Sheldon Wouldn't Wear These

One of this week's makes is a pair of boxer shorts, a store sample for my LQS, The City Quilter.  

Here's the pattern I used - The Essential Boxer Shorts by Fishsticks (pdf pattern no longer available).

The pattern covers four sizes small to x-large (men's waist sizes 28" to 42" and uses 1.5 yards fabric for all sizes and 1" braided elastic.

For the store sample, I opted for the traditional fly option but the pattern also gives instructions for faux fly and no-fly versions.  

The fabric is by Illustration Ink and from the Science Fair collection for Robert Kaufman.

In review: 

The Pattern - it's a great pattern - only 2 pieces, clear instructions and fit is correct to the sizes given.  My husband did comment that he'd want a button on that traditional fly as it opens too easily - fyi the pattern doesn't include instructions for adding a button and buttonhole.  Note: the pattern is folded like a book yet the instructions don't follow if you read them in this way.  Instead take the pages apart and read a whole printed sheet at a time in the page number order given on each sheet.  This will make sense if you use the pattern and hopefully you'll be saved the 5 mins of confusion I had before the lightbulb pinged on!

My Opinion - I didn't enjoy the process of making these shorts, a bit long winded for the end result - all that sewing round and round the elastic and getting your fabric seam to lie flat in the rise as you stitch it down for a gentleman's comfort.  Let's face it in normal use this garment wouldn't even be visible to receive the public admiration my hard work deserves!!! Not in anyway the fault of the pattern just not how I want to spend an evening so I won't be rushing to make them again apart from finishing a couple of pairs I've already bought fabric for and made promises to recipients!

Update - I finally made both promised pairs - it only took me another two years!  Click images to read more!

As soon as my husband saw the fabric though he said "Sheldon wouldn't wear those" referring to The Big Bang Theory character, Sheldon Cooper.  Apparently, the periodic table on the fabric isn't in the right order - well personally I wouldn't have a clue!!!

Have you ever made boxer shorts and do you enjoy making them?  

Share any tips you have too in the comments.

Clicking on an image will take you to through to the new page of crafty goodness :)

Dia de Muertos - A Cosmetic Commission

Remember this Day of the Dead cosmetic bag and tissue cover I made for a charity auction - it was quite a while ago, back in November 2013?

From this blog post I received a commission to create two more sets and here they are.

Same Folk Art fabric by Timeless Treasures but I've used a different colour zip for each bag.

And packaged to go.

 

 

   

Exploring Soho - Purl Soho, NYC

This is Purl Soho - a 'must visit' destination for most sewists, knitters and crafters visiting Manhattan.  

Maybe you follow their blog The Purl Bee - it's inspirational, packed full of beautiful makes to get your creative juices flowing and their website is equally delicious to drool over.

Magazine photo shoot worthy but, although it's on my doorstep, I only seem to go to the store when crafty friends visit and then I play tourist for the day and drop by with them.  Here're photos from one such visit for you to drool over too.

Purl Soho is open Mon-Fri 12-7 and Sat/Sun 12-6 at 459 Broome Street, Soho, Manhattan (212) 420 8796.  Click through to see classes on offer.

For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D

Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs and opinions are my own.

     

Spin Me A Yarn Basket

My dil, Katie, has started knitting again so for Christmas I made her a divided basket full of knitting goodies, just like the Knitter's Dream Basket I made for my daughter, Flicky, last Christmas.

Again, I used the Divided Basket pattern by Anna of Noodlehead and here's a list of the fabrics:
A cotton/linen fabric - the selvedge reads "made in Japan - Project: by Cotton"

Moda Linen Mochi dots - Teal and Boysenberry

Cotton + Steel Hatbox 4001-052 cotton canvas by Alexia Marcelle Abegg.

Outside pieces and handles.

Outside sections joined.

Lining and divide.

 

 

And a knitting basket should always be full of knitting notions

Thankfully, Katie's present has the Tatty seal of approval.

Katie made good use of her knitting basket during her stay with us over Christmas and set about making a scarf for my son Joe and by New Year he was wearing it on our trips out.

Aren't they both gorgeous?!!!  I'm missing them so much already now they're back in London.

Click the images below to read more about other Divided Baskets I've made.

Featured:

Clicking on a image will take you to through to the new page of crafty goodness :)