Crazy Flowered pants: burda pencil pant pattern

This is my first attempt at pants! Like REAL pants. Those with zippers and not yoga pants or lounge pants. Zippers are a challenge for me. Unless they are invisible zippers, which I can add in like 30 seconds with my eyes closed. So when Burda offered this pattern kit last October, I splurged since there were videos on how to sew the zipper. Which truly is what I need. I thought these pants had potential. So as a trial I opted for this thin sort of satiny material. I just had enough of it.

This was my first time with a Burda pattern. Many burda patterns are downloadable and you have to print it out on A4 PAPER. Which is really, really important. AND really hard to find. I purchased mine from Amazon. It was something I could not just walk into a store and buy a ream. But I printed my pattern and was good to go! Things matched up. But then I had to add seam allowance (GRRRRR). That took awhile. next time I am just going to rig up a colored pencil/marker deal. This took a long time and it shouldn't After I got that figured out I used their video tutorial and their step by step directions. Which were ok to follow. You need to be well versed in sewing patterns to do Burda patterns.

Here are some shots while I was doing the zipper etc.

How nice is that zipper!!!!! Ekkk!  There were times like in the inner fly that parts really needed to be serged.

Here are my done pants!! They completely fit in my wonderful hips and butt.

Yeah needs long shirt or else WOW I look really super hippy. 

Kind of crazy fabric I know. But for a first try I really did like this pattern (not fabric pattern). I did take some in on the legs but due to the fabric they might not take to much more taking in- I needed some ease for walking, squatting, etc. I like my funky pants. These will be perfect in the summer time. Can't wait to style it, again I would love another sleeveless drapey long top  just like those tribal pants I made.

So my assessment of the Burda Kit. This was an odd kit as there was also tutorials and the pattern had added a leather knee patch. But there is no picture of the pants look with the knee patch. I mean what they advertise are those cute flowered pants. There is no end picture of the pants that they sew in the videos. In the leather knee tutorial, the person had no idea about sewing leather correctly. Yes having a leather needle helps BUT...... you really should be sewing with a teflon foot or do the masking tape on your sewing foot trick to actually help the sewing. How do the people at Burda NOT know this??? Seriously, this is all they are about- how do you make a tutorial and completely leave out the foot? That was a bit disappointing. Some of the instructions were hard to follow. The styling file I could do without. But the zipper video was priceless. I feel much more comfortable (or I think I do) with sewing pants with zippers. I do like this pattern, I did add 2 inches to the bottom of the legs and did a small hem. I think with some modifications, I can make it even better. Overall pretty happy!!

Cheers,
Lauren

GF cooking: meatloaf cupcake

Another recipe down the hatch. Different gluten book- the Gluten Free Bible.

I wanted to try their meatloaf cupcakes. They looked so great! It is a meaty bottom and the icing on the "cupcake" is mashed potatoes. 

Ingredients:

1.5 ground beef 

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/3 rice chex

1 egg

2 tbp rosemary

1. I combined everything in a bowl. 

2. Trasnferred to cupcake holders and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Ensuring they are properly cooked.

3. Err this is what they looked like super greasy and it disformed the liners. They were soaking wet.

4. OMG just full of fat!!!

This recipe should have called  extra lean beef. I used 80/20 and it was too much fat. I just used instant mashed potatoes to make my icing. I sprinkled it with cheddar cheese. The taste was nice, but a bit bland for me. My boyfriend did like that it was different. I liked the concept. I may do this again but change the seasoning. 

As use less fat!!! But nice for a quick bite to eat. Yup he could pop an entire one in his mouth. Meat and potatoes. Every man's dreams. LOL

Cheers,
Lauren

Large Striped Sweater Refashion, Refashion #9

OMG I am so excited about this refashion. I can't take credit for it much but it is such a great idea!!

First started with this large knit sweater. It was large but man just love that pink and navy blue stripes! But what was odd about this shirt was the sleeves were tight starting mid arm. Which if this top was for a larger lady how could they get their arms in this. They just fit MY bony arms.

 After seeing this post from Oh Everything Handmade. She turned a sweater into an open front cardigan. After seeing this tutorial I KNEW I HAD TO DO THIS AND THIS WAS THE PERFECT TOP TO DO THIS!

I basically followed her tutorial. Basically take off the sleeves, sew across the top to create the back, created arm holes. I evened out the new top and bottom of the cardigan.

Now I serged the top and bottom but as you can see, since I have a thinner knit-if I don't have the right setting on my serger I was going to have lettuce ripples. I added some iron on tear-away interfacing to stabilize the fabric while I serged it. As a result, I had a nice even edge. That made me very happy. 

I then sewed the 10 cm on each side to create the shoulder seams but while doing that I also added stabilizer to prevent it from sagging. Again it was a thin knit, it will pull over time with the weight. 

