Building Bible Costumes ...Part One

(note: the pattern we most often use for Bible Costumes is McCall's 2339

Once the pockets are done (see The Inseam Pocket Tutorial for how to do the pockets), the next time-consuming part is the neckline. I actually prefer to finish the neckline with bias tape, but, since we're making a bundle of these, all from different colors, it's easier to just cut facings than to try and match bias tape to each one. If you've got bias tape, and you'd rather use that, be my guest. :)


First, stay stitch the neckline edges (1/2" from the raw edge) of the garment front and back, and the front and back facings.







Then, stitch the garment front to back at the shoulders and the facings front to back at the shoulders. Finish the edges; serge them together or, if you don't have a serger, zig-zag the seam allowances individually.






Finish the outside edge of the facing.










If you serged the seam allowances together, press the facing shoulder seams to the front and the garment shoulder seams to the back (this will reduce bulk in the neckline seam). If you zig-zagged the edges, just press the seams open.






Press the back seam allowance (5/8", not counting any fringe...most of these were cut with the back edge on the selvedge, so no finish is necessary on the back seam) to the front, then pin the facing over it (the back edge of the facing should end up even with the fold...but these were cut rather in a hurry, so don't worry if you've got to fudge it a bit), right sides together, and sew it with a 5/8" seam.


Trim the facing seams to 1/4" and clip as necessary.










Turn the facing to the wrong side of the garment and press...the back neckline corner is finished, too!









Topstitch the facing down at 3/8"" from the edge. TIP: You'll get fewer bias wrinkles if you follow the curve of the neckline as you're topstitching, rather than pulling the seam out straight in front of your presser foot.






Doesn't that look nice? The last thing we do is put the closure on...that'll come later.

The Encouragement of Minor Miracles

I think I mentioned a couple of days ago that I wanted to line the shorts for the Soldier costumes...they're a cream poly-rayon linen look fabric and, um, just a bit on the transparent side. So, I stopped at Wal-mart and found only one bolt of the athletic mesh I was looking for that would do...a light grey. Well, if it makes the shorts look a little dingy or grungy, that's ok, and it was the only thing that was even close. It was 62" wide, and there were about 14 yards on the bolt...I got all of it.

I spent the whole day today cutting those shorts...and I folded and refolded to get as much use of the fabric as I could.

When I cut the lining for the last pair, I had 8.5" left.

Whew.

All I have left to cut now are the tunics and capes. This is taking a lot longer than I thought, but, once it's cut, it should be pretty quick to sew.

Somehow, squeezing all the linings out of that piece of fabric has encouraged me that I'm on the right track, and we WILL make it... ;)

The Inseam Pocket Tutorial

Ok, this is not exactly a generic pocket; I'm writing this up for ladies who are helping me sew Bible costumes; we're adding inseam pockets so that in the event that any of these folks might need a wireless mike at some point in the future, they'll have a pocket to stick the transmitter in... ;)

However, once you realize the placement marks on these pockets can be adapted for whatever other thing the pocket should be added to, then it will apply.


I blatantly copied a Kwik-Sew inseam pocket, which had a mark for the waist. The sideseam notch on the Bible Costume (McCall's 2339) appears to be at about waist level...close enough for costuming, anyway. So, I put a clip at the waistline mark on the pocket to match to the sideseam notch on the garment. There are three clips on the garment...the armsceye notch, the dot where the dropped shoulder seam turns into the side seam, and the side seam notch. The three notches on the pocket are the waistline notch, and the two notches that mark the pocket opening.


On the wrong side of the pocket, draw a line 7/8" from the raw edge between the pocket opening notches. Match the waistline notch on the pocket to the side seam notch on the garment front, then stitch from the raw edge at one opening mark, over to the line you just drew, pivot and stitch down to the level of the second opening mark, pivot again and go straight off the fabric. Go back and, using very small stitches, reinforce the corners by stitching immediately over them for 1/4" or so on either side. Clip into the corners.


Turn the pocket to the inside, pulling the corners out and press it well. Edgestitch it.





















Now, lay the second pocket piece over the first, right sides together, and, moving the garment out of the way, stitch around the outer edge of the pocket. If you don't have a serger, straight stitch it first, then go back and zig-zag the edges. Baste the pocket to the garment front within the side seam allowance.
Now you can treat the whole front/pocket assembly as a regular front; you don't have to stop and start at the pocket opening, and there's no danger of the pocket sewn to the front not matching the pocket sewn to the back. (That photo looks like the pocket opening is huge...it really isn't; I think the telephoto distorted it some).

You just have to be careful not to catch the topstitched edge of the pocket opening in the sideseam when you sew the sideseam...but it looks very nice! :)












This can be used on any pattern that uses an inseam pocket. However, unless your fabric is very firm, for a real life wardrobe, fuse lightweight interfacing to the pocket opening area of both the pocket facing and the garment...that helps it keep its shape.

Tutes Coming

Sigh. There's nothing like waking up to the sound of a child sick in the bathroom, is there?

DD was up just before 5. She appears to be a bit perkier now, but there goes the plan to cut soldier costumes today. I'll run into church for a couple of hours around lunch (leaving her almost-14 big brother strict instructions and my cell phone number) to see what I can do and pick up a couple of the ladies robes to sew at home.

I'm also going to post some 'how to' tutes and photos...I updated my Bible costume review at Pattern Review, so it had a new 'last updated' date on it to try and circumvent the fact that only subscribers can view pattern reviews over six months old. Alas, my belief that the date checked was the 'last updated' date turns out to have been optimistic; it checks the original date and my sewing ladies can't see it. So I may have an extra post or two over the next couple of days while I photograph and describe the process.

ETA: I stand corrected. Mamafitz pointed out that the old reviews are available to anyone who is a registered Pattern Review member, not just the Friends of Pattern Review (subscribers). In the beginning, the six-month limit was there, but I forgot that it had been removed. I just looked at the list of benefits for FoPR, and the six month limit is not mentioned. But, I don't know if the ladies will want to sign up for the free membership or not...I'll still plan on posting the pictures.

At least the costume I have at home to sew is a light grey...that ought to be easy to photograph... ;)

Off to cut

I'm hoping to get the other 5 ladies costumes cut out, and all the sizes for the soldier tunics shorts traced off, since I only had one size that we just kind of fudged up last year. This year I'll definitely need at least 4 sizes, so I'm going to use the pull-on pants pattern that's in the envelope with the African Caftan that we've used for the baptismal robes. I'll just make them about knee length.

That's my 'by-3-PM today' goal.

And I'm debating adding a mesh lining to the shorts...since I've been told we don't want the guys feeling like they're in their underwear, a lining for that not-completely-opaque cream poly/rayon linen-look stuff might not be a bad idea.

I think I'll stop at Wal-mart on my way home and see if there's anything suitable on the dollar table.

Attitude Adjustment

Mylon LeFevre was our guest speaker at church this morning. DH and I had the honor of being escorts/assistants for Mylon and his wife, so we were in both services. Many folks may remember Mylon and Broken Heart from the early years of Christian rock...I didn't (Petra, yes...). But he has been to church before about a year and a half ago and so I knew we were in for a treat this morning.

Can you believe his topic was reducing stress? I got my 'I've got too much work to do!!!' whining dealt with twice...once in first service; once in second.


