Colorful print perfect for simple pants
Dear Vicki: I would like to have some sort of really simple but different pants for summer. Specifically, something to wear to a neighborhood swim and barbecue party. It has to be a quick and easy pattern, and one that I can find at a local store that carries major brands, because this party is coming up soon. Can you help me with a suggestion? Thanks. — Melani F.
Dear Melani: I found a Simplicity pattern for you — it’s number 8390. You should be able to find it anywhere, but if you go online, it’s a printable pattern. At one time I thought this type of pattern would be the world’s biggest pain, but it’s not that big of a deal to print out and tape together.
Anyway, this is a really cute, easy look. There is a large range of sizes, with little girls’ sizes, too! It goes from girls small to misses extra-large. It’s so easy that this is one you could make together with your young sewer now or after your big party event. Choose a loud, crazy color or print, and just have fun with it.
Dear Vicki: Sometimes you write about fabrics and how they are made. I have a few questions for you. It’s summer, and I found some fabrics and just wonder, exactly what are gingham, madras and lawn? I have all three, and I also want to know about any special treatment. Thanks so much. — Mori S.
Dear Mori: OK, here goes … gingham is a firm, plain weave, usually white and color cross-woven plaid that forms a check. It can be tiny, 1/16 inch, or larger, up to ¾ inch. Treat it as any firm fabric — that is, make sure you are on grain so that it looks nice and hangs well. It’s not possible to match except for the very largest check. Interfacing can be a fusible; just test a piece to see how firm you want the interfaced parts (collar, cuffs, front edge). And you don’t have to use the same interfacing on all parts!
All of this is the same for madras — almost always cotton plaid, handled in India. It’s usually plain weave but can sometimes have fancy jacquard or dobby weaves for detail. You can and should match madras because its very distinctive colors and large size plaid will show your craftsmanship.
Lawn is a very fine, sheer weave — again, a plain weave. So make something that is not fitted, because this fabric is fragile and does not drape well but is crisp and fresh-looking in summer. Usually the best interfacing for lawn is selffabric (just another layer of the lawn) in areas that need some firming up.
Each week I share a reader’s tip and thank him or her with a set of 100 John James hand-sewing needles. This week the tip is from Hermina Haupt, of Virginia Beach, Va. She writes:
“I have a package of embroidery floss that has 36 different colors. When I need to do a little mending, I can usually find a color to match and don’t have to buy a spool of thread just for a small project. Just cut off a length of floss and separate two strands, and this will be strong enough for most purposes.”