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.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Friday, May 25, 2007
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...
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...
Thursday, May 24, 2007
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...
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Simple Decadent Yumminess
I had to run by the grocery store yesterday, and didn't get it done until I had to pick up DD from school (she'd hurt her knee over the weekend so I gave her a couple of days of transportation). Anyway, somehow along the way I forgot to eat lunch.
Bad timing.
Whilst walking down the cookie aisle (why was I there? I don't remember...), I spied a package of Keebler Royal Grahams...not that the brand matters, that's just what these happened to be. Chocolate covered graham crackers. Suddenly, I developed an intense craving for a treat we'd eaten as kids. So, to DD's delight, I bought a pack.
So, here's the treat:
In a cup or a small glass, break 8 - 10 chocolate covered graham crackers in halves or quarters (depending on the size). The cup should be about 2/3 full, loosely.
Pour cold milk over cookies.
This is important: wait 5 minutes (this makes the graham cracker mushy and the chocolate firm).
Eat with a spoon. Yum.
You'd think such a simple thing would be a light snack, but I read the label on the cookie package and had a shock...there is nothing light about it! The package says a serving is 3 cookies and has 140 calories; 60 of which are from fat. But the little recipe use about three times the suggested single serving...um, 420 calories, 180 from fat...before adding milk. Yikes.
So this will remain an occasional comfort food snack. ;)
Bad timing.
Whilst walking down the cookie aisle (why was I there? I don't remember...), I spied a package of Keebler Royal Grahams...not that the brand matters, that's just what these happened to be. Chocolate covered graham crackers. Suddenly, I developed an intense craving for a treat we'd eaten as kids. So, to DD's delight, I bought a pack.
So, here's the treat:
In a cup or a small glass, break 8 - 10 chocolate covered graham crackers in halves or quarters (depending on the size). The cup should be about 2/3 full, loosely.
Pour cold milk over cookies.
This is important: wait 5 minutes (this makes the graham cracker mushy and the chocolate firm).
Eat with a spoon. Yum.
You'd think such a simple thing would be a light snack, but I read the label on the cookie package and had a shock...there is nothing light about it! The package says a serving is 3 cookies and has 140 calories; 60 of which are from fat. But the little recipe use about three times the suggested single serving...um, 420 calories, 180 from fat...before adding milk. Yikes.
So this will remain an occasional comfort food snack. ;)
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
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:
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:
Monday, May 21, 2007
Must Sew Project 2
While I was sewing the Bible costumes at church in March, the church receptionist mentioned that she and her family were heading for California immediately after her son's graduation. Turns out one of the places they would be visiting is Carmel-By-the-Sea...home of Loes Hinse's boutique. I laughed about how much I would love to visit that little shop and gave her the web site and headed off to work.
A little bit later, she stuck her head in the door of the room I was working in. "I found a bag on that website that I love!" she said. "It'd be perfect for me to take on the trip...could you make me one like it? I'd pay you and everything..."
Well, of course it was The Weekender Bag. I laughed and told her that I'd made a few of those already...she had even seen one of them, but didn't realize what it was. She said she'd like hers in denim, and I said we'd talk after Easter... ;)
Well, ya gotta know this lady. She is one of the most gracious people you'd ever want to talk to, and has the ability to make folks feel like they are among her dearest friends...valued. She even took a big stack of robe sashes and headband tubes and turned them inside out for me whilst we were frantically trying to finish the costumes up. And, I just happened to have a large chunk of well-aged denim in the stash....so I didn't say anything to her, I just made it.
Graduation is Tuesday, and they're leaving on Wednesday, so I gave her her bag at church yesterday. She was surprised and delighted...it was cool.
This is a *heavy* bag, though...the denim is substantial. The flowered tapestry I used for the pockets (I put one on each side) is the last bit of remnants from a coat I made myself back in, oh, 1989?
I gotta make one of these for myself one of these days! ;)
A little bit later, she stuck her head in the door of the room I was working in. "I found a bag on that website that I love!" she said. "It'd be perfect for me to take on the trip...could you make me one like it? I'd pay you and everything..."
Well, of course it was The Weekender Bag. I laughed and told her that I'd made a few of those already...she had even seen one of them, but didn't realize what it was. She said she'd like hers in denim, and I said we'd talk after Easter... ;)
Well, ya gotta know this lady. She is one of the most gracious people you'd ever want to talk to, and has the ability to make folks feel like they are among her dearest friends...valued. She even took a big stack of robe sashes and headband tubes and turned them inside out for me whilst we were frantically trying to finish the costumes up. And, I just happened to have a large chunk of well-aged denim in the stash....so I didn't say anything to her, I just made it.
Graduation is Tuesday, and they're leaving on Wednesday, so I gave her her bag at church yesterday. She was surprised and delighted...it was cool.
This is a *heavy* bag, though...the denim is substantial. The flowered tapestry I used for the pockets (I put one on each side) is the last bit of remnants from a coat I made myself back in, oh, 1989?
I gotta make one of these for myself one of these days! ;)
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Must Sew Project 1
DD was getting extremely short (pun intended) on things that fit well enough to wear to church; the first 'must sew' project is intended to give her at least one thing to throw in the mix. I couldn't get her to dress up and model it for a picture...you'll have to take my word for it that it fits well enough.
It's another modification to the skirt in Kwik Sew 3056...the same skirt pattern I modified back in December for the Black Choir Skirt. I let her take her choice from the knits I got last week; she surprised my by choosing the black and turquoise knit.
This time, I folded out a fair amount of the length of the upper skirt (I've no idea how much...just eyeballed it); cut two; reduced the amount folded out by about half; cut two more. Then I traced the flounce, shortening it about 3", and cut two of the original flounce and two of the new, shorter one. Then I made the skirt twice with the short flounce on the short yoke and the long flounce on the long yoke. I sewed the two skirts together at the top, with the longer one on the inside, added elastic and serger-rolled the flounce edges.
She's happy with it, and I'll hopefully get a photo of her wearing it tomorrow ;).
It's another modification to the skirt in Kwik Sew 3056...the same skirt pattern I modified back in December for the Black Choir Skirt. I let her take her choice from the knits I got last week; she surprised my by choosing the black and turquoise knit.
This time, I folded out a fair amount of the length of the upper skirt (I've no idea how much...just eyeballed it); cut two; reduced the amount folded out by about half; cut two more. Then I traced the flounce, shortening it about 3", and cut two of the original flounce and two of the new, shorter one. Then I made the skirt twice with the short flounce on the short yoke and the long flounce on the long yoke. I sewed the two skirts together at the top, with the longer one on the inside, added elastic and serger-rolled the flounce edges.
She's happy with it, and I'll hopefully get a photo of her wearing it tomorrow ;).
Friday, May 18, 2007
Inspiration Overload
I *know* I am not the only one who suffers from this. Most of the time it's fairly mild, but right now it's at the full-blown,acute, feverish, distracting phase.
And someone over at Stitcher's Guild just posted (scroll down) a photo of a Nordstrom's Jacket that sent me off again...I've got the Geisha Girl pattern that would only need a bit of lengthening...I've got a lovely drapey bit of black triacetate that came in a Fabric Mart Bundle last summer that would be lovely and elegant...
And I've got Must Sew things in the queue right now. And a pile of new fabric singing songs of seaming.
I think I need to PUT IT ALL AWAY and stay off the 'net entirely until I've got the Must Sew projects done...
And someone over at Stitcher's Guild just posted (scroll down) a photo of a Nordstrom's Jacket that sent me off again...I've got the Geisha Girl pattern that would only need a bit of lengthening...I've got a lovely drapey bit of black triacetate that came in a Fabric Mart Bundle last summer that would be lovely and elegant...
And I've got Must Sew things in the queue right now. And a pile of new fabric singing songs of seaming.
I think I need to PUT IT ALL AWAY and stay off the 'net entirely until I've got the Must Sew projects done...
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Tracing and Cutting
Ach, I had plans...
But I forgot we'd signed up to do our volunteer stint at the local listener-supported-Christian radio station's annual fund drive this morning. So, I'm running be hind what I'd planned. I've got a stack of patterns that I'm tracing/altering/tweaking (including the Vogue wrap dress and PJ's dress pattern); I expect to spend the evening cutting out...
But, whatever gets cut today will be the queue for the next week or so. I gotta hit the machines tomorrow. I've got PJ's dress and a surprise for a friend that both need to be cut soon and finished quick. ;)
But I forgot we'd signed up to do our volunteer stint at the local listener-supported-Christian radio station's annual fund drive this morning. So, I'm running be hind what I'd planned. I've got a stack of patterns that I'm tracing/altering/tweaking (including the Vogue wrap dress and PJ's dress pattern); I expect to spend the evening cutting out...
But, whatever gets cut today will be the queue for the next week or so. I gotta hit the machines tomorrow. I've got PJ's dress and a surprise for a friend that both need to be cut soon and finished quick. ;)
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Super Information
(ok, I'll admit it, that's a Really Bad Pun...you'll see why in a minute).
One of the more technically interesting blogs to which I subscribe is The English Cut, the blog of a young Savile Row tailor, Thomas Mahon. Thomas doesn't post often, but his work is marvelous (well, duh...he's a bespoke tailor!); I feel like a Little Leaguer (and a bench-warming Little Leaguer at that), peeking through the knothole in the fence at a Major League game....
Anyway, my perusal of better-quality fabric internet sources has led me to a passing acquaintance with the numbering system used to describe pieces of wool fabric...Super 100's..Super 120's...Super 150's...and the Super Prices that usually go along with them. I just figured that the numbers represented the finer grade of wool fiber; with the higher numbers being finer fibers. I wasn't *too* far off the mark; yesterday's English Cut cited this little article, which goes into the details...and lack of details...about those numbers.
Not that any of it will likely find its way into my stash anytime soon...but it was kind of fun to read ;)
One of the more technically interesting blogs to which I subscribe is The English Cut, the blog of a young Savile Row tailor, Thomas Mahon. Thomas doesn't post often, but his work is marvelous (well, duh...he's a bespoke tailor!); I feel like a Little Leaguer (and a bench-warming Little Leaguer at that), peeking through the knothole in the fence at a Major League game....
Anyway, my perusal of better-quality fabric internet sources has led me to a passing acquaintance with the numbering system used to describe pieces of wool fabric...Super 100's..Super 120's...Super 150's...and the Super Prices that usually go along with them. I just figured that the numbers represented the finer grade of wool fiber; with the higher numbers being finer fibers. I wasn't *too* far off the mark; yesterday's English Cut cited this little article, which goes into the details...and lack of details...about those numbers.
Not that any of it will likely find its way into my stash anytime soon...but it was kind of fun to read ;)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
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... ;)
Monday, May 14, 2007
Mother's Day Sewing
Isn't that what EVERYONE wants to do on Mother's Day? I decided to go ahead and do one of the projects in the queue...the Stars in Heaven tunic. It's quite comfortable, and I think I'll probably throw it on quite a bit...I could see this being a great top to wear with fun and funky belts, necklaces, etc....
Anyway, here 'tis with black jeans and a sassy attitude, then also with the matching In THE Trenches skirt...
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Happy Mother's Day
...to all the Moms and Stepmoms who stop by here!
especially to one mom named Sally who checks in from central Indiana... :)
especially to one mom named Sally who checks in from central Indiana... :)
Saturday, May 12, 2007
So much for parity...again....
Miss A and I are headed up to Sir's Fabrics this morning, where they reportedly are running a '$1 off per yard of any fabric over $2.99' sale for the month of May.
I'm mostly looking for linings, but I'll report back on new purchases later... ;)
*****Later****
Wow. So much for parity is right...I almost DOUBLED my fabric in column today; I added 49.25 yards. But, wow, it was good!
First, I have to own up to a purchase from Hancock's on Thursday. I got all the fixings for PJ's new medieval gown (everything but the thread and the zipper was on sale...32 bucks and change for the whole thing. Can't beat that with a stick), and I had to go check out the upholstery table, since all the upholstery remnants were on sale for $3.50/yd (half price).
The brown/tan piece on the bottom is the one I'd looked at last week and passed up. At 50% off, I couldn't pass it up again. It will probably be either/both a Loes Hinse Weekender bag or/and a HotPatterns LaRue bag...but I could turn it into a topper coat. We'll see. The green jacquard already has interfacing fused to it and will be a jacket (I think), and I believe the large houndstooth will also be a boxy little jacket. It's cottony and drapey.
The first thing I grabbed at Sir's was three pieces of very nice, drapey poly chiffon. Louise Cutting had an interesting pair of One-Seams on her rack in Atlanta...three layers of (silk) chiffon, in highly contrasting colors. It wasn't reversible, and when I asked her about it she said that two layers of chiffon were transparent, but three weren't, and the varying colors were for the moire effect. I think I'm going to try to make a reversible pair, with the black in the middle. At $1.49/yd, it's worth a try, no?
The next set is the fancy stuff (well, sort of fancy). A big piece (over 5 yards) of deep red acetate slinky. The good stuff. I have two or three ideas for it...and, if I cut creatively, I may get all of them ;). Then a piece of printed blue cotton or cotton/poly oxford...a nice piece for a wearable muslin. The next one is heavy grey rayon-looking lace...a yard and three quarters, 36" wide. Not sure what I'll do with it yet...but it's gorgeous. Finally, a piece of black/burgundy brocade, the only piece from the whole haul that cost more than $2/yd before tax. It was $2.99.
But the cream of the haul was the knits! Such lovely, trendy poly/lycra matte jerseys...the likes of which I've seen several places on the 'net for anywhere from $8 - $18/yd. These were $1.49. A DOLLAR FORTY-NINE!!!! I kept pulling out pieces...Miss A pulled out pieces (I need to study her self-restraint; I think she only got 2 lengths).... For some reason, I kept hearing Gorgeous' Things in my head saying 'Oh, Kittens!' as I pulled out one after another. In the end, I got six pieces, ranging from 2 3/4 yards to 3 5/8 yards. I'll probably make some things for the DD's from this...not just me. But I will get at least ONE Vogue wrap dress from this! ;)
I did get one piece of lining...green, for the green upholstery jacket. Most of it felt pretty yucky.
I know, I know, I dug myself into a real hole that I'm going to have to work really hard to climb out of by the end of the year, but oh, was it fun!
I'm mostly looking for linings, but I'll report back on new purchases later... ;)
*****Later****
Wow. So much for parity is right...I almost DOUBLED my fabric in column today; I added 49.25 yards. But, wow, it was good!
First, I have to own up to a purchase from Hancock's on Thursday. I got all the fixings for PJ's new medieval gown (everything but the thread and the zipper was on sale...32 bucks and change for the whole thing. Can't beat that with a stick), and I had to go check out the upholstery table, since all the upholstery remnants were on sale for $3.50/yd (half price).
The brown/tan piece on the bottom is the one I'd looked at last week and passed up. At 50% off, I couldn't pass it up again. It will probably be either/both a Loes Hinse Weekender bag or/and a HotPatterns LaRue bag...but I could turn it into a topper coat. We'll see. The green jacquard already has interfacing fused to it and will be a jacket (I think), and I believe the large houndstooth will also be a boxy little jacket. It's cottony and drapey.
The first thing I grabbed at Sir's was three pieces of very nice, drapey poly chiffon. Louise Cutting had an interesting pair of One-Seams on her rack in Atlanta...three layers of (silk) chiffon, in highly contrasting colors. It wasn't reversible, and when I asked her about it she said that two layers of chiffon were transparent, but three weren't, and the varying colors were for the moire effect. I think I'm going to try to make a reversible pair, with the black in the middle. At $1.49/yd, it's worth a try, no?
The next set is the fancy stuff (well, sort of fancy). A big piece (over 5 yards) of deep red acetate slinky. The good stuff. I have two or three ideas for it...and, if I cut creatively, I may get all of them ;). Then a piece of printed blue cotton or cotton/poly oxford...a nice piece for a wearable muslin. The next one is heavy grey rayon-looking lace...a yard and three quarters, 36" wide. Not sure what I'll do with it yet...but it's gorgeous. Finally, a piece of black/burgundy brocade, the only piece from the whole haul that cost more than $2/yd before tax. It was $2.99.
But the cream of the haul was the knits! Such lovely, trendy poly/lycra matte jerseys...the likes of which I've seen several places on the 'net for anywhere from $8 - $18/yd. These were $1.49. A DOLLAR FORTY-NINE!!!! I kept pulling out pieces...Miss A pulled out pieces (I need to study her self-restraint; I think she only got 2 lengths).... For some reason, I kept hearing Gorgeous' Things in my head saying 'Oh, Kittens!' as I pulled out one after another. In the end, I got six pieces, ranging from 2 3/4 yards to 3 5/8 yards. I'll probably make some things for the DD's from this...not just me. But I will get at least ONE Vogue wrap dress from this! ;)
I did get one piece of lining...green, for the green upholstery jacket. Most of it felt pretty yucky.
I know, I know, I dug myself into a real hole that I'm going to have to work really hard to climb out of by the end of the year, but oh, was it fun!
Friday, May 11, 2007
I Shoulda Made a Muslin
But in all honesty I thought I knew what alterations I needed to make to Vogue patterns...it never occurred to me that length might be an issue.
Anyway, here's the completed Vogue 8379 wrap dress. It's too short waisted (the whole story's in the review). It's kind of aggravating to wear...it feels funny. HOWEVER, My Sweet Baboo actually likes the dress, so I suppose it will see some daylight. At least until I get around to making another one with the waistline adjusted to be in the right place. ;)
On a positive note, the Hexagonal Print knit from Gorgeous Things was perfect for the dress! Man, I shoulda made a muslin....
Anyway, here's the completed Vogue 8379 wrap dress. It's too short waisted (the whole story's in the review). It's kind of aggravating to wear...it feels funny. HOWEVER, My Sweet Baboo actually likes the dress, so I suppose it will see some daylight. At least until I get around to making another one with the waistline adjusted to be in the right place. ;)
On a positive note, the Hexagonal Print knit from Gorgeous Things was perfect for the dress! Man, I shoulda made a muslin....
Thursday, May 10, 2007
He made it
We got a letter yesterday to inform us that DS2 has been accepted to the city school's drama magnet program...since yesterday happened to be his 14th birthday, that was kinda cool.
He was one of the Three Scrooges in The Gospel According to Scrooge 2005; (the other two are Josh Walters as Young Scrooge, and Tim Wead as the lead).
What can I say? The kid loves an audience, and, if he can't find one...he'll provide his own. So he's a natural.
Now, to jump through the rest of the hoops to get him officially transferred and registered...
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
It's Be a Blessing Month...
What can I say? This isn't about making a living...it's about being a Body.
I took the last bit of costume laundry I'd done back to church yesterday, and was just about to leave, when two of the teen girls came round a corner and saw me.
It's pretty, um, affirming to be the recipient of such delight to be seen. Apparently, they'd just been talking about me, wondering if I could help them, then...there I was!
Their Jr/Sr Banquet is tomorrow night. They are being escorted to the banquet by two of the Icelandic HMC students. The guys had just gone to Burlington Coat Factory to purchase suits and discovered that suits are sold with the pants unhemmed. Could I please, please, hem the guys pants?
