Gifted Vintage Fabrics

 Looking forward to sewing these vintage fabrics given to me by a quilter friend, who was given them by another friend. Planning some bags, as most of the fabrics are upholstery weight. 

Resized Jeans and Extended Front Pockets

While recently resizing these jeans, I extended the length of the front pockets since the side seam was open. Who or what is behind the ridiculously tiny size of women's jeans front pockets? Now a credit card and ID may securely be tucked in the pockets without worry of them popping out when sitting down. 

Adjusted Webbing On Chacos Sandals

 My well-worn Teva sports sandals needed to be replaced this year, I was ready to try other brands, and I was lucky to find one pair of Chacos that fit at a large discount shoe store this winter. I had not previously worn Chacos sandals and was perplexed by how the webbing "tails" hang down to the ground at the back after adjusting the straps on my feet, but while still in the store I figured it could be fixed. A quick google search found that the company intentionally does that to allow for variation in foot volume and to make sure people can safely get the shoes on and off, though they will shorten the strap on request. After assessing, I decided to adjust them myself. Instead of cutting off length on the webbing tails, I carefully unpicked the stitching on the webbing that holds the tabler hardware, adjusted the tabler webbing to have one additional inch of an overlap, and resewed that webbing. I think this will be more comfortable to have the tablers more on the side of my feet instead of under the ankle bones, though will have to see with wearing them when the weather warms up. I used grey thread in case I need to unpick and resew at some point; tight stitches in black thread on black webbing is most difficult to unpick without accidentally picking out some of the webbing threads. Typically, I have footwear adjustments/repairs done at a licensed shoe store or through the manufacturer, including having my old made-in-Italy leather Vasque hiking boots resoled, and new soles and footbeds on leather Birkenstock sandals, but I have sewn and resewn so many webbing straps for bags/belts/etc over the years that I decided to try this adjustment myself. The most difficult part was fitting the webbing under my sewing machine presser foot, since I have regular sewing machines that are not made for footwear. 

With my assistant: