"Jammers" and Bathing Suits

He has a pair of "Jammers" and likes them.  I found some lycra and I wanted to experiment with serging and sewing with lycra, so I tried to copy them.

This is the store-bought pair

They had used a triple cover stitch for the center front and back seams, as well as as the inseam.  They used a 3-thread flatlock stitch for the side seams, and cover stitches for the elastics.

Here is my not-so-nicely trimmed triple cover stitch.  The machine wanted to eat it UP, so I broke the rules and used a little square (maybe 1-1/4") of stabalizer on the serger to get the seam started--worked like a charm!  

(I'm pretty sure they told us we could NOT use stabalizer in a serger...  I won't push my luck, but it worked and I think it would have been ruined without it--it was just stitching in place a bazillion stitches--trust me, that's NO fun to get out!)

Inside/outside

Comfort panel like the store-bought pair had  (Narrow 3-thread cover stitch around the panel and also for the side seams)

I used a 4-thread overlock stitch and the elastic foot for all elastic and it was hard to getting it properly adjusted for inserting just the right amount of elastic, but the tie can be used if they are not snug enough.  (Yes, I made two button holes and pushed the strap through...)

I did not do the hem and the elastic in one step with a cover stitch.  I just used a knit stitch on the sewing machine and turned them up after applying the elastic.

Jammers!

His sister LOVES to wear his, so I will make her a pair as well.  On hers I will insert the elastic in the normal way and save myself at least a couple of hours of changing the feet and thread set-up on the serger every five minutes to do each different part!

I did do the triple cover stitch as I did on his--front and back seams and in-seam.  It helped when I tried to carefully straighten the jagged cuts on the seams before sewing--it looks good now.  It went pretty fast when I decided to insert the elastic in the normal manner, plus it is adjustable!  

I lined both the back and the front of Little Miss Sensitive Skin's Jammers.

I stitched both sides to the bathing suit at the crotch using the "lightening stitch"--should hold in place nicely.

Then I decided to make her a top (and I truly hope it fits!).  I used the shirred elastic belt loop maker foot for the shoulder straps and I can't wait to fit them.

Back of top

Then I decided to copy her Speedo's so she'd have options (and I had enough fabric to do it for both of them).

Fully lined

Cute!

Here's the outfit with Jammers

And with Speedos

I will make his Speedos as soon as I can get my hands on his real ones to get the size right.

One of my reasons for persisting with these articles is to get in some real practice in changing the feet and thread path to keep going back and forth between the 3-thread flatlock, triple cover, and elastic inserting foot, plus the lightening stitch on my sewing machine.  It slows one down, but does create a nice end result and the more I practice the better I get at it.

Ice Cream Cones -- she says it is her new "Party Dress"!

I have never used lace like this on anything for her because I can't stand the way it crunches up in the laundry and we do not have time to iron anything, so this time I decided to nail it down so it won't move in the laundry.  

I can't do anything about the sleeves and I'm sure it will drive me crazy when it's all wadded up, but the pockets and the neck have been hand-stitched at the outer points all the way around to keep them from moving (I hope).

Back zipper

And of course, the shorts to match

One day we'll actually have summer!

(You can't tell it from the color in the photo in the post below, those pants and shorts match this dress, too.)

Basic Bottoms for the Summer

Last year she practically LIVED in two pairs of pants made from this plisse.  They went with SO many of her tops and dresses, but she outgrew them.  I had made them ankle length instead of full-length, thinking they would make nice capris this summer, but her pants are 5-in. longer than last summer!  

This time I made them full length--they will be ankle length before the summer is over I'm sure.

I made shorts as well this time.

The color is NOT true (again...)  The pink is a rosy, dusty pink, and the turquoise is not faded out.

Tea Cosy

Some people like a proper "tea cozy" for the their tea pot, but I did not want to make anything which could be left on the pot while making OR pouring the tea because they get all messy and look disgusting.

At our house we have a proper English tea pot (after all, my husband IS from England!)

Also, I have a tiny pot for my Genmaicha

My daughter kept wrapping up the proper tea pot in a hand towel to keep it warm, and now that I'm drinking this little pot of Genmaicha--which makes two tea cups full--was also having to re-heat the second cup.  I decided to do something about that.  (Seriously, I am supposed to be making pants and shorts for a 5-year old!)

I have no detailed in-progress photos, but basically I measured the diameter of the larger pot and cut a 7-in. (finished size) circle with my clever ruler.  Then I cut a strip approximately the length of the circumference plus a seam allowance.  It was about 6-in. wide by 21-1/2 in. long.

I cut a contrasting fabric for the inside so I could make it reversible and not get bored looking at it!

Also a piece of Warm and Natural batting of each size.

I steamed Fusible Fleece to each piece (both the "inside" and the "outside" pieces). 

Then I quilted 5 or 6 rows down the vertical side pieces.

I stitched a loop of grosgrain ribbon in the center of each "top" (for something to grab it with).

I then stitched each top to each side and sewed them together, leaving maybe 4 inches of the seam open.  I pulled it inside-out, pinned the opening and top-stitched all the way around the bottom edge.

Wha-Lah!   A Tea Cozy!

My favorite side  (I have a Japanese Woodblock print in the kitchen with these colors.)

The other side

Loops on each side

Reversible!

It works really well.  Two layers of Fusible Fleece, plus one layer of Warm & Natural batting make it stand up on it's own and insulate pretty well.

Having Fun with Stripes and Things

I started out to make her a pair of pants in plisse'.  

Hem detail

Full length pants (she grew SO much that last year's just don't fit any more)

I just wasn't happy that these pants would go with several other things, so I made a little top to wear with them.

Back top - with buttons for the straps so they can be adjusted

Complete outfit

And then I went a little crazy.  I had wanted to make a flippy skirt with a pieced tier, so I cut 4-in. squares of several of the pieces of plisse' I had already used and one that I will not use until next year.

It would have been better if I had had a bit more of the striped fabric so I could gather that tier, but it was nearly gone.  

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June 11, 2011
For the tale of the final skirt (this one did not work), please see:

http://nanabs-sewing-fun.blogspot.com/2011/06/do-it-right-first-time.html