I quite like Sew Hip magazine, unlike a lot of other sewing magazines they don’t seem to be just endless advertorial for patterns (and equipment) that if you want to make them you have to go out to buy (actually, probably a sign of me growing old (or being perhaps more money wise) I’m striking a whole load of magazines off my regular read list because they’re basically selling a lifestyle I can’t afford). But I like Sew Hip, lots of designs and the bonus point, the patterns to go with them! Ok, some of the patterns in my opinion are bordering on tartish, whilst others are overwhemingly grannyish but they’re obviously trying to appeal to a wide range of readers.
Anyway I picked up my latest issue yesterday and pleased to see that there was a boy pattern in there (Boy Lacer goes all puppy dog eyed if he sees me making something for someone else, because I rarely make for him), I thought I’d give it a try. It was patchwork shorts, first I had to make up a piece of patchwork material, I used remains from various projects, an old skirt and a tiny bit of my much guarded over retro space material. Making up the material was ok but then turning it into shorts was a little tricky, the bumpy nature of the fabric made it not as easy to cut and when it came to sewing up I was concerned about the quality of the finish, lots of hems that are going to fray and I’m not convinced how comfortable it’ll be to wear with all those hems, specially for a hypersensitive child. I was verging on scrapping the project and converting it into a cushion or maybe a bag, specially as it was beginning to look a bit big. I tried it on Boy Lacer before attaching the elastic and I told him I wasn’t sure if it was going to work, to which he replied “You can do it!”. So I persevered, finished the project, got Boy Lacer to try it on over his trousers again (you don’t want to get Boy Lacer unnecessarily dressed if you don’t have to) and discovered I’d made him a pair of harem pants, they’re still quite baggy but the legs are quite tight! He loves them though and is currently still wearing them over his trousers. Still not totally convinced how long they’ll last though. My making time is rare and I dislike ‘wasting’ my time when I could have been doing something else, but as Boy Lacer likes them, time not too wasted.
