So the summer sewing plan is happening slowly but I've been wearing my new skirt to work so much it's never clean enough to take a photo of it for the blog. It'll turn up on here eventually.
This is something different from that plan, though very in keeping with the constant posting of leggings. It very inaccurately reflects my lifestyle or I'm in denial about how often I look like an active slob.
This is something different from that plan, though very in keeping with the constant posting of leggings. It very inaccurately reflects my lifestyle or I'm in denial about how often I look like an active slob.
I have always wanted to go on a bike touring trip. I think it's because I like the idea of being productive while relaxing. Much like my need to knit something while watching TV, I feel the need to exercise while on vacation. I have been pestering my partner about this for years and he finally acquiesced. Now that we're actually sorting out the logistics of biking from Portland to California in a few weeks we are realizing that it is actually really far.
My partner put it in perspective by stating that it's farther than he has ever biked in a day every day for 10 days. When I tell people about our upcoming trip they always say how hardcore we are. At this point, we haven't done it so we're actually just naive and ambitious.
My partner put it in perspective by stating that it's farther than he has ever biked in a day every day for 10 days. When I tell people about our upcoming trip they always say how hardcore we are. At this point, we haven't done it so we're actually just naive and ambitious.
During one of my many recent trips to MEC, I realized that I would probably need some bike shorts with padding in them to survive 700km. MEC has amazing selection and I find that their stuff is usually good quality but I find their pants and shorts are not cut to fit a lady shaped like me.
I was recently at a prison and I looked around and realized that not only did I miss my calling as a cop but also my calling as a correctional officer solely based on my height and build. All those women have to wear pants that are cut for slim hips and all of them have those lines that pull right across the front of their hips (If every single person in the profession has this problem, I feel like they should start changing the uniform accordingly). I have this same problem at MEC.
I was recently at a prison and I looked around and realized that not only did I miss my calling as a cop but also my calling as a correctional officer solely based on my height and build. All those women have to wear pants that are cut for slim hips and all of them have those lines that pull right across the front of their hips (If every single person in the profession has this problem, I feel like they should start changing the uniform accordingly). I have this same problem at MEC.
Sewing to the rescue! These are the Duathlon Shorts from Fehr Trade. I have all sorts of good things to say about this pattern. It was exactly what I needed. I graded from a small in the waist to a medium in the hips. I made no other changes. They fit great and stay put while I'm biking. They also have instructions for adding padding. I used 3 layers of polar fleece I had in my stash. This was actually really simple to do and works quite well.
The instructions were clear and easy to follow. I ended up inserting the elastic differently because I find it easier to stitch the elastic directly to the shorts than to make a channel for it to sit in. I used my beautiful new serger for most of the seams and zig zagged the rest. One criticism of the pattern is that the PDFs were off centred when I printed them out. This made for a few mm of guess work when taping it all together.
I'm not really sure what to think of the pockets. I think they are maybe more effective when you are running and not biking. I'd be way to nervous to lose whatever was in my pocket while biking to trust them. It seems like when you are pedalling the pocket becomes horizontal and then there is no help from gravity.
I'm not really sure what to think of the pockets. I think they are maybe more effective when you are running and not biking. I'd be way to nervous to lose whatever was in my pocket while biking to trust them. It seems like when you are pedalling the pocket becomes horizontal and then there is no help from gravity.
I made these out of technical fabric that I got at Our Social Fabric. It is the $2 fabric that just keeps on giving. I just grabbed some colours and didn't realize until I had sewn them together that I was making Ronald MacDonald shorts. Whenever I put them on I start singing "do you believe in magic?" Which is amazingly scary branding on MacDonald's part as I only went there a handful of times as a child and over 20 years later I still associate red and yellow with a commercial.
However, despite feeling like Ronald MacDonald in an adult diaper these are a win. I'll wear them tons and will likely make another pair before our trip.
However, despite feeling like Ronald MacDonald in an adult diaper these are a win. I'll wear them tons and will likely make another pair before our trip.