Finished the Daphnes!

Daphne Pant Review

I've had this pattern in the stash for ages...probably at least three years. The slim cut on it kind of intimidated me, and it didn't have pockets. But when I finally morphed on some pockets and made them up out of some cotton/lycra...wow. I think this will become my new standard slim pants pattern, or at least the one I use for fabric with some oomph to it. They're probably just a little long, yet (I took 2" off the length), but I didn't want to get them just right at this point...I fear progressive shrinkage with the cotton fabric. So we'll see how they hold up.

But now I've got three...yes, three...khaki pieces that I can wear for choir this summer. Two more and I'll have enough to make it without feeling like I'm repeating myself too often. A Burda WOF skirt that's already cut from the same fabric as the Daphnes, and some yet-to-get-started Oxford pants from the nice drapey Tencel twill I got from FFC last week. June's accent is slate or powder blue, which fortunately is a color that I wear a lot anyway, so I'm good for that. Once the khaki's done, I can get to the green poly/rayon jacquard for July, the lavender shirting and RPL double knit for August, and the Pink cotton/lycra interlock and the pink boucle jacket fabric for September. Not to mention the shirts for DH from the lavendar and some pink oxford that I've got about.

After that...who knows... ;)

More Links

I've been meaning to do this for a while now; Gigi Louis and Ann Steeves(Gorgeous Things)both have started Blogs, and they jointly, along with Georgene, Mary Beth, Els and Phyllis, have put together a team blog called 'The Sewing Divas' (don't you love that!) and I finally remembered to put the links on the sidebar. And I edited down that ugly 'Creative Sewing Ring' thing...really, you only need to be able to get to the list (click on the logo) or to the next or previous blog. All the other stuff is kinda superfluous....I noticed one of the other ring members had edited her ring link, so I guess it's ok. Anyway, it should look a little neater.

Oh, in case you didn't see the review at PR, I finished and reviewed the Simplicity Gauchos over the weekend. With any luck, I'll get my Daphne pants done today, too. Those are looking very nice...

Looking Younger

Yeah, I know everyone wants to, but I'm talking about on stage. I mentioned last week that I'm portraying a busy mom in a skit for this Saturday's Uplink service (theme for the evening: The Rat Race), and I was glad that there were no costuming issues. But it's kind of percolated around in my brain over the weekend, and I realized that I really don't just want to get on stage and portray myself...the character is not me.

Not to mention that the fellow playing my character's spousal unit is a good 10 - 15 years younger than I am. (hey, with church drama, ya use who ya got. I wasn't first choice for 'Mom'...just the one who was available). Plus, he's supposed to be an exectutive-type, so I'm thinking his wife would tend to look a little more 'uptown' than I normally do.

So -- I need to look younger and more chic than I am in real life. Not dressy; my character is on her way to volunteer at a local food distribution ministry and then go watch her son's soccer game. Here's what I'm thinking:
sleeveless fitted white blouse with a navy cardigan, sleeves tied scarf-style, over it; denim capris w/ classic Keds sneakers, a sharp little tote bag, and my hair pulled back in a headband. I'm intending to get a haircut sometime this summer to even up the growing-out layers; the top layers aren't quite as long as I'd like yet but I could probably go ahead w/the cut and it wouldn't be too bad. And I'll hope the cameras don't do a real close-up shot that shows the wrinkles in my forehead. ;)

I don't have a sleeveless white blouse,Keds or a cute tote bag (I ALWAYS carry my stuff in a black backpack; no chic going on there)...but those are wardrobe staples that won't hurt to add to the closet anyway, right? And I got a BUNCH of white cotton/lycra shirting in the last couple of weeks, so I could use some of that. Not sure what pattern I'd go for, but I don't doubt there's one in the stash that would work.

Anyway, what do you think? Will my planned wardrobe work for 'Busy 35-ish year old Soccer Mom'?

