Recent Sewing.....

Calendar Cover and Card Holder


Made to match my new leather purse

Fleece 2-in-1 Ottobre Tshirt for me


A new fleece shirt for me. I used a straight front underlayer/camisole like the Burda WOF 1/2008 pattern 116, but its a little wide a long the top of the camisole. so I think I'll take it in...

Frog Pants - Ottobre 1/08 #25
These I did modify! I added some width as my son needs the plus sized patterns, and increased the rise as it seemed really short. I should have only raised the front 2cm instead of the 4cm I added at front and back. These fit well, but are a little long. I don't like this method of back elastic waistband, so for the next pair (without the embroidery), I have changed it to have a front waistband and the back elastic is attached to the back yoke. There is some growing room in length, as most of his pants now are "perfect" length.

I made a tutorial for bellows pockets earlier this month.

Photos originally uploaded to flickr

Bellows Pocket Tutorial

On the ottobre-english list there was a question on how to sew the one piece bellows pocket pattern, as in Ottobre Design 1/08 #35 "Frog" pants Views A & B.

This is how I did them....

First I cutout my pattern with 1cm (3/8") seam allowance (SA) on each side, including the top so I could turn my edge under.

Topstitch the hem along the top edge of the pocket.

The Ottobre instructions have you add velcro here. I didn't have any velco, so I will add snaps later. Because of this I interfaced the top hem. Press fold on pocket piece as marked on pattern. These lines are marked on the pattern sheets in dashed lines.

Folding the fabric right side together, stitch bottom corners of pocket.

To give a defined look, edgestitch along pressed fold on pocket piece.

Turn and press seam allowances on edges of pocket to wrong side.

Place Pocket on pants front (for these pants you are to put it on the left front) and either secure with pins or I used Steam-a-Seam to hold the pocket in place while you sew around the edge. After securing, you will edge stitch around the pocket to secure it to the pant.

Topstitch pocket onto pants.

Fold and press pleats at top corner of pocket.

With the pleats folded stitch the top corners down to secure to the pants

Finished Pocket