Is It Just Me?

Or are too many people acting particularly stupid these days? I really don’t understand how you can ignore the practical, logical, sane, proven and functional and instead favour lies, magical thinking and complete bullshit. And although recently it seems like an American problem, there’s tentacles creeping into Canada here and I’m sure other countries as well. I don’t want anything to do with all that insanity. Not to mention stray viruses. I’m perfectly happy to stay home in my creative space and far away from the madding crowd. And may good sense finally prevail! That’s not more magical thinking, is it?

Moving right along. Once I got Janny, the Janome HD5000, back from the shop it suddenly got awfully crowded in my sewing space. With four machines now instead of two, I needed a different setup. I found the desk I wanted from IKEA (Linnmon/Alex) but of course thanks to everybody working from home, they were out of stock. So I waited and waited and finally was able to order it online and pick it up no-contact. And yes, it came completely unassembled so out came the hammer and screwdriver. The power drill with screwdriver bit was especially helpful because there were so many fricking screws!

Is it just me who finds this challenge rather satisfying? Like giant tinkertoys! Got her done eventually and it just fits in the available space.

The tabletop just sits on bumpers on the top of the drawer unit so it was easy to move the latter a little closer to the centre so I can access the electrical outlet on the left. It’s an inch taller than my older sewing table but not really an issue. Covyn, the Janome coverstitch machine just cosies up nicely next to the lip. I also had another go at reorganising my drawers too now that I have five more of them. It was a little tricky plugging everything in however especially since I wanted the Brother to have a surge protector for the electronics. (All the other machines are mechanical and not quite so vulnerable.) And in our old and inadequately wired house there’s only one outlet that everything can go into so I had to get a new power bar. But they’re all happy now.

Everybody has enough elbow room and I can scooch along them on my wheelie stool. Kinda fun! So what have I been making?

I think I missed a few items, such as the two pairs of pants I made for Thom.

This was a kind of Battle of the Chinos except that nobody really won! I made the first pair back in September, the brilliantly named Men’s Chino Pants from Wardrobe By Me, and managed to forget to blog them. The fabric is the same stretch denim in a faded black as my Popped Collar Vest that I did manage to blog about. (And that I’m currently wearing BTW!) The wee hint of stretch, recommended in the pattern, made these very comfortable with the result that he wears them often. I like the single welt back pockets and back darts instead of a back yoke.

I did not like the directions for the fly even after watching the video tutorial 3 times! Somehow, the results are dependent on the zipper tape width which doesn’t really work well since my zips seem to be wider than hers. I had the same issue with the WBM Cargo Shorts as well. Obviously I need to figure out a better way to sew this part. Also the front pocket bags didn’t line up with the fly the way it looked as if it should in the instructions. Ditto with the Cargo Shorts pockets not working out properly though I’ve since received updated pocket patterns for those from the company. Haven’t tested them yet. But I digress.

The second pattern is Thread Theory’s Jedediah Pants, also a slim-fitting chino trouser. These ones have a yoke back and jeans-style patch pockets.

I had a great time drawing up my own T design for the back pockets.

The fly instructions were nearly as impenetrable as the WBM Chinos but there’s also a video tutorial featuring a very nervous but adorable Morgan! The results seemed to go easier. Which was a good thing since the fabric that I used for these pants is totally weird. I thought at first it was a denim because it’s olive green on the right side and sand on the reverse. However it turns out that the green is some kind of coating that acts a little like wax canvas in that it develops a patina which you can see in the closeup. It machine washed and dried just fine however and the rather stiff hand didn’t change. It was difficult to stitch through and unpicking is impossible because every needle hole is permanent. Slight bits of the sand colour show through the seam edges. Notice how I’m not showing the insides! I couldn’t have sewn this without my heavy-duty Janome machine. I had to use a hammer to flatten the thickest sections of the waistband and belt loops but they sewed through okay. The buttonhole turned out pretty bad though when the buttonhole foot slipped and I had to pick it out twice. The swatch version was near perfect. Go figure. I used lots of fray check on it and hopefully it will hold up totally hidden under the button and the belt buckle!

Thom finds the Jeds just a smidgen tight at the waist even though it’s the same finished size as the WBM Chinos but that’s because of two things: some winter weight gain and the absolutely zero “give” that this coated fabric has. I have no idea how well it will wear or whether the seams will hold up over time. In a more forgiving fabric I would have let out the side seams and lengthened the waistband just a little but that’s not happening. Sometimes you just can’t tell the true fit until it’s all finished. He says they will be worn anyhow and maybe they’ll relax a wee bit. But for a wearable muslin they are just fine.

The true test will come when I go to make the next pair! Then I’ll leave it up to Thom to break the tie. They are similar but different. Both take nearly the same amounts of fabric. Neither one is really any more difficult to make (ahem…depending on sensible fabric choice). Which pattern will he choose?