Crafty nook

[stonedog]

I have (cough, cough) inches too!

Check you are adding to rise rather than "just" width.....?

Kath

[PeniG]

It was all rise - I added it into the straight part above the curve, expecting to get a slope up to the middle from the matched side seams.  The norther was coming too fast to deal with figuring out how far off my real angle their crotch curve is, though obviously if I ever want pants that fit perfectly I'll have to deal with it sooner or later.  I wound up copying the peak in the back of the "rough draft" pants I made in muslin to prepare for this, sewing it onto the top, and adding the waistband.  I just finished putting in the elastic, which was a bigger pain than usual.  Some of the problem I'm having here is that I'm used to working in cotton and this fleece - which is wonderful; I want to turn into a cat so I can nest in it - doesn't act the same way at all. 

When I get the legs hemmed it'll be close enough for government work - and just in time, too.  It's supposed to be in the 20s tonight, and 17 tomorrow night!  I know, you in Scotland think that's laughable, but I live in Texas.  It's only cold about three weeks out of the year here, and they're not consecutive.

Here is my inspiration song for learning to fit pants:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igu2GHbgA8s

[stonedog]

I share your puzzle ment 

I just finished looking at the How To book that MIL and I swear by - and I think you may have goblins or kobolds in your pants!

Seriously, it's always the way and even more so with a deadline......

Kath

[PeniG]

I got them made in time for the freeze, and they're baggy, but they cover my lower back and that's  the main thing.  I stretched the elastic so badly putting it in that I had to snip out a good five inches, which made it hard to get them over the hips; so hard that the elastic snapped last week.  But we're done with the bad cold for this year, so there's no hurry about replacing it.  I think the three inches must be there or not depending on how smoothed out the fabric is.  It's not stretchy exactly, but when you think this stuff's flat it isn't.

You know what else is hard?  Zippers.  I spent three hours last night and three this morning getting a zipper in.  Totally worth it, though.  The outfit in question is my first attempt ever to match stripes and it worked out perfectly, with a lot of effort, except for the zipper being lumpy.   My second attempt to match stripes, for which I had more material, didn't work so well.  What can I say, I got cocky.  Since the fabric is discontinued, I'll have to make the bodice and sleeves plain white, with the midriff, skirt, and cuffs a complicated gold/green/orange/red pattern.  I'm starting to  like the idea of the white, though.  I can embroider little flowers or something around the neckline.

While I was out trying to hunt down a remnant yard of the fancy stripe yesterday I picked up two patterns for slacks and two patterns for blouses, both with variations, for under $5 each.  With my four-variation dress and my standard skirt, I should be cool for patterns for the foreseeable future; until I feel I've gotten the slacks thing down well  enough to make jeans.  I may even be good at zippers by then.

[naitaka]

Darren Naish reports that Sasha Kopf, who makes knitted tapirs, has added babirusas:

http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoology/2010/03/knitted_babirusa.php

(There's a link to her Etsy site in the comments)

[Min Bannister]

Awwww, it and the tapirs are completely adorable. 

[PeniG]

More knitted critters:  Great Cthulhu!
http://www.lovecraftcafe.com/handcrafted-horror/the-great-cthulhu/

Cartoonist Aaron Williams bought one with child-safe eyes instead of the buttons for his baby.  http://ps238principal.livejournal.com/120365.html

There's also knitted beholders and things, but the pics aren't up yet.

[PeniG]

Bag End - the homemade doll house.     Words cannot express my awe.

http://madshobbithole.wordpress.com/2010/01/18/my-hand-made-hobbit-hole-bag-end-from-lord-of-the-rings/

[PeniG]

Patterns for mammoth mittens!
http://paizo.com/paizo/blog/v5748dyo5lb96&page=1#7

That's my husband in the comments protesting that it's really an African elephant and suggesting ways to make it into a real mammoth.  I'm so proud of him.   

Why am I the only one who ever posts here anymore?

[Min Bannister]

I guess you are the main person to be rummaging around the crafty part of the internet.