The 'Liar Liar' Pants

The Facts

Fabric: Approx. 3 yards red cotton with 2% stretch $12, scrap fabric for pockets

Pattern: Colette Clover Pants, 2nd time making

Year: 2011

Notions: Red invisible zipper $2

Time to Complete: 3 hours

First worn: January 2012

Wear again: Yes!

Total Price: $14

Oh yes, red pants.  After making my first round of Clover’s I knew I wanted to tackle the pattern again with a better fit.  While wandering through the stretch cotton section at my local fabric store, I spied this deep red fabric.  A few short minutes later and it was being cut up with my hands itching to make a new pair of pants.

This time, I learned from my mistakes and went with my original gut (no pun intended) size.  The last time I made these pants, I, for once, made a muslin, buuuut... not in a stretch fabric.  So then I graded up too large for my final version, and had some loose fitting pants.  But not this time!

I actually think they fit really well.  They’re definitely fitted, but comfortably so.  Ok, honestly? I think I love them.  I don’t think I’ve ever had pants in a fun color before so it’ll be nice to have some bright separates. Oh, and even more fun, I had some leftover striped cotton from the Anchor's Away skirt, so I used them as the pocket lining. No one would really see them as they’re flush with the pants top, but I know they’re there!

So the hubby might need to fight for affection this Valentine’s Day, because I’ll be swooning over these pants.

What I Watched:

My Fair Lady (1964)

Swing Kids (1993)

The 'Main Squeeze (Box)' Outfit

The Facts

Fabric: For the Jasmine blouse I used 2 1/2 yards of white silk. $8
The Beignet skirt used about 2 1/2 yards of black and white wool houndstooth. $12 I also used a white lining fabric for the inside. $3
Pattern: Colette Jasmine and Beignet ~$24 as both were purchased on sale
Year: 2011 (I’m not sure when Beignet was released but it’s current so I’ll just lump it with 2011)
Notions: Just the 12 buttons for Beignet $2.50
Time to Complete: 4 hours for Jasmine, 6 hours for Beignet
First worn: January 2012
Wear again: Oh yes!  I love both the blouse and the skirt, especially together! But I know the blouse is going to get a lot of use so I need to get crackin’ on making some more.
Total Price: Jasmine was $20 and Beignet was $29.50

A challenge focusing on buttons? I know just the skirt.  Beignet may seem predictable, but with twelve buttons, I had been putting this pattern off for a long time.  This challenge was just what I needed to make me do it.  But I couldn’t just do a skirt - I decided to do a set of separates.  I want to do more separates in 2012 and this includes basics like a white blouse.  I decided to pair up the Colette Beignet skirt with the Jasmine Blouse.  Two new patterns that I picked up over the holidays.

The Jasmine blouse was straightforward to put together.  It makes the perfect, basic blouse. I know this won’t be the first time I use this pattern. Next time I’ll use some of the slippery fabric cutting tips that are floating around, like Sunni’s from a Fashionable Stitch.  I need to dust off my muslin stash for such occasions (heaven knows I rarely use muslin when I’m sewing anyways - I’m too impatient).  And cutting on the bias meant that I didn’t need any closures - I can just slip it over my head.

The Beignet skirt was also easy, but so time consuming! There were so many pieces as it’s a fully lined skirt, but it’s worthwhile in the end.  I admit that I had to keep rereading the instructions when it came to installing the facing to the lining.  I was stumped! I almost wanted to scrap the lining just so I wouldn’t have to deal with it, but my patience persevered and it was worth it.  The finished look is so neat with all of the finished seams tucked away inside.  And the actual button portion of the skirt?  It turned out to be the fastest part of the whole thing! Using my buttonhole foot, I was able to quickly stitch the 12 buttonholes, and then easily attach the buttons.

I love the houndstooth fabric. It’s a great skirt for my Bay Area winter wardrobe as it’s heavy enough but it’s still fun and pretty sassy.  The blouse is so comfortable and is the perfect separate for my closet.

And what better way to celebrate this completed button challenge, than with my accordion and it’s 120 buttons! One of my personal New Year’s resolutions is to start playing this more regularly. Practice makes perfect!