Bottom line: this is ministry. Not a business. Either I trust God or I don't. If I trust Him, He's not going to pile more on me than I can take. If it's a load that makes me pout and whine, it has a purpose. Hey, if by sewing for a couple of weeks I can facilitate something that touches someones' life and makes them aware of their hope and future...gives them a glimpse of who God is...isn't that worth it?

So, my perspective has shifted back around so that it's not on me (as if it was about me in the first place) and on the project. Which is where it needs to be...'cause I still gotta receive a whole lotta grace to pull this one off. ;)

Cutting the pile down

I meant to take the camera today and take a picture of the 'to be cut' pile, but I forgot...

My helpers didn't make it in today, and I cut by myself. So I didn't make nearly as much progress as I'd hoped to make. And, one of the ladies had purchased some brown rib knit from the dollar table at Wal-Mart that 1) had shrunk considerably and 2)was sliced off grain. That is, it was knit in a tube, then split along one side to make it flat. The only trouble is, they did not cut it straight. Consequently, the cut edge literally spirals around the tube. I've run into this problem before and should have specified 'no knits, please' so as to avoid that issue but, well, I didn't. So I had to fold the fabric down one rib while one cut edge sloped towards the fold and the other sloped away (it had a rise vs. run slope of 1/2" to 10 1/2"...I was curious and I checked it). I cut one long piece, then had to refold the thing along a new rib to move the cut edges closer together again...anyway, I didn't have a even a pinch of fabric left after cutting the two lengths for the gown and had to go get another yard and a half for the sleeves.

Fortunately, she'd gotten it at the dollar table at the Wal-mart just down the street from church and it was on my way home. So I stopped and the clerk there remembered cutting it and helped me unearth the remnants of that bolt. I'd mentioned on the email I'd sent round to the sopranos and altos that the best place to find the fabric was that particular Wal-mart, and she'd had several come in there. In fact, one lady had brought in a print out of the email with her, then forgotten it. The clerk wrote 'We should probably keep this' on the print out and set it up where they could see it.

She said it was a great help when folks came in...she knew to tell them they needed 'Four, two and two'...yards of three fabrics.

That was a much needed smile after a long slow day... ;)

She's a Sewing Maniac

I think I'm going to be able to delegate a lot of the soldier costuming; the HMC student who was the man with the vision for the soldiers is going to be in charge of finishing out all the 'armor' (black vinyl tabbards)...we only have to put together the four new ones; they'll take those and all the old ones and work 'em over. And, I've got a couple of new ladies who have volunteered to help...I think we're going to be able to do this.

I think I'm changing the costume paradigm...from 'the costumes belong to church' to 'the costumes belong to the performers'. At least for people in the choir, who are in these productions every time we do one.

So many have disappeared that I figured I was going to be about 10 costumes short for the ladies (there's a costume black hole somewhere in our church...). I e-mailed the soprano and alto sections asking for 10 ladies to volunteer to go buy their own fabric. Since I had to make more anyway, I figured I might as well make them for them as for the church. Last night, 12 ladies brought me fabric! So I think we'll have enough.

Plus, our kid's classes for next week have been canceled (spring break), which means no one is going to use Classroom 1 (the one closest to the door) until a week from Tuesday. So I can carry the machines and such in Monday and just sew like crazy.

Someone at church asked me last night 'Are you a sewing maniac?'

I replied, 'I am for the next two weeks!'

Spring 07 Costuming

It Has Begun.

Last Tuesday (as in, the night before I left town to go to the Atlanta Expo), at the first general rehearsal for our Easter (well, month of April) drama/skit/production/sermon illustrations/whatever you want to call it, I was handed the costumer's folder. I really had no idea what was inside, but I sure wasn't expecting specs for new Roman Soldier costumes (modifications to the current black vinyl 'armor' tabbards, four additional complete costumes for a total of 12, capes for all, wrist and shin guards for all and new tunics/shorts in a different color and style for all). I'll be honest...I lost ten minutes right there; didn't hear a word anyone said, trying to get over the punched in the gut sensation I had as I looked at the specs and did some quick math regarding fabric and time required (48 yards and 60 hours, respectively). Fortunately Miss A and I *were* headed for Atlanta, home of multiple JoAnn's and Hancock's, so we were able to accumulate about 50 yards of rayon/poly linen look in a creamy white (cleaned out one JoAnn's and one Hancock's of it completely...the other JoAnn's had a larger supply and so we only got 2/3 of theirs). That wasn't exactly the fabric requested for the tunics and shorts...'lightweight canvas-type cotton' I believe is what the sketch was labeled...but it's as close as we're gonna get. Tonight I will be trying to ascertain just exactly is requested; I'm getting conflicting messages. The spec sheet wants tighter fitting stuff that looks lean and mean; but in my discussions with real people it sounds like last year's costumes felt skimpy on the guys that wore them and they want something that feels, um, less like underwear. So we'll talk.

And we're about 10 costumes short of having enough for the ladies, but I knew that and had a plan for working on it...which has now been *slightly* modified.

I've been in email contact with my sewing lady friends at church and I think I have enough help to pull it off, but it will take another sewing frenzy.

But, there HAVE been some discussions with the folks who passed this along to me, and hopefully in the future I'll be in on any planning meetings so I won't get blindsided by something like this again. If the difficulties we are encountering finally force us all to develop some good planning procedures, then it will be worth the effort.

At least it's Bible Costumes and not Dickens dresses! ;)

Expo 07 Report: Classes

Ok, this is the, um, reason we all go to Expos, right? To be instructed by great and inspiring sewing educators? It's really not buying stuff....

Yeah, that's why this is post number 3 instead of post number 1. Oh, I was saving the best for last. Yeah, that's it :)

Anyway, I started off at 9 on Thursday with Cynthia Guffey in two back-to-back classes; the first was 'Backs Fitting First' and the second was 'Off grain, On target'. Those of you who have had classes with Cynthia will imagine my shock when she came in dressed in blue jeans! And the cutest little princess shell top made of underlined lace (which I am SO going to knock off at the first available moment!). The backs fitting involves two measurements: shoulder slope and upper back curve. I'd seen Cynthia demonstrate this concept last year in the muslin fitting class, but the review absolutely didn't hurt. Miss A and I decided to measure each other's back curve and shoulder slope on our next 'cut for church' day (which is tomorrow...Big Project between now and the first of April; I'll get around to explaining it someday soon). Actually, we were wondering why it didn't occur to us to bring measuring tools and do it while we were there.... The second class was a discussion of fitting curves of the body...most notably, the bust curve. Cynthia's model was a cute gal in her early twenties who, as Cynthia put it, has got curves. Cynthia talked about dart placement, rotating darts, converting a darted style into a princess, converting an armsceye princess into a shoulder princess...I gave up drawing and decided to get the book in which she describes these things ;). But it will make more sense textually after seeing it visually.

The only other class I had on Thursday was Diane Ericson's Fashion Illustration class. It really was a lot of fun, and while I still don't consider myself a great artist, the drawing that I ended up with (beginning with a tracing from a fashion catalog) surprised me. Anyway,for whatever it's worth, here it is,along with the photo I used for inspiration (I would credit the source on it, but I really have no idea where it came from)Um, should I point out that we had no erasers? :D



















On Friday, I had Peggy Sager's Jeans fitting class and Louise Cutting's travel wardrobes class. Peggy did a quick little visualization of the difference between Crotch Length (distance from waist to waist through the legs) and Crotch Depth (distance from waist to crotch) that I have never seen before that really illustrated very well that properly adjusting Length does not affect Depth...suddenly, I saw it as cup shaping applied to the rump...that was a real Lightbulb Moment.

