I’ll admit that after my big slew of projects I’m going through a little bit of withdrawl. I’m at Nathan’s parents’ and I specifically brought zero projects for me to work on. I did this partly to gear up for my next project and partly because I feel a little lost . The problem is threefold:
- I have enough maternity clothes at the moment after my recent flurry of activity–or at least enough until I outgrow them.
- I’m (and I can’t believe I’m saying this) actually kind of tired of sewing knits…perhaps it’s because I feel if I sew for myself at the moment I am obligated because of my state of pregnancy to be sewing things with s-t-r-e-t-c-h.
- We don’t know what we’re having (and I really am more than fine with this), so any baby sewing I could be doing to occupy my mind could potentially be not terribly useful.
But I know myself far too well to imagine that I will just sit around for the next 14 weeks thinking of something to do. Actually, this time away from Gnomey and the other trappings of my sewing practice have left me wanting to attack this next project with more vim and enthusiasm than I ever thought I’d be able to muster. Ready for it?
Pants!!!!!!!
I pledge that I, Elizabeth will buy not another pair of pants until I can learn how to fit and sew my own (and perhaps never). I know everyone has issues with pants that have or currently produce various levels of trauma. I signed up for a pants fitting class the first week of February and a partner and I have already measured each other. She’s had a lot of experience sewing and fitting pants and has generously offered her help to me along the way and after the class. Has it occurred to me that I’ll be 31 weeks pregnant at the time–yes, but I figure that this being my first foray into pants fitting, I have a lot of issues to tackle anyhow. My lower half changes little during pregnancy–I go up 2 sizes in my hips, but that’s it. So my usual 11″ difference between waist and hips isn’t there. I know it will be and you bet I’ll be asking about how to deal with that. Besides everything, if it’s impossible to find a decent pair of petite pants not pregnant, a decent pair of petite maternity pants is like the Holy grail itself. So perhaps this whole project is presenting itself at the perfect time.
I’m starting with this Burda petite pattern from the 8-2008 issue. I figure a petite pattern will get me closer to the ballpark of my proportions, and I love me Burda drafting lots, so I know out of the gate I’ll be crying less because their patterns fit me better even when they’re terrible. I know I’m not going to be excited to face what number I’ll have to trace off, but hey, it’s lines on paper, and I know I won’t be this size forever. If I get good pants that fit, it’ll be worth it. I can honestly and truly say that I have NEVER owned a pair of pants that fit even remotely well. Exhibit A (which is a good example of what happens when I’m in pants):
Wrinklepalooza! Wish me luck. The game is on come Sunday.
