Godspeed, Pastor Dave...

I debated which blog should host this.  It deals with church and faith; so perhaps it should go on the faith blog.  But I recently posted a memorial to someone I'd only watched on TV;  this is much, much closer and dearer.  If I could write about one, I should definitely write about the other.

And I have posted about working with our children's pastors many times over the years; sewing costumes and set pieces.  You might remember the costuming ....the  gold dress with the white oversleeves and both of the boys' tunics in the above flyer, for instance.  Pastor Dave added the studs to the tunics, making them more ruggedly squire-looking.

That was just a bit of the awesome eye for detail that Pastor Dave would exhibit. I never failed to be amazed and inspired by his vision and genius, all with the goal of using that creativity to share the gospel in a way that even little kids could understand that they are loved.

Today, I woke up to a text message that our beloved Pastor Dave had had a massive heart attack in the early morning hours.  Of course, being a person of faith, I believe he's currently walking around heaven enthusiastically reacting to the beauty and the creativity in abundance.    But also being a person who loved him and his family,  enjoyed working and creating with him and just plain liking him as a warm, kind-hearted, caring person....well, I had to read the text three times before I comprehended that it said what it looked like it said.  I can't fathom the effect on his wife and three kids (all pictured in that flyer, but the kids are now grown). They have been in my heart and prayers all day.

He was a colleague on church staff; that meant that, as the DBA,  I was involved with the Kids Quest team for registration for the big summer theme events as well as volunteer costuming. But above and beyond that, he was a pastor to my kids.  He pastored them when they were young, educated them in ministry as teens and mentored them as young adults.  My two youngest are now lay adult staff members of the children's ministry team.  We've seen the ministry up close and personal, from the backstage, and I can tell you that it is authentic.  The pastors lived what they taught.  They set high standards and challenged the kids to...for those in leadership, insisted that the kids... meet those standards.

He created all the puppets himself;  designed the stage for our children's sanctuary, designed the sets for the children's theme every summer...ranging from medieval castles to steampunk labs to dinosaur enclosures, pirate ships and more.  He even did some sets for local high school productions and community theater groups.

But, also, in times of crisis, both national (think 9/11) or local, it was Pastor Dave that the church turned to for guidance in helping our kids process and deal with the harsher side of life.  He had the ability to break something down to a kids' level and help them understand.    He truly loved the kids...and they loved him.

He was also a huge Captain America fan; his office is FILLED with figurines, posters, and other memorabilia.  Facebook profile pictures have been converting to Captain America references all day long in honor of Pastor Dave;  my older son actually stopped at Target to pick up a Captain America t-shirt and found a nearly empty display.  The clerk commented that she'd filled that to absolute capacity just yesterday.   I expect to see a sea of Captain America T-shirts at church Sunday.

There's no way to estimate the number of lives he has impacted.  He will be sorely and deeply missed.

Workin' It In

I'm learning that I'm a much happier costumer if I can squeeze in a project from my sewing queue once in a while, so last night I did a little project squeezing.

I had to clear off/open out the cutting table anyway to trim the flare from the surcoats (total removal: 12 inches from the hem circumference), so, while it was out, I indulged a whim I'd just had and drafted extensions for the lower portions of Jalie 2682 top to make it into a dress. Then I cut the new pattern from the printed slinky I got on my Mother's Day Weekend trip to Textile Fabrics. THEN I trimmed the surcoats ;).

Since I was planning to sew the surcoats today (preference from Pastor D: clean finish, no binding), I went ahead and thought I'd see how far I could get on my dress. And you know, I got all the way to the edge finishes. Armholes and hem and it's done. So I might squeak that in today before I change the thread on the serger for the surcoat finish.

I don't think it's *quite* as flattering as the Madison Avenue Dress, but that could just be because black is more slimming than the watercolors of the Jalie 'dress'. But it's not bad! I'll post a photo when it's done....

And that table's still out; maybe I'll trace a White Blouse Pattern before I put it away... ;)

Pedal Fix

A couple of teeny nuts and bolts took care of it.

Which is good, because I finished opening up the seams on the surcoats yesterday. Hopefully they'll get finished off today, but I thought of a question about how it should be done. Should I bind them in bias to match the binding around the edges (and the hem, which I had to cut open), or should I just turn-and-stitch them down? Both have pros and cons; I'm not sure how to proceed.

I think an email to Pastor D is in order to see which way *he'd* like it done.

Which will give me a little time to fold some laundry, etc etc....

Surcoat Surgery

'Surcoat'! That's the word...