Saturday Snapshot

In the CD Player:John Bolt, The Portals of Heaven: The Soaking Presence, Vol. II

On the Bookstand:Ok, so I did some recreational reading this week: H.Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy and Fuzzy Sapiens and William Tuning's follow on, Fuzzy Bones.

On the Sewing Table: The stretch poly shell is still there, along with some things I cut out this week: a Loes Hinse twinset from a pink poly/nylon knit jacquard, Simplicity 4237 gauchos from a dark khaki RPL doubleknit that arrived in the mail yesterday from FFC (more on that later), La Fred's Daphne Pants, a Burda WOF skirt and Simplicity 5540 capris for DD, all from the dark khaki cotton/lycra sateen I got from Vogue Fabrics at the Atlanta Expo. All in all, it's 8 3/4 yards cut and ready to sew...or at least, will be sewn once I run down to Hancock's and get some thread, zippers and button (Thought I had some...y'know?). My 'Fabric In' column has grown exponentially in the last couple of weeks...ah, I had fabric parity once... but I do need clothes from about 85% of what I purchased before the summer is over. So we'll see if I can get it all sewn up.

And I haven't even checked the fabric purchase that also arrived yesterday, via UPS...two large chunks of extra-wide fabric to make waterbed sheets. The last four or five sets we've purchased have been so awful that I finally decided that I just need to try making my own. I'll let you know how that goes.

Just a little commentary on the Fashion Fabrics order...I got three woven pieces and three knit pieces and they are all wonderful, and at good prices (and that was even without the current Big Sale pricing). It had been quite a while since I'd last ordered from them, and they have improved their shipping time and notification system. In addition to the afore-mentioned khaki knit, I got some tan Tencel twill, some sage green handkerchief linen, some pink/multi poly/rayon/linen blend boucle, some lavendar poly/rayon doubleknit (this is the same fabric as the khaki knit that I cut the gauchos from, which is now sold out. It's not listed as having any lycra in the blend, but the recovery is so nice that I just have to think there's some there). Finally, I got some Pink cotton/lycra interlock, which was the only fabric for which I did not have a swatch. It's a little lighter in color than what showed up on the monitor, but it's an excellent t-shirt/twin set weight and has a great hand, so I'm glad I got it.

And every bit of that is needed this summer...gotta get on it! ;)

Projects completed this week: I got 12 out of the 20 requested altar blankets cut and serged and ready to go; I'll finish the other 8 next week.

Body-For-Life progress: I'm pleading the 5th this week. Grad-related business, leftover cake, mints and nuts around all week...um, can you say 'regressive'? ;) Time to hit it hard again...

Scrooge Costumes Revisited

Note to folks who landed here searching for info on sewing for a Dickens era production: if you click on 'Dickens Costuming Tips' on the top of the left sidebar, it will bring up a series of posts with tips/hints/links for costuming a Dickens production

Oh, they're still in the back of my mind; for one thing, the attic storage area is complete gridlock. But now that a major remodling project at church is about finished I can hopefully get down and work on sorting/storing/organizing this summer. But that's not really what I wanted to share.

I was hunting around on Google yesterday for other productions of Scrooge and it turned up a page on our church's website that I didn't know was there. It's a page with different little promo videos that get run on the screens before the service and...there's one for the Scrooge DVD! I tried to get a link straight to the Scrooge clip, but it apparently is linked up through the index page, so the best I could do was a link there. There is sound on it, but I'm not sure what it is since our sound card and our CPU are not speaking to each other and I can't hear anything...

Anyway, if you want to see what the costumes looked like moving about on stage, click HERE, then click on 'The Gospel According To Scrooge' icon in the lower left corner (it's a still from the graveyard scene -- you'll have to scroll down slightly).

[Edit 11-29-07: The church website has been completely overhauled and that clip isn't on it any more. If it gets reposted, I'll fix the link!]

They'll be doing auditions for this year's production in about 3 months...I need to get crackin' on the costume organization.

To look or not to look, that is the question....