Louise's class was chock full of great tips on traveling and personal safety...not something you'd expect at a sewing expo! But, from someone who travels as much as Louise does, it certainly was good advice. She also showed us her 'paper dolls' -- she's done a package of the front views (technical drawings) of all her patterns, one per sheet of paper, all drawn to the same scale. So, using a scanner and a copier, you can create little samples of her clothes in your fabric, or a reasonable facsimile of your fabric (she said to purchase scrapbook paper for a wide variety of colors for solid fabrics) For a solid, run the scrapbook paper through the copier and copy the garment you want to make from that color...then cut it out. For the print, scan the print, then print it on regular paper, then run it through the copier. That really looked like a lot of fun, and I could see that it was an invaluable tool for wardrobe capsule planning (aka SWAP - Sewing With A Plan). But, I didn't have any money for toys this year, and I had to pass it up. But I did get the booklet that went along with the class, and it also has the outlines...although those outlines are in the back on a smaller scale; I may play with those all the same. ;)

On Saturday, I had Cynthia again for two classes, with Tammy O'Connell in between teaching about sewing with leather. I did learn some things in Tammy's class, but I had a hard time staying focused. It was the next-to-last class, on the last day, I'd had a big lunch, the air conditioning was running and humming...and Tammy has a very soft voice, which wasn't helped much by the PA system, which had about a quarter second delay, so there was always a hint of an echo. But, I'll remember her tip about handling small glued bits w/tweezers...that will be a good thing to remember when DD does her science project poster, too ;)

I'd be surprised if anyone had a hard time staying alert in one of Cynthia's classes...even on the afternoon of the last day. Her buttonhole class was great...tips on making good buttonholes on a sewing machine("We're not going to make bound buttonholes; if you came in here to do bound buttonholes you're going to be disappointed"). Her sewing machine makes buttonholes backwards like mine does, and she gave some excellent advice on keeping buttonholes straight on such a set up (I smacked my head...it was so obvious...). The final class was Pants Tweaking; I wore my modified Daphne pants and Cynthia tweaked them. I wondered why I had a diagonal fold behind my knees...turns out the crotch depth was about 1/2" too long and, um, I have a flat butt (That was news to me; I used to always add length...). She pinned out the extra and the class oohed and ahhed behind me, so I'm guessing it was a great improvement. She said the diagonal folds went away; there were no mirrors, so I'll take her word for it. Miss A measured the adjustments for me before I took the pins out, so I have some real adjustments to make to an actual pattern...and it should fit Really Well once that's done. Oh, she also recommended that I stay away from tapered pants (and I had taken some of the taper out of those)... So anyway, between Peggy's jeans class and Cynthia's Pants class, I feel like my knowledge of pants fitting increased exponentially and I can't wait to pull out that Daphne pattern and see what happens... ;)

Expo 07 Report: Patterns, Books and Notions

Going to the Expo not only gives access to fabric that I can't find anywhere around, it also has patterns, notions, gadgets, books, videos, DVD's, machines, buttons, laces...if it has to do with sewing (or knitting) you can probably find it somewhere.

I got three books (Or booklets; the binding and printing and artwork is pretty self-published-looking):

Louise Cutting's Cutting Across the Country In Style, which has tips on everything from choosing garments for a travel wardrobe to going through airport security to how to stand in a photo so that you look thinner (she also demonstrated that in class; I'm going to see who starts standing that way for review photos...incidentally, in one of my other classes, the instructor had some slides of RTW garments for inspiration...and one of the size 00 models was actually standing as Louise recommended! I'm sure everyone else in the class wondered why I snickered at that photo...)

I also picked up Cynthia Guffey's Simple Guide to Master Tailoring Volume 1: Jacket and Precision Measuring and Pattern Alterations I have so many notes from her classes w/hurriedly sketched pattern pieces that are, well, almost indecipherable later. This way, I have nice clean drawings and explanations to supplement my notes.

That leads to Notions:
At last year's Expo, Cynthia came into class with a pair of Kai Shears and actually stopped her lesson for a couple of minutes to sing the praises of them. The kicker was that she doesn't sell them...but she told us that Emma Seabrooke does. Of course, by the time I got down to that booth, the only ones left were for lefties. So those shears went on this year's list, and Emma's booth was my first purchase...those printed slinkies and a pair of Kai shears. Cynthia recommended another pair of scissors this year...micro tips from 'The Scissor Guy'. He was sold out by that class, so they're on the list for next year. She passed them around: needle-tipped snipping scissors that I declare could cut a single thread. I've never seen anything like them, but Cynthia said they were much, much better for cutting buttonholes than the chisel-and-block. I guess that's next year's first stop... ;)

I also got some fusible tape; I was looking for Steam-A-Seam, but that was one thing I didn't find. I got some of the soft double-sided fusible (it has paper on both sides) to try instead, and both black and white fusible bias. Since I do a lot of turn-and-stitch necklines, I thought that would be a good investment to use for stabilizing them.

And of course I bought a new package of blades for my ergonomic rotary cutter.

And patterns! I came home with...9.

Four were from Silhouettes: Me Too! One-Piece Skirt and Yoga Pant to see if DD will be interested in some more sewing experience, and Lana's Jean and Sonya's Blouse for me.

From Louise Cutting, I got AnythingBUTOrdinary, even though I had thought it wouldn't suit me. When I saw it in person, I decided I wanted it after all... ;)

I also got Diane Ericson's Skyelines pattern. I *know* her patterns are designed for tall women, but the lines on this one have appealed to me for a long time and, since I did take a class from her, I decided this would be my purchase. I'll just have to account for the difference between my body type and what she's designing for when I prepare the pattern. It does have such nice strong vertical lines... ;)

Finally, Miss A and I did make a trip to JoAnn's (actually, we visited a couple of JoAnn's and a Hancock's, searing for fabric for Easter costumes. We did find what we needed; I'll tell that story later in the week), and I got two Burda patterns, 7932, which strikes me as being very similar to Vogue 7281, only with more 'opportunities for fit'. The other Burda is 8960. And, I decided to be conservative and I only got one pattern off of my Simplicity list...3877.

Ah, so much sewing to do...so little time in which to do it...

Expo 07 Report: Fabric

Here's the stash addition! L to R:
The first two are printed slinkies from SewKeysE (Emma Seabrooke). The first one is a cool geometric abstract in cream, black and dark royal blue w/gold accents; the second is a fushcia/black/hot pink floral w/gold accents. Not sure what knit tops I will make out of these right off the bat; I need to make up my mind about the floral one quickly; I could wear that in choir this month! I will need to be Very Careful about print placement on them, though!

The third piece is a rayon challis herringbone twill...the colors are just fabulous! It's going to be a swishy skirt; I'm thinking Loes Hinse Gore skirt w/godets...we'll see if I change my mind. I might make a 'banana' skirt (the style w/the banana-shaped gores). I've got lots of tops that will go with that.

The piece on the end is a jacket-weight cotton twill (to be worn when the choir color is orange). A topper-length coat...maybe one of Louise Cutting's designs...is what that's slated to be.

Finally, laid out in the front is 1/2 of a washable pigskin suede hide. Originally, I got it thinking I'd see if I could get a LaRue bag from it...but, heck, it's WASHABLE, so now I'm thinking I might use it for trim in a garment...or maybe even a vest front. I haven't sewn with suede before; it's 'learn new skills' time.

