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Los Olivos, California, United States
You can reach me at fool4fabric (at) gmail (dot) com

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Gray Skies

Dictionary.com describes gray as "a color between white and black"...no wonder I love it! I have made TWO pair of gray pants lately...
 These, in a silvery viscose/cotton/lycra blend from Emma One Sock. The pattern is a modification of my Lynda Maynard pant. Unfortunately, this is the kind of fabric that gives "stretch" a bad name. These were quite snug when I made them, but they grow...and grow...and grow...I will alter them, but I'm afraid I'll continue to have a fitting problem. The fabric is gorgeous, though...

The second pair are in a pale gray cotton/lycra poplin from my local B&M store:
I used M6405, view C. I had hoped this paler gray would go with my plaid shirt I made a few weeks
ago, but no such luck. I will continue to wear that shirt with black pants.

The top in all pictures is another version of M6571, the boatneck tee from Palmer/Pletsch. I love this pattern; it has a very pleasing curve to it. The fabric is a (droopy) rayon/lycra knit from Marcy Tilton.

We leave for Sicily 3 weeks from today...I need to do a little wardrobe assessment to see what is needed.  I'll let you know!
Posted by at 1:14 PM
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31 comments:

  1. shamsAugust 21, 2012 at 1:50 PM

    Color me confused! You speak of two pair of pants that you made, but I am seeing three pair. Only the first pair looks grey to me. The second pair looks brown and the third pair looks beige.

    That is a shame about the "growing fabric", but at least you learned that now and will make sure not to bring them on your trip.

    The top looks fabulous. You look great in all the pics!! (Though it is weird to see you in shades of brown. :) )

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 2:00 PM

      The first and second are the same pants! I think it's the yellow lichen on the barn that makes them look brown...and the 2nd pair are a pale bluish gray...

      Delete
    2. shamsAugust 21, 2012 at 2:21 PM

      Fascinating! Yes, the color seems to change with the background. :) Anyway, they look nice and it's too bad about the stretching.

      That second pair looks beige to me, not bluish-grey. It could be the pics.

      Delete
    3. AndreaAugust 21, 2012 at 8:37 PM

      Glad you cleared that up. I was confused also. The fit looks great on your pants. Growing fabric is a bummer, though. Your shirt really has a lovely, flattering fit.

      Delete
  2. DillianderAugust 21, 2012 at 2:31 PM

    You look great Margy, the style and fit is perfect although it is a pity about the stretching.

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  3. DillianderAugust 21, 2012 at 2:32 PM

    ...I meant to add that the stretching is not noticeable in your photos, but frustrating as the fabric is beautiful. I hope your adjustments solve the problem as they are lovely pants.

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 5:49 PM

      Thank you, Sandra...I will get to work on them tomorrow!

      Delete
  4. GailAugust 21, 2012 at 5:08 PM

    Not sure what to do about the stretching, but they look great in the photos. I have the McCalls boat neck pattern and really should get around to making one up.

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 5:50 PM

      Thanks, Gail...I think you will love that McCalls pattern!

      Delete
  5. RhondaBussAugust 21, 2012 at 5:14 PM

    I think you are ready to go anywhere on a moments notice. Everything you do is impeccable. I have pants that stretch out on me as well. I did a little surgery and they still stretch. So I wear them once and wash them ;)

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 5:50 PM

      but in Sicily? I have to think about that one...:D

      Delete
  6. RhondaBussAugust 21, 2012 at 5:15 PM

    I meant to ask, is the artwork in your garden? Wonderful piece.

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 5:51 PM

      yes, it's a wonderful ceramic hanging by a friend of mine, made originally for my husband's office in LA...now it graces my studio!

      Delete
  7. DixieAugust 21, 2012 at 5:29 PM

    Too bad about the excessive stretch. I hope you can resolve the problem, because the pants look great. The other pair are very nice, too. And I love the top. Wish I could wear black and gray as nicely as you do!
    Love the wall art, and the golden yellow barn wall. Great backdrops for your photos!

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    1. MargyAugust 21, 2012 at 5:52 PM

      Thanks, Dixie...according to Shams, the backgrounds change the color a lot!

      Delete
  8. MaryAugust 21, 2012 at 5:35 PM

    Margy, I love the lines of those pants, even though you have a stretch problem. I am really loving the slim pants and fitted tees you have been sewing. Of course, absolutely anything looks good on you. Watch out for those Italian men!

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  9. pdiddlyAugust 21, 2012 at 10:56 PM

    I love that top and think I must get the pattern, such a lovely shape. I recently also made some pants from a tnt pattern which were huge on me, took them in again, still too big and I am even thinking I need to do it again.....amazing how some fabrics can stretch so much. Having said that they look good.

    I think Sicily will be quite warm at the moment.....sounds wonderful.

