Stitcher's Guild

Well, after all that effort with the sewing room, I finally sewed something!

Just a simple pair of 4-ply silk pants, but finished.
(http://restingmotion.typepad.com/photos/grayeveningpants/eveningpants1.jpg)

You can see a picture of a very tired me wearing the pants here (http://restingmotion.typepad.com/photos/grayeveningpants/index.html) or on my blog (link below)

You are off and running now!

The pants look really comfy :)

What pattern did you use, Mardel?  Did you line the pants, and how did you finish the seam allowances? 

I bet they feel delicious on, and you look wonderful--perfect for "standing on a lawn, holding a martini" at your garden party.  Congratulations on your first finished project in your new sewing room!

Mardel what pattern did you use for the lovely pants.  I have a couple of 4 ply silk that I would like to make up in pants but have not found a good pattern for it.

These pants are great looking I love them..

mardel, they look wonderful.  are those the LH Euro pants?  i just found my copy of that pattern and am itching to try it again, in a woven.

4-ply silk is so YUMMY!!

Mardel,

The pants are lovely but the picture of you in them is even better!  You should post that one here also!

Beautiful pants, Mardel! I love that color, and I enjoyed your perfect shoe search, detailed on your blog.  I think we can all relate to that, and the fact that you've realized that you'll have to go shoe shopping is just a hardship you'll have to face. ;D

Your pants look great.  Love the look of the fabric, I know it would feel sumptuous :)

Please share the pattern you used. 

Thank you for all the comments on my pants.  I absolutely love them and can't believe I have never made pants from 4 ply silk before --  other things yes -- pants no.  Now I want a dozen pairs in every color and several styles.  hmmm.

The pattern is one I got with an online sewing class from MySewingClasses (http://www.seeitsewit.com/store/stores_app/store.asp?Store_id=124&Shopper_ID=68725297186872) a couple of years back.  The basic pattern is very similar to Louise Cutting's One Seam Pant pattern (http://webstore.quiltropolis.net/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=69175290186917&Store_id=516&page_id=23&Item_ID=1193).  I have both and I lay them out over each other and really couldn't tell the difference, or only marginally so. mine might be cut to a smaller size than specified for a given hip on Louise's pattern.  I have altered this pattern to accomodate my own crotch curve, and what I now realize is my more egg shaped body.  It is interesting that I never liked elastic waist pants, but I now see that the problems I had were not with the elastic waist but due to the fact that the pants were cut poorly for me.

I really want to try the LH Euro pants.  In fact now that I am getting a handle on pants, there are several pants patterns I want to try. How exciting!

And I love the soft gray color.  I will have to buy more as this would be a great neutral for me (with more shoes of course ;D ;D) and really softer than black.

Oh and Kathryn, I was really lazy with my seam finishes.  Since the crepe does not ravel I just pinked the edges.  I serged the edges on the lining.  I usually go to more trouble but, you know, these are just fine.

Carolyn thanks for the compliment on my photo.  You are so kind. I felt really tired that day.  I had been off my normal limited sleep schedule (meaning even less) for a couple of weeks and was in total crash mode.  I had to put almost an inch of concealer on to hide the big black puffy rings under my eyes.  It looked like an 18 wheeler had peeled off a tire across my face.  Given my own neurotic state of not being comfortable being photographed in the best of circumstances, I thought putting up a photo at all was a risk. 

Oh and I caught up with sleep and my back is happy lying down again (it wasn't before) and I am back to my normal down at 12 up at 6 and run around like crazy schedule.

Isn't it wonderful what a little restorative sleep will do, Mardel!  I'm glad you finally got some rest.  Thanks for the info on the pants pattern and the finishes.  It really does look marvelous.  Did you use silk thread as well?

When I made this LBD (http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fzxdoc/album?.dir=233f&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/fzxdoc/my_photos) from 4 ply silk a few months ago, I, too, wanted to sew on nothing but 4 ply silk from then on, it's such a pleasurable experience.  I pulled some out of my stash and began dreaming of things to make with it.  Loes Hinse Euro pants are next on my list--well, they're somewhere on my list  ;D.