So, that's about 9 1/2 yards (hard to define the suede) for less than $9/yd average; I did pretty good... ;)

I'll post about patterns, notions and classes later in the week.

PS Gaylen is ISO some suggestions for a newbie sewing friend; if you've got any recommendations for beginner sewing books/patterns, go over and leave her a comment w/your suggestion and it will be greatly appreciated!

Back from Expo '07

Boy, it was a late night last night when we finally got home! Miss A and I hit 4 fabric stores on our way out of Atlanta (there was a very good reason...more on that tomorrow). I exercised Great Restraint, purchasing only about 9.5 yards of fabric at an average of about $8.60/yd. That's not counting books, notions and patterns, but all in all I came home feeling fairly good about what I got. But next year...I'm buying silk! If I have to save every sewing penny from now till then! ;)

Here's a glimpse of what I got...details later...

Off to Atlanta!

I've embellished my name tag just a bit... ;)

See you tomorrow!

Look for the report late Saturday. Meantime, for your reading pleasure, if you haven't checked out How to Buy Fabric, make sure you read it (and all the comments!) I guarantee you'll be giggling coffee through your nose if you're not careful...

And I'm really wondering if that was a truly edifying thing to read just before heading into the den of fabric temptation that is the vendor floor at the Expo... !

Expo 07 Wear

Well, I'll be wearing the teal In the Trenches on Thursday...but here's my planned wardrobe for Friday and Saturday (unless I change my mind, which is possible but not likely... ;) ).

Say 'Hi!' if you're there!

A Considered Purchase

I was just a little bummed that my fabric shopping at the Expo was going to be focused around what I would need for choir...I didn't feel like I could just look for fabric that spoke to me. But, an email from Fashion Fabrics club announced that they are running a deal on shipping...1.95 flat rate for any purchase of $40 or more. So I did a little scouting and found two knits and some black cotton/lycra twill that will do nicely for 'necessary choir clothes'...for a total of 8 yards at just a fuzz over $5/yd, including shipping. I don't think I could've found it for cheaper at the Expo, and now I'm free to look for fabric that I love.


I can't buy much...after the 8 yards arrives, I'll be just a little over 12 yards ahead of parity...that'd be about 4 pieces of fabric. And (I'm telling myself this, anyway) I'm going to be picky. It's got to *speak* to me.

We'll see how strong my willpower is...or maybe, how vocal the fabric is this year!

Maybe I'd better wear earplugs. :P

Frenzy Finished

In addition to these, I finished out a sleeveless shell from the remnant of the black and white stripe, and the black Jalie tank top that's been in the queue since January (well, I *did* have black thread in the serger...). I probably don't look wonderfully fresh in the photos, but this was after two church services and serving and helping clean up after our bi-monthly visitors luncheon.

We had amazing worship this morning with the Masters' Commission kids added to the choir; we had to jury-rig a riser system that would hold everyone. It was kinda funny; there were only two ladies in black and white stripes...me and my DD. And no, we didn't plan it! I ended up standing next to DS on the risers...he doesn't consider himself a singer, but all of HMC is kinda drafted into their choir, so he had to join us too. I thought it was nifty, anyway.

I will probably not get the reviews written/updated until tomorrow sometime; right now, I'm tired enough that I don't know that I could be even close to coherent....

Anyway, if you're going to the Atlanta Expo...I'll be in the In The Trenches outfit on Thursday.

Yay! Only two years after I got the pattern and fabric.... :rolleyes:

Sewing Frenzy

I *did* cut the Cadeau top out yesterday morning (and a sleeveless, cowl-less, Cowl Top from the remnants), then I went to work on the ITT set.

That shirt is fiddly. REALLY fiddly. There's a huge amount of topstitching, and, due to the nature of it, a lot of tying off and burying the threads. It makes a neater finish, but, oh, man, does it take a while. But I did get the whole set nearly finished. I still have to sew the buttons on the blouse and apply the elastic to the waistband of the skirt, but that will be a quick finish. I had a scary moment when I tried the blouse on and it was too tight in the bust. I let the seam allowances out in that spot as much as I could and it still felt tight...then I realized that I still had the pleat in the back shield basted closed, which made the back smaller than it will be once the basting is removed and the pleat can open. Whew. I won't take the basting out till the shirt is done and pressed but I think I'm ok.

Once the elastic is on the skirt I can change the thread and start on the Cadeau. I'm a little concerned about it; I had trouble w/the stripes matching as I wanted them to (I see why Hot Patterns recommended cutting the sleeves on the bias; avoids the whole issue) We'll just have to see what happens when I put it together.

And, just to make me feel like I'm earning my keep, I really ought to run some laundry through the washer whilst I'm sewing. ;)

Hopefully I'll have pictures by Monday.

A Black-and-White Sunday

News flash! Trinity Broadcast Network camera crews will be taping both our services this coming Sunday, the best of which will be aired nation wide at a later, unspecified date (if I ever hear what it is, I'll be sure and pass it along).

This is providing the necessary push to do something our pastor has wanted to do for a while...add the Master's Commission Student Choir to the Adult Choir for worship. However, we can't ask the penny-stretching HMC students to run out and purchase pink shirts. So, Sunday's choir attire will be basic black and white.

Black-and-white is actually in the rotation...for July. I have a lovely black and white stripe rayon/lycra knit that has been awaiting my final tweaks to the Cadeau T pattern, so I can have my own version of the shirt on the pattern illustration. The tweaks were done in January, so now it's just waaayyy down on the sewing queue.

At this point the right brain kicks in: You could do that top in the next two days and wear it Sunday morning! The logical left brain replies, well, I'm trying to finish the outfit for the Expo and besides, I'd have to (shudder) change the thread...

Oh, RB responds, the Expo outfit is going well! Another 3 hours and it's done! Besides, it doesn't have to be finished until Tuesday night...the Cadeau could be done by tonight!

Left Brain is tempted. Left Brain is very tempted. The stripe knit is already laid out on the cutting table...perhaps I will cut it out this morning, then see how much progress I make on the ITT outfit in the rest of the day and, if it continues to go well, change the thread in the morning for a line-jumping knit top.

Stay tuned. ;)

Threads Tip Implimentation

Every once in a while, a real lightbulb goes off when I'm reading the Readers' Tips section of Threads and -- this is the unusual part -- I actually remember it later. Such was the case with these nifty little bobbin wraps. This tip was in issue #129, and I asked my DH to pick up some 1/2" tubing (we figured that would work for size 15 bobbins) next time he visited Home Depot. He had to get 10 feet of it, but since it was something like 40 cents a foot it still wasn't a major investment.

When I was looking for the teal thread to match the ITT fabric the other day, I hit the !!!!! stage in dealing with the tangle of bobbin threads erupting from the boxes I kept them in and I remembered that the tubing was now in the house. By trial and error, I found that a width of about 5/16 of an inch works best; I worked with 6" - 8" lengths of the tubing, which I slit first, squished sort of flat, and cut with my old Dritz rotary cutter (the one I use to cut wallpaper, cardboard...etc).

Wow. What a difference. No more tangles...no more tears... :p

A Close One

Before I could actually start sewing the ITT outfit with a good conscience, I needed to finish off a bit of detail work on some, um, unusual puppets for the kids' puppet team at church. I'd had these characters...in a rubbermaid bin which occupied a fair percentage of my very cozy sewing nook...since before Christmas, with the knowledge that they really weren't needed until the end of February.