Now, who among you would look into two pairs of big pleading eyes and give that little S&K speech? Not me. Fortunately, one of the guys was at church and had his pants with him, so I got him to put them on and I marked the hem. White linen, underlined in poly. So it was a wee bit more involved than I expected...but I finished them up yesterday evening...late yesterday evening, after our monthly women's meeting (about which I can only say 'Wow'). During the fellowship time at the meeting, I ran into Pastor Jackie..."PJ" from last summer's 'Medieval Costuming' project. They're about to gear up into their conference/camp season and will be needing some more costumes. For the moment, she just needs another dress from the pattern I used last year...McCall's 4889. In green, preferably the same type of fabric as the first (crushed panne velvet...shudder). Well, I've got a little jaunt up to Sir's Fabrics already planned for this Saturday, so I'll see what they've got. The last time I saw panne velvet at Hancock's was about a month ago...on the clearance table. *Maybe* there's some left...I'll check when I'm out today, returning the hemmed pants and collecting pants pair 2. But making the dress shouldn't be difficult, since it's already fitted.
And my friend the bride will be bringing her shoes over Friday so I can mark and hem her dress.
I guess any 'for me' sewing done this week will be the Vogue wrap dress; it will need the white/cream serger thread that's on the machine....
I took the last bit of costume laundry I'd done back to church yesterday, and was just about to leave, when two of the teen girls came round a corner and saw me.
It's pretty, um, affirming to be the recipient of such delight to be seen. Apparently, they'd just been talking about me, wondering if I could help them, then...there I was!
Their Jr/Sr Banquet is tomorrow night. They are being escorted to the banquet by two of the Icelandic HMC students. The guys had just gone to Burlington Coat Factory to purchase suits and discovered that suits are sold with the pants unhemmed. Could I please, please, hem the guys pants?
Now, who among you would look into two pairs of big pleading eyes and give that little S&K speech? Not me. Fortunately, one of the guys was at church and had his pants with him, so I got him to put them on and I marked the hem. White linen, underlined in poly. So it was a wee bit more involved than I expected...but I finished them up yesterday evening...late yesterday evening, after our monthly women's meeting (about which I can only say 'Wow'). During the fellowship time at the meeting, I ran into Pastor Jackie..."PJ" from last summer's 'Medieval Costuming' project. They're about to gear up into their conference/camp season and will be needing some more costumes. For the moment, she just needs another dress from the pattern I used last year...McCall's 4889. In green, preferably the same type of fabric as the first (crushed panne velvet...shudder). Well, I've got a little jaunt up to Sir's Fabrics already planned for this Saturday, so I'll see what they've got. The last time I saw panne velvet at Hancock's was about a month ago...on the clearance table. *Maybe* there's some left...I'll check when I'm out today, returning the hemmed pants and collecting pants pair 2. But making the dress shouldn't be difficult, since it's already fitted.
And my friend the bride will be bringing her shoes over Friday so I can mark and hem her dress.
I guess any 'for me' sewing done this week will be the Vogue wrap dress; it will need the white/cream serger thread that's on the machine....
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
My head is spinning....
Flickr is a lot different from yahoo.
It's almost like myspace, I think, with pictures and forums and friends and groups and profiles...wow. I didn't know all of that was available and I've already received an invitation to be a contact from another sewing enthusiast, which is cool, but I haven't a clue what to do with it. I'm not just at the bottom of the learning curve, I'm down in the well...
So, I poked around a bit on Flickr's site and found a topic on the message board about Yahoo closing and I learned that I may have 'blown it' by signing up already, rather than waiting for the 'official announcement of how to move your pictures'. Apparently, the folks at Flickr are not ready to transfer the photos, won't be ready until later this summer, then the freebie 'pro' account will be available to new customers only. By then I will not be a 'new customer', since I signed up over the weekend.
Bummer. Why don't they print the fine print when you actually need to read it?
Along the way to finding that information, I discovered that there are a number of Flickr participants who are Serious About Photography as Art. They don't sound happy that folks like me, who use the pictures simply to share a non-photography-related aspect of life, will be clogging up their bandwidths.
I'm just a *little* overwhelmed by it.
All I want is a place where I can post pictures so they can
1) be linked individually (I even *prefer* a clickable link...not one where the photo always shows up in the text) and
2) be viewed in different sizes; it's nice to be able to look at details up close and personal.
Oh, and it's Greatly Desirable that these simple services be free. ;)
Photoworks originally allowed both of those things; it required a little hoop-jumping but it was possible. Then at the end of 2004 they reformatted all the pictures and their whole site (leaving the photos unavailable for something like 8 months) and eventually their new system has eliminated both options. However, the picture you see when looking through the album with the 'full screen' option is a little bigger than the one you can see through Yahoo.
Sigh. I guess I'm just going to have to poke around on Flickr a while to learn what's what and how to do the whole community thing. I wonder when I'm going to have time to do that...
Anyway, I have moved a couple of batches of photos to Photoworks...things that won't need individual pictures, like last years' SWAP group and the little photo tute on how to put on pseudo-Biblical head drapes...and deleted duplicate photos and such, so I've only got 51 pictures on Yahoo that will need to be transferred.
But still.
It's almost like myspace, I think, with pictures and forums and friends and groups and profiles...wow. I didn't know all of that was available and I've already received an invitation to be a contact from another sewing enthusiast, which is cool, but I haven't a clue what to do with it. I'm not just at the bottom of the learning curve, I'm down in the well...
So, I poked around a bit on Flickr's site and found a topic on the message board about Yahoo closing and I learned that I may have 'blown it' by signing up already, rather than waiting for the 'official announcement of how to move your pictures'. Apparently, the folks at Flickr are not ready to transfer the photos, won't be ready until later this summer, then the freebie 'pro' account will be available to new customers only. By then I will not be a 'new customer', since I signed up over the weekend.
Bummer. Why don't they print the fine print when you actually need to read it?
Along the way to finding that information, I discovered that there are a number of Flickr participants who are Serious About Photography as Art. They don't sound happy that folks like me, who use the pictures simply to share a non-photography-related aspect of life, will be clogging up their bandwidths.
I'm just a *little* overwhelmed by it.
All I want is a place where I can post pictures so they can
1) be linked individually (I even *prefer* a clickable link...not one where the photo always shows up in the text) and
2) be viewed in different sizes; it's nice to be able to look at details up close and personal.
Oh, and it's Greatly Desirable that these simple services be free. ;)
Photoworks originally allowed both of those things; it required a little hoop-jumping but it was possible. Then at the end of 2004 they reformatted all the pictures and their whole site (leaving the photos unavailable for something like 8 months) and eventually their new system has eliminated both options. However, the picture you see when looking through the album with the 'full screen' option is a little bigger than the one you can see through Yahoo.
Sigh. I guess I'm just going to have to poke around on Flickr a while to learn what's what and how to do the whole community thing. I wonder when I'm going to have time to do that...
Anyway, I have moved a couple of batches of photos to Photoworks...things that won't need individual pictures, like last years' SWAP group and the little photo tute on how to put on pseudo-Biblical head drapes...and deleted duplicate photos and such, so I've only got 51 pictures on Yahoo that will need to be transferred.
But still.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Photo Woes Once More
If you go to Yahoo Photos, the login page comes up, with solicitations to sign up for a free yahoo photo account...but, once logged in, this little message appears in the lower right hand corner:
Yahoo! Photos will be closing this fall so we can focus our efforts on Flickr
That means all those pictures and links will be going away!!! (So why are they still inviting people to join up???)
And I was JUST getting used to the New Yahoo Photos...which has been up and running for what, 4 months now? I'd even begun relinking last year's pictures to their respective reviews.
The Yahoo people are recommending everyone move to Flickr (or Photobucket or Kodak or one or two more that I don't remember). I went ahead and opened a Flickr account, and I'm pleased that the one photo I have uploaded so far looks very sharp, and it can be viewed in more than one size, but there are bandwidth limits with the free account, and only the most recent 200 photos can be viewed (although they're still there...I guess they're archived? That wasn't really clear). So obviously Flickr is not going to be the Final Answer.
I think I'm just going to have to use Photoworks as a backup...they still don't allow linking to a single photo, but if I link the whole album with a note as to which photo is the one that goes with the review, at least the picture is there. It works for the older reviews (the ones from '02 and '03)...so if I just use Flickr for the new pictures and Photoworks for the old ones I should be able to keep everything linked to a photo.
But it's going to be a pain in the patootie all the way around. And, although Yahoo says that all we have to do is request the new photo host to transfer our Yahoo photos, I couldn't find anything anywhere that told me how to make that request.
Grumble, grumble....
Yahoo! Photos will be closing this fall so we can focus our efforts on Flickr
That means all those pictures and links will be going away!!! (So why are they still inviting people to join up???)
And I was JUST getting used to the New Yahoo Photos...which has been up and running for what, 4 months now? I'd even begun relinking last year's pictures to their respective reviews.
The Yahoo people are recommending everyone move to Flickr (or Photobucket or Kodak or one or two more that I don't remember). I went ahead and opened a Flickr account, and I'm pleased that the one photo I have uploaded so far looks very sharp, and it can be viewed in more than one size, but there are bandwidth limits with the free account, and only the most recent 200 photos can be viewed (although they're still there...I guess they're archived? That wasn't really clear). So obviously Flickr is not going to be the Final Answer.
I think I'm just going to have to use Photoworks as a backup...they still don't allow linking to a single photo, but if I link the whole album with a note as to which photo is the one that goes with the review, at least the picture is there. It works for the older reviews (the ones from '02 and '03)...so if I just use Flickr for the new pictures and Photoworks for the old ones I should be able to keep everything linked to a photo.
But it's going to be a pain in the patootie all the way around. And, although Yahoo says that all we have to do is request the new photo host to transfer our Yahoo photos, I couldn't find anything anywhere that told me how to make that request.
Grumble, grumble....
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Fabric In, Fabric Out
I had a coupon for 10% off a total purchase at Hancock's so I had to make a trip. I needed some more Peltex for Weekender bag bottoms, some serger thread, and DD is going to need a white dress for an honor event this summer. 5 yards of double-edge eyelet ought to make her *some* kind of nice white dress...haven't decided what, yet.
