SuperEggplant

I made a couple more running shirts using my new coverstitch machine (the Janome CoverPro 900CP). I still haven’t mastered the coverstitch quite yet. I haven’t been able to use Woolly Nylon in the looper–I can’t get the tension correct, and I’ve tried various tricks (e.g., always using the nets) to no avail. But, I haven’t given up, and I am definitely sold on having a coverstitch.

This fish fabric is wickaway lycra, if you can believe it. I used a flatlock stitch for the seams and tried (the operative word here being “tried”) to do something interesting with the neck. Here’s a closeup:

And then I used regular serged seams on this striped running shirt:
Of all the running shirts I’ve made this batch (this is the fourth), I think this one turned out the least crappy. I like the little neckline (different neck binding than the others).
I haven’t tested either of these yet, but I have run in the other two, and they worked just fine. So, we’ll see how these hold up. Next I plan to tackle the running skort and the panties, though when I will do that is unclear, what with the new fall television season fast upon us and all (though did anyone try to watch 90210? I watched a few minutes of it, and it was so horrible! But Gossip Girl? Now that was a fun episode. Did I just admit that publicly? Whatever! XOXO).

I’m sure you are as shocked as I am that I am blogging two days in a row! That hasn’t happened in years! Anyway, as promised, I did make some running shirts for myself with my new coverstitch machine and my serger (I used flatlock, hence the colored seams).
I am thrilled to have the coverstitch machine, but I haven’t yet mastered it. I really wanted to use Woolly Nylon in the looper so that the stitch that is against my skin would be nice and soft. I haven’t been able to perfect the tension with the Woolly Nylon, though, so I have been forced to use regular serger thread in the looper, which results in a scratchy stitch. Not very practical.
With the green shirt in the top photo, I reversed the stitching in the neckline so the serged part is on the outside. I think that will be a good solution if I never figure out how to employ the Woolly Nylon, but for some reason it was awkward stitching the neckline that way, and the neckline wouldn’t lay flat.
So, the first top I made was this one. I used some leftover fabric from a few years ago. This fabric is weird. It is pretty meshy, and yet it is weighty, so it’s a little hard to sew on. When I sweat, too, it kind of sticks to me. That’s not the best look.
The second top I made is the maroon one. While that pattern might be fine for a regular T-shirt, it’s not ideal for a running shirt, because the sleeves fit too well. I need a little more room around the arm for my vigorous arm swinging (okay, not really, but it sounds good, doesn’t it?). So, I adapted that pattern and created the one in the top photo. I wore that green shirt running the other day, and it was super comfy, and I was relatively pleased with myself until I got home, took off the shirt, and noticed sweat spots on the boobs. To make things worse, there was a sweat line underneath, so it looked like a smiley face of sweat. I think this issue may be resolved with the proper jogbra (a padded one from lululemon), but who knows.
So, I have some more running shirts to make, plus I do have to work on those PANTIES. I still hope to overcome my technical difficulties, but really, I am not very technical. If you have any suggestions out there, please feel free to share!

Before I could set up my sweatshop to crank out running gear, I had to finish this blouse (changing the threads on my serger is not too horrible, but I’m also too lazy to do it very often). The fabric is double gauze and is from my stash. The pattern is from a Japanese craft book, Blouse Pants Skirt (catchy name, huh?).
The double gauze is very soft and comfy. Even though I made another blouse from this same pattern, I still harbor some doubts about it. I just don’t know about this smock look on me. Peter said, “Oh, I like that you change your style. It’s kind of, I don’t know, matronly.” This was followed by a long pause, and then he said, “Maybe I shouldn’t say that.” But, he meant it as a compliment. This is the same guy who wants me to let my hair go completely grey. I may be old, but I’m not old enough yet to be some silver hair!

It’s summer, which means it’s marathon training season! Every Saturday morning I run with a big group, and at this point I think I am the oldest, laziest, and most shoddily dressed runner of the bunch. Seriously, my running clothes are pretty nasty. It doesn’t help that one of my running buddies has a seemingly bottomless collection of cute lululemon gear!
For the sake of the group I decided I should really upgrade a bit. Since I can’t bring myself to purchase new running apparel (hello, you want $50 for something made with 3 pattern pieces and .5 yard of fabric?), I guess I need to make my own. So, I visited my opium den (known as Rose City Textiles), and my dealer Annette pointed me to the silkweight wickaway section. I could have bought more. Easily. Lycra and polyester may frighten some of you, but I could roll around in the stuff forever.
So, now I just need to get on it before summer is over! To help motivate me I got all this lovely serger thread from Atlanta Thread & Supply (SUPER good deal on Maxi-Lock). I also, um, accidentally purchased a coverstitch machine. I found a great deal on the Janome 900CP, which is the most basic model. I haven’t taken it out of the box yet, but I hope to this evening. I’ll let you know if you need to have the same accident! And yes, I know–I need to get on with the panties, too.