Making the Perfect Summer Pants: Vintage Pattern + Bamboo Fabric

While summer is technically a week away, the hot weather temperatures are already showing up around here and testing the limits of our pre-summer wardrobes.  It's time to sew for the season and I've just found a great combo - bamboo fabric + vintage pattern revamp!

Recently, I'd been a bit frustrated that my little lady had outgrown the go-to pants patterns I had.  I've got loads for knit leggings and baggy pajama bottoms in her size, but none with the perfect rise and cut for everyday wear in wovens.  I'm really particular about fit for pants and wanted to get sewing instead of spending time drafting, tweaking & testing. Sometimes you just want to start making something, right?

Then, serendipitously, while I was sifting through patterns I don't use - to thin things out - and I stumbled on this vintage pattern my mom had given me years back when she was purging her stash.  I'd never noticed that it wasn't just overalls & a jumper dress before.  It had pants too!!  It only includes size 6, which up to now had been too big for her, but is now ideal.  It's weird how back in the day patterns were available in just a single size!  I have seen some available on Etsy in case you want to grab one too.  These classic designs are still in style with the right fabric choices:

For fabric I was going to use up some quilting cotton, but then found this bamboo twill eco fabric my sister had gifted me with over a year ago (FYI I did find it's still available here).  This stuff is SO much nicer than woven cotton.  It has a lightweight and silky hand to it.  Yet, while I loved how soft & lovely it felt, I'd had no idea what to do with it.  Until now.

This fabric is perfect for summer pants.  Its fluttery feel keeps things breezy and cool.  My daughter tried them on and instantly said "Oooo, these feel so soft!!" and started prancing around.

After basic hemming, per the pattern, I added four rows of shirring at the bottom of each leg to give them the harem style that seems to be a popular look right now and help them flutter a bit more.  Added practical bonus, it keeps bugs out when frolicking in the grass.

These were such a quick sew and I love how the fabric and fit are comfy and cool.  Some days covering the legs is needed, but you don't want to bake from trapped heat in jeans or some knits.  I also love that I used up some more of my stash to make a "bought from a catalog" look.  I'm going to try a few with cotton to see how they turn out and despite my stash busting goals, keep my eyes open for some more of this sort of fabric.  This mom's going to need some comfy, airy pants too;)

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The Fabric Hoarder Update: Reforms a Bit...Also Buys More Fabric

Many of you will recall my post from a few weeks ago, Are You Fabric Hoarder Too?, and I want to give an update on things in Fabric Hoarderville. After seeing an explosion of page views for that post, and hearing so many comments echoing my situation, I realized this topic struck a chord with many sewers & crafters out there.  I've tried a few of the ideas I mentioned for reducing my hoarding and wanted to share my results and some things I've discovered along the way.  

Good News - I have made progress on reducing my stash!  
Cue the sound of angels singing.  
Here's what's happened so far: 

Sewing More.  I've used up a good amount of my flannel (some of it years old, some recently bought) by making some much needed pajamas pants.  They were quick to make and ideal for winter nights.  It's reminded me that not every project has to be something complex or unique looking or even a new design/pattern.  It was fun to be able to knock out a few useable items in a short amount of time and know they'd look good since I'd made them before.  Next up on my to-sew list are my fleecy/fuzzy fabrics as tops.  
Verdict: Definitely will continue to do this regularly. 

Selling My Stash: I've listed a bit of my fabric stash in my Etsy shop, The Green Hedgehog.  I started with prints I knew I didn't need or couldn't see using for a project any time soon and quite a few are already gone.  Emotionally detaching myself from my stash and getting realistic on what I'm really going to use has been worth it.  The fabric is going to someone who wants it and I'm making extra space on the shelf & a little money at the same time.  Verdict: Definitely keeping this up.

Some of the lovelies available in my shop, The Green Hedgehog

Giveaway/Donate: I'm starting to get some random outgrown clothes, stuff we don't need, etc. ready for a donation to Purple Heart and am including some fabrics I never really wanted/needed to the mix.  Mainly, stuff I was given from prior hoarders looking to de-stash on an unsuspecting newbie.  I'm also compiling a few bundles of small cuts/scraps of fun prints to giveaway here this spring.  
Verdict: Still need to get them out of the house, but it's a good start for unused stuff.

Using Self Restraint:  I've been pretty good.  I've ignored the dozens of fabric sales and coupon codes hitting my inbox and mailbox.  A new Hobby Lobby has opened by me, which I'm excited about (the nearest had been 30min away before), but since I don't need anything right now, I haven't gone yet.  I even went into Jo-Ann Stores to buy elastic for my pajama pants and only came out with said elastic.  After a while I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything.
Verdict:  It works and is a huge improvement for me.

