Hey! A New Top!

 So I didn't think I would be doing ANY sewing for myself any time soon.  The church choir has dropped the 'seasonal color' thing we've done for so long and are just wearing, well, Janice Rigg's 'Common Wardrobe'...without realizing it, lol.  Denim with neutrals.  So, I figured...no more choir-driven sewing.

But.  Turned out that only sorta applies.  We got word early this week that for Easter we are to wear kind of a salmony pink or a turquoise/aquaish blue, with the neutrals.

Thought I had something that would work, but the scales have crept up a bit over the last year and...it was too snug.

So, what to do, what to do.  I had a sweater the right color in the closet, but I needed a top to go under it.

Dug around in the stash and found a stripy knit print that I got for the Hydrangea wardrobe.  

Timestamp on this photo is 1:26 PM

Time stamp on this photo is 4:08.

Of course, if this had been The Great British Sewing Bee I would have had about an hour and a half to do that, but I went carefully and did a couple of extra steps to hopefully keep things humming along.  Something hosed up in the tension on the double needle hem so it's a wee bit tunneled, but that'll be our secret.  At least the pinks match...

I need something I can get on and off quickly because I will have about 15 minutes to change into my bible costume after the choir leaves the platform before I have to be in place for the mini-production we're doing this year.  And then, when that's done...change back to the choir clothes to repeat the process for second service. 

I will take a mesh bag to put over my head so I don't smear the makeup.  Hopefully. LOL.

But at least I have made SOMETHING for myself this year...

It's a...Choir Outfit?

 The choir is back.  

March 8, 2020, the choir went on a road trip and sang in the service of one of our campuses.  This was supposed to be a once-a-month deal...but March 15 found the choir singing in an empty sanctuary to an online congregation and the following week worship was just the on-mic vocalists.

Where we stayed for, well, a really long time.  

In-person services resumed in the fall of 2020, but we were socially distanced and the stage had been rearranged; the risers were gone, and worship was just the folks on mics.

There was a choir special for Christmas, with those participating spread out across the platform and the front of the auditorium, well spaced out.  

I'm not sure just exactly when we began to have a once-a-month choir, spread across the stage for a while, then grouped into two sections on either side.  Still no risers.

But in January of this year we went to one combined service.  And the choir returned to an every week event.  After the Easter production, the risers returned to the platform.

And this week, I actually made something specifically for the choir.

This month, the colors are, well, the colors of grains of sand.  Tans, taupes and grays, with denim or black or white.

I pulled out some Rustic Linen from Fabric-store.com and cut out a pair of my favorite wide-leg pants, which is from an out of print New Look pattern that I thought I had posted before but...if I did, it has slid off the cliff of the old photos.  I also cut out a shell top...Cutting Lines Designs My Heart's A-Flutter, which also appears to be out of print.   I did some prep work with the lovely fusible tapes I won from Gorgeous Fabrics in a giveaway, to stabilize the pocket opening and the back crotch curve, and started sewing on Saturday.  Finished the pants...the top's about 40% done, lol.

But I happened to have a cardigan that I got at a brick-and-mortar Coldwater Creek store, back in the day before they all went away, that was a taupe that matched...nothing.  It looked tan when worn with grey and grey when worn with tan.  

But it matched my natural linen fabric just perfectly.  Teamed with a white Chico's cotton sweater...I've almost got the Coastal Grandmother vibe going, eh?  I got a surprising number of compliments on it.

Headed home after church, I suddenly remembered that there was a specific project I bought that fabric for a year or so ago.  One I need to make.  Guess I'll have to get some more, lol

Adding Salmon

I don't show a single finished project for March...but the truth is, I had 4 garments done to hems/buttons as of 3/31. The white twill blouse is still waiting on buttons, but I threaded up my sewing machine w/a double needle and finished the three salmon knit pieces on Friday and Saturday: a pattern I'd not yet made, an old favorite and a little creative play with a pattern I've made before.

The new pattern is the shell top from Simplicity 2603



It's a little big; that's my fault for not checking the pattern sizing. I seem to have *assumed* a Medium was 12 - 14...and it's a 14 - 16. I can't believe I didn't check it, but, well, those things happen. So, yeah,it's a little big. But it's a drapey top to be worn under a jacket or cardigan anyway; I think I can get away with it for now. I'll trim it down a bit for the next iteration.

Next up is one of my favorite knit top pattens, Jalie 2682.

I dropped that empire seamline about half an inch and I think it's a little better. Both of those pieces were made from some extra-wide rayon jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics.

Finally, I have a Jalie 2919 cardigan that I played with just a bit, from a slightly beefier rayon/lycra blend from Fabric Mart.


