Something new, a quick fix project and nothing very exciting, but practical…. the evenings are getting that little bit cooler and when the sun dips below the yard-arm (whatever that means, really) my legs need some coverage. Hehe, since two days ago I posted our current temperatures no doubt hardier Canadian and New Zealand people are going to get a laugh out of that one, but I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to the cold. I really feel the cold. Even our mild Perth winters are often too cold for me. Yah, I know, pathetic, right?
So I made some leggings, using the pattern I made custom fit to myself, here. It’s pretty easy to make your own leggings, the only challenge being to get decent fabric. The usual challenge. The fabric I used is the last bit of red jersey I had left, after I made my gloves, here. It isn’t very good for leggings, having not very much stretch … but they will do for as long as they last. Hopefully the colour will go some way to cheering me up on a cold grey winter’s day, although one of those seems ridiculously unlikely right now I expect we will get some.
The backpack is not my daily handbag … I have let this backpack appear in a few other photos before; I use it to carry my camera, tripod and shoes along in if I want to take a photo when I take my dog walkies in the morning. It really belongs to Sam, but I borrow it sort-of temporarily on a permanently on-going basis for a few mornings a week, if that makes any sense. It’s the perfect size to fit in the aforementioned goodies. Compare this compact light little thing to the backpacks we carried on our hike last week, below!
Details:
Top and cardigan; Metalicus
Skirt; Vogue 7303, olive green corduroy, styled in 6 different ways here
Leggings; own design, red cotton jersey, tutorial on how to make your own here
Backpack; souvenir from Santa Fe
Shoes; Perrini, had forever
I've never made a pair of leggings and if I get my hands on some good fabric as you said I swear I'm gonna make me one! About the cold, I completely empathize! Fortunatelly I can't remember what long sleeves look like!:))
Living in Melbourne, I totally understand about the cold so I'm sure they will warm and brighten up your winter.
Hi Carolyn,
I always enjoy reading your blog and today I just got myself a Google account especially so that I could leave you a comment. The following website has just released a pattern for the Pippa dress (they didn't muck around), http://www.stylearc.com.au/stylearc/
On another topic, Subiaco Bookshop has got in Pattern Magic 1 & 2 in English and I have asked the very helpful ladies to look for Pattern Magic 3 in English. I don't have a blog and was wondering how to tell people that these books are easy to get in Perth.
Keep sewing (because I should be),
cheers,
Janet
Ohh nice splash of colour there. I've whipped up two pairs of leggings for my daughter this week – seems temperatures are creeping down…slowly.
You aren't joking when you point out getting decent fabric is normally the greatest hurdle in a sewing project! Local fabric stores are mostly gone. The internet helps fill the void a little, but you have to buy blind, without being able to touch or feel the fabric.
I agree about using good fabric, especially on something like leggings. The leggings I made end up stretching out and sort of sagging over the day– not an attractive look. I love the pop of bright red!
I love leggings for casual wear and red – what a great colour!
I am laughing….it is cold here! I liked your suggestions on my sheer skirt that I did a post about it today! thanks again for the tip about the elastic too!!
like your leggings btw…love the colour!
I undestand about the cold. I've quit complaining as so few people seem to understand but I wear my leggings under my pants and usually call them long-johns.
Oh, I'm wanting to make some leggings in 6 months or so when our cool weather rolls around again. I think I might order some fabric when I do though, — I've never mail ordered fabric and the local selection we have is quite meager, and I don't go to Houston too often (I don't think I've ever been in a nice fabric store, to be honest – they probably have them in Houston) I was thinking I would make red too. I think you look fine. And comfy. I'll let you borrow my adidas soccer shorts if you really want a photo not to be posted on the ol' blog 🙂
I too wish I had taken photos of my earlier projects, — There are many I no longer have that I would love to share. So now I have to dig through old photos and find one of me serendipitously wearing said item – not so easy sometimes … esp. now that most of my photos are digital, for the last 10 years or so… oy.
Janet; thank you for that info! I'm thinking of moving on to Pattern Magic 2, that's if I ever get on and finish Patern Magic 1!
sd Bev; I don't blame you… I've heard about the winters in your area!
I think that outfit is lovely – very autumnal colours (although that feels weird saying that, as here it's now late spring and it's been /really/ warm the last week!).
And thank you SO MUCH for the tutorial on making leggings – I've only started reading your blog recently so I hadn't seen this. I'm definitely going to try this out.
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