But, after reading the article on sewing w/upholstery fabric in the current Threads, I went back to look at the upholstery remnants. I have one of my niece's names for Christmas this year, and thought I'd just glance over it to see if I could find a funky print to make a Weekender for her. Sure enough, there were two or three pieces there that might do, and I probably should've gotten one, but my hands were full and I was having trouble juggling my already-cut Peltex and eyelet to look the pieces over good (I should've grabbed a shopping basket). But one piece demanded my attention and...I admit it, I was smitten...I got it for me. It's 100% polyester, so I can wash it, and I found out that one of the clerks had just put it on the table a few minutes before I got there:
I've got 2 3/8 yards of it. Now, to be completely truthful, it looked very orange in the store, and I was thinking I could use it for choir this month. But once I got it home, in different light, it really is more red than orange. I thought I'd make a jacket from it...and I still might...but it would make a smashing Weekender, too. Decisions, decisions....
But once I got home, I went to work on the Wild Butterfly Thai Coat, just to keep as close to parity as I can...and because I need to wear it this weekend! It *is* orange enough to work, if it is a little on the boisterous side:
This is our anniversary weekend at church, so we are having an extra service tonight. HMC is joining the choir again, so I'll likely be next to DS of the Rolling Eyes once more. This coat is sure to generate some eye-rolling from him....
But, after reading the article on sewing w/upholstery fabric in the current Threads, I went back to look at the upholstery remnants. I have one of my niece's names for Christmas this year, and thought I'd just glance over it to see if I could find a funky print to make a Weekender for her. Sure enough, there were two or three pieces there that might do, and I probably should've gotten one, but my hands were full and I was having trouble juggling my already-cut Peltex and eyelet to look the pieces over good (I should've grabbed a shopping basket). But one piece demanded my attention and...I admit it, I was smitten...I got it for me. It's 100% polyester, so I can wash it, and I found out that one of the clerks had just put it on the table a few minutes before I got there:
I've got 2 3/8 yards of it. Now, to be completely truthful, it looked very orange in the store, and I was thinking I could use it for choir this month. But once I got it home, in different light, it really is more red than orange. I thought I'd make a jacket from it...and I still might...but it would make a smashing Weekender, too. Decisions, decisions....
But once I got home, I went to work on the Wild Butterfly Thai Coat, just to keep as close to parity as I can...and because I need to wear it this weekend! It *is* orange enough to work, if it is a little on the boisterous side:
This is our anniversary weekend at church, so we are having an extra service tonight. HMC is joining the choir again, so I'll likely be next to DS of the Rolling Eyes once more. This coat is sure to generate some eye-rolling from him....
Friday, May 04, 2007
The Surprise Garment
Has anyone ever had something that you made that really surprised you by how wearable it turned out to be?
Almost two years ago denim jackets came round as choir wear. Most ladies already had denim jackets; but not me. We had about 3 weeks notice, and we had just moved; I had neither time nor finances to go running out to find a denim jacket that would fit. However, I did have *several* yards of denim in the stash, and a Vogue Pattern that I'd just made and tweaked. So, feeling a bit stressed and grumbly, I pulled out the denim and made the jacket; it took about 2 days of sewing; but everything...including the buttons and the topstitching thread...was already in the stash ( Review here, if you're interested).
And I have *loved* that jacket.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos of it. This one is from the 'try to get one nice picture for the Christmas Card' shoot from 2005, and is about the best I've got. But the plain truth is that that jacket goes with almost everything and cranks the chic factor up about two notches. I get compliments on it just about every time I wear it.
I need more clothes in my closet like that... ;)
Almost two years ago denim jackets came round as choir wear. Most ladies already had denim jackets; but not me. We had about 3 weeks notice, and we had just moved; I had neither time nor finances to go running out to find a denim jacket that would fit. However, I did have *several* yards of denim in the stash, and a Vogue Pattern that I'd just made and tweaked. So, feeling a bit stressed and grumbly, I pulled out the denim and made the jacket; it took about 2 days of sewing; but everything...including the buttons and the topstitching thread...was already in the stash ( Review here, if you're interested).
And I have *loved* that jacket.
Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of photos of it. This one is from the 'try to get one nice picture for the Christmas Card' shoot from 2005, and is about the best I've got. But the plain truth is that that jacket goes with almost everything and cranks the chic factor up about two notches. I get compliments on it just about every time I wear it.
I need more clothes in my closet like that... ;)
Thursday, May 03, 2007
What're Friends For?
I almost feel sheepish after my mini-minor-rant a couple of days ago, but I'm altering a dress for a friend. I'm not putting it in the same category as the rather presumptuous requests I get to 'fix stuff'...she's very, very petite and is remarrying at the end of the month, on a tight budget. She found a very nice Isaac Mizrahi dress at Target that is simply too long...so I'm going to shorten it. Take it up at the shoulders and hem. Of course, it's bias cut crinkle poly chiffon, so it won't be exactly a cakewalk, but I'm cautiously optimistic that I can do it for her.
And, even though she doesn't sew, she has come and helped with non-sewing/hand sewing costuming issues at church in the past. So I really don't mind helping her out here.
But I will be holding my breath a lot ;)
And, even though she doesn't sew, she has come and helped with non-sewing/hand sewing costuming issues at church in the past. So I really don't mind helping her out here.
But I will be holding my breath a lot ;)
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Last Week's Sewing
My Sweet Baboo returned from his business trip (yeah, that was the Hawaii trip and no, I didn't get to go...he didn't have quite enough Frequent Flyer miles to take me along) Saturday night, but it was yesterday evening around 10 before I got a chance to put the camera in his hand and show off, er, record what I'd done while he was gone (excepting the Frankenpattern tunic that DD photographed already).
I need to do a little work on Pattern Review about these, but today's a Very Busy Day and I probably won't get to it...maybe tomorrow. But, here's the work I finished up while I was trying not to think about not being in Tropical Paradise:
The Pink Tweed jacket languished so long in the WIP column that I have almost forgotten what I did. Fortunately, I've got a post somewhere in the archives with a picture of the pattern alterations and I'll dig that out when I update the review. It's the Sandra Betzina jacket, slightly modified. And why I didn't cut it out with one of the little tufty threads on the CF line I'll never know...
Second, the T made from Really Ugly Cheap tie-dye cotton jersey. That Vogue princess T pattern works really well; the fabric has, well, Concert T recovery (ie, none), so the shaping of the pattern really made it wearable. That's Orange Top number 2 for choir.
Finally, Cutting Line's 'Farewell to Arms' skirt...Louise calls this the 'Almost Bias' skirt, because it has a nearly bias-flare below the hipline. I switched out the pocket and used the piece I'd modified for the In the Trenches skirt, and this was the fabric I bought from Louise at this year's Expo. I really, really like this skirt. Gorgeous colors and gorgeous drape and movement. I expect there will be a number of these skirts hanging in my closet before too long!
I'm now working on The Wild Butterfly Thai Coat...more orange...hope to have it done by the end of the week!
I need to do a little work on Pattern Review about these, but today's a Very Busy Day and I probably won't get to it...maybe tomorrow. But, here's the work I finished up while I was trying not to think about not being in Tropical Paradise:
The Pink Tweed jacket languished so long in the WIP column that I have almost forgotten what I did. Fortunately, I've got a post somewhere in the archives with a picture of the pattern alterations and I'll dig that out when I update the review. It's the Sandra Betzina jacket, slightly modified. And why I didn't cut it out with one of the little tufty threads on the CF line I'll never know...Second, the T made from Really Ugly Cheap tie-dye cotton jersey. That Vogue princess T pattern works really well; the fabric has, well, Concert T recovery (ie, none), so the shaping of the pattern really made it wearable. That's Orange Top number 2 for choir.
Finally, Cutting Line's 'Farewell to Arms' skirt...Louise calls this the 'Almost Bias' skirt, because it has a nearly bias-flare below the hipline. I switched out the pocket and used the piece I'd modified for the In the Trenches skirt, and this was the fabric I bought from Louise at this year's Expo. I really, really like this skirt. Gorgeous colors and gorgeous drape and movement. I expect there will be a number of these skirts hanging in my closet before too long!
I'm now working on The Wild Butterfly Thai Coat...more orange...hope to have it done by the end of the week!
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
If Sewing were Cooking (An allegorical grumble...)
If sewing were cooking, I bet I'm not the only one who would've heard the following:
'Oh, you cook? I used to cook but I don't any more. I made all my kids' meals when they were young, but I just don't enjoy it any more. My stove quit working and I just never got it fixed.
But, you know, I've been looking for someone who could cook! I've got a favorite dinner that we haven't had in a long time, and I was wondering, could you fix it up for me? I mean, since you've got a stove that works I'm sure it wouldn't take you very long.
I'd even be willing to pay you if you would do it for me.'
My reply would be that I'd be happy to show them how to use a new stove so they could do it themselves...
'Oh, no, I don't want to get back into cooking. I just don't have time for cooking. I just need a couple of things fixed, you know, just this once. It's my favorite.'
Oh, you're giving up eating after this? You'll never need anything fixed again as long as you live? Tell me...what's your secret....
(end of allegory)
That's been stewing for a *really* long time...friends of long acquaintance who are backed into a corner are one thing, but when someone I barely know asks if I could fix something before I've even got their name committed to long term memory, well, it just gets under my skin a wee bit.
I need to stand in front of the mirror and practice saying, with a straight face, "I'd be happy to hem your pants for you. S&K Menswear charges about $75/hour for five minutes of pants hemming...I don't have their overhead, so I'll do it for half. But I'll have to do it by hand, since I don't have a blind hemmer, so it'll take an hour. It'll be $37.50. I prefer cash. Are you *sure* you don't want me to show you how?"
Hm. I wonder if it would work... ;)
(end of grumble)
'Oh, you cook? I used to cook but I don't any more. I made all my kids' meals when they were young, but I just don't enjoy it any more. My stove quit working and I just never got it fixed.
