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1.11.2010

drawing the line - work and play

I've begun drafting and testing a new trouser pattern in Smootch size (because Smootch needs pants. Bad.) For those of you who have been wondering how pattern drafting is done, here is some insight into my method:


Somewhere under those kids is a pattern. Since I work at home, I have never had very rigid boundaries between personal and work. Then, with the arrival of the second baby, it all got hopelessly jumbled up.


I consider this work/play mixture to be a two way street. I have been known to expect my family to drop whatever it is that they are doing and submit to fittings. Plus, at any moment, I'm liable to turn Smootch's playtime into a photo shoot.


Here is the first run of pants made from one pattern piece for the thin kid who likes to wear everything low down on her hips, like some sort of rock star. This is the kid I'd like to thank for first cracking the wall between the job and the fun. For making work, play.

14 comments:

  1. Nice trousers.I love the lace edging :o)

    cj x

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  2. Please say thanks to Smootch for me for breaking that wall and first inspiring you! And Birdie, for offering you the chance to re-examine where to draw the line.

    ~Julia

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  3. My kids do this too. Usually in the form of my 15mo son sitting on the fabric right where I'm trying to put the pattern piece. I think its cute.

    Gotta love kids!

    - Amy

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  4. I was thinking about emailing you the other day to ask if you were planning a bigger kid trouser pattern.....you must have read my mind!

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  5. Cool pants for the Smootch.
    Would they fit kids who have a belly, but like that underbelly look? ;)

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  6. Zofia, these definitely fit under the belly, but the legs are running on the thinner side. I could actually do a regular size pattern as well as a lean kid version.

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  7. I reckon the thinner legs would be fine :) She just doesn't like clothes pulled up, if you know what I mean ;)

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  8. How adorable. I'm constantly taking inches out of M's pants - I swear there is enough room in her size 3's for a whole ' nother her! I love the lace - M's had not one, but TWO pairs of pants with lacy trim just like it.

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  9. you need to add the green marker to the finished product to reflect the true drafted pattern! LOL!

    Love the pants, my kids also like to have their pants ride low.

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  10. Oh, I can't wait for this pattern. My 4.5yo is a skinny mini and likes to wear her pants below her little belly (so funny to see that little bell on such a teensy girl) so commerical 4T's fit her, but are a bit long. Anyway... looking forward to this pattern because the girl needs pants.

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  11. How do you keep the plumber look from appearing when they wear them lower? I am having a time of it. Mine has a little Budha belly but likes her pants lower. It shows lower than would be decent in the back. Thanks, Andrea

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  12. Andrea,
    When I read your comment I made Smootch do a bunch of bending and rolling over to test out my pattern ;D When I have altered simplicity patterns to fit lower, we had some crack problems, but with my own I set the waist so it curves down from the back and low in front. The back portion is still lower then a regular pair of pants, but the trick is getting the waist band to just below that point on her hip bones where she prefers and then she doesn't mind if the back sits higher.

    did that make sense?

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  13. Makes perfect sense and I am sure Smooch had a great time performing for you:-) So when will the pattern be available and can include the reg size legs, too? Thanks and keep up the awesome work! Andrea

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  14. Hmmm, pattern available maybe in 3 weeks. I will definitely let everyone know when it is out, and there will probably be a giveaway too.

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