Greenstyle Tempo Tights 2 + matching sports bra

This is my second pair of Greenstyle Tempo Tights.  I love the huge side pockets, so I think there will be more pairs made! 

I decided to make these in a single fabric, rather than go with the colour blocking options.  Do you ever wish that you hadn't photographed your sewing?  I've been wearing these for weeks without realising that there were two dark motifs at my groin....seems so obvious that the print placement is not balanced, now that I have taken this photo.

The fabric was purchased from Pitt Trading.  I think it is an athletic, moisture-wicking polyester spandex.  It is super stretchy.

I made a matching bra.  I can't tell you too much about it because I made it weeks ago and it was a mash-up of different patterns and my own modifications.  My best guess is that I started with Jalie 3247 and changed the elastic underband to be a separate piece.  

These photos were taken pre-dawn at Nature's Window in Kalbarri National Park.  We thought we were going to be the only ones there, and then about 2 minutes before sunrise, 30 more people turned up.

Greenstyle Creations Tempo Athletic Tights

I have a new favourite legging pattern ...the Tempo Athletic Tights by Greenstyle Creations.  There are a few reasons for them being my favourite.  Like all the Greenstyle leggings patterns, the fit is great and it is easy to grade between sizes for waist, hips and legs.  I prefer my leggings to have large thigh pockets, because I always run with my phone and if I am away from home, also my car keys and my glasses.  I don't like my waistbands too tight, so pockets on the back of the waistband just drag my pants down whilst I am running.  The other reason I like them is because the legs are shaped.  Many leggings patterns have straight leg seams.  On me, straight seams usually means they feel too tight on my calves and are baggy on my ankles.  The shaping of the leg panels means these fit both my calves and my ankles.

These have a wide waistband with two rise options.  I chose the high rise option.  I was impressed at how well these stayed up during my run, as I usually reserve this style of waistband for lower impact exercise.  I have since made a second pair in a softer lycra, and they don't stay up well enough, so I'm going to have to take the waistband off and make it smaller or put in better elastic.  I'll blog the second set after I alter them.

There are lots of seams in these and plenty of options for colour blocking, but I made this pair fairly sedate by choosing black for all except the ankle panels.  It is hard to tell in these photos, but the contrast panels add a bit of bling, being made of spandex covered in rose gold foil sequins.  I adore this fabric and used it to make a matching sports bra.

It is hard to see the seam lines in this black fabric, but this photo shows you the large side pocket.

I used Jalie 3247 for the sports bra.  My underband elastic is wider than recommended, which pulls the armholes and neckline down lower than the pattern design.  I don't mind this, but thought I would point it out in case somebody is looking for reviews of the pattern and would otherwise be misled by my photo.  

These photos were taken in a bush reserve near my house where I run most weeks.  It is pretty quiet, which makes it a good spot for running whilst social distancing. 

Happy sewing & stay well xx 

Fehr Trade Roleur Leggings

Earlier this year, I was one of the pattern testers for Fehr Trade's Roleur Leggings. 

I have learnt over the years not to use my favourite fabrics for pattern testing.  This very busy print was picked up for a bargain, so I thought it would be perfect for testing.  Turns out I really, really don't like this print, so I never wore these after the testing process, so no outdoor photos.

I don't love the rear fit of the Fehr Trade leggings on me, and I have under bum wrinkles, but I gave these to a friend who runs and cycles, and they look fabulous on her.  She even made the print look good.  There is a wide, comfortable waistband and leg cuffs hidden among the print.

In this print you can't really see the large side pocket.  Side pockets on leggings are my favourite.

Simplicity 8634

I went a bit crazy when I saw all the beautiful printed lycras online at Pitt Trading.  Now I have to sew all the swimwear and leggings!

I recently purchased Simplicity 8634 for $6 in a Spotlight sale.  It seems a terribly good bargain, with leggings, sports bra with cup sizes and t-shirt included. 

