Sewing for the Boy ~ Simplicity, Burda, Ottobre, Jalie

I don’t sew much for Mr. T anymore.  He’s a 15 year old boy so he is pretty picky on things.  He specifically wants things that are plain.  No graphics, no color changes, no fun… 
He wears hoodies every day to school.  So I thought I would make him a few.
 
First up: Burda 6718



Size: 36 which fits his measurements exactly.  However, it ended up short.  like 2-3 inches short.  Sadness.

It doesn’t look too short here, but it really is with jeans on. He wears it and likes it but I cringe every time!  I'll have to remake it only longer.



Fabric: Midnight Green Cotton Slub Jersey Knit.  I purchased it from Fabric Mart.  It said 4 way stretch but it barely stretches 2 way.  anyway. 2 yards $4/yard so $8 total for the hoodie. 

2nd hoodie: Jalie 3355
I never knew this pattern was unisex.  There are only girls on the front cover.  Then one day I read in a facebook post and looked on the website and sure enough, unisex!!  How perfect because I love this pattern for me and Miss K. 



Size: straight size U.  This is a couple sizes above his measurements.  I know he likes a men’s medium and I wear a men’s medium; I use size U for this hoodie so that’s what I used.  I’ve been using shoestrings for the hoodie string.  It works out great.



Fabric: 2 yards Dark Pewter Rayon French Terry Knit from Fabric Mart.  Purchased in May 2017 for $6/yard.  total for this hoodie $12.  This fabric is so so soft. but heavy because of the rayon. Mr. T LOVES this hoodie.  He wears it every chance he gets. 

Thoughts: I feel like the hem band is way too tight.  I remember I added inches to it for myself and K but forgot for T’s.  I need to add 1-2 inches next time to the width of the hem band. 

Pajamas. This is where I can have a little more creativity with Mr. T.
 
Ottobre 06/2011 # 37 Pajama shorts
I’ve made Mr. T these pajamas countless times.  He loves them but keeps outgrowing them!



This time I made size 170.  This is the highest size Ottobre offers so when T outgrows these he won’t be getting more! 

Fabric: 1.5 yards of this fun pinstripe suiting.  I got it in a scrap box from Fabric Mart June 2015.  It was only $0.83 for the whole bit.  The selvage said “Lana, Storia, 180’s Qualita Moderno” Quite honestly I didn’t know what I would use it for and them BAM!  it became perfect for this project. 



I recently got an embroidery machine and digitized this Overwatch design for Mr. T onto them.  This symbol is for one of his favorite characters in Overwatch.  Sombra I think?  He loves these, I love these.  they wash well and wear well.  Next time I’ll remember to widen the waistband and use 1.5” elastic instead of 3/4”

Simplicity 1021 Pajama Shorts
I thought it would be fun to try this pattern.  It has pockets, it looks cool. 


Size: Small.  I took 1” off the rise because it looked crazy high.  They turned out cute, but short.  Like boxers.  What sucks is that the pattern doesn't list yardage for just the bottoms.  They list it for the total top and bottoms.

Mr. T likes them.  I added a Lobster design and T’s monogram to the leg.  Mr. T really likes these.  I think I’ll make the pants version for him.



Fabric: 2 yards (though I didn't use all of it) Navy Lobster in Cotton Lawn.  I got this back in Feb 2015 from Hancocks on sale for $2.64/yard.  so total for these $5.28


Happy Sewing!

Patterns for Pirates ~and~ Deer & Doe

Back in September Patterns for Pirates had a contest type thing where you were a pattern tester.  The winners would become permanent pattern testers for them.  I decided to join in the fun.  The pattern was for a pajama pant.  It is one pattern piece, and unisex with low rise for women and higher rise for men. 

The first one I made I did a straight size XL and I didn’t like the fit.  It was way to baggy. 
So the second time I used a satin fabric and made a Large in the waist to XL in the hip.  These pants are fantastic.  They are so fun to wear.  I’m only sad I didn’t have enough fabric to match the sides.



Fabric: a satiny charmeuse? I don’t know.  I grabbed it on the fly at Walmart one day. It was $1 a yard and only 2 yards were left.  These pants took 2 yards so a total of $2





Adjustments: I scooped 1/2” out of the rear curve (a low butt adjustment). 











I enjoyed my satin pants so much I made a pair of shorts too.  Same sizing L to XL and I also dropped the rear curve 1/2” for a low butt adjustment.  This is a fast and quick pattern, nothing fancy.  You can get the shorts out of one yard by folding the fabric cut edges together.  The shorts are ok, though the inseam is a bit short for me.  I prefer the pants.





I honestly don’t know where or when I picked up this fabric. I only had one yard and this worked well. It’s a satiny charmeuse.







Here is the first pair I made in a thicker, stiffer fabric.  It is too poofy and the waist is too large. I used this as my muslin and they were tossed in the bin after these photos.  The sizing on these was straight XL. 

Fabric: baby blue plaid chambray from fashionfabricsclub; purchased back in Oct 2013 for $5.25/yard.  This was one yard.




Deer and Doe ~ Plantain updated version

The shirt I’m wearing in the top photos is new too.  Deer and Doe updated the free Plantain pattern a bit ago and I loved the old one so I wanted to try the new one.



Size: In front I did 42 shoulder, bust, waist and 44 hip.  In the back I did 42 shoulder, bust, waist to a 46 at back hip.  I also did a 1/2” forward shoulder adjustment.



Fabric: Gray rayon spandex, 2 yards, purchased from StylishFabrics in April 2017 for $3.68/yard.  total for top: $7.36

Thoughts:  It’s ok.  It’s a plain gray shirt.  I needed one in the wardrobe.  I’m not sure I like the rayon spandex, it’s a bit thin and too drapey but if I wear a cami under it is ok.

Happy Sewing!