Ok, since it's the end of February...

It wasn't difficult, but it was rather fiddly and tedious and made a little more awkward by the fact that the well-meaning puppet master had already stuffed the bodies of the victims. Overstuffed, actually...they had kind of a rigor mortis look about them. So, I unstuffed them substantially, added the details that were necessary, then stuffed them reasonably. And had two large zip lok bags of polyfill left. Now the rubbermaid bin will be leaving the house when the kids go to puppet practice tonight, and I'll have another couple of square feet of space regained.

But, that put me rather late changing the thread and such to start on the ITT.

And I discovered I couldn't find the thread that I really believed I had. I found one lowly little bobbin that was the right color...but nothing else. So I had to make a trip to Hancock's at 6:45 last night. I went ahead and picked out buttons...that took a few minutes because the only buttons in the right color and size were on a different display than the button wall (they were also more expensive than the ones on the button wall. Sigh.). While I was dragging my little fabric swatch across the rack of Metrosene thread, an announcement came over the PA: 'Thank you for shopping at Hancock's Fabrics. We are now closed. Please bring your purchases to the cash register.'

Yikes! I thought Hancock's closed at eight! I spotted the matching thread and grabbed two spools and hotfooted it to the cash register.

The clerk said that they'd had the new hours for a little while now; the corporate offices just rather abruptly notified them that the hours of operation would be cut back. 'It's nice for us', she said, 'We get to go home a little earlier.'

But the lady who let us out just shook her head. 'They'll change it back one of these days...probably with no notice then, either.'

But, knowing that Hancock's is in financial difficulty, it kind of scares me just a little that they have whittled the hours a bit. I pulled out after procuring my thread and buttons in the nick of time, just as some folks with out-of-county license plates parked and walked up to the door. Guess they hadn't heard about the new hours yet either.

Anway, Wednesdays are pretty full days but I'm hoping for 30 minutes or so of sewing this afternoon. We're leaving for the Expo a week from today...and I'm determined to wear this ;)

The Sew AHolic

I had a request for a detailed photo of the Sew A Holic poster I've got hanging in my sewing nook. I got it from Nancy's Notions; a little blub on the bottom says that it was printed by 'TLC Greetings...a division of the McCall Pattern Company' (I've also got a couple of mugs w/sewing related themes from these folks). I'm doing my best to remember when I got it...it was back when our two oldest DKids shared a room, and I had the smallest bedroom for my sewing space. That would have been before DS2 (that would be DKid 3) came along in 1993; so that poster is pretty old. When I had to move the sewing out of that bedroom, the poster went in a tube and stayed there until we landed here in July of '05.

I need to get it framed or something.

Now, I realize that none of US would look anything like the crazy crafty lady in the poster, but there are some things that ring true...the bandaid on the finger (always! I've got one now, in fact, although it's not sewing-related), the pile of scraps, the next project already selected.... ;)

Oh, it's really not yellow; I had to turn the flash off because the poster paper is reflective enough that I had a big shiny spot over about 1/4 of the poster. But you can at least get the gist of it!

Wearing Bamboo

I thought I could, I thought I could! Cut it out and made it in one evening! It's the shorter view of the Loes Hinse Cowl Top, with the neckline and turtleneck collar from Christine Jonson's Basewear Two. I *think* that short top pattern was traced with a 2" hem allowance instead of a 4" hem allowance, which seemed excessive on a short top, but I only turned up 1"...since I'm not sure what the lifetime shrinkage of the bamboo will be.

This is the bamboo/lycra knit from Hancock's and, after making up one top, I'm ready to go buy bolts of this stuff. (Of course, I won't...but I'd like to!) It was easy to handle (if a little tricky to get laid out straight), and it feels marvelous on. It's going to be a perfect top to wear under jackets, which was exactly what I wanted.

I hope they sell this stuff for a long, long time. ;)

Pink Shirts

A good sewing day; two projects done! I should be ok on pink blouses; I'd like to make a couple of other pink things but that'll have to wait and see how the time allotment works out. I may have to do some sewing for church soon; we'll be doing Bible-costume drama stuff at least 3 Sundays that month and we *still* have a number of missing costumes.... Anyway, I can probably get by with these if I have to. Actually, the knit top looks and feels better than I expected; I may have to make this pattern again one of these days. The jury's still out on whether or not I want to try and figure out what's funky about the neckline on the KS top.

I wanted to get the photos of the white capris, too, but I discovered that they'd picked up a black smudge somewhere, so they're going to have to run through the laundry before I can get a picture of them. But I will...I want to update the review to show the capri-length modification.

I think I'll throw one more quickie project in before I tackle the ITT; that brown bamboo has been singing to me all week and I think I could turn it into a Loes Hinse Cowl Top in pretty short order ;). Monday evening, though, I'm planning to CUT!!!

Busted....

So why'd it have to be THIS WEEK that the challenge goes out to post a photo of your sewing space exactly as it is at the moment??? I've made noise about needing to clean it, but haven't managed to do it, and now everyone wants to see it? *sigh*

Well, never let it be said I failed to meet the challenge...here 'tis, in all it's, um, disarray. As you can see, I have a long, narrow space that serves both as laundry and sewing space; the only window in the room looks into the garage (I don't understand that, either...) I have a ridiculous amount of scrap and remnant fabric clogging the works; but some is worth keeping (Bible costumes), as it's big enough to use for sashes or head wraps. But it must be sorted...and there's the rub. Haven't managed to do that yet.

If you want to see what it looks like when it's neat and orderly, check Here....







So, anybody else brave enough to share their sewing room...right now? ;)

Preliminary Pink Tunic

When I cut the tunic out, I considered trying to match the fabric across the front, but the print was so large that I decided I probably didn't have enough fabric; it was random enough that I didn't think it'd matter.

What I didn't really notice were the green and white ovals scattered about the print.

So, here's the tunic, prior to cuffs, hems, and buttons/buttonholes (Sorry for the horrid photo; I *hate* taking self-portraits!):


I put it on Tuesday and asked DD if she could see anything 'wrong' with the shirt. She considered it to be surpassingly ugly, but didn't notice the 'cafe' sign at the left bust until I pointed it out to her. It is not 'quite' at the apex...but it's awfully close.

Print placement aside, I'm not really sure about this. The neckline is funny...it's too high in the front. There's no problem with the circumference; it's well able to go around my neck comfortably...there's something wonky with the draft, I think. The first time I made the blouse, the neckline *was* too small (that's a common fitting problem for me), so this time I made sure it was big enough. But it still feels like it's choking me...the thing is riding back, as if I had a round back. But none of my other shirts fit this way; I think it's just drafted too high. So that's something to check when/if I make this shirt again.

I'm assuming the weird stress lines in it are because it's just pinned up in the front; it's really difficult to pin a fitted garment closed by oneself without getting it even slightly twisted.

Anyway, I kind of suspect I'll finish this out, hope no one notices the print issues...and, after I've created enough pink tops to fill the need, I'll cut this one down for a shirt for DD.