But, you know, I've been looking for someone who could cook! I've got a favorite dinner that we haven't had in a long time, and I was wondering, could you fix it up for me? I mean, since you've got a stove that works I'm sure it wouldn't take you very long.
I'd even be willing to pay you if you would do it for me.'
My reply would be that I'd be happy to show them how to use a new stove so they could do it themselves...
'Oh, no, I don't want to get back into cooking. I just don't have time for cooking. I just need a couple of things fixed, you know, just this once. It's my favorite.'
Oh, you're giving up eating after this? You'll never need anything fixed again as long as you live? Tell me...what's your secret....
(end of allegory)
That's been stewing for a *really* long time...friends of long acquaintance who are backed into a corner are one thing, but when someone I barely know asks if I could fix something before I've even got their name committed to long term memory, well, it just gets under my skin a wee bit.
I need to stand in front of the mirror and practice saying, with a straight face, "I'd be happy to hem your pants for you. S&K Menswear charges about $75/hour for five minutes of pants hemming...I don't have their overhead, so I'll do it for half. But I'll have to do it by hand, since I don't have a blind hemmer, so it'll take an hour. It'll be $37.50. I prefer cash. Are you *sure* you don't want me to show you how?"
Hm. I wonder if it would work... ;)
(end of grumble)
Monday, April 30, 2007
Congratulations!
Julie has posted the top five vote-getting SWAP wardrobes for 2007...Women from the US, Canada and Romania! Have a look: SWAP 07 There were also wardrobes completed in England, Germany and Australia! What fun it it to sew along with women from all around the globe! I should go look...did the sun ever set on the SWAP? All the ladies are to be congratulated, and I know they all will get much use from their new wardrobes.
Fabulous work!!
Fabulous work!!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Squeezing the Pattern
Yup, I added two more projects to the WIP list...the Donna Karan tunic (and I've got enough of that gorgeous fuschia knit to make another top...hmmm, what'll it be...) and the Vogue Wrap Dress.
Cutting the dress was an exercise in creativity and patience; I'd originally ordered two yards of the knit, with just a vague idea of making a top. Ann sent 2 1/4 yards...possibly because the print doesn't quite go all the way to the selvegdes..it has a scant 58" of workable width. But as soon as I saw it, it said 'Wrap dress!'.
And doncha know the pattern says it requires 2 3/4 yards of 60" fabric.
Well, I've had lots of practice squeezing pattern pieces on fabric (see The Encouragement of Minor Miracles for the most recent example), so I started playing with the layout. Because the front skirt is a full pattern, cut twice, I had to use a single fabric layout for that piece, so doing a whole trial layout really wasn't practical. I took a deep breath, and started cutting. I figured if I were short, I'd just make a sleeveless dress.
But, since the fabric is the same coming and going, I could use a 'without nap' layout and I got it all on there! Barely...this is the totality of the remnants. Whew...
But I did have a real bummer happen during the cutting process...the little red thingy lying on the far side of the cutting board is a piece from my nice Martelli rotary cutter; it fell off the table and I stepped on it (I didn't hear it fall!) and..well..it broke. It's the piece that holds the spring that holds the blade guard in place; I've had to tape the guard back now, just to keep it out of the way when I'm cutting. It will no longer guard the blade...yikes...
So now a new rotary cutter is on my list of Things to Get at the Atlanta Expo Next Year. If I can wait that long.
Cutting the dress was an exercise in creativity and patience; I'd originally ordered two yards of the knit, with just a vague idea of making a top. Ann sent 2 1/4 yards...possibly because the print doesn't quite go all the way to the selvegdes..it has a scant 58" of workable width. But as soon as I saw it, it said 'Wrap dress!'.
And doncha know the pattern says it requires 2 3/4 yards of 60" fabric.
Well, I've had lots of practice squeezing pattern pieces on fabric (see The Encouragement of Minor Miracles for the most recent example), so I started playing with the layout. Because the front skirt is a full pattern, cut twice, I had to use a single fabric layout for that piece, so doing a whole trial layout really wasn't practical. I took a deep breath, and started cutting. I figured if I were short, I'd just make a sleeveless dress.
But, since the fabric is the same coming and going, I could use a 'without nap' layout and I got it all on there! Barely...this is the totality of the remnants. Whew...But I did have a real bummer happen during the cutting process...the little red thingy lying on the far side of the cutting board is a piece from my nice Martelli rotary cutter; it fell off the table and I stepped on it (I didn't hear it fall!) and..well..it broke. It's the piece that holds the spring that holds the blade guard in place; I've had to tape the guard back now, just to keep it out of the way when I'm cutting. It will no longer guard the blade...yikes...
So now a new rotary cutter is on my list of Things to Get at the Atlanta Expo Next Year. If I can wait that long.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Beginning the Donna Karan tunic...
Not that I'm feeling like I'm about to run out of projects...it's just that I left the last batch of fabrics that arrived out and they're singing to me so that I decided to just go ahead and cut them out and get them in project bags...as much to hush them as anything. So, yesterday I pulled out the Vogue Donna Karan wrap tunic pattern and started comparing it to the TNT Jalie 2005 T and decided that, on the whole, I could let the uber stretchy rayon/lycra jersey handle any fit adjustments that I might need to make; it looks Close Enough for Knits. So I just cut out a straight size 10 (the largest in the envelope I had...).
Then I proceeded to pin the pattern sections together as instructed. For some reason, the right shoulder seam is eliminated by pinning the back (full back) pattern to the (large, due to the draping) right front, overlapping at the shoulder line. I did it, but discovered that this resulted in a pattern piece that was too wide to lay out on my cutting table. I tried staggering the cutting mats to make it a bit wider, but it was no go. But, as the seamline/overlap line is marked on both pieces, it's easy to add the seam allowance and cut them separately, which is what I ended up doing.
I also substituted Jalie's 3/4 length sleeve for the extra-long, meant-to-be-scrunched sleeve that was included in the Vogue pattern. When I overlapped them and saw the sleeve caps were virtually identical (again, Close Enough for Knits), I decided that a 3/4 length sleeve might make the top a little more, um, trans-seasonal and maybe slightly more on trend.
I got the top about half cut before choir last night; I'll finish it today and probably cut the wrap dress while the cutting table is set up. Don't know when I'll get to them, but I'll be glad to get them moved from laying around the den to actually in the sewing queue... ;)
Then I proceeded to pin the pattern sections together as instructed. For some reason, the right shoulder seam is eliminated by pinning the back (full back) pattern to the (large, due to the draping) right front, overlapping at the shoulder line. I did it, but discovered that this resulted in a pattern piece that was too wide to lay out on my cutting table. I tried staggering the cutting mats to make it a bit wider, but it was no go. But, as the seamline/overlap line is marked on both pieces, it's easy to add the seam allowance and cut them separately, which is what I ended up doing.
I also substituted Jalie's 3/4 length sleeve for the extra-long, meant-to-be-scrunched sleeve that was included in the Vogue pattern. When I overlapped them and saw the sleeve caps were virtually identical (again, Close Enough for Knits), I decided that a 3/4 length sleeve might make the top a little more, um, trans-seasonal and maybe slightly more on trend.
I got the top about half cut before choir last night; I'll finish it today and probably cut the wrap dress while the cutting table is set up. Don't know when I'll get to them, but I'll be glad to get them moved from laying around the den to actually in the sewing queue... ;)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The DVF dress
I know I planned originally to modify and use the mock-wrap Simplicity 4074 pattern for the hexagonal print, but, y'know, Hancock's had Vogue patterns on sale last weekend for about 4 bucks each, so I picked up the real McCoy...Vogue 8379. Traced and altered it yesterday...an 8 through the shoulders, and a 14 plus everywhere else. It was really depressing to add so much to the waistline; I'm hoping that it doesn't just look frumpy.
I'll definitely be basting-and-fitting as I go...
I'll definitely be basting-and-fitting as I go...
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
The Frankenpattern and Hothouse Flowers
Yesterday, having finished the Tweed jacket and the cheapo cotton jersey princess t, I decided I *was* going to at least cut out the Hot House Flowers fabric, if only to get it out of the stew pot. At first, I thought I'd just go with my original intention...the Sandra Betzina top, which I traced and cut out. But, while moving some patterns around, I came across Butterick 4604 and a lightbulb went off...I could morph the too-low neckline with my TNT Vogue 7799 (which I had morphed with the shoulders/sleeves of the Loes Hinse Cowl top right from the beginning). So, beset with enthusiastic inspriation, I put the nicely traced Betzina pattern away and began morphing.
First, I matched the CF and the waistline of the altered Vogue pattern to the left front (underlap side) of the Butterick pattern and discovered that the shoulders of the Butterick pattern extended a long way (about 1 1/2") above the shoulders on the Vogue pattern. That kind of shook me for a moment, but, hey, the Vogue is a TNT so I took a deep breath and traced the armsceye, shoulder and neckline of the Vogue, then cut away the extra. I did one of the back pieces next, again, matching the CB and the waistline mark on the old pattern and the new pattern; the shoulders were a little higher on the Butterick, but not as much as on the front (first hint that there may have been a drafting error in the Butterick pattern). Then, I traced the new back piece off onto the other side of the back, matched the seam lines and taped the two pattern pieces together to eliminate the back seam and the zipper. Finally, I traced the left front armsceye/shoulder/neckline onto the right front armsceye/shoulder/neckline, and found out that the center front mark on the right front is not vertical; it's not on a 45 degree angle to the marked grainline (the garment is intended to be made from a lightweight woven fabric, with the fronts cut on the bias). I really think that's a boo-boo; I pretended it was vertical and matched it up to the underlap layer as if it were. I made an actual pattern for the neckline band I've used on 7799 (normally, I just use my straightedge ruler and cut it to just a little less length than the foldover collar) and finally I just traced another copy of my Cowl Top cap sleeve to put in the envelope with the new whacked up Butterick pattern; put the fabric on the table and began cutting (after noting which side of the fabric should be up...the palm trees need to be upright!).