Sometimes you shouldn't ask a question. Other times, it's good. Depends on the answer. ;)

Last week I ordered about 13 yards of fabric from Fashion Fabrics Club; just enough, really, to use the $10 off coupon I got with the last set of swatches. It pretty much covered shipping, actually, but it was ok. That order should be here any day now; according to email, it was shipped Saturday (actually, now that I think about it, maybe I should check the tracking number they sent me...)

Anyway, what should meet me when I checked my Inbox this morning but a notice from FFC that they're having their semi-annual super-duper Clearance Sale.

Now I'm in a quandry. Should I look and see if the fabrics I bought last week were significantly reduced this week? Or am I better off not knowing?

I couldn't help it. I looked. One was reduced by $1.25/yd; one was reduced by $1.00/yd and one was reduced $.50/yd. The others hadn't changed. If I figured my purchases right, it would've been about $6 off. Less than the coupon I used, which (I think) expired last week.

So I'm good. Whew.

Rat Race

That's the topic for the next Uplink service in two weeks; fortunately we don't need costumes for the short skit the drama group is doing. I've got the role of a busy, harried mom...I told our drama leader that I don't know if I can stretch my acting abilities that far... :P

I managed to cut out one (1) pink twinset on Monday night. It's an interesting fabric that I found at Hancock's when I went in for more grey wooly nylon to finish off the edges of the altar blankets. It's a lightweight poly/lycra blend jersey knit jacquard, and I cut Loes Hines' Sweater Set from it. Hey, it was $2 a yard, and it was the right pink for choir, so it's good. And I cut it out the same day I bought it...which is amazing. I had to cut the shell double, as I could read the labels on my cutting mat through a single layer, but I got extra fabric so I could do that. I've got a fuzz over 3/4 of a yard left; I think I'll make a stretch-lace trimmed cami from the remnants. If I can just squeeze out some time for sewing (rat race indeed!)

Oh, I do have a question...Tim Wead, the guy who comes in to play Scrooge for our Christmas production, was in town and at church Sunday and asked me about a costume problem he has. I couldn't answer it, but thought I'd ask and see if anyone has any greater expertise in that area. Anyway, he's got a white silk name brand suit (i.e., it's an investment) that he uses in one particular monologue that he does, and some time back he dropped the jacket on the street when getting out of his car. It's got some rather nasty road dirt on it, which his dry cleaner treated but couldn't remove. Anyway, he asked if I knew of any reverse dyeing process that might remove the grey smudges from the white silk. I don't do dyeing, so I'm completely clueless as to whether he could do anything about it or not, but I said I'd ask online and see if I could get an answer for him. So, question is duly asked...does anyone have any suggestions? TIA...

Making Altar Blankets (AKA 'Drop Cloths')

I know there are some folks who are wondering what on earth I'm talking about when I say I need to make 20 altar blankets....thinking, 'Are we covering our altar for some strange ritual?' or 'Do folks take naps at church?' or some such thing. The problem is that there really isn't a good term for these things. 'Modesty blankets' is another term that maybe sums up their use the best...they really have two applications. The first is obviously for modesty; especially since low-cut pants have become such a fashion item. If someone is kneeling at the altar at the front for prayer or ministry, low cut pants can become a little too revealing, so we just have a practice of dropping a square of cloth over the back of someone at the altar who has any skin at all showing between the bottom of their top and the top of their pants. That takes care of the minor and the extreme. The other application is to cover someone who is overcome and falls down; very hard to describe to someone for whom that is just not a part of their worship experience. It does happen sometimes that people who are being prayed for fall down...what is happening in the individual's spirit is so intense that he/she simply cannot stand. So we cover them until they are ready to get up. If you cover everyone, then a lady who might be wearing a top that is a little lower cut than she realized is not singled out, but covered just like everyone else. So that's still really a modesty application.

Anyway, we're launching a new congregation and they need some blankets. By trial and error, I've learned that the best size for them is about 45" square...that's big enough to cover but not so big that it's heavy and awkward. So the best fabric is 45" wide, cut into 45" lengths and serged across the cut edges.