Then I added my sleeves, which I didn't have to alter, I would say if you are working with a thin knit that you should probably do some stay stitches before you add the sleeves. That would have helped me b/c it STRETCHED. But boom! I am done! I know have a fabulous new open front cardigan. Giddy!!!

OMG what an improvement! And thank you to Oh Everything Handmade for such a fabulous tutorial for this refashions! I even tried a belt . 

91 left to go (not that I am counting!)

Cheers,
Lauren

February Sewing Plans

This February my sewing plans are the following. I am very excited.

1. Butterick 5599 crossed dress by Suzi Chin. This pattern is crazy as it has a LOT of pattern pieces and that translates to a bunch of fabric pieces. I just cut it the other day. And just WOW!!!

2. Snowflake dress using Vogue 1315.

Using this fabric. 

3. Then hopefully tackle a fun drapey top with a bow tie at the neck. This will be perfect for work.

Maybe I'll get another snow day. :)

Cheers,
Lauren

A Ralph Lauren Skirt gets a makeover, refashion #8

Found this lovely Ralph Lauren skirt (with pockets!). It fit perfectly. But it is just sooo long.

And bland... 

This is an easy fix.

I marked off where I wanted the new skirt to fall. Drew a line with white chalk.
Cut off!
Open up the walking pleat with the lining.
I serged the skirt and the lining so no frays.
Fold up, iron, and sew my new hem. I made sure that the pleat (that is the wrong word!!) fold back over for a nice clean finish!

Done!

This skirt has so many possibilities. I am excited with this simple refashion! It really looks great on! And I have  a functional walking pleat!

Cheers, (91 left!)
Lauren

Bellydance DVD Review: Zoe Jakes and Issam Drum Solo Choreography

Yeah another DVD done! Again to say warm, even with the heat on here - it is so cold!!

Ah, Zoe Jakes, a phenomenal dancer, many of our girl crushes. I finally decided to do this DVD. This is a tribal drum solo DVD with Issam, a phenomenal drummer. Now I will say this, there is no music you can buy for this choreography (unless correct me if I am wrong) so unless you have a drummer, performing may be a bit of a challenge.

The introduction is absolutely hilarious. Zoe introduces the DVD because you know, "she's seen you all over Youtube". Then there is a warm up with a voice over. My only critique of the warmup is she didn't do both sides on some of the moves. Then Issam introduces how he speaks about the drum beats.

Next, there are 8 sections where she breaks down the choreography with the different rhythm for that particular section. It was good b/c it helps me understand as a dancer the beats I need to accent. Then all sections are the total choreography, which she just makes me crack up. It is always good to laugh while someone really makes your head hurt.

So the critique of the DVD. These sections really need more drilling. Like a solid run through of each part. At times it is just like she just explains the choreo straight through. A review at the end would be really helpful in learning it. Also I got really confused with the direction and what side I was supposed to use. I really wish she would have just stayed facing the mirror and talked while she danced. I got soooo confused.

This is definitely a keeper. Recommend for the intermediate and advanced dancers. If I can master this DVD choreography, it would be awesome. Zoe Jakes has the knack for making my dance brain hurt.

Cheers,
Lauren

Pattern Retry- Crazy tribal pants

I promise you this will be the last (well, never say never right?) project with this tribal fabric. I promise it like multiplied.

Let's revisit those glorified PJ pants....

Using the simplicity 1663 pattern. 

After I knew that the size that I cut was way too big, I decided to cut off some of the excess fabric before I sew it. This fabric is a thin drapey knit so if I would have sewed the pattern as is with this drapey knit it would be a HOT MESS. Time to modify, I took 2-3 inches off the top waist line. Then I took 1.5 inches off each side and inner portions of the pants. Let's attempt to do math..... so 3 inches removed from each pant part!!! Then I sewed- a really easy sew.

Now the pants fit and are much more like the picture on the pattern. Now I just need to make myself a nice drapey sleeveless top to go with these bad boys and I'd be super happy.

I definitely want to get a longer shirt, this pattern is crazy and I need a longer shirt to kind of hit more in the hip area to help elongate my figure. It can easily go hippy on me. But all my sleeveless tops are packed up. Will have to dig when things warm up around here. Oh also I did not hem the bottom pants as they are a knit and won't fray. Since the fabric is a knit and the pants are tight and stretch it does raise the length. No big deal. THIS is what I anticipated to get in the first run. 6+ inches later- I finally got it!!

For fun lets recap all what I have made with this fabric..
Halter Dress

Ruched Skirt

And now pants!!

There is still more fabric left but not much. I am trying to come up with idea what to do. Charity sewing? Tho I think the fabric is too crazy to give to charity for babies. Panties? Maybe a bralet? I'll let it simmer. Onward to my next projects!!! :)

Cheers,
Lauren