McCalls 6408: Blue tie cardigan

 

I feel like I've totally lost my sewing mojo lately so this is an attempt to sew some nice easy basics that I know I'll wear and hopefully kickstart sewing again.
I've made this a few times now (first, second, third) so it was a easy sew. Material is a blue ponte from Spotlight that I got at the last sale.
Adjustment wise, its a sz M (it has heaps of ease, my measurements put me in an XL), with a centre back seam added for shaping, extra width at the hips, 1" FBA rotated out in the front gathers, 2" added to the arm width and about 3" cut off the length.
This is such a flattering cardigan and I wear all the versions so much in winter, they are nice and warm and mega comfy!

Fehr Trade 103: Duathlon shorts

 

It is incredibly frustrating looking for RTW plus size exercise gear. Its hard to find for starters, usually the tops are baggy and shapeless, the leggings all fit oddly and sit way too high up on my waist that's if I do actually find any that do fit....Enter the Duathlon shorts. This is my first fehr trade pattern and I've got to say I'm impressed. As drafted the waist is higher at the back than the front so for once I didn't need to add to it. Plus I am in love with the contrast side and built in pocket!
I printed this out and somehow I ended up printing it out too big plus I used a beautifully stretchy fabric which meant I had to take the sides in by a total of 8" per leg and shorten the legs by 4"!

Since I hadn't sewn Fehr Trade patterns before, I basted them first so it was pretty easy to unpick the side panel and take in the black fabric. I scooped out the crotch by about 1/2" front and back. Because it didn't print properly (which was my fault, I did print the test square first so not really sure what I did!), I don't really know what I ended up making size wise. I think its about a sz L with a size XL waistband height and I cut them off at knee length.

I go the fabric from the remnant table at GJ's discount fabrics, its a cotton lycra but is nice and thick with a matte finish. I really regret not getting more because it is just great, feels just like Supplex. the contrast is a digital print ponte from the clearance table at Spotlight.

The best bit about these leggings are the pockets. I have an iPhone 5 and it fits in perfectly, snug enough it doesn't move at all (when the phone is pushed down to the bottom of the pocket it sits about an inch under the opening, I just have it poking out here so you can see it).

 

Anyway, great pants and the daughter has put in her order (which is always a good sign, lol!)