We have a handful of folks who sing backup on microphones in front of the regular choir folks; one very chic young lady has a knit cardigan with a little bit of a godet in the back and she has stood in front of me two or three time wearing that cardi. I was intrigued by the godet and decided to give it a try.


So I traced a new back piece, and added a seam allowance (and, while I was at it, a hint of shaping in the upper back) and a nice little fishtail at the bottom for a little swingy godet in the back.

And, since I was playing anyway, I borrowed the button tab from my other current project, Louise Cutting's OOP Town and Country Camp Shirt and lengthened it a bit; I also shortened the sleeve and widened it at the bottom just a pinch to get the cool little buttoned-up-sleeve.

Two other ladies on the worship team today had on knit cardigans with the same little sleeve detail. I was shocked at my trendiness. ;-)



So I've had a fairly productive April already... ;)

Bonus Post: Choir Sundays Video

Ok, it's not Sunday, but there's actually VIDEO up of our Easter Sunday service and it includes the choir singing.

Even though it's pretty low resolution, it's still lots better than a still photo snapped in a hurry, don't you think?

I don't know how long it will be up so I wanted to get the post up while the video's still there.

The Rock Family Worship Center

There's a box in the middle of the page that says 'latest message' or some other such thing; there's a clickable button that says 'video' in the middle of the box; that'll get you to the video of the whole service. For at least a little while.

Oh, you do have to click the little 'play' triangle when the video screen pops up. ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #11

This month's colors: clover green and/or yellow with black.

I had other duties at church today, so I wasn't in the choir. But I did get a picture of 'this month's' look! ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #5

This Month's colors: Black and White












When My Sweet Baboo and I went out on the porch to take the photo (it's 65 and sunny here today...anyone want to come visit?) he asked me, "Haven't we already photographed this outfit?" (Um, it isn't one of his favorites).

To be honest, I don't think we have photographed this *precise* outfit...I've got on my Vogue 7881 Claire Shaeffer pants, made from black cotton twill from the dollar table at Wal-Mart (One of the Good Hunting days...).

The blouse is Hot Patterns Purity Blouse, from white cotton lawn. I really need to tweak that pattern and do another iteration...it's got so much potential!

The vest is a longtime wardrobe piece, Simplicity 5919, from a knitted stretchy poly lace fabric that I got from Fashion Fabrics club eons ago.

It's that whole '70's rock band thing goin' on. And wouldn't you know Pastor's sermon today was about getting rid of the old stuff... LOL...

Choir Sundays 09 #2

This Month's Choir Colors:Royal Blue and Black
I've got about 30 seconds to snap a photo... basically in the dark... as the choir is coming onto the platform just before the service starts. Not as good as I would like!

I love royal blue, though...wearing it this month kinda makes up for the yellow-orange-tan combos we wore that don't do a *thing* for me. I've got on Silhouette Patterns Robin's Jacket, made from the blue wool flannel that the moths chewed on. I cut it out a year ago, but didn't finish in time to wear it last January, so I'm glad the blue came back around this year. Under the jacket is another Silhouette design, Pam's Blouse, made from poly microfiber charmeuse. It's a good underlayer for the jacket, since the jacket is not lined.

And I'm wearing my white-and-black rayon/poly/lycra modified Oxford Pants. These pants are continuing to shrink just a little; I don't think I can let the hem out any more. I'll be sorry if they ever really shrink to 'too short'...

Choir Sundays '08 #39

This Month's Colors: Red and Black













I'm wearing...
A RTW black wool flannel Requirements jacket that I've had for something like 10 years

A likewise ancient red poly microfiber blouse from a looooonnnng out-of-print Kwik Sew pattern. I remember getting that fabric when microfiber was a brand new exciting thing. But it's still polyester...and one day I'll replace it with silk. ;)

My black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford Pants

Our fearless leader gave us the heads up about colors for the next two months...royal blue and black next month(Yay! I can wear those things I made last year too late to wear!) and black and white in February. So -- no panic sewing in the immediate future, anyway!

Choir Sundays 08 # 35

This Month's colors:Burgundy and/or black w/blue jeans

I tried jumping down and snapping the picture as the choir came out onto the risers at about a minute and a half before the service started. There were no stage lights on; only a little blue wash light on the wall behind us. The silhouette looked really cool, but of course that went away with the flash. Sigh...with so little light, it looks rather grainy. Still, you can get the idea.

The gap in the back row is where I stood...

Anyway, I wore my brocade Sewing Workshop Tribeca Shirt, with a matching Modified Loes Hinse City Dress bodice shell under it...just in case...

And my dark wash boot cut Lee jeans with, um, boots.