Love those gift cards

I looked at my current Hancock's flyer last week and saw that both Vogue and Simplicity patterns were on sale on President's Day. Oh, joy...I made my list out, but some budget inspection over the weekend threw cold water on the plan to get them, and I ended up being too busy with kids Monday to go anyway. However, yesterday I woke up remembering that the craft table DH got me for Christmas came with a $10 gift certificate...and the trip was on. I missed the Simplicity sale, but I got three Vogues. Two are new Sandra Betzina patterns: 2945 and 2949. I had three more on my list, but two I looked at and changed my mind and the third wasn't in my size. So, I took the opportunity to get a pattern that has been calling my name for several months now, 8305.

Of course, while I was there I cruised around the fabrics, looking for either/both hot pink knits and orange knits. I knew I was a fuzz over $10 for three patterns, but I have to get some tops for choir in those colors any way. I'll be looking for some at the Expo, but I can satisfy myself that I did look for cheap stuff at Hancock's first. ;) Anyway, I found two pieces:


They're very definitely cheap knits; the one on the left is a boardy cotton jersey with a printing flaw and the one on the left is a crepey poly double knit that will probably be stifling to wear and may be pick-prone. But the colors are fabulous and the price was right ;). Hopefully I'll get the pink one made up this week; I'll be mulling over which pattern to use whilst I finish up the pink tunic (that one has some, um, issues...I'll try to get a photo up tomorrow). Two pink tops in the closet will be enough for me to feel like I can turn my attention to Expo sewing...

Peter Wimsey and Church Drama

I have been a Lord Peter Wimsey fan for absolutely years; imagine my delight when, not too long ago, I discovered that the heirs of Dorothy Sayers had authorized a writer by the name of Jill Paton Walsh to undertake a couple of additional Wimsey family novels, both based on the writings of Dorothy Sayers. The first of them, Thrones, Dominations, is a novel that Ms Sayers had at least started well and then set aside to collaborate on the staging of Busman's Honeymoon. She never got back to it, and Ms Walsh picked it up and finished it out. If it is a little overly concerned with referencing earlier Wimsey novels, it's still quite a good read, taking place right after Peter and Harriet finish their nuptial journeying and take up residence in their house in Town. Historically, it occurs during the same time period of the death of King Edward, the scandalous courtship of his son with Mrs Simpson and the events leading up to WWII.

But the bit that caught my eye and motivated me to actually mark in my book was a little discussion between Peter and Harriet over Harriet's future as a writer of detective fiction. Harriet is somewhat at odds with it, considering that heretofore she had done it to earn her living and, as Lady Peter Wimsey, she is no longer obligated to write for survival. Furthermore, she considers that her creations are neither Great Literature nor edifying non-fiction, and she wonders if it is a worthwhile way for her to spend her time. Peter, however, is convinced that the work she does is worthwhile...not because it is Great, but because it is idealistic. And not because it is intellectual, but because it is popular. "Detective stories contain a dream of justice," he tells her, and continues that "...they feed a need for justice, and heaven help us if ordinary people cease to feel that."

Then, on the next page, "You get under their guard," he said. "If they thought they were being preached at they would stop their ears. If they thought you were bent on improving their minds they would probably never pick up the book. But you offer to divert them, and you show them by stealth the orderly world in which we should all try to be living."

That struck me as remarkably similar to what I had posted about doing drama back in June on Costume Musings: That entertainment can reach a place inaccessible to other means of communication. What Peter said about Harriet's writing also applies to the ordered silliness that we sometimes do in our dramas at church: it gets under their guard.

Which is kinda cool.

Back in the Pink

The white thread is so yesterday ;) ...I've got the pink stuff loaded up and ready to get back into it.

And I just read Louise Cutting's Expo schedule on the Cutting Line thread at Stitcher's Guild and realized that, if I'm going to get any sewing done for the Expo, I have to do it NOW.

But I have no hot pink ready to wear in choir...

So, I'm going to finish my current tunic project, see what will be the next quickest thing to do (probably a double-layer shell from the fuschia hankie linen) and then hit my In the Trenches pattern; if I get nothing else made for this year's Expo, I want to get that done to wear to Thursday night's dinner at La Madeline's...after all, that's what the little story blurb on the envelope is about (really!).

But I promised DS that I'd take him and a buddy to see Eragon today; not sure how much I'll get done. Time to pull out the ol' speed sewing techniques and sew like the wind.

That Malt Shoppe in the Sky....

I *did* get the capris done in time...unfortunatley, Other People in My Family managed to occupy the computer the whole day yesterday and I didn't get to post them. I thought I'd take a picture of all six of us 'Angels', but I forgot the camera, so I'll just have to have DH take a photo of mine own pants later. Rats.

Anyway, one of the other ladies FOUND THE RIGHT TRACK at Best Buy, of all places, so we were able to sing the Broadway/movie arrangement of the tune, written for Frankie Avalon instead of the re-written for High School casts version of the song, which was a higher key for a girls' ensemble. They'll return the ordered-from-the 'net disc when it gets here tomorrow.

It was a hoot. Especially in the second service, when our 'Frankie' forgot the words and kind of ad-libbed for a bit, but it worked with the whole ridiculousness of the bit (didn't I say earlier it was a parody of a spoof?). Anyway, I'm wondering how long it's going to get me to get all the teasing worked out of my hair.

Zoom zoom

The pattern was altered, the fabric washed, laid out, and cut and the thread is changed.

I'm ready to hit the machines.

I should start the timer and see how long it takes...but I'm multi tasking today and won't sew straight through. I do hope to finish those capris today, though...

And I just had an email from our Fearless Drama Leader, who just learned that the tracking info on the finally-found-at-the-last-minute Karoke version of the song we're parodying, which was supposed to arrive today according to the information she was given when she ordered it, shows delivery on Monday. AAAiiieee....we may need to do a plan B, which is a slightly different accompaniment to a modified version of the song in a key about 4 steps higher than the one we've been practicing.

This could be interesting. *shudder*

White Capris or Bust

Ok, it's 20 degrees Fahrenheit today in North Alabama...which is okay with me; I like a little cold weather in my winters...but I have an assignment to make myself some white capris before Sunday for a parody of a spoof of a Big Musical Production Number. I'm not even going to try to explain it...I've just got to make the britches.

And I've just barely gotten a Good Start on my pink print tunic.

Which means I need to...gasp...change the thread in my sewing machine and serger from pink to white.

AAAAiiiieee!

I've already put the project off by a day just for that reason (well, I was pretty busy yesterday doing other stuff, but I could've done a bit).

Why is it so doggone hard to make myself spend five minutes tying on and pulling through??? :rolleyes:

Actually, I still need to alter the pattern; but that's a quick project, and I still need to wash the fabric a couple more times (it's cotton twill; I want to be reasonably sure it's done shrinking), but I'm doing laundry today so I can just throw it in the appropriate loads as necessary.

So, here's the goal: pattern and fabric prepped and pants cut out today; sew them up tomorrow. Shiver and freeze in the underheated back hallway Sunday morning... and hopefully send the point home with much laughter when we actually do the foolishness onstage.

The Personality Test

This is one that might actually be useful...or, at least, the logic behind it kind of helped me deal with people. Years ago I read a book (and it's sad that I don't remember the name; it was either Personality Plus by Florence Littauer, or Why You Act the Way You Do by Tim LaHaye...,or, now that I think about it, it might have been both). Apparently the ancient Greeks came up with labels for personality/temperament types to describe the differences in behavior of people, and these books describe, explain and expound upon them. In the group of folks I tend to hang around with, these are common descriptions folks give of themselves and others. And, believe it or not, it kinda helps recognize that folks relate to the world in different ways, and Suzie Q's abrupt manner may not mean she dislikes you...only that, well, that's her personality.

