Trousers with lots of pockets

I like pockets in my trousers (pants) and notice that I pick some of my self sewn trousers over others because of the pockets. I also like stretch woven fabric over other fabrications.

I don't actually have a pattern which has all the attributes I would like, but I thought I could add extra pockets to a simpler style like my old favourite New Look 6216.

I'll make the pockets on the pattern have a smaller opening and a larger pocket (as I did on the black pair), and perhaps try adding a cargo pocket on the leg and/or back pockets as well.

Autumn Collection - starting with three pieces

It seems ages since I did one of my seasonal collections, so here goes with Autumn 2021.

The colour palette for this is dark brown, pink and ivory.

Bottoms - these will be trousers with an elasticated waist and lots of pockets.

Dark and slightly lighter brown strips with a pink pinstripe. It is printed onto the fabric rather than woven in and has some crosswise stretch.

I have 3.2 metres of 160cm wide fabric, which I seem to have bought 10+ years ago from Abakhan Fabrics, probably from the Mostyn, North Wales shop, but possibly from Manchester or Preston.

Top - simple scoop necked jersey top.

Pink background fabric with lovely blossom print. Stretch in both directions.

There is just 2 metres of 150cm wide fabric which I bought locally when I lived in Chesterfield, probably from the stall on the open air market, sometime pre pandemic.

Layer - woven coatigan

This is a blanket style fabric in dark brown, a lighter brown and cream. I've already overlocked the edges and washed it, so it is ready to go. Will definitely have big pockets and be of a reasonable length.

2.1 metres of  135cm wide fabric from deep stash, so maybe another old Abakhan buy.

Rainbow Quilt Top - pieced

 Finished sewing the last seams on the quilt top today, and tried to get a photo.

I'm pleased with how it came out. Next steps are to get some wadding and make up the layers but that can wait a bit.

New Sewing room - photos

 Here is my new sewing room layout, it has been a little awkward to include the futon and work round the wall lights without blocking the powerpoints.

Futon (for extra guests) used to chill out (strips for the rainbow quilt are in order on the top of the back of the futon). The futon was at OH's apartment, we took it apart and then reassembled it here - very fiddly to do.

IKEA Pax cupboard with shelves from old sewing room. Also taken apart (though when we packed up my house in July) and reassembled in the new room.

In the corner I have an Ikea Kallax with inserts. We bought the Kallax shell new from Ikea, but the inserts were used via Gumtree.

The sewing room is on the side of a long narrow single storey house, so the view out the side is of the fence and neighbour's lean to. No curtain rail yet, but plan to add one for guests at some later point.

Here I have a fixed table (Ikea Melltorp from several moves ago) and a drop leaf table (Ikea but also from Gumtree) used for the computer and the sewing machine.

The monitor and laptop are on arms on a metal pole screwed to the back of the table. They can be pulled forward for use, or pushed back when I want more sewing machine space. Also good for watching iplayer/itvhub/Youtube whilst sewing.

I used these in my old home office when working from home during lockdown, and eventually found which box I had packed them in!

Rainbow Quilt - the squares

 Here are the squares (multiple of each. mostly 6, but varies slightly).

The fabrics at bottom right are the plain blue for backing and the postage stamp print for the border.

Next thing is to work on the layout the the different fabrics within the colour zones

Rainbow Quilt design V2

I have now cut out a lot of squares from the fabrics I showed earlier, plus a few extra used just to bulk things out a bit.

Generally I cut 6 squares from each fabric though some are less and some are more.

I have more squares than I need, so a bit of wriggle room for aesthetics.

I then revisited the design and tweaked it to reflect better the numbers of each colours I have cut.

I've split the 'turquoise' category into a lighter greener one I've called 'Aqua' and the brighter more obvious ones in 'Turquoise'.

Next thing is to find a place in the house large enough to sort the colours out and see what the placement is like!

Rainbow Quilt - progress

Things are progressing well at the new house, we've had our first overnight guests and the large cupboard is now up in the sewing room.

There are still other things to sort out but its really feeling like home!

Things are also progressing on the Rainbow Quilt plans.

A rifle in the fabric boxes and some additions from mum and auntie means I have got a rainbow of fabrics.

I also found a large piece of plain medium blue which can be the backing.

I decided that my quilt will use 4 1/2 squares - 16 x 20 (64” x 80” - 160cm x 200cm)

My first version of a possible design.

The colour blocks will be made up of different fabrics.