I need to make one or two more shirts from that Tribeca pattern...it's kinda neat...

Choir Sunday 08 #30

This Month's Colors: Burnt Orange, Tan or Brown w/Blue jeans
(I stood on the back row, in front of the 'O')

I didn't know I'd be wearing my late-finished browns so soon!








Jacket: McCall's 5191, from the stretch denim eyelet I got from Muna Couture in Nashville in July of '07.

Top: Jalie 2682, from brown yummy rayon/lycra jersey purchased at Textile Fabric's 50% off sale this past July.

The jeans are Lees...'Medium' length, but I have to wear them with my 2 1/4" heeled boots.

I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to continue getting photos of the whole choir; we are going to three services (yes, three services: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15) starting next week, and the choir will not be warming up/rehearsing on the stage. I'll be watching the rest of this month to see when it looks like will be the best opportunity...

Choir Sundays '08 #26

This Month's colors: Deep Hot Pink or charcoal grey or black w/blue jeans. The stage has been kind of redesigned; the choir is on new risers (with lights!) in the middle of the stage, with the band split on either side. It's different...

The only thing I'm wearing that I made is the Jacket; it's the McCall's 5191, from printed cotton/lycra sateen. I misread the fabric description when I purchased the fabric from Fabric Mart two years ago; consequently it wasn't what I was expecting (my fault totally). So I changed my mind two or three times before I finally used it as the test for the Palmer/Pletsch jeans jacket. It turned out cuter than I expected, and I was, um, tickled pink (couldn't resist!)that the pink in it is this month's choir pink. I was even more tickled that it was a dead match for that absolutely ancient Lands' End sleelveless mock-t-neck.
Need I even mention the Lee jeans anymore? ;)

Oh, I just noticed that this post starts the second year for Choir Sundays! My first Choir Sundays post was 9-2-07. Hard to believe I've been doing this for a year...even harder to believe that I wore something I made every Sunday I was in choir during the past year! I wasn't sure I could do it, but I did!

And, I guess since I'm in the habit of doing this, I'll keep it up for a while longer, anyway...

Choir Sundays 08 # 22

I realized I didn't get a choir photo in July, but that's ok since we're wearing the same colors for August.... ;)

This month's colors: Purple, gold or brown w/blue jeans


The fellow in the front center didn't spill anything on his shirt; that's the shadows of the microphones! I took this photo early in practice; we had several more who came in a bit late, so we ended up with a fuller looking choir than this.


Me, I did a repeat:
Jacket: Purple poly/rayon boucle Loes Hinse's Retro Jacket. I've got on a dark brown silk modified Loes Hinse's City Dress; the bodice has been tweaked into a shell top.

And long-on-me ('regular length') Lee jeans.

Choir Sundays 08 #17

I realized this week that this is sort of my version of the 'I wear what I sew' post ;)

Around the house, I'm likely to be in shorts/jeans and a t-shirt from some event, but when I go out, I'm usually in something I made. Today is no different!

This month's colors blue jeans w/either green, orange or yellow.

Vacation season is upon us; I thought about waiting for next week to see if we had a few more folks in the choir, but decided to just post what we had ;)...

Jacket Vogue 8045, from fairly hefty denim that had been in the stash for several years when I made it 3 years ago.
Top: shell from modified Loes Hinse City Dress, made from a green/white/taupe rayon crinkle print. Very cool (as in temperature... ;)

These are Gloria Vanderbilt straight leg jeans; today was the bi-monthly visitor's luncheon and I was on my feet a LOT... no heels today!

Choir Sundays 2008 #14

We've officially gone to 'Summer Casual' in choir, even though we've got a week before Memorial Day. From now 'till August (or maybe even September), we'll be wearing 'Jeans And...' for choir.

This month we're wearing 'Jeans w/Black and White'. And folks are starting to have fun with my monthly photographs...


As for me, I wore my Lee jeans w/ the Vogue 2945 top, made from the white-ovals-on-black rayon/lycra jersey I got from Hancock's.

I really need taller shoes w/these jeans; they work good w/my 2" heeled boots, but I don't have any pretty summery shoes w/heels that I could stand to wear for the amount of time we stand in choir. That's on my list...

Choir Sundays 08 #12...and the 'Pause' button

First, The Choir Sunday: It's a new month...

This month's colors: Black w/either purple or lavender










Jacket: Textile Studios Florence Jacket, from textured wool crepe

Top: Christine Jonson Basewear 2 sleeveless turtleneck, from a black/purple/lavender rayon/lycra print jersey;

Pants: Black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford Pants

And...the Pause Button....