But, wouldn't you know, Wal-Mart didn't have any appropriate 45" fabric on the dollar table...it was 60" or 68" wide. I made one batch in 60" squares a few years ago and they really are rather awkward to use, so I'm trimming the width on this fabric so they're easier to handle. It's polyester and will likely never,ever wear out. I'm cutting the fabric into 5 yard lengths (4 blankets), then trimming off the excess and the yarns are so strong that I can pull a lengthwise thread for the whole 5 yards.

It's going to take longer to chop it down to size than it will to finish the edges...

Back to Regularly Scheduled Programming

Well, DS is now a graduate. The grandparents have gone home and we are now heading back into whatever constitutes normal life, and I've got to get back into the sewing room. I've got a request for 20 altar blankets to be made ASAP for a sattelite church we are starting, and I need choir things. And I have acquired more fabric than I'd planned to in the last couple of weeks, with one order still outstanding.

I'm cutting tonight! ;)

The Impromptu Speaker

Monday night was DS's Baccalaureate service. About 3 weeks ago, the senior class sponsor asked him if he wanted to speak briefly, as he just happens to be first in his class. Surprised, he asked if he didn't have to, since his sister had been required to speak (she was Salutatorian of her class) two years ago. Ms. Sponsor shook her head and said, no, if he didn't want to, he didn't have to...she had some class officers who were going to make remarks. He grinned and said, "If I don't have to, then I won't!"

Well, his mother was less than pleased. I would expect the Valedictorian to address his fellow graduates at both Baccalaureate and Graduation...but he was tickled to get out of it.

Monday, while at school picking up his cap and gown, Ms Sponsor asked him again if he was speaking, and he reminded her that he wasn't. When I picked him up, he commented, "I sure hope she remembered that I'm not going to speak when she turned in the program to the printers." Well, Dear Son, perhaps you'd better have something prepared, just in case? "Nah. I'm not gonna have to do it."

Well, you guessed it...when we got there, his name was on the program. He had about 10 minutes to formulate his 'Reflections Remarks'. I don't think it was coincidental that he ended up speaking about the value of prayer... ;)




(Of all the photos we took that night, the one of him giving his remarks was the only one that came out grainy. Figures) Actually, Ms Sponsor was not responsible; when the program was printed, someone called and asked for the name of the Valedictorian. She told them, thinking that it would only be listed. That unknown party was the one who put him in the program.

I'm about to get overwhelmed by what's left to do between now and company coming in tomorrow, Graduation on Friday and Open House on Saturday...I've asked the blog editor for a little time off, and that seemed like a good idea. There's going to be no sewing happening anyway, so I'll catch up Monday. ;)

The First Bundle

Y'know, I don't think I've ever ordered a 'bundle' from anyone...until last week, when I ordered one of Fabric Mart's shirting bundles. It was posted as 5 - 2.5 yard cuts (total of 12.5 yards) for 23.00. Was I ever pleased with what I got:


The bundle is laying out on the seat cushions; the other two fabrics I purchased are leaning against the back. One is a deep burgundy w/fuschia floral cotton/lycra sateen (for some reason I thought it was brocade or jacquard; I've no idea why, it clearly says sateen on the website. I guess the colors just looked kind of brocadey), and the other is a white cotton/lycra shirting that is so fine it's nearly batiste weight. I think I'll make a summer floaty nightgown from it.

The shirt bundle was really generous; I ended up with a total of 13.5 yards, and three of the fabrics are cotton/lycra. The white-with-dark-blue stripe even feels like it might have a touch of rayon in it. And DS of the Rolling Eyes even said he might wear a shirt made from the bright blue and white cotton/lycra shirting...if I could 'make a decent shirt'. Guess I need to see his definition of 'decent shirt'....

But the definition of frustration is to have new projects calling and no time to spend on them! Maybe next week...

