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29.6.11

Zero waste or madness?

Scraps are taking up too much valuable realty in my stash wardrobe.  I generally buy good quality fabrics, and it seems a waste to throw out even scraps of them.  After seeing this post by "sew i do", I decided to use up a few scraps on boys jocks.  I made a pattern off a RTW pair and then I ordered Jalie 2327 so that I would have a range of sizes.  I lowered the rise on the Jalie pattern, more like the RTW pair.  For one child, I cut a larger size and gathered it more onto the elastic as he likes a looser fit in the legs.

I also got the chance to use up some button-hole elastic that seemed a good idea when the kids were little, but in fact was never strong enough to hold up trousers.


Sewing jocks does seem to be bordering on sewing madness though.  The boys are happy with them, even the child who does not want to wear homemade clothes anymore.  I guess everyone likes comfy undies.  I have been making them whilst the kids are home on holidays.  I would feel guilty sewing for myself whilst they were home but I don't seem to feel the same guilt for such utilitarian sewing. 

I even got out the coverstitch machine out to practice both hemming and flat-stitching.  I threaded the bottom thread with fluffy and it has been behaving so well that I have not wanted to change threads.  It seems cover stitches pull out so easily when they are sewn well but are difficult to remove if they are not, so I need to improve my skills to sew straight and require no unpicking.  Undies are a good place to practice.

Whilst I was ordering pattern from Jalie, I bought a racer back tank,  Jalie 2565, for my daughter.  Here she gets a new knicker and cami set from scraps of a shirt that I have not shown you yet.



And finally, I got a set, using scraps from a dress that I recently made a friend.

13 comments:

  1. Andrea29 June 2011 at 17:39

    I made these for my sons as well and they love them. I made some of mine from recycled tee shirts others from scraps. Now my daughter wants some as well.

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  2. Myra29 June 2011 at 18:12

    These are really cool! Very nice way to use up your fabric remnants!

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  3. Christy29 June 2011 at 19:54

    Gosh, such a brave sewer! Great to use the scraps and great that the kids will wear them.

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  4. kbenco29 June 2011 at 23:36

    Excellent underwear - it looks very thrifty and sensible to me, and practicing on underwear would be a great way to work on the coverstitching, thanks for the tip.

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  5. Sue30 June 2011 at 03:23

    Considering how much RTW undies cost, I cannot see this as a waste of time! They look great.

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  6. jacquie30 June 2011 at 04:46

    Great idea. It seems a shame to chuck out scraps like this. And I second Sue, undies in the shops can be quite overpriced so it isn't a waste of time.

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  7. glayla30 June 2011 at 06:30

    not madness, but ingenuity! wonderful sets and use of scraps.

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  8. liza jane30 June 2011 at 06:48

    You're not mad at all! A good bout of utilitarian sewing is a great excuse to make something totally frivolous for yourself now.

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  9. Joy30 June 2011 at 07:05

    I imagine these could get more wear than regular clothes!

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  10. Rachelle30 June 2011 at 12:21

    I just bought my son 3 pairs of these for $34 on sale. You are saving yourself a lot of money! They look exactly the same. Would you consider doing a tutorial for us beginners?

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  11. Bernice30 June 2011 at 14:04

    Madness - but of the good kind! Consider yourself an environmental warrior!

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  12. Amber1 July 2011 at 07:37

    Love the boy underwear! I never thought to use buttonhole elastic--I have some sitting around somewhere.

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  13. Gail3 July 2011 at 17:05

    I don't think it is madness at all. I am thinking of the same use for my jersey and silk scraps.

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