My measurements were between M and L, and I sewed up the M.  I had to take in all the vertical seams.  My lycra is very stretchy, but even so, I would recommend sizing down in this pattern.

The leggings pattern includes large side pockets, which I love.  The pattern uses wide elastic for the waistband.  I cut a strip of lycra and encased elastic for my waistband.

I love a bit of matchy-matchy, so I made the sports bra out of the same fabric.

I normally wear a 34B bra, and after reading other reviews of this pattern, I decided to cut out a 32B, and I'm pretty happy with that choice.  I made a few modifications to the pattern.  I eliminated the V piece in the front.  I didn't use the binding on the armholes, instead I changed the order of construction and sewed the lining and outer together with a seam.  For this reason, my straps are narrower by a seam allowance than the original pattern.  I made the bra using 3 layers of fabric; the outer lycra, and inner soft nylon lycra lining and power mesh between the two.

Another happy fabric project :)

All the long leggings

Moving to a colder climate meant that I needed to switch out my exercise shorts and capri leggings for longer leggings this year. 

The first time I tried the Jalie 3462 Cora pattern, the result was a disaster, but I think that was due to my fabric not being stretchy enough, so I thought I would give the pattern another go.  I didn't want to use my favourite fabrics though, in case this second attempt didn't work out either.  I used some swimwear lycra that one of my sisters gave me.  I didn't have enough fabric to make the curved waistband, so I used a really wide, soft elastic (maybe 10 cm wide?) inside of a straight casing. These turned out much better than the first pair.  I think I really need to review my collection of Jalie patterns, trying some of them a size up or size down or in different fabrics.  I think I have been too quick to write off patterns in the past and seek a shiny new pattern, when all I really needed was a different size.

These have a large pocket at the back, but personally, I prefer side pockets.

This next pattern is the Greenstyle Creations Super G Tights.  I think I graded from a large in the waist, to a medium in the hips and a small in the legs.  I also shaped the legs a bit more to have more room in the calves and less in the ankles.  The fabric is a beefy, very stretchy polyester from the Fabric Fairy.  These are my warmest leggings.

I like the big side pockets.  I had to piece the pocket fabric fabric together to get this to fit in 1m of fabric, which explains the extra ridge near the bottom of the pocket.  My memory is hazy, but I think I cut the long gusset on the other grain.  My fabric is so stretchy that it doesn't matter.

I also made a matching Greenstyle Creations Power bra.  The sizing for this pattern seems unusual, as it put me in an E cup, and I am definitely not an E cup!  I made the E cup just to see how it would turn out, but this fabric is so stretchy, that I don't know if I need to go down several cup sizes or just use a less stretchy fabric.  I dyed the elastic to match.  It should have been a perfect match, but for some reason, my elastic only too the blue dye and left all the red dye in the water.  

The next pair are the Jalie 3674 Isabelle tights, modified to have large side pockets.  You can see all the lumps of things sticking out of my pockets.  These are made out of a lighter weight supplex, which feels so beautiful to wear.  The fabric makes these my favourites, but I have to make sure I am wearing lighter coloured underwear, and I don't have any matching tops.  These photos were taken during a dusk bushwalk, which is why they are not very clear.

These next ones are my "self-drafted" pattern, originally modified from a stylearc pattern.  Additional modifications this time around were eliminating the mesh panels and lengthening them to ankle-length.  In these photos, I am wearing them hiking, but I made them for running.  Each of the previous patterns have the wide waistband with a 1 cm wide elastic sewn into the top seam.  I don't like this elastic too tight (seems to trigger sciatica), and whilst a wide waistband is more flattering, I find that it falls down for running, probably because the elastic is not tight enough.  Instead I prefer straight waistband enclosing a ~4 cm wide elastic.  The elastic is snug, but not too tight, and they don't need to be pulled up whilst I am running.  Also, big pockets for my phone.  These are not as compressive as the other patterns, and I could probably modify my pattern to take them in a little, but I don't mind if they are not tight, just so long as they stay up.  The fabric is a heavier-weight supplex.