The Prize Arrives

The friendly mail person rang our doorbell Saturday with a large package that wouldn't fit in the mailbox...it was the goodies I'd ordered from Timmel Fabrics with my SWAP prize. Julie had said she wasn't sure there was enough of the fabric to meet my request, so I was really happy that I got both pieces (white cotton/lycra shirting and lavendar mini-check shirting); my freebie pattern was Loes Hinses' French Country Dress.

But DS graduates on Friday...Baccalaureate is this evening (my Monday night cutting is ditched for this week)...I don't think I'm going to get much sewing done.

And there is still an outstanding Fabric Mart order on its way to me, while I'm trying to make up my mind about some choir-color fabrics from Fashion Fabrics Club. Aaaaaiiiie, the fabric purchased-to-sewn ratio is quickly getting highly unbalanced....

Saturday Snapshot

In the CD Player:David Hamilton, Resting Place

On the Bookstand:In addition to the ongoing reading, I started Lisa Bevere's new book Fight Like a Girl

On the Sewing Table: The stretch poly shell is still there.

Projects completed this week: Haven't sewn a stitch all week, but I did get La Fred's Daphne pant traced and ready to cut out.

Body-For-Life progress: As I told DH, we're not in this for a fantabulous transformation in 12 weeks, this is just trying to be healthy. So, while we're doing ok on the exercising, the nutrition part is not quite up to BFL standards. Life is hectic, we're doing the best we can. So I haven't lost a significant amount of weight...but I have toned up a bit after 4 weeks and my clothes are fitting better. Over time, it'll pay off...

Will the Real Khaki Please Stand Up

The rules are changing. Unfortunately, someone asked a wardrobe question at choir, and the answer knocked half my planned summer wardrobe out the window. Because the question 'Can we wear outfits of the color-of-the-month, or does it have to be the base color on the bottom and the current color on the top?' was asked, we've now been told to wear base on the bottom and contrast on the top. Dunno how that ruling would affect the wearing of dresses.

And color chips of the khaki we're to wear went 'round last night, too...and it's darker than my silk twill skirt. The cotton/lycra twill I also got at Atlanta is the right color, but it's still in yardage form and there's NO time between now and Sunday to sew it into anything; I'll just have to wear the lighter color and hope that standing in the back row will camoflage it enough until I have time to get the other stuff made up.

It looks like we're slowly headed towards 'matching' instead of just 'coordinating' in our wardrobing. I hope that doesn't happen because the only time I dress up is for church; if we go to choir 'uniforms' I will only need dressy clothes for the occasional wedding, funeral, or date w/ DH.

And that would make me sad.

Too much on my (sewing) plate

This is probably only a problem fabric stashers encounter.

With some new clothing requirements coming up, I went through the stash and pulled some pieces of fabric that I thought would make up well for what I needed. Now,currently the stash is in the attic over the garage, which is somewhat finished out and accessible from the upstairs hallway...no running up and down the pull-down staircase like I had to do at our old house. So, with the fabric safely stored in a reasonably accessible space, why do I feel compelled to pull yards and yards out to look at, mix up, and generally mess with? Now I have about three largish stacks of fabric spread out between the bedroom and the sewing nook and it's contributing to the general gridlock. I can only cut out about 10 yards worth...maybe 3 pieces...if I spend a whole day cutting, anyway, so I've pulled waaaayy more than I need to for immediate sewing.

And it's distracting! Ok, I'll sew the khaki cotton/lycra...no, wait, that tweedy suiting needs to be put together...maybe I can squeeze a quick top out of that knit...DD needs a skirt from that denim...DH really needs that Oxford shirt...

Maybe I should pick three pieces out to sew and put the rest up. Especially since the calendar is full and there's precious little chance for sewing for the next 10 days or so.

Succumbing to the Siren Song

Nope, no way, didn't do it, although I was tempted. I said I wouldn't do any sewing yesterday...not even read a pattern envelope...and I didn't.

