1. Always buy the best materials you can afford. Think about it, if you are about to spend the next several hours, and maybe even days making something with your own two hands, make sure you LOVE the materials that you are working with. If you love the fabric that you are about to rip into, then you will end up making something that you will love. This does not always equate to money, but sadly, it often does. So for my two cents, if your going to put so much of your time into making something, make sure that you are using materials that you really love.
2. Take great caution to cut your lines straight. I believe this is the key to sewing. When you sew, you follow the edges of your fabric along your seam guide, hence straight cuts are the key.
Here's an easy project that gets miles in our home:
Simple Pajama Pants:
Materials:
-Fabric-Now for this project, I really love the flannel prints that are abundant at Joann's, especially for children's pants as they grow so quickly. It's fun, comfy, and very affordable. You'll need about 1-1 1/2 yards depending on the size. (make your pattern first and then measure to see just how much you'll need)
-Non-roll elastic
You don't need to buy a stinking pattern, let's first make our own:
1. Grab a pair of pants that fit, fold in half lengthwise (like a hotdog bun-I used to tell my students that for a vertical fold) and lay them on some paper. I like to use freezer paper, but you could just tape together regular computer paper...Or even wrapping paper, really anything. Trace around them, adding about 1/2 inch for the seam allowance and about 3-4 inches to the top for the elastic casing and about 3 inches to each pant leg for the bottom hem.. Pull the waist band taught when you trace the waist portion to show the true size. Do 2 traces: one for the front, and then refold the opposite side for the back of the pants. Usually there is a very slight difference.
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| Trace Back of Pants |
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| Trace Front of Pants |
2. Cut the pattern pieces and place on your folded fabric. Trace around and cut your pants' pieces...You'll have 4 pieces: 2 fronts and 2 backs. Do not cut on fold, you want 4 separate pieces.
That's all there is to making the pattern...Again, why buy one?
Sew it up!
1. Put the front pair RST and sew along the crotch curve. Put back pair RST and sew along bottom curve. You will now have 2 pieces; one sewn together at the crotch, and the other sewn together at the bottom. Finish each seam with a zigzag stitch.
2. Put front and back RST, and pin along the inseam. Sew along the inseam. Finish seams with zig zag stitch.
3. Now, repin along the outside edges of each pant leg. Sew along each side. Finish seams.
Now you should have a pair of pants!
Finish with the hems:
1. Fold and iron the top to form a top casing for the waistband elastic. I do a double fold: a small fold to turn the raw edges in and then a deeper fold for the casing. Sew around the fold, thus making the casing. Leave about a 2 inch opening at the back for which to thread the elastic through. Cut a length of elastic the waist measurement plus a inch. Thread through the case using a safety pin attached to one end. When the ends meet, sew them together and then sew your casing shut. Waistband complete.
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| Leave opening in waist casing for which to thread elastic through. |
2. Now do the same sort of folding with each pant leg. Sew as you would the waist casing, although do not leave an opening. You can make your hem as wide or narrow as you want. I often like to do a double stitch. Sometimes, I even do a decorative stitch.
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| Pants Hem |
Rock On In Your New Pants!