Except for the gathering on the side, this went together pretty much just like I would assemble the 7799 top. I used clear elastic to gather the side up; I thought it would give me more even gathers than the baste-and-pull-thread method. And, because the fabric was so lofty it did NOT want to press, so I hand basted all the hems down before I double needle top stitched them.
But...when sewing the sideseams, I found that the back was an inch longer than the front! Somehow, the weirdness at the shoulder seams threw the length off. There was nothing for it but to whack the back to match the front, and my top is shorter than the ones pictured on the front of the envelope.
The gathers on the side of my top (and, I think, the one photographed on the front of the Butterick pattern) are not as pronounced as the pattern illustrations or the line drawings show; it just looks sort of fluffy along the short side. This may be because there aren't enough gathers, or because the fabric is a little too light and lofty. But, it'll do for the purpose for which I need it. Orangey tones are not particularly good for me anyway, but I need Orange Stuff for choir next month so I'll wear it at least a little!
And I will remember to walk the seam lines of all morphed patterns before cutting anything... ;)
First, I matched the CF and the waistline of the altered Vogue pattern to the left front (underlap side) of the Butterick pattern and discovered that the shoulders of the Butterick pattern extended a long way (about 1 1/2") above the shoulders on the Vogue pattern. That kind of shook me for a moment, but, hey, the Vogue is a TNT so I took a deep breath and traced the armsceye, shoulder and neckline of the Vogue, then cut away the extra. I did one of the back pieces next, again, matching the CB and the waistline mark on the old pattern and the new pattern; the shoulders were a little higher on the Butterick, but not as much as on the front (first hint that there may have been a drafting error in the Butterick pattern). Then, I traced the new back piece off onto the other side of the back, matched the seam lines and taped the two pattern pieces together to eliminate the back seam and the zipper. Finally, I traced the left front armsceye/shoulder/neckline onto the right front armsceye/shoulder/neckline, and found out that the center front mark on the right front is not vertical; it's not on a 45 degree angle to the marked grainline (the garment is intended to be made from a lightweight woven fabric, with the fronts cut on the bias). I really think that's a boo-boo; I pretended it was vertical and matched it up to the underlap layer as if it were. I made an actual pattern for the neckline band I've used on 7799 (normally, I just use my straightedge ruler and cut it to just a little less length than the foldover collar) and finally I just traced another copy of my Cowl Top cap sleeve to put in the envelope with the new whacked up Butterick pattern; put the fabric on the table and began cutting (after noting which side of the fabric should be up...the palm trees need to be upright!).
Except for the gathering on the side, this went together pretty much just like I would assemble the 7799 top. I used clear elastic to gather the side up; I thought it would give me more even gathers than the baste-and-pull-thread method. And, because the fabric was so lofty it did NOT want to press, so I hand basted all the hems down before I double needle top stitched them.
But...when sewing the sideseams, I found that the back was an inch longer than the front! Somehow, the weirdness at the shoulder seams threw the length off. There was nothing for it but to whack the back to match the front, and my top is shorter than the ones pictured on the front of the envelope.
The gathers on the side of my top (and, I think, the one photographed on the front of the Butterick pattern) are not as pronounced as the pattern illustrations or the line drawings show; it just looks sort of fluffy along the short side. This may be because there aren't enough gathers, or because the fabric is a little too light and lofty. But, it'll do for the purpose for which I need it. Orangey tones are not particularly good for me anyway, but I need Orange Stuff for choir next month so I'll wear it at least a little!
And I will remember to walk the seam lines of all morphed patterns before cutting anything... ;)
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
SWAP Voting
SWAP 2007 is officially over; there were 31 ladies who each made coordinating wardrobes of 11 garments. I didn't participate this year...although I have the three previous years...but, as a member of the Stitcher's Guild forum, I get to vote for the prize recipients (I started to say 'winners', but, really, every one of those 31 ladies is a winner). In fact, anyone who is a registered member of SG is invited to vote, so please take a little time and check out this year's SWAP wardrobes and see the SWAP discussion at SG for instructions on how to send in your vote. And, even if you're not an SG member, the wardrobes are definitely worth the time to look through them.
But how on earth does one decide which three are the best? And then rank them?? You'll know what I mean when you look; they're all amazing displays of talent, creativity and tenacity! And they have gotten better every year.
I don't know how everyone else comes up with their top three, but I have made an effort to be objective. When the first SWAP voting happened (I participated in that one but didn't finish on time), I made an Excel spreadsheet with some criteria on it to which I could give a point value, depending on how well I perceived that that wardrobe had met the SWAP criteria. NOTE: this is not a suggestion as to how everyone else should do it; it's just the only way I could be happy with myself that I was being as fair as I could.
The first item...can I see the garments in the photos? This is more a tie-breaker than anything, but some of the wardrobes are shown kind of bunched up and it's very difficult to tell what's what. Some are styled and some are just kind of hung on doors...that's not the big point. I just want to be able to see what I'm supposed to be judging.
The second item...does this follow the SWAP guidelines? There are two wardrobe options, recognizing that folks have different lifestyle needs, but they both have criteria as to what should coordinate. For instance,the traditional SWAP wardrobe consists of four bottoms (skirts or pants...or shorts or culottes, whatever), six tops (at least two of which need to be more than mere t-shirts), and a jacket (that could be a shrug, a vest, a duster...just a top layer), and must incorporate at least one garment that has a print or pattern. The second year I did the SWAP, my wardrobe contained a shirt/jacket. It worked well with all the bottoms, but I couldn't wear the wardrobe jacket over it. That's ok...it worked for my lifestyle and actually gets worn a lot...but it doesn't meet the SWAP guidelines. It's not a value judgment; but a wardrobe that has a jacket that can be worn with all the tops will score higher here than one that, like mine, has a top or two that really doesn't work with the jacket. So...I've got points awarded for how well the jacket works with the tops, and another for how well the tops work with the bottoms (that's modified a little for the dress swap...)
The third item involves 'Julie's Twist'...that is, she always includes some little requirement that pulls a little more creativity out of the participants. This year's requirement was that one garment had to be reversible. I get two point values out of this...one for creativity and one for execution. Reversible garments can be really 'loving hands at home' looking if they're not well executed.
The next criteria is on the use of a print (or a plaid or a stripe...fabric w/a pattern of some sort), a requirement for the SWAP. Does it go with the solids? Is it there? Is the garment suitable for the print?
Finally, I throw in points for my overall impression...are the colors good together? Does the style of the garments all work together?
I used a 7 - point rating system: 0, the element isn't there or isn't visible; 1, it's there, but it doesn't really work; 2-3, ok, that works ; 4 -5, that's good and finally 6 - 7, wow, that really looks good.
Out of 49 possible points, I ended up with 10 SWAPs scoring from 44 to 47 when I went through them yesterday...and I had to be very picky or I've had a handful of perfect scores. Obviously, this isn't a magic formula! I'm going to go back over the top 10 again...and I'm going to have to eliminate some very, very good work based on some piddly detail, which makes me sad...but, ultimately, this isn't about who can do the fanciest stitching on the most elegant fabric, or who has the technical know-how to post fabulous pictures...it's about who creates the most wearable wardrobe.
That's probably going to be the tie - breaker...wearability....
It is great to get to take such a long look at some very excellent sewing; I just hope folks aren't overwhelmed by the idea of trying to select and rank three swaps as the most outstanding and give up. Please, please vote if you're a SG member! How you pick is up to you...but these ladies have worked hard and are certainly deserving of a little bit of objective consideration from the rest of us. Last year's SWAP was written up in Australian Stitches; it's a good promotional tool for home sewing to see that ordinary women can dress themselves...and do it well.
But how on earth does one decide which three are the best? And then rank them?? You'll know what I mean when you look; they're all amazing displays of talent, creativity and tenacity! And they have gotten better every year.
I don't know how everyone else comes up with their top three, but I have made an effort to be objective. When the first SWAP voting happened (I participated in that one but didn't finish on time), I made an Excel spreadsheet with some criteria on it to which I could give a point value, depending on how well I perceived that that wardrobe had met the SWAP criteria. NOTE: this is not a suggestion as to how everyone else should do it; it's just the only way I could be happy with myself that I was being as fair as I could.
The first item...can I see the garments in the photos? This is more a tie-breaker than anything, but some of the wardrobes are shown kind of bunched up and it's very difficult to tell what's what. Some are styled and some are just kind of hung on doors...that's not the big point. I just want to be able to see what I'm supposed to be judging.
The second item...does this follow the SWAP guidelines? There are two wardrobe options, recognizing that folks have different lifestyle needs, but they both have criteria as to what should coordinate. For instance,the traditional SWAP wardrobe consists of four bottoms (skirts or pants...or shorts or culottes, whatever), six tops (at least two of which need to be more than mere t-shirts), and a jacket (that could be a shrug, a vest, a duster...just a top layer), and must incorporate at least one garment that has a print or pattern. The second year I did the SWAP, my wardrobe contained a shirt/jacket. It worked well with all the bottoms, but I couldn't wear the wardrobe jacket over it. That's ok...it worked for my lifestyle and actually gets worn a lot...but it doesn't meet the SWAP guidelines. It's not a value judgment; but a wardrobe that has a jacket that can be worn with all the tops will score higher here than one that, like mine, has a top or two that really doesn't work with the jacket. So...I've got points awarded for how well the jacket works with the tops, and another for how well the tops work with the bottoms (that's modified a little for the dress swap...)
The third item involves 'Julie's Twist'...that is, she always includes some little requirement that pulls a little more creativity out of the participants. This year's requirement was that one garment had to be reversible. I get two point values out of this...one for creativity and one for execution. Reversible garments can be really 'loving hands at home' looking if they're not well executed.
The next criteria is on the use of a print (or a plaid or a stripe...fabric w/a pattern of some sort), a requirement for the SWAP. Does it go with the solids? Is it there? Is the garment suitable for the print?