But I did wander just a little on the 'net. And I lingered a little too long at Fabric Mart. What had attracted my attention was the Rayon print bundle. I've been thinking that would make a really kewl tiered skirt...but I think 12 yards would've been wwwaaaayy more than I needed. I just drooled over it (and, so long as they've still got it, I guess I'm still considering it), but didn't get it. However, I did notice that they had white cotton/lycra at a really good price, so I got some. And while I was at it, I got a piece of burgundy jacquard for a fall jacket and the shirting bundle (DH needs new shirts). Gotta stretch that $8 shipping over several yards, you know...

Anyway, I ended up ordering 19.5 yards of fabric (And the stash groans).

Then I remembered that I'd used part of my Timmel Fabrics prize to get some white cotton/lycra shirting.

Good thing white shirts are 'in'... ;)

Pants Grainline Musings, part 2: Mea Culpa

Y'know, there's nothing like a blog for public humiliation. If you boo-boo, you do it in front of the whole wide world...sigh.

Well, I went to the Chat Archives at Pattern Review to see if I could find the chat that originally mentioned moving the grainline on pants. I found it...it was Pattern Engineering (you may have to be a Pattern Review subscriber to view it)in August of '02 and the Expert was Judy Barlup. However, much to my chagrin, I discovered that I was absolutely wrong about what she said. I think I joined the chat late and missed the original statement she made about shifting the grainline and therefore didn't have the context for what I read later. She very clearly states early on that shifting the grainline to the center doesn't change the grainline of the pants, it just provides the critical balance point (that Shannon mentioned in the Comments on the first Pants Grainline post) for making adjustments to the leg width so the pants hang properly after the adjustments are made. I had the later comments out of context and put the wrong interpretation on them. So now I have serious egg on my face! In penance, I will spend the entire day running errands and cleaning house and will not so much as read a pattern back. And from now on I'll make sure I read the whole chat if I miss some.

But, having said that, I still think I have seen other comments here and there that do seem to indicate that some folks believe the grainline must be in the center of the leg or the pattern isn't quite right. But, you know, I could be wrong about that, too...

So where's that Fairy Godmother????

Costumes finished; sewing room a wreck. Sewing all week w/DH out of town...house is a wreck. Laundry is overflowing the hampers; the larder is dangerously low.

Company coming for dinner Friday; DS of the Rolling Eyes graduates from HS next week and there are houseguests coming, not to mention the open house/reception the next day.

I may allow myself one hour a night for sewing this week...but, given that there is at least one, and sometimes two, things on the calendar every night, I may not get there.

Perhaps I should just take my machines in for maintenance so I won't be tempted. ;)

Saturday Snapshot

In the CD Player: Eli, Things I Prayed For

On the Bookstand: Nothing new! Not much time to read this week

On the Sewing Table: All that's left is the 'champagne' poly stretch charmeuse tank top from my modified Loes Hinse City Dress bodice.

Projects completed this week: Six red Roman Soldier Tunics, three full length Bible-costume robes and two overcoat/vests and the silk twill gore skirt, which I LOVE!

Body-For-Life progress: Meh. I need to drink more water and make sure I eat when I'm supposed to...

Church conference all day today...John Bevere will be speaking tonight and tomorrow. High impact weekend!

Finish it!

We slept late.

Today's a 'weather day' for the kids, so no school, and we're in the Legacy conference at church, so the last two nights have been rather late. And it's raining...a nice, steady, perfect-to-sleep to rain.

BUT...DH comes home at 4:30, we have to be at church at six, there are conference sessions from 9 - 3 tomorrow and the costumes must be done by 4 tomorrow.

But I have only sleeves, sideseams and hems left to do on the last robe, and two vests, which are shoulders and sideseams, then edge finishes.

I think I can I think I can I think I can.

Pants Grainline Musings, part 1

There's been an interesting discussion of grainlines on pants on the Sewing World SIPP Thread. It's got me thinking about grainlines, but I haven't got time right now to go dig out some pants patterns and compare them.

