Burda 6471 and sewing machine cover

So I finally finished something after the couch. I started making these in summer I think. I know; counterintuitive isn't it. I often think, I should start sewing for winter in summer so it's ready for winter. Two things wrong with this plan other than the obvious - I don't get that organised. One is that it is so hot in summer, it is just not bearable to have winter fabrics on you while sewing. Two, is that there is no motivation to get it done which also fits with it doesn't get that cold here either.  I just cannot imagine cold weather when I am hot either. Anyway, I really liked these track pants. Call them what you want or buy a fancy indie pattern, but the truth is, they are track pants.

I have a thing for grey too. Love grey trackies. (also commonly known as 'trackie dacks' here). Things I liked about this pattern.... flat front, slant pockets, eyelets and the unbound straight hems. I also love Burda pants fit on me... I like to say I have a "European" figure.  Plus they are not $18 for a indie... I just don't get indie pattern buyers for things like track pants or peasant blouses etc. I want something a bit more thought out or unique for that money. Different if they were $5 like a Spottie sale pattern. I mean really, most people get (or only option is) a PDF pattern that you put together on your paper and you've still paid top dollar. I never feel the need for instant gratification, I have too many patterns in stock for that. In fact I find great satisfaction in finding the same thing in old Big 4 patterns. Not much is new. Sorry didn't know that was coming; rant over. 

The legs are nice and slim and straight.. I hate baggy pants legs (unless they are supposed to be flowing palazzo pants for example). I also hate the ribbing on the bottom of the legs. This fabric is cotton french terry that I bought at the fabric sale I go to (hasn't been on for a couple of years now?). It was $4 per metre and I bought 2. It is lovely; oh so lovely. I wish I had bought more. It is soft, a dream to sew and such a great colour. It was terribly off grain after pre washing however. I made a big effort to straighten it and cut on grain.. another thing that annoys me is twisting legs. I'm so glad I did. I haven't actually hemmed them either. I thought I would wash them a few times in case they shrink..  but I may not hem them as I like the contrast.

Of course nothing goes smoothly. They went together quickly and I was loving the look of them. Did a fancy stitch on the pocket if you can see it above... like a X. I made the waistband, put the eyelets in and the elastic in the back etc. When I tried the pants on the band and waist was huge.  I took the band off and made the tucks in the front a bit wider and took the crotch seam in a bit in front and back. Then I put the waistband back on with the eyelets on the inside... I can live with it.... no I can't. I took it off and it stayed in the naughty corner for a number of months. I have a week off for school holidays and staying home catching up on jobs and this was one. Truth be told they are still a bit big.

The eyelets are really not good ones. Just from Birch at Spotlight. One went on well the other nearly got smushed. I always put a bit of bias tape on for hanging on the back of the bathroom door. I really hate labels on the inside of my clothes and this is a good compromise as it is cotton and not scratchy.
What a wuss! I do love my new trackies though. They are soft and comfy and just warm enough for our winter weather. I'm thinking to make some using a woven too.

Just this last hour, I made a sewing machine cover  from some Ikea fabric I bought for an ironing board cover. It's for a Janome 2160DC I bought off Gumtree to be my back up machine. (Ha ha... how many back up machines can you have... I think I have 9... some on Gumtree for selling as I have no room!). It's a nice machine though it's missing all but the A foot (which is the every day sewing foot) and the button hole foot. How do people lose feet?? It even comes with a little box that clips on the machine to hold all the feet in??). Anyway, it was threaded with cheap thread, so I figured that's why it was getting sold. It had no dust cover either but I figured it had one of those horrible plastic ones when new. I just draped the fabric over the machine, cut a template out of the shape of the sides. Folded it up a bit at the bottom to make some pockets I'm sure I'll never use and stitched it all up. I really need to make some for my overlockers and cover stitch too.

I have lots cut out and still on my UFO's getting finished. I've just cleared up the sewing room so I'm ready to go. I did go to a destash a couple of weeks ago. I sold about $150 worth of patterns and fabric and only spent $13 on some rayon I had a remnant piece from Spotlight and wanted more... that was with a spool of Guttermann thread so a real bargain, and a New Look pattern too. It was a worthy exercise so I would consider doing it again soon. I really need to destash lots more as .. see above.. have no room. Hopefully I will have some stuff lots sooner than later. Also, still cannot comment ... My google ID just does not show? I've tried everything. If anyone has any tips there I'd be very grateful. Thanks for reading. :)