red to the nth degree

lets just get one thing straight: i didn't, but i probably should have failed every mathematics class i ever took after the point where it wasn't just numbers anymore. you know, like when they decided to throw in letters too (because, what? numbers aren't abstract enough??!?). so the fact that i pulled that math reference out for the title of this post is testament to the surfacing of some deep seeded memory i have long been trying to repress...

good. glad i got that off my chest.

now where was i? oh yes! heeeyyyy look at these red pannntttssss!!! pretty shmancy eh?

these bad boys are the result of all my clover tutorials and my second pair of pants made using the colette clover pattern. in the tutorials i showed you some of the changes i made to the pattern to give them more of a trouser look. this included giving them a front zip fly, side pockets and back welt pockets. i may have accidentally reshaped the leg of these while i was sewing them up, too.

i may or may not have been about to fall when this picture was taken...

so i probably won't ever wear my red jacket and my red pants together in real life, but it was just too good of a photo opportunity to pass up. especially considering that, you know, valentine's day (shhhh) is creeping up on us.

i always feel a little bad for valentine's day because for the most part, once you're an adult, its like, expected for you to hate valentine's day (but i think maybe secretly we all sort of love it - ha!) i've never actually celebrated valentine's day - except with my parents (love you!) but i always think about doing something. does anyone have any suggestions for some non-cheesy but still maybe goofy and fun things to do on valentine's day?

one of the changes i made to this pair of clovers was to cut all my waistband pieces, including my interfacing and facing, on the bias. one of my readers, elle, left a comment on one of my tutorials advising me against this. i seriously considered not doing it (i take the advise of more experienced sewers veerrrryyy seriously) but it was something i have seen on many ready to wear pants and so i was pretty curious (plus i had plenty of extra fabric should something go wrong). it must work somehow. well i'm very happy to report that my bias cut waistband went in without a hitch! and i am so glad i did it! the little bit of extra stretch compensates for my muffin top quite comfortably, thankyouverymuch!

cutting and sewing things on the bias makes me quite nervous - so i'm a bit reticent to give any advise on sewing a bias waistband - but i will say that checking the direction of your bias matters. make sure all your seams are sewn with the bias going in opposite directions. i also think it helped that i was using a really sturdy sew in interfacing (hair canvas) and a really sturdy cotton for the facing - which didn't have much give, even on the bias.

i know it seems slightly crazy that i'm wearing a sleeveless shirt at the beginning of february - even i thought it was too cold to take off my jacket when i set off to take these pictures today. but then i heard on the radio that it was 65 degrees (F)! and i felt silly for being cold and wondered where my northeast blood went to!

i really wanted to pair this coral shirt with my red pants. its the sort of color combination that seems like it shouldn't work - but when you actually put them together its quite lovely. the pairing makes me feel very modern yet feminine - and maybe a touch springy?

i finally feel like i might be at the end of my rope with my "fall/winter" sewing. i'll be spending the next few days gathering some inspiration for future projects, and though i can't quite believe it, gearing my thoughts towards warm hot weather dressing.

if you'd like to check out my clover tutorials - you can find them all on my tutorial page.

xx