I've heard some instructors over the last few years that have said the grainline needs to be shifted on pants; but the way they describe shifting the grainline involve drawing a line parallel to the grainline somewhere other than where it was originally stamped on the pattern...usually moving the line to the center of the leg. Ok, sure, you've drawn a new line, but you haven't changed the grain of the pants. If the grainline drawn on the pattern is parallel to the center of the leg, the center was on grain before the 'new' line was drawn.

The specific discussion is how grainline relates to the seams; Loes Hinse's Oxford Pants are the main topic of discussion; it just so happens that the first pair of Oxfords I made I made from a plaid fabric,so the grainline is easy to see. (Click on the photo icon on the review, wait forever for Photoworks to bring up the whole album front page, click on 'launch slideshow' and then 'view pictures larger' to see it the best). You can see in the photo that both the side seam and the center front seam are on-grain...which means both those seams were cut parallel to the grainline. The grainline just determines how the pattern is placed on the fabric; the seams are products of pattern drafting and can be drawn parallel to the grain if the designer so chooses. In other words, the grainline shouldn't determine the seam line. But consensus is that, if the outseam is on grain (cut parallel to the grainline) the pants will hang very nicely.

At least, that's what I think...when I've got time, I'll pull some patterns out and do some comparision. Meantime, I'm still sewing costumes...gotta have 'em done tomorrow.

Adding Khaki

I headed into the sewing nook yesterday to start on the next batch of costumes; the soldiers are done to the velcro at the neck and the hem on the lower edge and Miss A has said she could finish those out...she doesn't have a serger and I hated to ask her to make whole garments, but the straight stitch stuff I can share. So I planned to start on the three robes.

Then it hit me: the robes are needed for Saturday; I need Khaki to wear in choir tomorrow. So I hit 'pause' on the costumes while I made up the skirt I cut from the khaki silk twill last week. I took care with it; serged all the edges, then sewed the seams conventionally and pressed them open, then topstitched them. I'm very pleased with it!

I made the Loes Hinse gore skirt; but I used three godets, putting one in the back and one one either side. I wanted to put one in the front,too, but I didn't have enough fabric to do that AND get the City Dress shell top. But, given the kind of untraditional asymetry that's going on with skirts these days, I thought it would be ok to just have the front straight.

It's an awful color for me, really, but the skirt moves and drapes and swishes and is very feminine feeling...it's going to get worn a lot. So I've got something to put on tomorrow, and I can get back to costuming...after Bible study this morning.

SWAP Results

Well, I was just going to post the link to the Swap Results Page at Timmel Fabrics, but since Linda already mentioned it in yesterday's comments, I'll admit to being awarded 5th place. Julie said the votes were so close that she decided to award 5 places instead of 3, so I got an 'honorable mention' prize; which is pretty cool! The top 3 SWAP wardrobes are awesome...make sure you look closely at Hellenne's coat. If I remember right, she did that while watching the Olympics...it would've taken me 2 years, minimum (evidenced by the 3.5 years and counting I've spent beading a vest). Amazing!

But the best part of doing the SWAP challenge is that it gave me an incentive to sew up the things I had planned to make, anyway, and I got to share the process with other sewing enthusiasts.

Now I need to get my focus off of SWAP and back on to the costumes; it's been a little distracting ;)

Sewing Week

DH is on an annual business trip this week so it's Sewing Week for me!

And I've got about an hour to an hour and a half left on the red soldier costumes, and about 5 hours of work to do on the other pieces. Then I get to get back to choir sewing...for me and DH, since he passed the auditions to join the choir last week (fortunately, they weren't doing auditions when I joined four years ago; I'm not sure I'd've passed).

It's one thing to make choir clothes for myself...but it's going to be another to make it for him; May's color combo is khaki and, um, pink. I've got some pink oxford in the stash, so I think he's going to get a Jalie 2111 short sleeve shirt this week. Land's End has a couple of pink knit shirts on their clearance pages, too. So I'm off to send in a LE order...something I haven't done in a long time.

After that, you'll find me camped out in the sewing nook ;)