sewing = individuality = cool

Yesterday I finished making a pair of Built-By-Wendy jeans and I must say I am very pleased with the way they turned out. I don't believe I've ever actually made myself a pair of jeans (and I've been sewing since I was like three years old), but after completing these, I have a feeling I'm going to be making many more. The first time you use a new pattern, it always takes a little longer to figure it out. Not to mention I'm always wanting to change something, but it's hard to do that when you have to figure out which pattern pieces are for what and why they have you do certain steps. I tend to skip steps and not follow directions very well, which makes me irritated when I work on patterns because in order to figure out why they have you do certain things, you have to read through the directions in detail. I don't like to have to do that. I know, I'm lazy. But I've found with some patterns, they make you do a lot of extra steps that are totally unnecessary. I'm the type of person who gets a lot more out of the illustrations than I do the actual instructions. So if the illustrations are sucky, then that means I actually have to READ the instructions. Horrors! Okay, enough of this blabbing on about pattern instructions...

Not only did I make my first pair of pants, I made my first Built-By-Wendy pattern that everyone and their sister Sally are raving about. Seriously, it's like the biggest thing these days since sliced bread. For once, you can find hip patterns at the fabric store. With cool pattern covers to boot. AND she's written a book, Sew U. (I mentioned in an earlier post that I purchased this book for my friend, but I plan to go through it first myself. hehehe.) Finally, patterns that will get the younger crowd interested in sewing. Because it's FUN to make yourself clothing that will not only FIT, but clothing you have practically designed. You know what that encourages? Individuality. That's something a lot of people lack these days. But all of a sudden, things like sewing and knitting are becoming popular and now you don't have to be 80 years old to carry a knitting bag with you everywhere or be seen at the coffee shop hemming a skirt. Of course it all depends on where you live. I almost always get stares when I do my sewing or knitting in a public place, but that's becoming more rare these days. For the most part, I usually meet a lot of interesting people who are curious about what I'm making.

Here's a picture of the pants I made. I cut them off a little shorter than the pattern (view B). I was originally going for the bermuda type shorts, but I've found I don't look all that hot in those so instead I made them hit past the knee instead of above it. I don't even wear shorts anymore because my legs are so pasty white. (It's another one of those individual things that I've grown to live with and I don't feel so bad anymore about it. Because that's ME.)

:: built-by-wendy cut-offs ::


:: built-by-wendy #3850 ::