Now I have a drawer full of warmer workout wear, but really, I'd love it to be warm enough to wear shorts and a tank again.

Workout wear 2018

My entry into the Pattern Review mini-wardrobe contest was workout wear.  I have written up all the reviews over there, so will just provide links if you are interested in pattern details, fabric selection etc.

I started with the Jalie Isabelle leggings, which I modified to have a great big side pocket.

Next up was the Jalie Loulouxe skort, which I modified to be made up in a stretch woven.

The first top was the Greenstyle Creations tie-back tank.  I forgot to get a photo of it untied.

My second top was a self-drafted loose fitting tee.  Usually I run in tank tops, so this is a bit of a departure for me.

The final garment was the Stylearc Steffi Jacket.

 Whew!  Just getting them sewn and written up within the deadline was a workout in itself.

Bike Pants

An Aldi store has just opened near us, and I tell you, the Aldi catalogue is one of the highlights of my family's week.  Not that we get there for the specials....we are just amazed at the variety of stuff that turns up in store.  A few weeks ago they had a special on cycling gear.  By the time we made it to the store, the ladies bike pants had all sold out, except for Sz 6.  Well, I am nowhere near a Sz 6, but I thought buying them and using the chamois from them would be cheaper than ordering a chamois and having it shipped to me.

The Aldi pair had an interesting design, in that there was no elastic across the front waistband.  Instead, there was a doubled over yoke, similar to a maternity panel.  I guess if you are sitting on a bike, there is no chance of your pants falling down, so this seems like a comfortable option.  I got out my pencil and paper and drafted a pattern with this feature.  I also included a side panel with a big pocket, in case the chamois didn't work out and I decided to use these for running instead.  This time, I used Jalie 2920 as my block for drafting.  It is a one piece pattern, which makes drawing on design lines easy.  Then it is just a matter of cutting up the design lines and added seam allowances.

My fabric is from funkifabrics.

 Front panel (lining up with side pocket)

 Inside view of front panel

Inside view of back, showing elasticised waist

Large phone pocket

Being modelled

I only go cycling once a week, and I've actually missed the last couple of weeks, so I can't even report whether or not the chamois improves the cycling experience!  I've only attached it with a wide zig-zag in case I need to re-position it.  

Too hot for running capris

The weather has really turned here...I am just dripping with sweat after a 5 am run...so I know I won't be wearing these capris again until next winter.  Better post about them before I totally forget.

My inspiration for these were the Fade Out Dobby Be Free Knicker from athleta. 

I don't like my exercise clothes to be too tight at the waist, so pockets around the waist are no good to me.  If I put anything in them, it tends to just drag the pants down whilst I am running.  Side pockets seem to work well and need to be big enough for my phone  (I need the runkeeper app as motivation to keep on running).  Capri length means that it is no hassle to put my knee brace on and off.  The mesh panels are mostly just for looks.  I put a blue waistband on these, but this doesn't show up in any of the photos.

 

 

I started with the Stylearc Monica pant pattern.  It is probably my preferred leggings pattern because I like the wide waistband, where the waistband sits, the behind the knee mesh and the seaming details.

I traced off the pattern pieces next to each other, eliminating the seam allowances, and drew on the style lines that I wanted for my capris.  I have relatively short legs, so I shortened the legs above the knee, so that the mesh panels would sit in the correct position. I redistributed the curves at the waist side seams among my pieces and I eliminated the separate gusset.  I find gussets fiddly to sew, and in this stretchy fabric, I don't find that they add much benefit.  The red lines in the photo below are the changes I want to make for next time, mostly reducing the width of the panel with the side pocket.

 

The stitching on the last few leggings I have made with multiple seaming has tended to come undone at intersecting seams,  so for these ones, I coverstitched each seam before sewing the next one.

 The main fabric is a titan lycra print from funkifabrics.

These capris have been perfect for winter, but now I need to make more shorts with pockets.