Expand your comfort zone

This fabric has been in my stash since the big fabric market in March. All these months I have been thinking about what to do with it. I wanted it to be special because I like the fabric so much and it's a nice quality. It's a bit heavy but also thin and stretchy. A skirt would be too obvious. I drafted a top a while ago, thinking I had it, but when I took the fabric out of the suitcase, I found it way too thin for the top I had in mind. Back into the suitcase it went for another month. And then it hit me: pants. Not the most original idea I admit, as this summer's fashion seems to be all about flowery pants. It just took me a while to realise it because these pants are so far out of my comfort zone I can't even see them from where I'm standing. I went to work anyway, and here they are!


I figured with this kind of fabric, loose low crotch was the right way to go. I used the same pattern as my other low-crotch pants, but this time added small pockets and gathered the legs at the side. Half of my sewing time was spent working on the waistband. I made a V shaped waistband that closes with two snap buttons which are hidden underneath the big buttons. I ironed on interfacing all along the bottom of the V for extra strength around the gathers. I lined the waistband with an old T-shirt, because I really wanted to save some fabric for another garment. I only had a meter! Big pink buttons make for a funky finish, and voilà! Comfort zone expanded yet again.

Overall I'm very pleased with this. It worked out as I had imagined beforehand, which is always a relief. Although it took my waistband skills up to a next level, there is still a lot more room for improvement. I tried the stitch-in-the-ditch technique on the lining which went well, but that pointy corner was not intended. I left it there because it didn't bother me.

This is officially the last thing I have sewn for this challenge! The year is almost over! But don't worry, I've got a lot more in store for the next. See you on thursday the 4th!