Trousers: Complete!

Look!  They're finished!  They fit and everything.  I had Simon snap a quick photo yesterday out in front or our building.

The finishing was really quite easy and I am going to make another pair of these in a more casual fabric.  Here are the pics of my finishing bits and bobs.

I made a button hole for for the waist band that goes on the inside and I sewed a button on the other side.  I decided to do the waist band closure with a hook instead of a button to give it a cleaner look. 

These guys are super cheap.  I found a pack of three for $1.97 at my local shop. 

Here's the waist band closure all sewn and ready to go .  

I admit I'm shore and I had to take the hem up a good 3 1/2 inches.  This was also taking the fact I would wear these pants with heels.  

Hem done.  Now I just need a great excuse to wear these out on the town. 

Trousers: The Waist Band

I am in the home stretch of my latest sewing project.  All the major elements are complete and so far they look like the picture.  I spent the last few days sewing in the zipper and attaching the waist band.  Here's what that looked like:

Sewing the pieces together was easy peasy.

This is where is got a bit harder mostly because there was a slight curve to the edge of the pattern pieces.

All sewn on, now it was time to attach the lining piece.

I am not sold on the way the pattern has you construct the waist band.  Next time I make this patter (and oh yes, there is going to be a next time, I've already purchased the fabric) I'm going to do this very differently.

Top pinned together ready for top stitching.  This was the part of the directions I would have done differently.  I would change how you start and end sewing the waist band to the pants, but I think the way I want to do it will be easier and create a cleaner line.  Mostly I would sew the top of the outer pieces and the lining together and then stitch the top piece to the pants.  Then I would attach the lining to the pants either by hand or with a top stitch.

There it is all top stitched, and pressed, now all I have to do is the finishing bits.
Here's that list:
-sew button holes in waist band
-sew buttons on waist band
-sew buttons on back flaps
-hem

Not too shabby I think these are going to be completed right on schedule.

Trousers: The Zipper!

Yesterday I sat down and started to set in this zipper.  This was the step in sewing these pants that I was most worried about.  A zipper?! In pants?! This seemed to me like the hardest bit of sewing I would ever do.  Of course this is how I felt about sleeves and button holes and I've completed projects with both of those.

I had to read and re-read and go over the directions for the zipper a bunch of times.  The first few times it made no sense, but slowly it started to come together.  By the tenth time I had ready the instructions I finally understood what I needed to do.  Although I was still skeptical that I knew what I was doing.

one side all sewn in 

getting ready to sew in the other side

Once I had completes this I felt that I had conquered a giant hurdle in sewing.  Pants and a zipper seemed to me like a huge, huge feat of sewing skill.  I say celebrate the small things, and for damn sure I'm celebrating this one. 

Finished! (Well The zipper at least)

Trousers: Sewing the Easy Bits

I've made head way on my Janina trousers and so far they are pretty simple to put together.  I say this knowing that the dreaded zipper is coming up in the next session of sewing.  Here is my progress in a series of photos.

Laying out all the pieces to be cut out.  There is just under a yard of fabric left after all the pattern pieces were cut out. 

All my pieces ready to go. 

Back darts sewn and faux pocket flap, top stitched, button holed, and sewn to the back pieces. 

I picked these buttons from my notion stash for the flaps.  I'll sew them on last. 

Pocket top stitches and hip yoke pinned in place.  These pockets were very easy to sew.  

Wrong side of the trouser with all the basting stitching done.  Soon it will be time to sew the zipper in, ack!

One of the inside seams, this is where I left off.  The next steps are to finish the seam allowances, sew the inside seam, and the crotch seam and then it's on to the zipper.  I will take detailed photos and notes when it comes to sewing that zipper in.  So far so good, this pattern is coming together nicely and is pretty easy. 

Trousers: The Fabric

I found the fabric for my Janina trousers.  I found this great wool suiting at the Pennsylvania Fabric Outlet.  It was originally $15 a yarn, but they were selling it for half that price so I got two yards.  I am really in love with this fabric it has a great drape and is going to make stellar pants.

It's hard to tell in my photo's, but the fabric is a subtle plaid.  It's woven with white, gray and light lavender threads.  It was a great find at the fabric store.  Now I just have to cut out the pattern and get sewing. I'm hoping to have these completed by the end of February.   

Trousers

Burda Style Janina

I'm taking the plunge, Trousers.  That's it, it's decided the next project is going to be a pair of trousers.  The ones pictured above actually.  This is going to be a huge learning experience for me and fingers crossed a great wardrobe staple once complete.

The pattern in the photo is Burda Style's Janina.  The pattern has been sitting in my account for ages (almost a year), it's not a free patter, but it's only $3.00.  Some of completed projects on the pattern page are awesome, and the construction looks pretty straight forward.  The only cause for concern is the zipper, I've never made anything with a front lapped zipper.  Guess it's time to stop fretting and just do it.