Pants fabric question :)

I just checked in for a minute (to check the adress of where we are going). I am about to get ready for a party, to which I will be wearing my rayon challis wide pants. I cut them wide enough to be palazzo pants, with an inseam pocket and elastic waist. They drape beautifully and are easy to sew. I find they hang even better if I self-line them from waist to just above the knee. This is not hard, I simply cut out a second pattern from the fabric, and stitch both parts together at the waistband. They even look good on me, and I am FAR from slender. I got the fabric from

p.s. It is even easier to make yourself an elastic waist long skirt.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

I just KNEW there was a reason why I don't like cruises!...

I wear Jeans outside the house and sweats inside. When we got hitched the entire wedding party wore western clothes (complete with boots, we bought the minister a pair of Justin Ropers just for the ceremony).

The photographer really had a cow though. I was dressed all in black and the wife was all in white and the church and reception hall were both lit with fluorescent lights.

Hey Dana!

It's me, from over at the wreck.equestrian! (funny the places you find people...)

for really really easy slacks, i've made elastic waisted pants that hit mid calf, teamed with a cute sweater or knit blouse, it looks nice. Because fabric quality can vary widely, i've been most successful finding prints at quilt shops...if you search and feel, you can find fabric that feels like a liberty print-really really nice drape to it. cottons in mass merchandizers like Joann's can feel almost paper stiff.

rayon drapes beautifully, but, if one is not experienced, it can be a pain to work with at times.

Betsey

Thats my problem is everything feels stiff or seems to slippery. I'm still hunting. Knits don't work for me :(. What is a liberty print?

Dana

oups.com...

We are headed to Mexico out of galveston. I am not really sure what the weather will be like. Cool I'm assuming? Anyone cruised this time of year (Jan).?

Dana

Dana-

Liberty is a british manufacturer of gorgeous cotton prints...used for garment construction. I haven't seen anything made ina true liberty print in a while, but i guess i'm not shopping in th eright places.

Go to a bonafide quilt shop--not a chain. the chain stores (joanne's, etc) buy a lower grade cotton than what is found in quilt shops...it has lesser threads per inch, etc. Good "quilt shop" cottons have a much nicer "hand" (drape). you'll find mostly prints, but also some cool marbelized colors and other things. you WILL pay more...expect about 7-9/yard average, unless there is a sale (many have end of the year sales after christmas).

too bad you're not in NJ, you could come raid the fabric closet

betsey

We are headed to Mexico out of galveston. I am not really sure what the weather will be like. Cool I'm assuming? Anyone cruised this time of year (Jan).?

Dana

Dana, are you still looking for this fabric? (Somehow I had missed this thread and have only now come across it.)

I like using a navy twill to make a classic double pleat fly-front slacks. They look dressy enough and a bit sporty. Used to wear these to work on casual-dress Fridays, and they still work and look good. Recently I bought some black microfiber slacks made in this design. These slacks are very elegant and can be paired with very fine tops to wear for a dressy night out. They look a little like wool crepe and washup beautifully.

The thing about buying quilting cotton is that I can't think it is weighty enough for decent slacks. But I'm not a quilter, so what do I know.

Wish I could find the fabric to buy by the yard. I'd buy up a bolt in an instant. Sharon

Still have not purchased anything. I will wait til after Christmas to make anything anyway. So the hunt is still on. :)

Dana