I eventually stopped moping and started swatting up instead, watching and reading loads of online tutorials. I was still faced with lack of funds for materials, combined with complete bemusement as to what fabric to buy for the projects I want to do. This however was soon remedied by a mysterious package from the eastern block – inside which I discovered my crafty god mother had sent me a selection of Jersey and Ribbing fabric, a Jersey needle and some ribbon.
So I dug out my Ottobre magazine, which I had subscribed to months ago but hadn't been able to find the correct fabric for any of the projects, and picked the easiest of projects to start with – the Harem Pants!
I am so so pleased with these pants! They are my best project so far, and its all because of all the learning I've been doing over the last few weeks. The instructions are really difficult to follow, saying things as basic as “gather the pant legs with clear elastic” with no further advice on exactly how to go about this. I only made one mistake, which was not adding the seam allowance (I misunderstood when it said “hem allowance is included”), but luckily I had gone for a size up anyway and they fit just fine!
(above left, the pattern sheet! Baffling! Right, work in progress)
The pants are so comfy for Wesley and absolutely perfect to fit over his cloth nappies, and the tight ankles are perfect for him to practice his latest skill – 'toddling'! He took his first steps about 5 weeks ago, and he is now on his feet 85% of the time! Its such fun! He walks around with both arms in the air and pointing with both hands, its very funny!
Finally, and sorry its a long one this week, I am still feeling a little depressed about the availability of decent fabrics in the UK. All the designs in the Ottobre magazine are made up with the funkiest nice thick Jersey and nearly all use ribbing, which is hard to get here in basic red, blue, black, but absolutely impossible to get in any slightly more interesting colours! I think these pants look and feel so professional because of the great fabric my sister sent me from Germany – thank you Beccy!
