My pants match my sofa slipcover! I’ve made another pair of Lander pants in a fun floral stretch cotton twill from The Confident Stitch. They are sold out of this print, but I like this one, too. I can’t seem to get enough of florals! It’s like an addiction!
I also made a cropped mock turtleneck tee shirt from my trusty Jalie 2805 pattern. Man, am I getting some mileage from that pattern! This version is an organic soy with stretch in Ruby Red, also from The Confident Stitch. 
How the heck do they make fabric from soybeans? I have no idea. But it feels fantastic. Like a silky cotton Lycra. I’m a Soy Convert!
Let’s talk about Jalie 2805. Sewing went OK, except the turtleneck collar had a little too much negative ease for this fabric. I had the same problem with the same top I made for Gigi and had to add length to both collars. I would recommend measuring the collar and comparing it to the neckline’s measurements. It might work as is for really stretchy fabrics, but I had some puckering from having to stretch the collar to fit it onto the neckline, even after I added over an inch. I learned that a necknband can be about twenty percent shorter than the neckline. I also shortened the body by five inches to make it look more cropped. I like a shorter top with the new higher waisted pants.
Which brings me to the pants, my second version of the Landers by True Bias. There’s not much more to say about this pattern except I love it! I made this cropped version in a size 6, like my first pair in hemp, and also let out the generous one inch seam allowance seam allowance at the hip about 1/2 an inch. Lots of weight lifting lately has made my behind a bit bigger than it normally was before. I’m also not getting any younger, and my weight seems to be going up for no reason at all. Yes, aging can stink, but if you don’t focus on the positive you might as well just throw in the towel. So I’m grateful for those big side seams.
In other news, it looks like our 13 year sojourn into country life will be coming to an end soon. We’ve decided to move back closer to LA. and will be putting the ranch up for sale. It’s still going to be kind of country-ish where we are moving, but it won’t be the real thing like it is out here with real live farmers living next door, chickens everywhere, and getting stuck behind tractors on the two lane road. Maintaining this property is a big job, and it’s not something we want to do as we get older. Plus, it’s just too far from work and the traffic going to LA has gotten so intense the past few years that the commute for Richard has become undoable. I really loved living here, and raising my kids in the country, but I’m ready for a change. As the kids grow up, we will only Gigi at home in the next few years. I’m looking forward to a new adventure. So maybe I should change my blog name?
Happy Sewing!
Super cute outfit — it’s perfect for summer! And big changes in store for you (gawh, I hate moving, though.) I hope the move will go well. And don’t change the name of your blog!!! You can take the girl out of the country, but . . . . .