For some time now, I've been feeling rather restless with the time consumed by the internet. I spend too much time checking and rechecking for comments, opinions, looking for sewing inspiration...nothing bad, you understand, but seriously out of balance. I've been confronted again with a question of priority this morning and I realize the time has come for me to take a bit of an Internet hiatus. Oh, I'll still check email, but I'm going to be taking a break from the blogs and boards for a little while. Time to do a little refocusing.

I'm not sure how long I'll be gone (maybe the rest of the month?) or what might change when I come back, but I don't want my cyber friends worrying...this is not a bad thing. It's a growth thing.

If you need to get in touch, you can reach me at tig77lw 'at' yahoo dotcom.

Thanks to all of you who have traveled with me on this journey so far...I value your friendship very much.

Choir Sundays 08 #10 : Resurrection Sunday

Today, being Easter Sunday, our church services were held at the Civic Center; all three campuses of our church came together for one service. We combined all the choirs/worship teams from the three campuses with Master's Commission, and ended up with about 70 - 80 people in the choir. So it was split into two. The guys were to wear light yellow with black, the ladies were supposed to wear a color JC Penny calls 'Ocean Teal'...most ladies just went with turquoise. But it all blends.

Me, I wore the black poly herringbone Loes Hinse Bistro jacket again, and the hot-off the sewing machine Simplicity 4076 scoop-neck top, in the required 'Ocean Teal' knit, and the also *finally finished* Loes Hinse Oxford pants, from the tropical weight wool pinstripe that had been waiting for elastic for 2 weeks. The pinstripes are really, really fine and don't show up, but with the final tweaks I made to this pattern I think I've got it fitting just about perfect now. Yay!

Just as an aside, the service today was incredible... wish you all could've been there. ;)

Choir Sundays 08 #8

This month's colors: sage or moss green and black

















Top:Vogue 7281, in a green-on-green jacquard from Hancock's.

Pants:Sewing Workshop Plaza Pants, made from a poly microfiber. These pants are going on 4 years old and are really needing to be replaced...just gotta find suitable fabric.

Choir Sundays 08 #5

This Month's Colors: Black and white


The bad thing about hopping down between songs in the pre-service practice is that everyone is fellowshipping instead of being all sharp and choir-y looking. But you can get an idea of how the whole colors thing works,right?


Since we were also serving at our periodic information lunch for folks who have recently visited the church, I didn't go real dressy today. In fact, I went for 1)comfortable and 2) washable.
Top: Kwik Sew 2900 from a tweedy knit of undetermined content that I inherited from my grandmother. This shirt has been hanging in my closet since 2002. I didn't like the low armholes when I made it, but for some reason I keep wearing it and wearing it and wearing it...
Pants:New Look 6101, from black rayon blend "4-way' double knit from EmmaOneSock.



I caught DS in the hallway; he's got a backpack slung on his back, not a back brace or anything like that. He's determined to dance his little heart out when they do the dance at the International Master's Commission Conference Friday. Wish I could see it...

Return of Choir Sundays

This month's colors: Black with Royal Blue

Once again, a rehearsal photo. Obviously, the baby in red and the green coat that was worn because the sanctuary started out cold would be gone when we start service, but the young fellow front and center is one of the Master's Commission students from Iceland, and that's probably the closest he had to royal blue and black in his closet! Master's students rotate singing along with the choir, both to boost our numbers and to have experience as part of the worship team, so they generally have less stringent dress codes (I'm noticing that several of the black garments look sort of red/brown...must be that blue light special again). It just so happened that DS of the Rolling Eyes was part of the choir supplement this morning, too...he's in the middle in the blue shirt, black tie and, um, fauxhawk hair do. Ya gotta love those teenagers....

I did get a couple of royal blue things cut out yesterday; maybe I'll wear one of them next week. Meantime, I've got on the Vogue 8043 tweed jacket from SWAP '06, the Textile Studios Monaco Funnel Neck Shell, in a textured slinky, and the old faithful black cotton twill Vogue 7881 pants.

I discovered something: acetate/Lycra slinky has a shelf life. The texture on the shell has broken down considerably from what it was when I made it. It's still wearable, but I can really tell that it ain't what it used to be. Pity...it's a great color!

Choir Sundays #14

This month's choir colors: Black and red


Jacket: Silhouette Patterns Robin's Jacket, made last fall from a red sparkley plaid from Fashion Sewing Group

Dress: The original version of The Sewing Workshop's Cityscapes Dress, made in 2005 from black poly/lycra slinky. We had a Christmas luncheon after church today...I'm still avoiding the waistbands ;). ( The head tilt is an effort to avoid glasses glare. It sort of worked...minimal glare...but I'm not sure I think the resulting goofy pose is any better)