Friday 10 July 2015

Basic Bottoms for the Boy

Not because I want to bore you senseless, but because I try to record everything I make, here are some basics for the boy child.

 
For school uniform pants I've made two pair of the new Oliver + S Parachute Polo sweatpants, and I've got a third pair cut out and ready to sew. I just need a few hours when there is absolutely nothing more compelling to do :)

Yep, it's hard to get excited about sewing navy trackpants. But, oh boy is he happy wearing them!


I added pockets 'cause I knew that would be a deal breaker if there weren't any. There was a time when reading another sewing blogger casually saying "I drafted my own pocket..." would see me awestruck. But it turns out that really, it's not that hard. So yeah, I drafted my own pockets.

While I added pockets, I left off the waistband buttonholes and drawstring. I knew he wouldn't be bothered with tying them and there was no option for any fun contrasting ties anyway.

 
In case you're wondering why there are so many photos of a boring pair of navy trackpants, the answer is that he has the camera remote control in his pocket and is directing himself in his own photoshoot. I was powerless to stop him.
 
Actually this is the side view that would look great if you had the option to put a contrasting strip of fabric in the side panel. Mine's navy on navy, but I do want to make another pair for fun with some nice racing stripes down the sides.
 


Pattern Oliver + S Parachute Polo and Sweatpants
Size: 7 (straight)
Alterations: Front pockets added, left off waist ties
Fabric: Fleece from Spotlight
Verdict: Love the fit on these straight out of the packet. Look much better than the cheap chain store school pants and so much cheaper and better than the official uniform trackpants. Two thumbs up.

I had visited one of those super cheap chain stores that sell school uniform colour skirts and pants in the hunt for some green shorts for P's new team sport. No luck, so of course we went straight from there to the fabric store...


Yep, he's joined the local Lacrosse team in the under 11's. Our team seems to be just about the littlest in the whole league, and we get soundly clobbered at almost every game, but the kids are having a blast and really enjoying playing together. This is his first foray into competitive sport, and his use of the stick is somewhat closer to interpretive dance, or hobby horse riding, most of the time.

Anyway, the right shorts were needed to make him at least look the part. I picked up a metre of this athletic pique knit at Spotlight for only $8 and have made two pair of these shorts already. There's probably enough left over for another pair. I think he's needs some lycra tight shorts to wear underneath as it's just freezing at the moment.


The problem with winter sports? They're played in winter!

Pattern: Oliver + S Sunny Day Shorts - FREE Pattern!
Size: 6
Fabric: Athletic pique knit from Spotlight
Alterations: none
Verdict: perfect length for sport shorts. That top on the other hand is so oversized. We had to tuck it in or you couldn't see the shorts at all!
I'd lengthen them and add pockets to make perfect casual shorts.

15 comments:

  1. Basics are beautiful, never dull!

    My girls are into ice skating, always cold. God bless the thermos!

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    1. I'll grant you that it's cold rink side, but never windy or raining, so potentially you've got it easy! :)

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  2. I hear you of the dull basics, dull to sew but worn to death!
    Love the pockets, will be complementing the heck out of you.
    Don't the huge uniforms crack you up? You should see Tildy in her netball tunic, child abuse!

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    1. And because of how much they're worn, they are strangely rewarding. bit like those pyjamas! I remember P trying on the smallest pants before he started school and while they were the right length they looked like inflatable clown pants in the width! Crazy.

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  3. Never dull basics, both the track pants and shorts look great on him and they fit him, not all that voluminous fabric they seem to put into any size of school clothing.

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    1. Thanks Sharon. It is crazy isn't it. I'm quietly delighted when I see him wearing clothes that fit to go to school.

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  4. hahaha there is no escaping playing winter sports in freezing temps :) Both the shots and the pants are great! And your son in the best model! Isn't it funny how sometimes its just better and cheaper to make things yourself! I looked at school uniform prices for my daughter for next year (still in denial by the way) and thought I could make her stuff for the fraction of the price! Just need to suss out how strict the school uniform policy is I guess.

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    1. At least junior lacrosse is a relatively short match!
      I would love to make my daughter's dresses for next year but the school uniform dresses are a specific check that is made offshore only for the uniform company. No chance of finding that fabric anywhere. :(
      I hope yours is easier to source.

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  5. Well done, both pants and shorts look great - and perfectly fitted. I agree that those cheap chain store trackies are pretty unflattering; yours are a great improvement. I wouldn't have bothered with the drawstring either, but as I work in a primary school I can tell you that the purpose of those strings is so that the wearer can chew the ends when bored...

    R absolutely swims in her school uniform but I can't be stuffed to have a go sewing school dresses so she just wears size 4 and has the highest hemlines in grade 1 :)

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    1. So that's why the drawstrings ends are always wet! (much more savoury reason that what I had imagined!)

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  6. You know what I'm in awe of? Your stripe matching! I pretty much couldn't stop looking! Seriously impressive!

    Jude was on a basketball team where they were the smallest in the league. Some of the teams left you wondering if they were doing daily practices, they were so good. And the parents would cheer or criticize as if they were at a Spurs game during the playoffs. I always felt like saying, "you do know they are second graders, right?!"

    Well, anyway, good for you for making stuff like this. Your boy looks happy. :)

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    1. Thanks Rachel. I've finally figured out not to look at the sleeve/armscye but to match a point a set distance below the bottom of the armscye on both sleeve and top. Works well, especially with a wide stripe like this top.
      I'm very uncompetitive and the first whiff of parent/spectator aggro and I'd be out of there and enrolling him in happy clapping and dancing classes instead!

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  7. I'm dreading the icky uniform store things this year. I'm hoping to follow your lead and construct my own for my little guy. They have to be rather specific so I'll need a pair to look over first. Yours turned out great. Yay for the basics some days!

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    1. Thanks Rachel. I was nervous about getting it right at first, but I've realised that so long as it's navy the style seems to be quite varied. As for shoes, the dress code is not adhered to at all. My kid must be one of very few in proper black school shoes!

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  8. Hey, basics may seem "boring" but they sure get more wear than anything else, right? These are both great! I really owe Joe some new knit shorts, but I'm too busy sewing for myself right now, ahem. :)

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