pattern: Simplicity 4380
fabric: basic cotton tonal dot brown/pink fabric from JoAnn, bought on sale in August for $2.99/yd.
notions: lace, elastic, drawstring (which I ended up not using)
total cost: roughly $15
started: hmmm, how do you gauge this with sewing? When did I start? When I washed the fabric? When I cut out the pattern? When I cut out the fabric? I don't know, I did this one in fits and starts. I cut out the pattern pieces many days ago, cut out the fabric pieces sometime last week, maybe Wednesday? Began the actual sewing on Thursday.
finished: I called them done on Friday, though I still might go back and re-do the elastic. Turns out I cut it too generously and really need it a bit tighter.
modifications: The pattern calls for a wide elastic waistband with a ribbon drawstring tied in the front. I didn't buy the right kind of drawstring (I bought actual drawstring, like the kind you use for sweatpants, instead of the ribbon or twill tape called for) and it turns out I don't have a buttonhole or zigzag foot for my machine (needed to make buttonholes for the drawstring to come out of), which means the buttonholes I tried to make are disastrous. I also had major confusion over the pattern instructions for the waist, and was unhappy with how high the waist ended up being when I did what I thought the pattern called for. So I skipped the drawstring, folded the waistband in, sewed it down and called it done.
notes: I learned to love my seam ripper with this pattern. I sewed the pieces together wrong two times - all the pieces. I had the whole thing assembled wrong. Twice. After the third time, I think I finally got the concept of pant construction (these are my first pants). Next lesson to learn? How to match fabric correctly along seams....
But my favorite part?