Finally, I throw in points for my overall impression...are the colors good together? Does the style of the garments all work together?
I used a 7 - point rating system: 0, the element isn't there or isn't visible; 1, it's there, but it doesn't really work; 2-3, ok, that works ; 4 -5, that's good and finally 6 - 7, wow, that really looks good.
Out of 49 possible points, I ended up with 10 SWAPs scoring from 44 to 47 when I went through them yesterday...and I had to be very picky or I've had a handful of perfect scores. Obviously, this isn't a magic formula! I'm going to go back over the top 10 again...and I'm going to have to eliminate some very, very good work based on some piddly detail, which makes me sad...but, ultimately, this isn't about who can do the fanciest stitching on the most elegant fabric, or who has the technical know-how to post fabulous pictures...it's about who creates the most wearable wardrobe.
That's probably going to be the tie - breaker...wearability....
It is great to get to take such a long look at some very excellent sewing; I just hope folks aren't overwhelmed by the idea of trying to select and rank three swaps as the most outstanding and give up. Please, please vote if you're a SG member! How you pick is up to you...but these ladies have worked hard and are certainly deserving of a little bit of objective consideration from the rest of us. Last year's SWAP was written up in Australian Stitches; it's a good promotional tool for home sewing to see that ordinary women can dress themselves...and do it well.
Monday, April 23, 2007
It's Monday...
If I were writing another blog, and were someone else, with a totally different lifestyle, I might say I was hung over. But, being me in my life, I think I'm fighting off some kind of low-level viral thing. Ick. So, despite the long 'to do' list for the day, I may not get much accomplished.
But I did get some work done over the weekend! All the pink jacket needs now is buttonholes/buttons and c'est fini! DH is out of town on business, though, so I'm not sure if I'll get a postable picture from one of the dkids or not. We'll see.
And I'm still waffling over what to make from the Hothouse flowers knit. While the fabric type and drape would be really good for the Betzina top I'm leaning towards, I'm starting to think I want a simpler style, to let the print sing. Maybe a simple asymmetric hemmed tunic? (I know, I know, asymmetry is supposed to be Out...but I like it!). I need to make up my mind; I will be making the orange stuff soon and this qualifies.
But I did get some work done over the weekend! All the pink jacket needs now is buttonholes/buttons and c'est fini! DH is out of town on business, though, so I'm not sure if I'll get a postable picture from one of the dkids or not. We'll see.
And I'm still waffling over what to make from the Hothouse flowers knit. While the fabric type and drape would be really good for the Betzina top I'm leaning towards, I'm starting to think I want a simpler style, to let the print sing. Maybe a simple asymmetric hemmed tunic? (I know, I know, asymmetry is supposed to be Out...but I like it!). I need to make up my mind; I will be making the orange stuff soon and this qualifies.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Resurrection Sunday 2007
I finally got the photos...of course, I'm seeing every little incorrect detail when I'm looking at them, but in the flurry and motion of the moment, I don't think they were as noticeable. I hope. ;)
There's also a photo of the combined adult/Huntsville Master's Commission choir; that's a glimpse of what we look like in this month's colors...lavender and black...on the temporary stage at the civic center.
All photos courtesy of Jerry Strickland...thanks, Jerry!!!!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Making Progress
...on the pink jacket. The lining's done, and the shell is done to the sleeves, which are constructed. A couple of more hours and I'll have a new jacket! Hopefully I'll get at least an hour in later today.
Then it's on to the ORANGE STUFF...
Then it's on to the ORANGE STUFF...
Friday, April 20, 2007
Fabric IN...
It always comes in lumps, for some reason. I made a trip to Hancock's yesterday to get some orange thread and catch the Vogue Pattern sale (brought home three: 2966, 8398 and 2925) and found a 3 1/4- yard length of B. Black and Sons black wool gabardine marked 60% off. Contrary to Erin's Rules for Buying Fabric, I like to stash black, as I need to have so much in the closet for choir from the September to May each year, and I never know when something's going to come up with a problem (like my favorite black textured Tencel Oxford pants, in which the fold of the hem suddenly split at Christmas) and need to be replaced, or if I'll just suddenly get Sick to Death of what is currently in the closet and need something new to perk things up. So I've learned to buy quality black fabric whenever I find it.
Then I came home and discovered that both outstanding mail-order purchases had arrived....and both vendors (Michael and Ann) had sent VERY GENEROUS cuts of the fabric I'd ordered; one was nearly double. Was I pleased! Of course...it's marvelous fabric and it *will* get used. And, to my wonderment, the green I ordered from Michael (which is currently in the washing machine and therefore not pictured) looks pretty good with that lavender and green hexagonal print from Ann. I smell a jacket...
Anyway, the brain at once went to work to see what pattern would go with what fabric at the first available opportunity, and I think I've got the knits matched:
The orange/red hothouse flowers knit is an *amazing* piece of fabric; it's very lightweight and floaty, not knit-like at all, yet it drapes very nicely. I'd follow Ann's suggestion and make a skirt if I didn't need it to be a top for choir. But I think it'll make up very nicely in Vogue 2945. I'm going to check how it drapes just a little more before I cut it out, but that looks like a real possibility.
The hexagonal is a poly/lycra matte jersey; it's destined to be Simplicity 4074; the pattern is for a mock-wrap dress, but I think it would be easy to make it a true wrap; just do the right front twice.
I *think* I'm going to use the fuschia rayon/lycra jersey to make Vogue 2064 (the one w/both shoulders...). There's been some chatter about this pattern on the boards, and I've been meaning to make it from *something*...that fabric should be about perfect in weight and drape. But the pattern needs some, um, serious adjusting before I tackle it.
So...I've got to get busy and sew now to get back to parity...(and I still haven't counted a big piece of fabric Miss A gave me a couple of weeks ago...maybe I'm afraid to see how much is there...)
Then I came home and discovered that both outstanding mail-order purchases had arrived....and both vendors (Michael and Ann) had sent VERY GENEROUS cuts of the fabric I'd ordered; one was nearly double. Was I pleased! Of course...it's marvelous fabric and it *will* get used. And, to my wonderment, the green I ordered from Michael (which is currently in the washing machine and therefore not pictured) looks pretty good with that lavender and green hexagonal print from Ann. I smell a jacket...
Anyway, the brain at once went to work to see what pattern would go with what fabric at the first available opportunity, and I think I've got the knits matched:
The orange/red hothouse flowers knit is an *amazing* piece of fabric; it's very lightweight and floaty, not knit-like at all, yet it drapes very nicely. I'd follow Ann's suggestion and make a skirt if I didn't need it to be a top for choir. But I think it'll make up very nicely in Vogue 2945. I'm going to check how it drapes just a little more before I cut it out, but that looks like a real possibility.
The hexagonal is a poly/lycra matte jersey; it's destined to be Simplicity 4074; the pattern is for a mock-wrap dress, but I think it would be easy to make it a true wrap; just do the right front twice.
I *think* I'm going to use the fuschia rayon/lycra jersey to make Vogue 2064 (the one w/both shoulders...). There's been some chatter about this pattern on the boards, and I've been meaning to make it from *something*...that fabric should be about perfect in weight and drape. But the pattern needs some, um, serious adjusting before I tackle it.
So...I've got to get busy and sew now to get back to parity...(and I still haven't counted a big piece of fabric Miss A gave me a couple of weeks ago...maybe I'm afraid to see how much is there...)
Thursday, April 19, 2007
To Nashville and back
The kids arrived back from Iceland last night; there was a glitch in the system, though, and the four who were on different flights (including The Eye Rolling Teen Son) ended up w/a delay that put them later than the rest of the group. So, DH being approaching sick, I got elected to drive to Nashville and pick them up. They got in just before midnight, minus their luggage, and ravenously hungry. So, including the time spent dealing w/luggage that didn't make the connection, a slight detour (couldn't see the road sign because I was behind a semi and missed an exit) and some time at Steak N Shake while they fried up some to go chow, then delivering them to their apartments on the other side of town, it was after 3 before I made it to my bed.
On my way out of the Rocket City, I stopped at Starbucks and ordered a double shot Grande (the big one) Vanilla Latte. The barrista asked if I really wanted a double shot, since the Grande already had two; double would be four shots.
Yes, I really wanted the double!!! And needed every drop of it...
But DS has kept me up w/delivery issues before; he was born shortly after 5 AM 19 years ago today...didn't get much sleep that night, either ;)
April 19,1988
Nov. 2006
Sigh.
On my way out of the Rocket City, I stopped at Starbucks and ordered a double shot Grande (the big one) Vanilla Latte. The barrista asked if I really wanted a double shot, since the Grande already had two; double would be four shots.
Yes, I really wanted the double!!! And needed every drop of it...
But DS has kept me up w/delivery issues before; he was born shortly after 5 AM 19 years ago today...didn't get much sleep that night, either ;)
April 19,1988
Nov. 2006
Sigh.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Not Again
My heart goes out to the student body, faculty, staff and alumni of Virginia Tech and all their families.
No words sound right; only prayers.
No words sound right; only prayers.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Next project dreaming
It just never fails!
I cut out a BUNCH of stuff...have a nice queue waiting to be sewn...and I can't get to the sewing machine because, well, life maintenance is behind.
So, whilst I'm trying to catch up what has been undone, ignored and postponed, what do you suppose I'm doing? Thinking about those lovely things that are cut and ready to sew?
Nah...I'm planning NEW STUFF!
I have some knits on order from Gorgeous Things (there was a glitch in shipping, but I think it's ok and should be here today or tomorrow), along with one of the pieces of printed slinky that I got at the Expo this year, that I really don't have more than a vague notion of what I want to make. Suddenly, I got a brainstorm...wouldn't any of those knits look absolutely smashing made up in Textile Studio's Manhattan Dress? The only problem is that I do not have this pattern.
