I have been trying to do a little sewing each evening after work. It means that I make more progress, and I feel more free to do something fun on a Saturday rather than wanting a block of time for creative projects. However, after a long day at work I am tired and fuzzy-headed, so I make a lot of mistakes and take a long time figuring out the instructions. And I pick out a lot of seams after sewing them wrong. These instructions were definitely not easy to follow, and I have now marked them up heavily for the next time I make some. The fit on these is fantastic, the styling is nice, and the pockets really work. I might make up another pair right away, while I still remember the details, and might follow the suggestion of another maker who was contemplating lengthening the legs to turn them into trousers.

The Helper Is At It Again

Guess who showed up in the midst of the latest sewing project?

Wouldn't you know, I set down the shorts for a few minutes only, and Sasha the cat had plenty of other comfy places to sleep, but she chose to stretch out right on top of my project! I decided that was my cue to take a break.

Hand Sewing Project Completed

The hand sewing project was completed. It took a long time, doing it bit by bit, but it was done a long time ago ... I just haven't been writing anything on this blog! So I think I have a lot of updates to share!

The Zebra! Isn't he cute?

Not my own design; I used the tutorial here: http://nuno-runo.blogspot.com/2010/04/zebra.html   I have an elephant in the works, but like the zebra, it is not moving along quickly. It would be done much faster if I just worked only on that project, but I always have to have about ten things going at once.