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    1. MargyAugust 22, 2012 at 10:27 AM

      Thanks, Pauline...I think you will love the pattern...the pants are nice, too.

      Delete
  10. JillybejoyfulAugust 21, 2012 at 11:20 PM

    You are rockin' all of your pants now! Sorry about the meandering fabric, but the pants sure look good in the photos!

    But oh my gosh your backgrounds! I want to come visit you & just ooh and ahh around the property! Love the artwork, the barn, the landscape....too bad you have to leave all that & go to Sicily.... ;-)

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    1. MargyAugust 22, 2012 at 10:28 AM

      Thanks, Jilly...any time you're in the area, come on by!

      Delete
  11. kbencoAugust 22, 2012 at 2:17 AM

    The trousers look very good - in all the shades ;). You have such lovely fabrics.
    I swore off stretch fabric for trousers quite a while ago, due to a few failures that I could not save, but I was able to rescue a couple of pairs by massive stabilising of the crotch seam and all the horizontal seams with twill tape/selvage. Do you do this already? Do you find it helps at all?

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    1. MargyAugust 22, 2012 at 10:29 AM

      Thanks, Karen...but I don't HAVE any horizontal seams to tape...they're all vertical. What kind of pants have horizontal seams?

      Delete
  12. kbencoAugust 22, 2012 at 2:20 PM

    Waist band and yoke seams in my particular overstretchy trousers ;). I thought M6405 had an attached waistband? Sorry. It is just so annoying to finish trousers and have the fabric let you down, I was empathising, truly. I should just keep my big mouth shut. They do look great in the photos.

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    1. MargyAugust 22, 2012 at 2:51 PM

      Oh, Karen, don't apologize...of course there are horizontal seams in pants...I was just brain-dead for a minute! And I know you were emphathising...I am going to have to replace the waistband as I cut it with the stretch going around, which makes it even worse...this fabric won't bond to interfacing, but I think I will use sew-in in the waistband. I will also stabilize the crotch seams and waist seam...that's a good idea I appreciate your speaking up!.

      Delete
  13. marcytAugust 29, 2012 at 3:13 PM

    Hi Margy,
    One of the variables of the stretch fabrics we all love is that they DO grow/change/stretch with body heat. A selling point for some pants I've purchased, the sales people say they will stretch (like some shoes...) Impossible to factor that into the fit when sewing tho.

    Your work is beautiful...even the garments you don't give a glowing report to look great to me, and I love your new silvery vest and ikat shirt (and the ikat jeans too). Keep up the good work! I'm sewing on sample Vogue garments and can't post photos which can be frustrating!
    Marcy

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    1. MargySeptember 1, 2012 at 9:22 AM

      Thanks, Marcy...I know that about stretch fabrics, and I have often complained about LACK of stretch in some cotton shirtings, now that I am used to them. It's interesting that you CAN'T tell by looking...the lining of the vest was a very similar stretch fabric to the pant fabric...one stretched a whole lot and the vest lining hardly any!

      I can't wait to see what you're sewing up for us!

      Margy

      Delete
  14. AndreaSeptember 1, 2012 at 9:10 AM

    Hi Margy,

    Question for you - Love your M6571 tops, did you interface the neckline facings, or for that matter, use them at all?

    Thank you!

    Andrea

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    1. MargySeptember 1, 2012 at 9:19 AM

      Hi, Andrea...I didn't face the 1st one (the black and white); I didn't use the facings at all, just turned the seam allowance and stitched it with a double needle. On this black and gray one, the knit is a bit droopier, so I used the facings and interfaced with a light knit interfacing. I think it really depends on the body in the fabric.

      Delete
    2. AndreaSeptember 1, 2012 at 8:17 PM

      Thanks Margie. I made this in a heavier knit to try it out. It has a great shape, but the facing is refusing to behave. I have some of Marcy's microfiber in the stash, I believe in a similar weight to your black and white top, that will be a better weight for the top. I loved your tops so much I had to make my own.

      Delete
  15. Peg in South CarolinaSeptember 23, 2012 at 12:27 PM

    I just finished a pair of chinos, except for the hems, out of fabric from Marcy Tilton. I pinned up the hem 2 inches. A little too long. Pinned up another 1/2", still too long, even longer than before. So I took them up 3 1/2 inches. Still too long. Took them up 4 1/2", almost right but still too long in the back. I walked to my husband's study to show him. I could feel them growing as I walked. By the time I got to his study, one leg was draping on the floor so much that I had to stand on it. I took them off and measured them against the pattern. The legs seemed to have grown about5 inches. Left the room for a bit and measured again. Now they had grown only about 4". I have put them away and will see tomorrow, but I think it is obvious they are beyond redemption. I will never sew stretch fabric again. And I really don't see how taping the crotch will help this. The fabric will still drop from where the taping is. Sigh.

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