Ok, since everything sounds good thus far, 
on to my fabric buying...
(cue any "so much for getting rid of your stash" thoughts).

We just got back from a kid-free long weekend in Canada.  Of course I planned to check out fabric shops.  I told myself I was allowed to get a few things, but only if they met these 3 requirements:

1. They were hard-to-find at home 
2. An unbeatable price
3. I could think of an immediate project use for them.   

Considering the impulse picked piles I usually come home with, I think I did pretty well.  I saw a few other things I liked, but when I couldn't think of what exactly I'd do with them, I told myself no. Here's what I came away with -

I'm a huge old-school Strawberry Shortcake fan (as seen with my Fleece Strawberry Shortcake Hat and Themed Birthday Party) and had been looking for some fabric for a long time.  Len's Mill had a couple prints, so I got this one to make a pretty party dress for my daughter:

I found these cute kawaii prints there too.  I'd never seen them before and thought they'd make some cute bags/fabric baskets to organize my kids' stuff with.  They hoard toys and knick knacks like I hoard fabric, so some containers be useful.

As well as this colorful rainbow minky fabric.  I knew my daughter would be in love with this, since she adores all things pony/unicorn/pegasus.  The price was crazy good - under $8US/yd.  I'm either going to make her a blanket or do a reversible, mix & match top and pant outfit with some solids I already had.

And they also carry some handy notions I can't find at home, like pleather strapping (going to use to make handles for purses/bags):

Plus these fun elastics - the wide grey one is super plush and the purple paisley seemed really different looking.  I plan to use these as "exposed" elastic waistbands and shoulder straps on skirts, pants and tops.

Over at Fabricland I got some cute candy print knit fabric.  I have a lot of binding & FOE in matching colors so I can see this being either pajamas or a fun top for my little miss:

And my husband found this interesting bonded faux suede that has some soft cuddle fabric on reverse and it was marked down from $40CA to $8CA per metre.  Will be using this for some historical/adventure costumes for my two boys.

The excellent exchange rate made all of these items a lot less than what I could buy them for online, so that also helped me decide what was worth getting.  
Verdict: Proud of my willpower to keep the additions to a minimum. Which also brings me to my last resolution...

"1 In, 2 Out" Rule.  For each item coming in, I've got to use up/get rid off 2 current items.  Once I get these babies washed, I've got to turn my eye to pulling out at twice as many items in my stash.  Then figure out a plan to use some within 60 days and get the rest out of the house via selling or donating.  I think I'm going to make a prioritized to-sew list comprised of the new stuff & things to use up.  It's a little ambitious, but I think I can do it - or at least give it a try! Verdict: We'll see how this goes, but I'll be too busy with this to buy more fabric, so I think it'll be a win no matter what;)

I'll be doing more follow-up posts to chart my progress, share more stash-busting ideas as they come and, if it happens, any relapses.  Stay tuned fellow fabric hoarders!!  

And if YOU have any other ideas, experiences, hoarding anecdotes, etc. go ahead and share them in the comments.  We hoarders love to know we're not alone!

Halloween Fabric Pumpkins & Molded Fabric Candy Bowl

Today I've got a double Halloween sewing tutorial to share: Fun Fabric Pumpkins & a Molded Fabric Candy Bowl.  I wanted to do a few fun Halloween projects besides costumes this year and these two are definitely enjoyable for just about any sewing level - even a beginner.

To make my molded fabric candy bowl I used something I'd been wanting to try for ages: Heat Moldable Stabilizer.  This project is SUPER easy and a lot of fun too.  

I know the fabric pumpkin thing isn't exactly new to the craft blog circuit, but I'd always wanted to make some and I did a few things differently (and a bit easier) than the other methods I'd seen.  Last year I did more Halloween crafts than sewing so this year I've turned my eye fabric instead.  I picked out a few Halloween prints by Timeless Treasures that I really liked to bring my holiday visions to life.  

Let's start with making a molded fabric bowl.  

Materials:
- 2 Fat quarters of cotton (I used Haunted House Cats & Spider Web Batik)
- Heat moldable double sided fusible stabilizer*
- 1 package double fold bias tape & matching thread
- Heavy duty sewing needle
- Iron & press cloth
- Shears/rotary cutter & mat

*The secret to making a molded bowl is the heat moldable stabilizer.  Once applied to a project, it can be heated and manipulated into hard-to-sew or molded shapes and it will cool and remain in said shape. I'd asked for some for Christmas (thank you shout out to my sister for getting it for me), but I'd been hoarding it until I had the right project/fabric combo. The one I used was double sided fusible called Inn-Spire Plus, but there are several brands out there and some are fusible, some are sew in.  I plan to buy a few more to try out and report on in the future because this stuff was so fun to use.