Anyway, the four types are:
Choleric...these are people who are most comfortable when they're in charge. They are very good leaders who are not afraid to take risks and they're good at inspiring folks to follow and support their vision. They can be narrow-minded and blunt spoken. Think of Rabbit or Lucy VanPelt.

Melancholy...these folks are motivated by order. They like details and having their ducks in a row. They are creative and introspective. They can also be overly sensitive and analytical. Examples are Eeyore, Piglet and Linus.

Phlegmatic...these are peace-lovers! They don't like to rock the boat and are very stable, calm and laid back. They get stuck in ruts easily, though, and sometimes have a hard time making decisions. Charlie Brown and Winnie-the-Pooh are both phlegmatics.

Sanguines just wanna have fun. Outgoing, friendly, frequently popular, Sanguines are also disorganized, forgetful and sometimes irresponsible. Peppermint Patty, Snoopy and Tigger are good examples of Sanguines.

The books have tests in them to determine your personality type; when I read them, I came out as strongly Sanguine with a healthy dose of Choleric. Perfect combination for a youth leader....a fun loving person who bosses other folks around...and I did youth work for years.

But, waiting backstage for our cue to do Sunday's drama, I had a conversation about personality types that got me to wondering if there was an online version of the test. And, lo and behold, I found one: Personality test. It does ask for your email, but that's to send results and there's an 'opt out' button to check if you want ONLY that email. (I DO hope they're telling the truth...). This is pretty much the test that is in the books, not a cutesy quiz. Anyway, I took it and discovered that, while I still test as mostly (48%) Sanguine, I have now become more Melancholy (25%) than Choleric (20%). I guess my artsy side has developed over the years...or, having left my youth leader position, those leadership characteristics have receded a bit.

Anyway, it was an interesting diversion!

Oh...Happy Valentine's Day (or, as my Very Sanguine son called it, "Singles Awareness Day")

Whacha gonna do?

We're in a very active drama phase at church...we haven't quite geared up for Easter yet, but the pastor has been using drama as sermon illustrations all month. So far, costuming has not been an issue, but we're doing a song parody involving cheesy angels next Sunday, and, well, I need white capris.

Which are not in my wardrobe.

I explored some different options, but finally just broke down and spent $4.44/yd on some hefty white cotton twill from Wal-Mart last night. I'm *reasonably* confident this is not going to be excessively transparent, as white fabric is wont to be, so I don't mind...I'll have a pair of white capris for about $10 (counting the zipper), and I'm sure I'll be able to wear them some this summer.

So, I'm going to run that cotton through the wash a couple of times while I alter my Daphne Pants pattern to be capri-length.

So, it's two yards in the 'fabric purchased' column, even if I intend to get them made this week. Ah, well, couldn't be helped...

Time Warp: Ritual Cloth

Enter the Time Machine with me and travel back to June of '06, and heed the (then-on-Blogger) Sewing Divas' Call for Posts on Ritual Cloth. At that time, I scrounged around in boxes looking for a particular shirt that had been made by my grandmother and completely failed to find it. So, instead, I posted about my sewing grandmas,here and here, if you missed those posts. But, lo and behold, I did find the missing shirt and thought I would rather belatedly share it.





Grandma made shirts like this for almost all her grandchildren sometime in the 1975-1976 time frame. This shirt was meant for my sister and me to share, but it fit me better so I ended up with it. On looking at it more closely today, I can see that some of my assumptions about how she made it were not correct. I thought she'd done a variation of the stitch-and-flip crazy patch, but, since there's only one row of zig-zag stitching visible on the underlining, I believe she cut the shirt front and back pieces from the backing fabric (which, knowing Grandma, could've been old bedsheets...but the thread count looks pretty low for sheeting), then cut the scraps to size, pressed all the raw edges under, and zig-zagged them to to the underlining. The sleeves were not underlined; she cut rectangles of fabric and straight-seamed them together, then pressed the seam allowances to one side and topstitched it with a zig-zag stitch. I believe she did that to create the 'sleeve fabric', then cut the sleeves from the resulting yardage. (She may have sewn yards of that together and cut all the sleeves at once...hard to tell, now. I know she made somewhere in the vicinity of 10 shirts. It's a pity we never all wore the shirts to one of her regularly scheduled Sunday Family Dinners and took a picture.) The buttons are all the same half-ball shank style, but they are different colors.

I (and my sister...a time or two, anyway) really and truly wore that shirt in the late 70's...didn't get any strange looks, either. A few years later I used it as part of an outfit I wore as a clown for various church activities; it didn't get truly retired until the mid 90's when the preggy fluff I gained with baby #3 took up permanent residence on my body and the shirt no longer buttoned comfortably. So it could easily have been 15 years since this shirt was last actually worn on a body.

But, even though the underlining is shredding and disappearing, this is one garment that will likely hang around for a long, long time... ;)

Pink Projects

I had a sudden inspiration yesterday involving this fabric, which I purchased from Louise Cutting's booth at last year's expo:

(It's not a great picture; there's no moire look to that fabric)

It was one of those 'this fabric is calling my name' deals and I had to get it, although I really didn't know what I'd make from it. It went into the stash, awaiting the siren call. Last night, as I dug through the pattern stash looking for suitable shirts for the linen and silk jacquard, I pulled
Kwik Sew 3027 and heard that call. I had made that pattern up in 2003, and found it to run a little small, in addition to needing the bust point significantly lowered, but I'd really liked it. I made the changes, then put the pattern up. When I pulled it out last night, I suddenly saw the tunic made in that busy hot pink Paris Cafe print, and I grabbed the fabric and cut it out...quick, before I changed my mind. (Anyone else do that?)

The last piece I cut, though, was the sleeves, and as I was running the rotary around the cap it suddenly struck me that it looked a little odd...then, I remembered that I'd raised the underarm about 1/2". Now, back in '03, I was just beginning my climb up this here fitting learning curve and, to be honest, now I'm not sure I did it right.

But, as I didn't even notice it until I was virtually done cutting, I guess I'm stuck with whatever I did.

I may be Very Glad this particular fabric has a generous dose of Lycra in it. ;)

Meet Gertie

Gertrude (or, as Dad called her, Gertie) arrived with my folks over the weekend. She had belonged to my grandmother, and had resided in the basement at my folks for the past 5 years or so. I don't remember Gertie; so I'm assuming Grandma got her after I moved away in 1980. She has a label scotch-taped to her shoulder that states that she is a "Tru-Shape Dress Form by Singer", Size B. I haven't had time to play with Gertie much yet, other than to tighten the nut in the base so that she was standing up straight instead of leaning over. Her front...assuming I can, er, get things to level up, so to speak...is roughly my shape, but her back is waaaayyy more curved than I am. She has a system of sliding bars and wing nuts to adjust and support her shape; don't know if a little WD-40 will make them moveable or if they're wopperjawed out of shape so badly that she's more or less what she'll be.

And, she's a little short; a good height to use while sitting in a chair, actually, which may have been what Grandma did. There appears to be a height adjustment in the support bar; I'll have to get some WD-40 on that, too, before I know if it really is an adjustment spot or just an assembly joint.

Her panels are muti-ply cardboard, and have de-laminated a little in places. I'm not sure whether the tube knit is supposed to cover the whole thing or just the lower portion...or even if it came with her originally; it doesn't quite match the fabric that covers the top panels.

