I found this black linen in Yuzawaya sale last week, it was discounted pretty big so I bought 3 meters of it. I planned to make two pairs of shorts for my husband since the one he’s been using has already ripped at the seams. Actually he doesn’t mind the (big) rip, but it wasn’t a good sight to my eyes.
Unfortunately, I made a mistake when sewing the elastic on the first pair of shorts. Unpicking all those stitches from elasticized waist is a bit too much for me, so I hacked off the shorts and turned it into a knee-length pants for Sidra. I started a new pair of shorts for my husband. It was fine, except that the pockets are too small for his hands! Argh. I can’t believe that his hands are that big. But he said that it’s the most comfortable shorts that he had ever worn, so I guess it is okay for something that will only be worn in the house. But I need to stitch those damn pockets closed because the sight of them makes me mad.
Anyway, the plan of two pairs of shorts had failed, but I still had about 60 cm of the fabric. I decided to use it to make a basic skirt as an exercise in pattern drafting. The instructions were from a vintage book called Pattern Drafting vol. II, published by Kamakura-Shobo Publishing in 1970, and I drew the lines with tailor’s chalk straight on the fabric. It is just a high waist pencil skirt with two pairs of darts, wide waistband, side slits and invisible zipper on left side.
I’m pretty satisfied with the result although it is not really my style. I usually don’t feel comfortable with everything that hangs tight around my waist. The skirt was worn for a little afternoon walk around the house, and I began to feel more respect for all ladies who wear body-conscious, hip-hugging clothes. It looks good but definitely not comfortable!
Pictures time!
A pair of shorts, a boy’s knee-length pants, and a skirt.
We took nice pictures in them.
But things started to get crazy.
Because they were acting silly (look, my face is all in the same expression)!
Sorry for all the silly pictures!
Men’s short pattern is Andre from Burdastyle, lengthened.
Skirt pattern is self-drafted.
Boy’s pants pattern is traced from Sidra’s old pants.
The silly pictures are the best! =)
kayaknya mo bikin deh buat 3 jagoan saya… terimakasih mbak Novita ^_^
[...] Side slant pocketSeptember 22nd, 2010 | kidswear, tutorials A reader commented on my post ‘Three meters of black linen’ , asking about how I made the side slant pockets for my son’s pants. So this is a tutorial on [...]
Love all of the silly pictures. You are all so hilarious.
The shorts look great. I love the skirt too. And thanks for the links to the fabric stores you visit. I’m going back to Japan this December so will try and find them. Last time I was there I found a fabric shop in Shibuya. Don’t ask me the name!
I bought a stack of fabrics (then had to ship them home and I didn’t realise how much fabric weighs!). But, I haven’t done anything with them yet. Your site inspires me to think about what I can do with them once I set up my machine which is gathering dust in the laundry. Summer’s coming here to Australia soon so will have to browse through your projects and see what inspires me!
Your blog is so happy, I love visiting. Just read your background story dan saya maaf for how it was, being a teenager can be hard sometimes without all the extra bits thrown at you but you seem to have such a wonderful life now! Living in Japan too, I am soooo jealous.
Jennifer
Australia
Loved the photos, especially the last two! They had me cracking up!
Everything looks wonderful! And you and your family are so cute.
I love what you did with the linen. I also made my first linen pant recently. Next time I’ll try a linen skirt. Your version looks great.
And of course, your family is adorable!
hi novita,
lovely matching outfits as usual! you are such an inspiration.
i had a tutorial request if you don’t mind.. could you please show us how to sew the slant front pocket like the ones you made on the boys’ shorts? i’ve been searching and searching for hints online but couldn’t find anything! if you know of a link or resource, i would really appreciate it also.
thanks so much for sharing your great projects
Hi Susan, I just made the tutorial for the pockets. I hope it can be useful! ^_^
What can I say but… YOU 3 ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m following you since almost six months and love all your photos and clothes! Keep showing your little beautiful pieces! Su sun from Madrid
WOW ,YOU ARE SO TALENTED,MAKING THE CLOTHS,THE PHOTOS,THE WRITHING!!THANKS FOR SHARING!!
What a nice family !
Congratulations for your sewing.
Love your skirt and the shorts you made…your photos are wonderful they made me
the silly pictures are awesome. they made my day.
I read somewhere you don’t have a serger. How do you finish the edges and seams of your stuff? specially trousers!
XO
I usually just use zigzag stitch for the raw edges. They work fine(although much slower) and I like the homemade feel of them
Candid pictures are the best. loved the pictures. (not silly at all! they are so cute)
Guys you are totally cool and sooo UNIQUE… if you did not exist somebody should invent you!!! Keep having fun and smile
lol! what a lovely family! you guys are seriously the cutest family i had ever seen
i love your dress and the shorts! they look great!
SO sweet family! I enjoyed looking at those family pictures in nice linen garments. How nice to have such wife & mom!!
hahahahaha… What a fun!
Very nice pictures, beautiful family!
You have a beautiful family, enjoy those days when the children are small.
I love those silly pics! thank you for the smile it brought to my day
But you all look good! what a lovely family you have there!
hahaha I love the family photos! Your husband’s hands surely are big!! I can tell from the pic
Hehe so cute! Family sewing! What a beautiful family you have.
you and your family look so great!!!!
haha you guys seem to be having a lot of fun in those pics!
I love how all of the pieces of clothing turned out. And your pictures are so fun! What a fun little family you are.
Also, I laughed to myself when I read your comment about how the boys were silly, but your face was the same in both pictures. This happens to me all the time! When my husband and I were taking our engagement pictures my face was basically the same in every single picture and I don’t think there were two pictures where his face was the same. He wasn’t doing it on purpose though. 
My face was already set in that same smile, but everytime the red light (camera timer) started blinking, they began to do something. It’s difficult… (-_-;)
Yes, I really like the garments, especially your skirt! As always, it brings a smile to my face to see your family portait photos – they’re so fun.
All the way in sunny California,
Jeannie
nice matching family clothes!
what a good looking family you guys are
You and your family are too cute!
HAHA! Those pictures are hilarious! The ones where your hubby is pointing his bum at the camera, and pulling his shorts up made me laugh out loud! Your son cracks me up too.
I can’t believe that’s only a skirt! Because of the black top it looks like a black dress (and an awesome one at that!) Maybe that’s an idea for a dress??
I love seeing all the things you make! So functional AND cute. Good work!
Gina
The black top is actually just a simple sleeveless knit shirt, but I start to see them as a dress now! Maybe I should make a little black dress