Mardel,

I think we are all overly critical of our faces and our bodies when in truth we are really not that bad looking!  ;D  I mean its not like anyone went screaming from the party when they met you right?!  But I do remember how well the jacket and pants went together ~ like they were purchased together and were meant to be!  I also remember seeing your sandals peeking out from underneath those wonderful pants after reading about your shoe choices.  These were the things I took away!  :)

Mardel,
I love your pants.  The fit is great.  You will now be able to create an entire wardrobe of stylish, well-fitting pants to mix and match with other garments.  I too have a one seam pants pattern from Wild Ginger (Martha's Favorites) and have finally redrafted and fine tuned to fit me perfectly with wide legs, just as your's have.  I think that the narrow legged one-seam pants tend to go off grain in front; and besides, the wider legs balance the hips and make them look smaller--I've learned that from Stacy and Clinton of "What Not to Wear" ;D.  Lengthen the crotch  and legs a bit and you can make great jammie bottoms in just about an hour.    :D

Thanks, patsijean!! :) I love straight leg pants for all the reasons you mentioned, and although I don't mind narrower legs, you have to get everything right, I dislike those really skinny pants that are popular again now..I supose if you are R..E..A..L..L..Y young and thin they are the cats meaow.  Now I know I've dated myself.

Those pants look wonderful, and so comfy! I like the Jacket, too.

Those are lovely pants.  I've made the LG Euro pants before but never before in 4 ply silk,,,,I've got some of that somewhere around here...I think I'm gonna put that on my list.

BTW...nice site....

Ressy

Ressy, welcome to Stitcher's Guild!  You're going to have lots of fun exploring the site.  Enjoy!

You can order 4 ply silk online from Silk Road Textiles in Austin, TX, among other places.  Here is the link to the 4ply silks at Silk Road:

4 ply silks (http://www.srfabrics.com/silks/4ply.htm)

Anjoorian Silks also sells 4 and 6 ply silks at www.anjoorian.com and will sell you a swatch panel or custom dye the silk for you.

Caution, Ressy, temptations abound on those websites! ;)

Oh Kathryn... Ressy knows all about the temptations of fabric... although she's usually on the other end!  Ressy runs a fabric co-op on Yahoo, and she weilds a pretty powerful fabric buying magic wand! Just ask my bank account.  >:D :o :smug:
All my recent sewing time has been spent on refining the fit for my wedding outfit, but I have a pile of the rayon/lycras that I recently bought through the co-op that I want to assembly line sew t-style tops and tanks from. Thank goodness my keyboard went out of commission during the final stretch wool days... or the wedding guests would be getting bread and water at the reception!  ;D
Welcome Ressy, and I hope you enjoy the board... there's lots of nice people with amazing talent here!

Kathleen C.

Oh, wow, Ressy, I didn't realize that you were THAT Ressy.  You certainly don't need any fabric links  ;D! 

Kathleen, I was just wondering how the wedding dress was coming along.  That's such unique design, and I'm sure it will be absolutely gorgeous with the fabrics you have selected.  Best of luck with it!

lol....yep that's me....<grin>...dented crown and all.... >:D

But I'm always on the look out for good fabrics.....I'm now on the hunt for 4 ply silk on a great deal....I think I really NEED some! 

Thanks for welcoming me.    I promise to leave the wand and magic mirror at the coop site....<grin>   I've been looking for a place to call home.  I see alot of friendly faces here.....new ones and those that I recognize from boxes that leave the dungeon.

While the magic wand is powerful my sewing skills could always use improvement along with my fitting and design skills.  I've already learned more about thread tracing than I ever knew before and want to try that soon.  I also want to improve my hand stitches. 

I've got a simple peasant blouse cut out and ready to go...learning how to have a better fitting garment ala FFRP....now I just need time to sew it together!

Ressy

If you're on the hunt for a great deal for 4 ply silk, I'm going to have to investigate your coop, Ressy, for sure!  I have friends who have purchased from your coop and are so pleased.  It's about time I investigated to see where all the goodies are, too!