Ok, I'm altering two surcoats to be less, um, dress-like, since Pastor D will not be riding horses in the meetings they'll be conducting. These were purchased from an online vendor, and I must admit they're well-made. At first, he just wanted me to take up the side seams so that the flare was eliminated, but I'm afraid that would also take away all the walking ease. Yes, the garments have front and back slits (for riding the horses, you see), but I think they'll be better with a little extra room.

So the 'take up the side seams' has turned into 'open up the side seams and finish them off'.

And the side seams have been stitched conventionally, then serged, then pressed flat and topstitched down.

So the opening of the side seams is a little more of a production than I had anticipated.

But...I have one seam down and three to go.

Alterations...quick?

We didn't quite get everything cut out on the pirate cosutmes; we've still got one pair of pants and the linings for the vests to cut (first, I gotta get some suitable vest lining). But the coat and its lining...the Big Cahuna of the whole project...is cut and I should get started on it this week. Miss A took one of the shirts home to work on it.

But first I need to do a little alteration for our Childrens' Pastors (As this is the third year I've been involved in costuming for them, I decided they're entitled to their own Post Label! ). They've been doing traveling family ministry w/a medieval theme for three years now; this year their bookings have really filled up and they needed several items. So, they went online and bought several pieces, and when they came, they found a couple of them needed a bit of altering. Turns out the over robe (doublet? My mind has gone blank...I know the name...) was designed to fit someone who was astride a horse. Pastor D does not ride any horses in the presentations, so the A-line flare of the garment needs to go away. Their first event is in just a couple of weeks; I brought home his two brand-new, made-to-order garments and will be altering them slightly so they don't flare out so much.

Before I start sewing the pirate things.

But while I was talking to them, PJ gave me a flyer from their promo material. It's kinda cool; you can see the Gold dress and the Squire tunics I made for them a couple of years ago (Pastor D added the studs to the tunics). Neat! :)

*Now* It's Done...

I took the sleeves off of PJ's green dress, let the seams in the sleeve/ drapey over sleeve out about 3/8" or so, took the trim off the upper sleeve and put new trim on while s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g the fabric. After I had the new piece on, I compared it to the trim I'd removed and found that I'd added about 1 1/2" to the bicep area. So I was reasonably hopeful that that would fix the problem and I put the sleeves back in.

Truth is, I did each sleeve separately...since the notches had been trimmed off, I wasn't sure I wouldn't mix up the sleeves and put the left sleeve on the right armsceye. By doing one, then doing the other, that was not a problem, although it took longer.

But I ran the dress down to church and PJ put it on and pronounced it 'So much better!'. So it is finished.

Then, I stood in PJ's office and had a lovely conversation with PJ and her hubby Pastor Dave, first about medieval history but ultimately about how they ended up in children's ministry. If I hadn't messed up...er, um, forgot to stretch the sleeves, I'd've missed out on that. And it's a wonderful testimony of God's grace and patience.

So anyway, I got blessed! Then I came home and dove into Must Sew Project 4, the details of which I will share Monday...partly because I'm still sorta making it up as I go.

Not So Fast...

The Green Dress has been recalled.

I looked the original dress over well to verify just exactly which seam allowances I had let out a bit at the final fitting, and altered the pattern accordingly before I cut the green one out. But, as I was constructing the sleeves, something seemed small. Even on my arms, it seemed snug. I knew I'd used the same construction, though...same stretch velvet, same pattern...so I decided I must be imagining things and forged ahead.

Well, the sleeves were too small. After much head scratching, I decided that I must've stretched the sleeve as I applied the trim piece to the original dress...I don't *remember* doing that, but that's about all I can think of that could've varied.

So, the dress is back, the sleeves will be removed, the sleeve seam allowance reduced a bit and new trim (good thing I overestimated the amount of trim I'd need; I have plenty to re-do it) will be applied as the sleeve is stretched tautly. Then I'll put the sleeves back in.

Meanwhile, Must Sew Project 4 has been cut out, but it will have to wait until I get the green dress signed off... ;)

Hey, I have until Sunday morning...

Must Sew Project 3: Done and Delivered

Well, this is dress two for our children's pastors' family ministry...they're doing a camp next week and she wanted a second dress to wear, since they'll be there several days. I made a slight adjustment at the bust/waist (I had just let the side seams out a tinch on the first dress), and added 1/2" back into the length. She didn't have time to put it on last night, but it should be fine...it's the same pattern and same fabric as the first one.

And I *Love* that color!!!

On to Must Sew Project 4...but I can't report on that one until next week...

