Hélène Cardigan and Talia pants

I have made both of these patterns before and since I liked them both I decided to make a sort of informal pants suit out of the pair of them.

The Hélène cardigan from Jalie is probably one of the most enjoyable patterns I have sewn in a long time. It is interesting to see how it goes together and it provides a more tailored looking cardigan in a knit (which is why my white version ended up being my daughter's lab coat) than most other patterns.

For this version, since I knew I was going to wear it with pants, I lengthened it by 2", also helpful as I am tall. I am not sure if I will add that much next time, but it works here.

I used the same ottoman knit for the jacket that I used for the knit Adeline dress a few posts back and I used some rayon challis for the pants. I made these short as per current style and they are so comfortable.

The Talia's have a flat front and an elastic waist only at the back which is flattering and eliminates bulk where I don't need it.

A pretty easy pair to sew and very practical.

Next, after many months of doing basics sewing and sewing for folks in the family I am stepping out and trying new patterns to wear in the pool with the kids.

Brace yourself for that one.

Talia in rayon

Hi folks, bit of an absence due to life intervention. Even living the rv life there are times when there are things to take care of.

As promised here is the rayon version of the Talia pants

I suspect this was the kind of fabric this pattern was designed for. The interesting thing to me is that we look at clothes always on the outside but they are, for the wearer, more importantly appreciated (or not) by how the feel from inside them.

We don't pay enough attention to that when we consider clothes much. Fashion is all about how it looks to other people as if that, the reflection, is more important than how they work around you.

Think of the clothes you reach for when the chips are down. 

You are down to your last nerve with your work, for example, and you finally get through your own door, take off the watch, put down the keys, and what do you change into? What makes you feel like yourself again?

Where's the hug coming from?

Do you reach for something because that colour looks good on you, are because it is "on trend" ?  Or do you reach for something that is just easier on you than life at the moment?

Exactly.

So when you look at the pictures of these pants consider how great they feel on. I am definitely going to be wearing these until they are a rag, I can tell you that. So comfortable.

Here we go:

Pardon the socks and sandals, I was just rushing off for a dog walk when my photographer became available

Talia pant: muslin beach walking version

When I showed these to my husband his first reaction was "what are you wearing?" followed quickly by a "you look great."

He knows.

The fabric is a little wild I know but it was all I had with me to do a test pair of the Talia pants. The fabric has a pattern of waves on them, cotton broadcloth, and are just fine IMO for walking on the beach looking at the waves. My version of camo. You won't even know I am there.

This is a new pant shape for me and I wanted to try them out before I cut into the beautiful rayon I ordered in from Hart fabrics - that pair will be posted soon too.

 As always this pattern is available from Stylearc in paper or you can download directly through Gumroad through this link.

When you compare the cotton to the rayon you will see why the rayon, or something drapey, is best for these pants, but even still these are incredibly comfortable pants in cotton and I don't mind the print at all. Not all occasions are dress events.

I have that flashy streak anyway and the dress code among campers is not as high as you probably think it is.

Back to what you are really interested in.

I made a size 12 and added my usual 1/2" to the centre front and 1 1/2" to centre back to accommodate my belly and backside respectively. Apart from that there are no alterations. I am posting a lot of pictures here because I think the cotton pair actually gives you a good idea of what the pattern pieces look like.

One construction note.

The front is flat and interfaced, the back has an elastic insertion that is top-stitched in rows. 

I did the first round as per pattern but found it was hard to assess how the elastic would feel attached to the front (you make up the two units and attach them) so round two sewed the front and back pieces together at the side seams, basted the back elastic in at the side seams, tried it on for fit, closed the waistline seam of this waist unit (basted raw edges together in other words) then top-stitched a few rows through the elastic as I was supposed to.

The completed waistband is then just attached to the top of the pants, which I have to tell you is easier if you are not sewing in the dark.

So here we go, with notes:

Elastic waist back so of course there are gathers, more discrete in the rayon, but not too bunchy IMO

One of the surprises of these pants for me was how high the waist is. Been a long time since I had a waistband that started at the top of my navel. Forgot how comfortable that is.

Another surprise, but this wasn't apparent with the model picture - pretty sure she is not a size 12  - but the legs are fairly loose. As I said earlier this will require a revision of my top wardrobe, don't intend to have too many of this belly articulation numbers in the future top line-up but also don't want to look too much like a fridge. Huge issues to think about obviously

My partner in crime wondering why we are not on our way to a walk.

Not sure why I am listing like this, although I was on a dock, but am not going to query the photographer who is, after all, and excellent cook. Thought you would want to see the leg shape and of course my worst side view.

Another shot of the leg shape but that is not the point. There is a winter parking ban at home in Nova Scotia

Stay tuned for the rayon version, they are really A1.

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