Tag: Hudson Pants

New Years Eve in style and comfort

nye2

I’ve had this yard of blue sequins just waiting for the perfect project and occasion.  I picked it up for a steal from Fabric Merchants during our last trip to LA.  I kept thinking I’d use it for my girls but man, they get all the fun fabric.  A quiet morning and the perfect pattern and now I’m the proud owner of my very own sparkly top!

nye3

Pair it with my luxe stretch velvet Hudson pants and I’m feeling fabulous!

nye7

I’ve been pinning sequin tops and really wanted to recreate this beauty.  I thought about using the Striped Swallow Hideaway to achieve it but knew I’d have to modify it for my tastes.  And alas I only had a yard of this pretty fabric.  I turned to my favorite woven tee pattern- the Shoreline Boatneck from Blank Slate patterns.  I squeezed it out of my yard of fabric and knew it was meant to be!

nye5

The only modifications I made was to use a knit facing for the neck and sleeve hem.  It helps to not have the sequins against your skin and adds more stability too.  This was my first time working with sequins and I’m happy to say I only broke two needles in the process.  I sewed all the seams on my regular machine and finished them on my serger, which also covers any sequins on the inside making this really comfortable to wear.

nye6

I love that I can dress it up if the occasion arises (hubby totally wanted to hit the town after seeing this outfit!).

I think it will get the most wear layered under a cardigan (I can totally wear sequins to church, right?) or a denim jacket for a more casual cool look.

nye8

Here’s the obligatory back shot for ya’ll 😉

nye1

I absolutely love this outfit!  I’m ringing in the New Year in style.  We spend the evening with my parents, the kids, and cousins.  It’s usually a night of good food, movies, games, and great times- one of my favorite nights of the year.  I hope you all had a great 2017 and here’s to a fantastic new year!

Floral Cropped Hudsons

clubhudsonsmom4

The Hudson Pants from True Bias are one of those things I could make in my sleep.  Between me and my little ones, I’ve made too many to count.  I needed some quick comfy traveling pants before our trip so I instinctively grabbed my Hudson pattern.

clubhudsonsmom3

Now, while I’m thrilled with the final pants, that fateful Friday-the day before we left, was the sewing day from down under.  I usually share all my butterfly and rainbow sewing tales but this was just an awful day.

clubhudsonsmom2

I whipped through these pants and almost two raglans all on my serger when I realized my serger tension was off.  Like way off… looking great coming off the machine but a little stretch and it would unravel.  In my five years of sewing with my serger I’ve rarely had tension issues.  My good ol’ Brother 1034D just is that amazing!

hudsonfix

So, instead of being done with my projects in an hour, I spent three fiddling with tension, tearing everything apart and RE-SEWING everything!  AND, I was silly and didn’t interface my grommets so one came off while threading the drawstring and while I thought I could be tricky and put a grommet in with the waistband attached I managed to punch a hole clear through the other side of the waistband.   Somedays are just like that… even in Australia (to quote our favorite book of the moment 😉

clubhudsonsmom1

So these pants are fabulous though!  I can’t wait for warmer spring weather to wear these ALL THE TIME!  This Club french terry is so soft and delicious!

hudsonpocketfix2

 

I finally fiddled with the pocket size on the Hudsons and love them!  My phone fits perfectly and it’s not too bulky- win-win-win!!

Do you ever have days like that? What’s been your worst sewing disaster?  I’ve had patterns not work out for me but I think this was especially bad because it felt like an old friend, my trusty serger, had turned on me.  With a little work we’ve gotten back together and will have many more rainbow and butterfly stories to share with you!

Summer Sewing- Why is it so hard?

IMG_6408

With five kids, sewing time is precious.  When they are all home for the summer, it’s even more sparse.  Here are a few of the projects I eeked out this summer.

I had the pleasure of testing for Striped Swallow Designs again this summer.  Her Wildflower kimono is so unique and simple to sew.  I sewed one up for Soph in a cute striped knit and Payton got a cozy french terry version (from Raspberry Creek Fabrics, of course).

IMG_6490 IMG_6401

I also had the pleasure of testing for Terri from Sew Straight and Gather.  Her Cousu Collection was kinda groundbreaking for me, pushing me to try new techniques and totally taking me to a new level.  This time I tested her versatile Urban Garden Dress and Tank.  It’s such a cute pattern and her tutorials are THE BEST!  If you haven’t tried one of her patterns you are totally missing out.  Beware though that once  you do, all other patterns will be lacking in comparison.

namelessdress3 namelessdress1

This summer my quest for myself was to make the perfect pants and shorts.  I tried a gazillion patterns and I think my quest is still on…

IMG_5620
Jocole’s Wide Leg Pants
True Bias Hudson Pants
True Bias Hudson Pants

skinnys

Jocole Skinny Pants
Jocole Skinny Pants
IMG_8783
IMG_8784 Peek-a-boo Pattern Shop Summer Lovin’ Shorts

School starts this week and it’s always a little bittersweet.  I adore having my kids home and the adventures we get to do every day.  For the most part, they get along great and we spend a lot of time laughing and just being together.  BUT… we are together ALL THE TIME.  I feel guilty stealing away for an hour or two to create.  So the sweet part of back to school is that I will have every afternoon to myself (thanks to a cute three year old that still naps)! I’m so excited to be able to sew without the guilt of negletting the kiddos. Oh, the project list… 🙂