Monday, April 1, 2013

Mom in Butterick 5895


Readers, I'm back! It was so nice taking time to visit my family. While I was in Arizona, Mom and I turned her kitchen into a sewing room. She loves the capri pants in my new Butterick pattern, so I whipped her up a pair! It's worth noting that Mom keeps my patterns and books on a "shrine" in her entryway, but has never actually wanted to wear one of my designs (not her style, which I totally understand), so this was big. 

I brought plum colored stretch denim from B&J specifically for the project.

Doesn't it have a nice sheen to it?

After making some fit adjustments to the waist and hips of the pattern (by measuring a pair of store bought jeans in mom's wardrobe), I followed the construction pretty closely--except for the waistband. Mom tends to wear hip-length shirts over jeans, so the waistband wouldn't have shown. So I added a grosgrain ribbon facing instead.

It's fun seeing the pattern in a Southwest casual vibe!

(Incidentally, after I left, my poor mother fell while hiking and broke her ankle in two places. She is confined to her bed for now, so here's hoping she stays sane and gets better soon.)

I also worked on some adorable little sundresses for my adorable little niece.


And I knit Jeff a sweater. Here's the "hey, I finished your sweater!" picture I texted to him. This is about as adventurous as he gets in sweater design.

Wow--just look at all that selfless crafting! I really am a saint, I know. Today I'm back to sewing size 2 samples for Butterick. But have a wedding coming up in three weeks and I am determined to make myself Butterick 5882 for the occasion. More on that (plus the promised FBA post, I swear) soon.

30 comments:

  1. The pants look lovely on your mom and tell her to get well soon :) That's adorable that she has a shrine to you - she's proud!! And she should be! Btw, I love those little sun dresses <3

    -Amy (www.thatssewamy.com)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Your poor Mom! And now she won't get to wear the pants til her cast is off. Glad you got to spend some time working on projects for your loved ones though - I bet there's a lot of good thoughts and love put in every stitch.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ouch! Two places?! I hope she gets to feeling better soon.

    Good job with the capris! They're super cute in plum; I love seeing variations like that =D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I loove those pants, good job! That fabric is gorgeous. I hope your mom heals quickly!

    ReplyDelete
  5. So glad that you had a nice (well deserved) family break! And your poor mom...but how cute is she in her B5895s?!
    Speaking of, I just purchased this pattern in preparation for spring/summer sewing and was wondering if you'd recommend making the pants in a non-stretch woven. The envelope says I can, but both pairs you've shown on the blog (your mom's and the original sample pair) have been in stretch denim. Thoughts?

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are a saint. I am glad you had a great time in Arizona. I just got back from visiting my family in Florida. It was so nice to see them but it was so nice to come back refreshed and start sewing again.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oooh. I hope your mom heals quickly and is able to get back to her displays of adoration. :-D The pants are fantastic, and those dresses are really adorable.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mom looks great. Yikes, I hope she heals quickly / well. Is the pooch part Chow? Glad you had a great time.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You seriously are a saint for sewing and knitting for other people. I am a selfish seamstress who does not sew for other people and who most definitely won't knit for others. That is very kind of you. I hope your Mom gets better and those pants look great on her.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yay great to see you back! You are such a saint! That was so nice of you...I tend to just sew for myself, too scared my work may not be good enough for others yet! I'm a chicken poo I know.
    Hope your Mom will be feeling better soon!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hope your mom feels better! The capris look great.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Good to have you back! and it's great to see the capri pants on a 'real girl' (thanks for sharing and hope your mom is back on her feet soon).

    ReplyDelete
  13. I hope your mom heals fast. I bought your capri pattern and can't wait to buy some fabric. I love the purple you made your mom because purple is my favorite color. I really need another khaki pair and this pattern will be perfect.

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a cute mom! Please let her know that your readers are sending healing thoughts and positive vibes.

    Next time when you're in Arizona, if you want to go digging for gold at SAS Fabrics with someone, give me a holler!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi there Gertie,
    Join in to say, Get well soon, to your lovely Mum. What bad luck!!

    Your lovely shelf dress pattern arrived on my doorstep a few days ago, so after finishing the latest project for my daughter, its the next thing on the list. Yes, I keep on making for her............my turn will come, but I keep on getting tempted away by lovely patterns!!

    Hope your DH is thrilled with his jumper.
    Take good care, Marysia.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow Gertie, you have been busy! I love all your latest makes and I hope your Mum is soon up and about again. If you are an active type, it's so tough being confined to bed!

    ReplyDelete
  17. It's so damn cute that your mum has a 'shrine' of your patterns! But I'm sorry to hear about her ankles :(

    ReplyDelete
  18. The pants looks great on her :)
    Excited to see your version of a 5882 for a wedding..need a wedding outfit for Nov and am still deciding on what pattern to use

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have pants-sewing-ophobia and I recently bought your pattern determined to get over myself! I'll be starting in the next couple of weeks!!! Cross your fingers for me :)

    ReplyDelete
  20. Your mum looks great in the capris.I am really impressed with the sweater. That is a lot of knitting for someone else - and on vacation.
    I'm making the blouse from the pattern for my daughter. All cut out with a few fitting changes.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can't wait to see your finished dress. I love the pattern and am thinking of making it for my daughter. Your mother is adorable in her capris. Get well wishes to her.

    Side note--the very first sweater I knitted for myself ended up belonging to my husband because I skipped that pesky find the correct gauge step. Lesson learned.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Everything you make is gorgeous, Gertie! Quick question - what pattern did you make for the little girl's dresses?

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh! I hope your mom is okay! Great sweater, and I love the pants. The little dresses are super cute.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Shirring hell! You should do a blog tutorial on shirring, I am always a bit confused by it!

    Bundana @
    http://www.bundana.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  25. those little dresses!! sooooo adorable! i'd wear them! :) p.s. i still cant figure shirring too!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the pants on Mom and the little sundresses are "sew" cute! And WOW! on the sweater!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love the pants u made your mom. Those r for me. Hooe your mom gets well soon. And the little sundresses love them.

    ReplyDelete
  28. As quick note about CHANGE in butterik 5895 and 5882 sizing, they are not doing the same size range as previous gertie designs. These new designs in smaller size are arranged as 4 to 12 rather than14. This is going to put some of us in a quandary, ESP if like me you are quite petite but curvy. My waist is 12 inches smaller than my hips so I fall between 12 and 14. So I just got this trouser pattern in 4 to 12 as most reviewers say it has a little too much hip ease. Having compared it to pair of pants I already wear I think this is true, therefore am happy that despite choosing a size below what the pack describes as my size, due to the ease it will work out OK.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Just found your great blog. What a find! Love the pants!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

© Gertie's Blog For Better Sewing. Powered by Cake