I totally loved this Haunted House Cats fabric.  I'm not even a cat person, but scaredy cats, cat ghosts and a mouse bat - what's not to like?  I thought it was so cute I had to make something with it and a festive candy bowl was perfect.   I cut a 16 inch circle from both my fabrics and the stabilizer.  The stabilizer is pretty firm & thick - think the cardboard on the back of pads of paper - so cutting takes a little muscle.  

Then I sandwiched my stabilizer between the wrong sides of the fabrics (fyi the spider web is the wrong side up - since it's batik, the design is on both sides):

I followed the directions on the stabilizer package to fuse everything together: iron on the wool setting with a damp press cloth between it & the fabric sandwich, holding it for about 15 seconds at a time, per section, until the whole things was fused.  Then I let it cool.  It was pretty rigid - couldn't bend it if I tried.

Next I sewed double fold bias tape around the edge.  I worked slowly and held it on by hand as I went.  The combination of fabrics+ is pretty thick & firm so using pins would be a bit tricky:

To finish, I turned the raw edge under at the end & overlapped it with my starting point:

Then it was time for the heat molding magic.  The package said you could use a hair dryer, heat gun or iron.  I found the iron to be the best at heating it up quickly & evenly.  I ironed all over, doing about 10 seconds at a time per section and on both sides which turns the stabilizer soft.  It had the hand and shape-ability of a thick felt.  It is important to work fast since it cools & hardens back up pretty quickly (within a minute). 

I molded the general fluted side-flat bottom shape over a bowl, but made 3 overlapping folds around the top to get a smooth shape:

To hold it down while it cooled I used a bigger bowl and let gravity do the rest:

After about 5 minutes it was rock hard again and my fabric circle was a real bowl. 

Now here is the best part - the first time I didn't get my folds equally spaced - grr!  However, that was ok because you can reheat and remold.  So while the shape is permanent in that it won't loosen up over time, it is re-shapeable if you need to make a change.  That kind of blew me away.  I was kicking myself a bit after realizing that because I'd thought it was a one-time shot to mold when I first got it, so I'd hoarded it all this time out of fear of wasting it or goofing up.  I could've been heat molding fabric all year long!!

Now, some easy-sew fabric pumpkins! 

Materials:
- 1/4-1/2yds of cotton (I used Mini Chevron Stripe in Boo, Allover Halloween and Halloween Stripe)
- Fiberfill
- Embroidery floss
- Roll of burlap
- Hot glue gun
- Optional: Small stones, hand sewing needle

I thought using some vibrant Halloween prints would be a bit different from the usual orange/earth tone versions I've seen.  Even the selvages were spooky cute on these:

I cut a trio of rectangles that would make finished pumpkins 4 inches, 7 1/2 inches and 9 inches high:

- 8 in x 16 in for the smallest
- 14 in x 24 in for the medium
- 18 in x 32 in for the largest

I folded each in half width-wise and sewed up the side with a 1/2 inch seam allowance:

I sewed two rows of basting stitches, 1/4 inch apart, about 1/2 inch from the raw edge on both sides of my tube:

I pulled up the bobbin threads and cinched things together on one end:

Then I pushed the gathered bit inside and tied it off to make the pumpkin bottom:

Then I started stuffing my pumpkins.  To keep them from rolling around (or my kids using them as toys when I'm not looking), I also added a few small stones for a solid foundation:

Once they were pretty full, I cinched up the tops, added a bit more fiberfill for fullness, and then tied the thread ends together.  I also did a few quick slipstitches to really close it up completely:

To section the pumpkins, I tied embroidery floss around the middle, pulling it pretty tight to segment and plump up the shape, and doubling it before knotting.  I did this 3 times to create 6 sections:

For the stems I used burlap that comes on a roll - the finished sides mean it won't fray up over time.

I cut a 10 inch piece and added a line of hot glue to each cut side and folded them inwards about 1/2 inch.

Then I rolled them up and added another strip of hot glue to hold my stems closed.

Last, I added a good helping of hot glue to one end and pushed the stems into place, adding a little more glue between the stems and fabric to really seat them in place.

And my pumpkin trio was complete to display with our new spooky treat bowl:

I was not financially compensated for this post.  I selected the fabrics shown , which were provided by Timeless Treasures to use as I wished.  The opinions and ideas are completely my own, based on my experiences with the materials mentioned.