Pants Saga 1

I made Fz a pair of grey pants a few weeks back. And a codpiece to go with. But I just dodn't feel they were big enough. So today I thought I'd build some huge ones.

I cut them out (based on the original's J-shape in the crotch, plus manymanylots).
I sewed each leg, then put them together.
Pressed everything.
made the cutest little waistband, lined in linen.
Pressed over the waist edge, ready to pleat.
Did my maths, and ran cartridge pleating stitches through.
Pinned the waist band on, just to see if they truly are big enough. Or too bloody big.
Flipped them right way out, to have a better look at them.
Discovered yellow texta on his right butt cheek.
Washed, scrubbed, took dremmel to it, and nothing is getting it off.
Now I'm re-pressing the waist down, having unpicked and unironed the whole blooming thing.
Oh, the happy.

I mean, I'm using KT's tasty machine - the actual stitching doesn't hassle me at all. It's the ironing that's slowing it all down.

Which brings me to:
A NOTE ON IRONING
Steam irons are your friend. They totally roxor, especially after you've taken your glasses off (I can't sew with my shoe on, or steam iron with my glasses on).
But the best pressing you can ever do, particularly on wool, is with a lump of wood to hand. It 'shocks' the wool, cools it quicker, therefore making a nicer crease...and that's why this is taking me so blooming long! Steam, press, wait. Steam, press, wait. Oh well, at least I get to go wahwah about it here while I wait.

The good news, I suppose (she says in her pessemistic fug) is that the size of the pants seems to be ok. I'm still wondering about lining them...but once they're pleated, I don't really have a choice about that. I think the wool is thick enough to do what it needs to, and I don't like the idea of overheating my 'radiator' any more than I have to.

Learning expreience? Check your fabric, fully, BEFORE you hack it up and sew it down!