Sewing Elasticated Pants

I have this pair of pajamas that have been such a firm favorite of mine, that I have worn it quite through. There is no doubt in my mind that the success of this outfit is thanks to two factors; the brilliant pattern, as well as the softness of the fabric it is made of. When I was working on the gypsy outfit recently, I kept thinking that the softness of the fabric with the rose motif, would work marvelously on this pattern. I promptly recovered the pajamas, cut it apart and made myself a pair of elasticated pants, for day wear. I show you how I went about it in today's blog.

After cutting the pajamas apart, I lay the back panel down on the fabric and cut this out.

Then I cut out the front panel. These are the only two pattern pieces needed for these pants.

I also measure my middle and cut a length of elastic to fit me.

I pin the crotch of the back panels together and sew them.

Then I do the same with the front panels.

I pin the outer side seams and sew them.

I line the inner seams up at the crotch and pin outwards.

Then I sew the inner seam all the way through from hem to hem.

I fold rolled hems and sew these.

I fold a large rolled hem at the top of the pants, wide enough to fit the elastic.

Leaving an opening between the pins, I sew all around the middle of the pants.

I sew on some ribbon loops with which to hang the pants in the wardrobe.

It is time to insert the elastic into the tube created for it. I use a bodkin to do this.

When the elastic emerges through the other hole, I sew the two ends together with a zigzag stitch.

The pants are done in no time at all!

You can watch a compilation video of the above steps on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/TtoRPWcbe_E

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.

Mutton Potjie in the Slow Cooker

My local butcher had mutton on special when I visited there the other day. I had a friend on her way over to spend the day painting and crafting with me, and this seemed like all the excuse I needed to indulge in a lovely slow cooked mutton potjie. To top it all, I had a brand new rice cooker to try out, and rice is always a great accompaniment to a potjie. I show you how to make this lovely dish in today's blog.

Start by roughly chopping 3-4 large onions. Brown in a bit of oil.

I selected two kinds of mutton to add to the potjie. Some had lots of bone, as these has the best flavour. However, I also selected some cuts for adding more meat to the potjie.

Brown your meat in a bit of oil.

Chop some carrots into chunks.

Put the onion at the bottom of the potjie with the meat on top. Add a little water to the potjie.

Add salt and a descent squirt of lemon juice. The lemon juice will tenderize the meat.

Season with freshly ground black pepper and add some rosemary to the pot.

After about an hour, or two, add the carrots. Let the potjie continue cooking for another hour before adding some small cabbages that have been quartered.

Chop about 5-6 medium potatoes into quarters and add these to the pot along with the cabbage.

About an hour before the potjie is done, add some patty pans and...

... mushrooms to the potjie.

Continue to simmer.

Mix a little Bisto with water and add it to the pot about 15 minutes before serving. Stir only slightly to get the Bisto mixture evenly distributed in the pot.

In the meantime, I had set my rice cooker on a timer to have my rice cooked and ready by the time the potjie was ready. The rice was fluffy and beautiful.

All that was left to do, was to dish up and eat!

You can watch a short compilation video of these steps on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/jQaAZR-mY8Y

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.

Gypsy Woman: Sew a Gypsy Blouse

As soon as I had made the gypsy skirt and waistcoat that I had blogged about in the previous two blogs, I knew that I would not rest until I had made a blouse to go with it. The odds of me ever wearing these three items in the same ensemble, are very slim indeed. Still, each on its own, coupled with something simpler, are very wearable. I show you how to go about making this rather elaborate blouse in today's blog.

I drew up this idea for the blouse, but soon decided that those sleeves would be too hot for the summer months. I replaced these. I also found the collar to be ever so slightly too girly, along with the frills, and discarded that idea altogether.

This was the final design for the complete outfit.

I drew up a quick pattern, using a shirt from my wardrobe to guide me.

The pieces was then cut from fabric.

The sleeves were cut from strips of fabric that was tapered towards the end.

Second layer of sleeves.

Third layer of sleeves.

The facings also had to be reinforced with stiffening.

I started by finishing all of the edges with a zigzag stitch.

I then contemplated that it would be best if I cut facings for the sleeves as well, and did as I planned.

The stiffening was ironed on to the facings.

I then 'hemmed' the different layers of the sleeves with a fine satin stitch.

The remaining sides of the sleeves were zigzagged.

I pinned the shoulders and sewed them together.

I also pinned the shoulders of the neck facings and sewed these together.

I then pinned the neck facing to the neck opening.

I sewed the neck.

I notched the neckline.

I set my machine to do top stitching.

I ironed the neckline flat and then sewed all around the neckline, 10 mm away from the opening.

I sewed a second top stitched line, 40 mm from the opening.

I basted all of the sleeves.

The first layer of sleeves was pinned to the armholes.

The second layer of sleeves was pinned to the armhole.

The third layer of sleeves was pinned to the armhole.

The sleeve facings were pinned to the armholes (after I had sewn the sleeve facings together at the shoulder seams).

I sewed all around the armholes.

I then decided that I would like the top to be longer. I cut a length of fabric to the desired width, and basted it.

The fabric was pinned to the hems of the blouse and sewn on.

Pin the side seams, from the arm facings, through to the extended hem.

Sew the side seams.

The final product.

A short compilation video of these steps can be seen on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/e1k0FO4wFe8

Marietjie Uys (Miekie) is a published author. You can buy my books here:
You can purchase Designs By Miekie 1 here.
Jy kan Kom Ons Teken en Verf Tuinstories hier koop.
Jy kan Kom Ons Kleur Tuinstories In hier koop.
Jy kan Tuinstories hier koop.
You can follow Miekie's daily Bible Study blog, Bybel Legkaart, here in English & Afrikaans.
You may prefer to follow the traveling blog, A Pretty Tourist.
For more crafty ideas and great product reviews, visit A Pretty Talent on Facebook.
If you are in a literary mood, follow Miekie's musings, stories and poetry on A Pretty Author - Miekie.
Remember to keep nurturing your TALENT for making life PRETTY.
You can subscribe to any of these blogs and receive regular updates by email. Simply register your email address at the top of the applicable blog.