The Bay City Roller trousers I made for my nephew in April ended up being about three inches too short in the leg, bearing in mind he is only just 7 and the fact that I'd cut them out to the length for a 10 year old, I was a bit surprised. I offered to let them down as much as possible (I'd left a pretty generous hem on them) but because of the very hot weather we're experiencing at the moment, my sister and I thought board shorts might be a better option.
Yesterday I got the opportunity for my nephew to try them on (lovely fit, by the way) and folded them up to sort of mid-calf level. So I duly cut them off to the right level and this morning I got Mum's sewing machine out and hemmed them up. That's me done for the day I thought but no, the sewing bug seemed to have well and truly bitten me and this afternoon I cut out and completely sewed up another pair of board shorts for him. It was hot, it was sticky, there was a fair bit of swearing (me and a session with the sewing machine always results in vast amounts of swearing) but by gum I feel pleased with myself.
Made from the same pattern as the others, these are in a very cheery red and white check (the fabric is really nowhere near as pink as it looks in the photo - which is just as well as my nephew hates anything pink with a passion.) As we'd originally only bought enough fabric to make a shorter pair of shorts it was a bit of a squeeze to get these longer ones out of what we had but it worked out - just. So, they're pure cotton, cost about £3.00 to make, should be a custom fit and weren't produced in a sweatshop in China - a pretty good result I reckon.
Thank you so much for the kind birthday wishes last week. I had an utterly fabulous birthday weekend - more on that tomorrow when I've recovered from my unexpected sewing fever.
I too, spent yesterday sewing and there was quite a bit of harsh tutting and maybe a couple of 'oaths'. Should I have stopped when I started dripping sweat onto the paper pattern ? Maybe, but I didn't. And I woke up this morning with aching thighs from crouching on the floor trying to pin and cut out the pattern. And I still don't have a dress to show for it. Yet.
Posted by: Ponytail | 06/28/2010 at 09:59 PM
Dear Liz,
Thank you for DN's new shorts - they're really lovely and I know he's going to look gorgeous in them.
Love from Sarah
Posted by: Sarah | 06/28/2010 at 10:31 PM
Good job! I really have to be in the mood to sew. Hasn't struck lately either...
Blessings!
Posted by: michelle h | 06/29/2010 at 03:35 PM