Sporty Summer Sewathon – I finally reach the finishing line!

I have been working so hard on the contest dreamt up by Karen Ball of Did you Make That?

Here is my step by step progress report:

  1. Decide to make  running shorts
  2. work out what sort of running shorts I want (classic cut, lined, not black)
  3. design the shorts
  4. find suitable fabric
  5. make the shorts
    Version 1, Pink Lycra, revealing the lining with red elastic
    Version 1, Pink Lycra, revealing the lining with red elastic
  6. redesign the shorts
  7. find new fabric
  8. make a second pair
    V2, Purple Polyester with lycra, revealing lining with "baby" elastic
    V2, Purple Polyester with lycra, revealing lining with “baby” elastic
  9. redesign the lining of the shorts
  10. print fabric with sublimation technique using a pixelated photograph of a peony
  11. make third pair of shorts with lining and new elasticising technique
    V3, Sublimation print of my pixelated peony photograph on polyester jersey revealing cotton lining with shirring elastic
    V3, Sublimation print of my pixelated peony photograph on polyester jersey revealing cotton lining with shirring elastic
  12. Decide I need a T shirt too
  13. design a T shirt
  14. make fabric for T shirt and make T shirt
    Hand printed, self drafted polyester jersey T 1.
    Hand printed, self drafted polyester jersey T 1.
  15. find the T shirt needs a dart
  16. make a second T shirt
    Self-printed fabric, self drafted with bust dart T 2.
    Self-printed fabric, self drafted with bust dart T 2.
  17. think the T may be better without sleeves so make a third T
    Self-printed, self-drafted V neck, sleeveless T 3.
    Self-printed, self-drafted V neck, sleeveless T 3.
  18. decide the sleeveless version is not as good as the sleeved version
  19. realise that the best shorts don’t match the best T-shirt
  20. nearly give up
  21. my daughter Esme passes her new baby due date
  22. as my sewing machine is still being serviced borrow Bianca’s Chinese machine
    "Basic" sewing machine
    “Basic” sewing machine
  23. I prioritise finishing my hand printed skirt for my evening class
  24. look at the stretch silk I bought for the best running shorts of all time (BRSOAT)
  25. know that the BRSOAT actually require pockets but don’t have time to redraft and test the pattern
  26. cut out and paint the silk early on Friday morning instead of going to the gym
    Painting the silk shorts with silk paint
    Painting the silk shorts with silk paint
  27. spend an hour rethreading the overlocker
  28. construct lining for the silk shorts using the overlocker which requires yet another elasticating technique
  29. finally finish the shorts
    V4, hand painted, stretch silk shorts with cotton lining
    V4, hand painted, stretch silk shorts with cotton lining
  30. Go for a test run. In the rain.
    Its just starting to rain....
    The exhilaration of finishing!

 

13 Responses

  1. Dawn

    I love these ones! My favourite of them all. And what a summer of sewing (and not just the sporty stuff)! Fingers crossed for Esme, much love xxx

  2. rillafree

    This is truly wonderful. I love that you have printed all of your own fabrics and the end result looks very high end sportswear. Good luck to Esme! I hope she’s not been suffering too much in the heat!

  3. mwang7

    Love all these articles. Wondering how and where did you got all the time and energy! Looking forward to hearing/seeing more of it. 🙂

  4. Joyce

    Congrats!!! Your a winner in my books. ouiiee… you don’t give up till you get it right !! fabulous job!!

    • sew2pro

      I was just thinking, not a sprint project, this! Everyone’s going to go crazy when they ask where you get your stylish gear from and you tell them, ‘well, actually…. ‘

      • fabrickated

        Well I suppose if I could actually run an actual marathon, like you Marianne, then I wouldn’t have to sew one. The thing is I’m not finished yet. I have still to do the pocket version. And then I want to digitise it!

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