Tuesday, March 28, 2023

MENDING

I dug out several pairs of light weight summer pants that fint when I had the 25lb weight gain last Spring and decided to do some alterations so they will fit now!  
Just taking in the seams doesn't always work on elastic-waisted pants because the seat and hips are still not right. 
 You can see the difference in seat seam here. 
 After I cut apart the inseams on both legs, 
I can open the pants up and line up for the new crotch line.
It's a breeze then to stitch the new seams, press and have some new pants again! I also had a pair of jean capris to take in but I do them differently-I cut little slits on each side seam on the inside of the waist band and insert elastic.  I secure it on one seam and then mark where it is even on the open end and pull it out at least 3-4" farther-that waistband is dense and it needs more pull than you think to draw in.

Once I draw the line, I then secure the spot with a wide zig-zag and trim it off.  (I am not of an age or shape to tuck my t-shirts in so I do not mind that the stitching shows a bit on the outside!)
Since I do not wear a belt I don't need to stitch the belt loop back onto the jeans but I do....

This is what the corners of the blocks started doing while on the design wall.  It drove me crazy.
I searched for answers and found this--press the seams open and then use a Tailor's Clapper to set them open.
I didn't have such an item (but I will soon!) 
 I used the Tailor's Ham to weight it down and it worked! 
 This is what I will be doing at Quilting today--repressing all of the blocks I have already done.  I have this many more to make so it is good to figure out how to fix it now!

Begonias hanging in each of my hanging pots!

*I am late posting because my eyes (ocular rosacea) decided to throw a fit yesterday by burning and swelling so that by evening I couldn't see well enough to type, etc, and I ended up going to bed way early-I slept all night and this morning they are doing better, gratefully!


 

8 comments:

  1. That's quite a bit of sewing!

    I hope your eyes are feeling better today

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  2. I haven't seen a Tailor's Ham since home ec. My mother used to love to make Taylor's Ham for breakfast and when I was a kid and I thought it was hilarous.
    Hope the eyes are feeling better. You can't do much without them.

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  3. Impressive !! I do not like altering - and look at you go!!
    I hope your eyes are better today!!

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  4. Your begonia is beautiful!

    Hope you are feeling better today.

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  5. Hope your eyes aren't giving you much discomfort now. It's great you are able to alter your clothes and create so many quilts. I never learned a thing about sewing and wish I had now when I think of all the things I could be doing.

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  6. Altering clothing is art. I dabble at it with some success. When I work on projects like that, I’m grateful I have a sewing machine and have the confidence to try.

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  7. Sorry to hear about your eyes, that sounds nasty. Hope you feel better soon from that. Your flowers are so pretty!! I am not good at mending anything, you obviously have mad talent.

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  8. I'm so sorry to hear your eyes are bothering you and very glad that they were better today. You are such an artist in so many ways. I cannot tailor clothing at all. I make my dresses because they are straight seams, nothing fancy. And they are all the same pattern.
    Your quilt blocks are going to be wonderful. I had never heard of either of those tailors tools before. You learn something new every day!
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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