But, even if I can't get her adjusted to my size and shape, if she stands up straight she could easily be the inner support for a future Duct Tape Double...hmmmm....

*Will* There "Always be More Fabric?"

I'm feeling kinda 'Chicken Little-ish' today...

For a long time, I had a quote from Michael's Fabrics' Michael Bearman taped to my monitor to help dissuade me from making spur-of-the-moment fabric purchases:

'There will always be more fabric'.

But, now I'm beginning to wonder.

There are discussions about the demise of the Wal-Mart fabric section on both the Pattern Review boards and Stitcher's Guild, but Julie Culshaw of Timmel Fabrics had an interesting...and kind of scary...post on the Stitcher's Guild thread. In summary, she said that, since both fabric and garment manufacturing is heading overseas, fabric availability in North America is declining. Julie knows; she's in the fabric business. If the retailers are having difficulty finding fabric, it's apparent that the home sewing enthusiast could be faced with a real procurement problem in the (maybe not so distant) future. Despite the fact that fashion sewing is apparently enjoying a bit of a renewal (thank you, Project Runway!), there are still far too few of us sewing up our own garments to be anything remotely close to a market influence.

So, now I'm beginning to wonder if my anti-stashing mindset is not, after all, a Good Thing. Budget-wise, yeah, I can't continue buying fabric at the pace I was at a couple of years ago, when I first discovered the power of the Internet...but it is a little sobering to consider that it may not be there at some point in the future.

And my local Good Fabric Wal-Mart is going to go fabric-less also, although when I stopped by last night the clerk told me that they'd been told they'd be one of the last ones to close. So I don't know if I need to go in every week or so and buy up fabric (at $1/yd) for future costumes while I can still get it...

I did buy 3 pieces last night...two lengths of stretch lining, in blue and brown. The brown is for a stretch cotton twill jacket...doesn't match, but it won't clash too bad, considering it's the lining that's ok. The blue is...well, because stretch lining is hard to find and this is pretty nice. She even commented as she cut it that it was really nice stuff (Incidentally, I count lining as notions, so that didn't add to my 'fabric in' total'... ;) ) The third piece, a blue/white poly pinstripe, will be a tablecloth...and maybe something else; I just took what was left on the bolt, which was almost 3 yards. Maybe gauchos for DD...

I'll have to check in there periodically; stash moratorium or no stash moratorium...after all, what if yard goods really do go away?

Anyway, I'm *really* hoping that's just an acorn.

Connection Issues

Nothing dries up blog inspiration faster than a non-cooperating internet connection.

The video card issue prompted us to upgrade to a new box; but, since the upgrade the (dial-up) internet connection has been extremely temperamental. Like, it'll work for about 3 - 5 minutes, then suddenly quit. It doesn't exactly disconnect...everything still appears to be connected...but there is nothing coming in. Eventually, I'll get a timeout error, but I have to physically disconnect/reconnect to get the connection moving again...for another 3-5 minutes.

Which means I can view about 2 pages before going through the routine. Sure makes doing anything on the internet long and tedious.

This is, however, intermittent. I may spend a day disconnecting/reconnecting every 3 minutes, and then sit down that evening or the next day and read everything, post pictures, in general, run uninterrupted for 2 hours or more.

DH has been in contact w/our ISP people two or three times; their best guess is that somehow we've picked up some kind of virus or spyware that is hosing our connection. I've run Spybot, which didn't seem to help any; the ISP folks had DH attempt to run an online program but it wouldn't stay connected long enough to finish it.

Not sure what the outcome is going to be; this is really getting annoying. Not to mention it's cutting into my sewing time. ;)

We may have to wipe the hard drive and start over.

Grumble grumble grumble

Maybe I'll be less aggravated tomorrow ;)

Expo Happy Dance

I got my tickets yesterday for all the classes I requested and amused my visiting parents by doing the little happy dance. The only problem is that Peggy's jeans class info says "Class Supply List: bring your favorite jeans to class"...and I don't *have* favorite blue jeans; I have acceptable blue jeans.

Maybe I'll just sit in the back and watch ;)

Got Company

My folks are here; passing through on their way to visit friends in sunny Florida...I'll post pictures of my Super Bowl Sewing in a day or two. But I did finish my blue-gray tops, being one of the apparently few people in the country who would rather do about anything than watch a football game on TV (can't stand the hype...).

I've got two more knit tops in the queue to do whilst I ruminate about which pattern I'll use for the hot pink jacket; hopefully by this time tomorrow I'll have made up my mind...even if I don't get to work on the knit tops ;)

New Choir Colors

Last night, I was all ready to post a rant today about Yahoo photos and their so-called 'Smart' albums...that are virtually useless to me, as I discovered the hard way that they cannot be made public (posted the link in a review and then had folks report that they couldn't see the photos. I *Hate* that!). So I made a 'Stupid' album that could be made public and all is well...

But I got an email last night that kind of soothed the ranting spirit. The ladies will be wearing hot pink/fuschia in choir next month!!! I will get to sew some of the fabric that has been languishing in the stash, to wit:


The lighter pink is a silk/linen/rayon blend from Emma One Sock; it'll be a jacket of some sort. The other two pieces are from...guess where...Fashion Fabrics Club and will be shirts. The linen is really a hanky weight; I'm thinking The Sewing Workshop's Chopin Blouse; it has a double layer on both the front and back above the waist and should be a good candidate for a semi sheer linen. I made the blouse from a heavier linen a few years ago...it needs a little tweaking; I made a straight Medium, which is really a little big in the shoulders, but it would work. Or perhaps Hot Patterns' Purity Blouse, which is self-lined. The silk jacquard was actually purchased...10 years ago?...for an OOP Kwik Sew pattern; I might use that or I might change my mind; who knows.

I have two weeks to make up my mind, and two weeks to get something made.

May's color for ladies, however is orange.

I am slightly less pumped about that. 'Orange Fabric' is now on my Expo Shopping list...

Oh, BTW, I posted about my stash organization almost a year ago...it's here, if you're curious about how I store and keep track of the swatches.

Gift Bags are DONE!

I told myself I couldn't post today until they were finished; I had to really coax the sewing machine to go through those last few bulky steps, since that stripe fabric is a bit textured and lumpy (the white stripes are woven with bulkier yarns than the blue stripes) and it took a LOT longer than I expected. But they are done...and I can surprise the rest of my friends this weekend with their long-overdue appreciation gifts. Won't that be fun!

I'll write a review of the pattern later today...right now, I'm rushing to get DS2 out the door for a winter camp-out (Brrr! Not *MY* idea of a good time...)

*Almost* a Snow Day

We were *SO* hoping for an official 'Do Nothing Productive' day, but, alas, it was not to be. The local TV station reports that we had 1.5 - 2 inches of snow on the ground at 3 AM this morning...but then it changed over to rain and by the time it was light enough to take a photo this was all that was left. School even started on time. Now it's 34 degrees and raining...yuck.

And I've got to be productive after all... no popcorn/movies/games with the kids. Hopefully I'll finish the last two gift bags and get the review written....

This is the first visible snow accumulation we've had in Huntsville in four years; the last time it happened, DH was in Houston working the Columbia mission; the kids *did* get a snow day then.

Which brings to mind the fact that this is the four year anniversary of the loss of that ship and crew.

Just remembering.