Must Sew Project 3: WIP

Yesterday I got the green medieval dress made to the point at which the zipper is in and neckline facings are on; I think I will sew up the side seams this morning and take the dress to church around noonish so PJ can try it on before I put on the sleeves and the waist trim. I think it's going to be a very pretty dress when it's done; cursed curling panne velvet notwithstanding... ;)

And DD has very suddenly no school shorts. Last year's are just, um, a little too skimpy for wearing anywhere other than the back yard. So it looks like I've got my next project picked...after I finish Must Sew Project 4, for which I will likely pick up the fabric and pattern today (another urgent church sewing item...got that assignment Sunday....). But, there's only one and one-half days of school left...maybe the shorts aren't as critical as I thought.

Or maybe I should just do laundry.... :eek:

The Green Dress

PJ told me she'd have her gold Medieval Dress (McCall's 4889) at church today; I'm going to run by around noonish and take a look, just to make sure I'm correct in remembering what I let out at the end. Then I will be cutting! I'm planning to cut today; PJ's green dress for sure, and if I'm moving well I may cut a couple of the pieces I bought over the weekend. Or at least see if I can get the pattern that's in my head drafted for one of them, but that'll be a post for another day, if it works... ;)

Pick Two

Well, it's done...and, considering it's a pattern designed for wovens, crafted in crushed panne velvet (shudder)...and those floaty sleeves are poly chiffon hemmed on the bias (shudder again), it's not *too* bad. I'll try to get a review up sometime today.

I told PJ that I was reminded of one of the little amusing blubs I read in Reader's Digest a really long time ago about an auto shop that had a sign by the cash register: 'We do work that is cheap, fast and good. You can pick two.'

This was fast and cheap. 'Nuff said.

I'll take her dress to her today; dunno if I can get a photo of her in it or not, but they may take some pictures during the crusade next week (it runs Sunday night through Wednesday), so hopefully I'll have a photo of the finished product on its intended victim, er, wearer. Incidently, she said that her hubby had added studs to the tunics I made for the boys and they look really cool. Hopefully I'll get to see those eventually, too.

Medieval Dresses

Moving on to phase two of Project By Royal Decree...the dresses. The Teen Daughter of the Children's Pastors will be wearing a dress that her mother wore; it just needs some fairly minor alterations and some new trim. However, neither her mother, PJ, nor I were quite happy with the fit of the the other old dress that PJ pulled out of storage for herself (acutally, it's the red dress that's in the photos on the web site linked above. Only without the gold undershirt). Even with some altering, it just wasn't going to be quite right. So we decided a new dress was in order. The nod went to McCall's 4889, in an antique gold crushed panne velvet (yes, the Evil Fabric to be Avoided has found its way into my sewing queue again). We purchased the fabric, trim and notions yesterday and I'm going back to Hancock's for the pattern today, since the McCall's patterns go on sale today. The knit should be fairly forgiving in fit, but I still want to make a muslin; PJ is going to need a FBA and I'm kinda out of practice on that...

Today's my last day for attic cleaning; I've made a huge amount of progress and feel fairly good about what I've been able to accomplish. I just need about 90 feet of hanging space so I can get everything off of the rolling racks.

Tunics from Robes

Well, I did manage to convert the Bible Costumes to Medieval tunics...here's the finished product:



If you want the particulars, I gave the conversion in a nutshell in the Review.

DS, who is about the same size as the boys who will wear the tunics, modeled for me. He has put in an order for a green one. ;)

Bible Costumes Revised

Note for folks who landed here searching for info on making Bible Costumes:
I'm not sure why this post, of all of them, crops up first, but I have more information on the blog. Check the links at the top of the sidebar; "Bible Costume Info" will take you to more posts on building Bible costumes, including some tutorials w/pictures of the process.


Original Post:
Our children's pastors at church also have a traveling ministry; they take themed crusades for families w/kids around the country (Pattern Review members will remember the whacky review I did of the Pirate Shirts I made for a crusade they did at our church last August) (Off-topic comment -- that may be my favorite of my reviews to date...). Anyway, I've been asked to help costume a differently-themed crusade,this one to be set in Medieval times and dealing w/knights and squires and chivalry and such along with the the Biblical message. They apparently did a crusade on that theme a long time ago and now want to update it and use it again and include their three kids (teen girl, two barely teen boys) as well. Not fancy, but hopefully good enough to set the tone at the crusades.

So, while we were looking at various websites at the types of garments they were wanting, I was astonished at how many of them could be adapted from the basic Bible costumes we've already been using. I guess that shouldn't surprise me... almost every culture has that basic unfitted garment in its history somewhere.

So, the first part of the assignment is to make tunics for the boys; these will be basically the Bible robes shortened and trimmed out. And I had shopping favor at Wal-Mart yesterday and found fabric in the right colors and drape and wrinkle-resistance on the dollar table...I should get both boys' tunics for less than $10.

Which is cool; these folks pour into my kids on a weekly basis...it's neat to get a chance to be a blessing in return.