52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK FIVE

It was hot in Brisbane last week, Tuesday was 36 degree celsius, (in fahrenheit that is 98.9). And super humid, one day the humidity was up to 85%. So pretty much all week I was covered in sweat. I was also bitching about not having anything to wear, while Justin and Jarvis were wandering around the house in their jocks.

One night, when I could not sleep because of the heat, I thought of an idea. I struggle with retail shorts, they seem to fall into two categories. One: shorts that are shorter than my undies. Or two: Mum shorts. Yes, yes, I know I am a Mum, I am a grandmother, but Mum shorts, well are just super daggy. Anyhow, in the heat one night I thought of making shorts that were more 'me'.

In the early hours of the next morning, before the heat struck, I got some fabric from my stash and whipped up these shorts. 

 Item One

They are kinda like a gathered shirt met a pair of boxers shorts. I am super happy with them, the fabric is a lawn so super light and breezy, but the length is more appropriate for the Nana I am.

Item Two

I love them so much I made a second pair late one night. They fit even better, however, the fabric is a tad on the see through side. Okay if I wear the shorts to the beach over togs, but that is about it.

I am already sewing up a third pair in a rayon. With each attempt I am tweaking the pattern just a bit to get them 'just right'.

But... finally I own shorts!

Jarvis was not happy with my modelling. I admit I really struggle on the other side of the camera, so these are his instructed posses.

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK FOUR

I got easily side tracked this week. I cut out over half a dozen things to sew. But then, late one night an idea came to me, an I just had to get up early one morning before the heat hit, to draft a pattern and cut something out.

Even though I got sidetracked I at least managed to finish two items.

Item One

Digger boxer shorts for Jarvis. Since the kid is still wearing size one boxers, I figured it was time for him to go up a size or two. Jarvis chose the fabric and I altered the pattern to fit a size four. His waist still measures the same from two years ago, so they are long, and super baggy. But Jarvis loves them.

I have to include all of his "modeling faces". He kept telling me to take another

Item Two

Jarvis wanted Chester to have apple sarouels to match his own. So Chester seems to be getting a bit of a fruit salad theme over the last two weeks. Chester is on the little side, so a size two sarouels is extra roomy on him, but it will give him heaps of space to grow.

Oh, and here is the little cutie in his pineapple shorts from last week. 

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS: WEEK THREE

I knew this 52 challenge was going to be hard when I set it for myself. But what it is doing is really making me aware of how little 'me' time I have in my life.

Granted, the end of last week for four days, I was slammed with violent gastro, and the begging half of the week I was balancing two small boys, while Tamika had the delightful gastro attack. Interesting how Mums, well this Mum, always puts their children first.

Item One

Pineapple shorts for Chester. I had so much left over from the pair I made Tamika, I thought I would make Chester a matching pair. Think it took me longer to draft the pattern, than to cut and sew them. But at least I got one full item off my sewing machine.

On a side Note: Jarvis just went through my stash and selected several fabrics and said "please make them now".

52 ITEMS IN 52 WEEKS. CAN I DO IT?

For 2016 I set myself a few goals. I do not do resolutions, but set goals for myself. One of them was to allow myself more time to blog. Another goal was to sew 52 items in 52 weeks. Within those 52 items, I want to make myself at least one item a month. I am very good at sewing for others, but forget my own wardrobe/needs. 

So eleven days into the new year how am I going? I have completed two items and I am half way two items. If I can keep this going, I think...hope I will pass my goal of 52 items.

Week One Item One

Jarvis has been asking for an Avengers Library bag for ages. He dug through my remanets pile and selected the fabrics. Having no bag patterns, it was all a guess for me. I just thought if I made it similar to the grocery shopper bags that would work.

The bag is fully reversible. Actually truth be told the inside looks neater than the outside. But that was because I rushed the red bias on the bottom of the bag.

Jarvis's reaction "holly molly I cannot believe it". So I think I got a win with the bag.

Week One Item Two

It was Tamika's turn. She requested shorts. I used a vintage Kwik Sew pattern 1420, and altered it to fit Tamika's requests. Lowered the waist and added a back pocket. I took a quick photo for instagram, but she headed home with the shorts before I could get a better photo.

Love the pineapple fabric, it is a gorgeous linen I got for work. Thinking I need pineapple shorts in my life as well.

Will get a photo of Teak in the shorts as soon as I can.

Hopeful that next week, I can have the two half done projects.