Now, given the fact that I've got a ton of sewing ready and waiting, ordering the pattern really wouldn't be too much of a problem; it'd likely be here before I was ready to start cutting anyway. But the frugal, challenge-loving side of my brain has kicked in and, instead of ordering the pattern, I'm seriously considering turning the v-neck shell from Loes Hinse's Sweater Set into a Manhattan Dress knock-off; all it really would take is about 20" added to the length of the top.
From reading all the reviews for the Manhattan Dress, I believe the neckline finish on the dress is different (and less visible...it's not topstitched) than the turned-and-stitched neckline on the V neck shell, but that's a minor difference. I can forgo the invisible neckline in favor of the pleasure of doing a dress myself.
Maybe I'll make one my way, then order the dress pattern and see how much different it really is... ;)
I cut out a BUNCH of stuff...have a nice queue waiting to be sewn...and I can't get to the sewing machine because, well, life maintenance is behind.
So, whilst I'm trying to catch up what has been undone, ignored and postponed, what do you suppose I'm doing? Thinking about those lovely things that are cut and ready to sew?
Nah...I'm planning NEW STUFF!
I have some knits on order from Gorgeous Things (there was a glitch in shipping, but I think it's ok and should be here today or tomorrow), along with one of the pieces of printed slinky that I got at the Expo this year, that I really don't have more than a vague notion of what I want to make. Suddenly, I got a brainstorm...wouldn't any of those knits look absolutely smashing made up in Textile Studio's Manhattan Dress? The only problem is that I do not have this pattern.
Now, given the fact that I've got a ton of sewing ready and waiting, ordering the pattern really wouldn't be too much of a problem; it'd likely be here before I was ready to start cutting anyway. But the frugal, challenge-loving side of my brain has kicked in and, instead of ordering the pattern, I'm seriously considering turning the v-neck shell from Loes Hinse's Sweater Set into a Manhattan Dress knock-off; all it really would take is about 20" added to the length of the top.
From reading all the reviews for the Manhattan Dress, I believe the neckline finish on the dress is different (and less visible...it's not topstitched) than the turned-and-stitched neckline on the V neck shell, but that's a minor difference. I can forgo the invisible neckline in favor of the pleasure of doing a dress myself.
Maybe I'll make one my way, then order the dress pattern and see how much different it really is... ;)
Monday, April 16, 2007
It'l be there when I get there
After my cutting marathon last weekend, this week will likely have very little sewing; I've GOT to spend hours at the computer doing budget related stuff(I'm not even going to tell you how behind it is...and we're switching to a new budget program, so there's extra stuff to do). I got a message that there is a cd w/photos from the Easter service waiting for me at the reception desk at church; I've got to begin the 'clean the costumes' process, so I'll hopefully get that picked up and have some nice pictures to show you in the next couple of days.
I managed to get a little sewing done on the lining of the pink jacket over the weekend; the back's done, the sleeves are done; if I can find 30 minutes or so to sew today I'll get the lining finished off, then it's on to the fun part. ;)
It's nice to know that I have work waiting on me, when I catch a few minutes here and there...
I managed to get a little sewing done on the lining of the pink jacket over the weekend; the back's done, the sleeves are done; if I can find 30 minutes or so to sew today I'll get the lining finished off, then it's on to the fun part. ;)
It's nice to know that I have work waiting on me, when I catch a few minutes here and there...
Saturday, April 14, 2007
A Bodacious Queue
Yesterday, I looked at the pile of fabric that I had waiting to be cut and I thought about picking up everything...y'know, neatening the house up...before I cut it out. But that would mean putting away the cutting set up, too, and who knows when it would get back out. And I had begun sewing the last thing in the queue...I needed something to move on to, or I'd be stuck mending when the pink jacket's done. And, on top of that, I need orange for choir in three weeks.
So, I decided to spend yesterday cutting; then, I could put everything away and clean house today.
Boy, did I cut:
-- 2 Jalie 2005 T's from (um, traffic cone)orange cotton lycra; one for me, because I need it for choir next month, and one for DD, because orange is her favorite color
-- Sewing Workshop's (discontinued) Thai Coat from the orange/yellow/ multi butterfly batik/tie-dye cotton twill purchased from Vogue Fabrics at the Expo last month
-- Cutting Line Designs Stars in Heaven tunic from the remnants of the teal rayon/linen left from the In the Trenches set
--Vogue 8323 princess-seamed t from some really cheap orange/pink/yellow tie dye-look cotton jersey
--Cutting Line Designs Farewell to Arms skirt from the gorgeous floral rayon I got from Louise, also at last month's Expo
-- Loes Hinse's City Dress, from some Batik Butik rayon purchased two years ago from Timmel Fabrics.
I'd say that will keep me busy for a while. That's seven garments, totaling 12 3/8 yards. Whew!
I've realized that the cutting is key; if something's cut, it will get sewn...eventually...
So, I decided to spend yesterday cutting; then, I could put everything away and clean house today.
Boy, did I cut:
-- 2 Jalie 2005 T's from (um, traffic cone)orange cotton lycra; one for me, because I need it for choir next month, and one for DD, because orange is her favorite color
-- Sewing Workshop's (discontinued) Thai Coat from the orange/yellow/ multi butterfly batik/tie-dye cotton twill purchased from Vogue Fabrics at the Expo last month
-- Cutting Line Designs Stars in Heaven tunic from the remnants of the teal rayon/linen left from the In the Trenches set
--Vogue 8323 princess-seamed t from some really cheap orange/pink/yellow tie dye-look cotton jersey
--Cutting Line Designs Farewell to Arms skirt from the gorgeous floral rayon I got from Louise, also at last month's Expo
-- Loes Hinse's City Dress, from some Batik Butik rayon purchased two years ago from Timmel Fabrics.
I'd say that will keep me busy for a while. That's seven garments, totaling 12 3/8 yards. Whew!
I've realized that the cutting is key; if something's cut, it will get sewn...eventually...
Friday, April 13, 2007
Adding Labels
Since the move to new Blogger, I've been slowly updating my early posts and adding search labels to them. For some reason, some of them get flagged as updated and others don't...for instance, yesterday I added the label 'literary efforts' to three posts, but only two of them got picked up by the syndicator as updates. Weird, huh?
Anyway, those of you (um, thirty something?) who subscribe to the blog will notice (or probably have noticed) some old posts showing up...it's because I've added labels to them.
To complicate matters, as I've added the labels, I've almost decided that I don't like some of them and they may get changed.
Anyway, just a heads up that the feeds may show a lot of activity on old posts over the next few weeks or so while I take care of some blog housekeeping ;)
Anyway, those of you (um, thirty something?) who subscribe to the blog will notice (or probably have noticed) some old posts showing up...it's because I've added labels to them.
To complicate matters, as I've added the labels, I've almost decided that I don't like some of them and they may get changed.
Anyway, just a heads up that the feeds may show a lot of activity on old posts over the next few weeks or so while I take care of some blog housekeeping ;)
Thursday, April 12, 2007
The Pink Tweed is coming off the WIP list!
Within a week or so, I hope! So what if all I managed to do yesterday was change the thread and sew the center back seam (and pleat) of the lining...and I'll do good to get about that much done again today...but at least thread is going in!
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Resisting the Siren Song
You'd think the last thing I'd want to do right now is sew.
But it's what is tempting me and calling me away from all those things that got behind and neglected while we got ready for the Easter service.
Tomorrow will be my first 'no pressure, no excursions' day in absolute ages, and I need to spend it scrubbing and sorting and folding and organizing and throwing away and disinfecting. *Pout*. What I *want* to spend it doing is tracing and cutting and dreaming and maybe even actually running the machines a bit.
Anyone with me on this?
I'm looking at the SWAPs as they're coming in to land and, oh, my, what inspiration!
And I'm looking at some fabric I pulled and put on the cutting table a lifetime ago...what inspiration!!
And I'm looking at the muslin for my FSG 1945 jacket...the one I did last fall that is still awaiting its transfer to the pattern and the first real jacket...what inspiration!!!
And the cut out, fused, ready-to-sew tweed jacket has been calling to me even longer...and that's past inspiration onto frustration ;).
Focus, Lisa, focus. DH will be camping with Royal Rangers this weekend; that's prime sewing time.
I promise myself I'll sew SOMETHING semi-frivolous over the weekend...(i.e., something not needed for church at all).
But it's what is tempting me and calling me away from all those things that got behind and neglected while we got ready for the Easter service.
Tomorrow will be my first 'no pressure, no excursions' day in absolute ages, and I need to spend it scrubbing and sorting and folding and organizing and throwing away and disinfecting. *Pout*. What I *want* to spend it doing is tracing and cutting and dreaming and maybe even actually running the machines a bit.
Anyone with me on this?
I'm looking at the SWAPs as they're coming in to land and, oh, my, what inspiration!
And I'm looking at some fabric I pulled and put on the cutting table a lifetime ago...what inspiration!!
And I'm looking at the muslin for my FSG 1945 jacket...the one I did last fall that is still awaiting its transfer to the pattern and the first real jacket...what inspiration!!!
And the cut out, fused, ready-to-sew tweed jacket has been calling to me even longer...and that's past inspiration onto frustration ;).
Focus, Lisa, focus. DH will be camping with Royal Rangers this weekend; that's prime sewing time.
I promise myself I'll sew SOMETHING semi-frivolous over the weekend...(i.e., something not needed for church at all).
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
What about that Pink Tweed Jacket?
It's been in the 'WIP' column since, oh, July? Ever since the choir colors changed and I didn't need it...but it's cut out, the lining is cut out; I think I've even got the interfacing fused on.
So I'm actually thinking I might pull that out and see if I can get some progress made here and there whilst I do laundry and work on the budget and prepare my Bible study lesson and scrub the kitchen floor and...and...
After all, ya gotta take a break sometime.
I finished off the sleep pants/shorts/tank, mostly just to get them out of the way, before I changed the thread and mended DD's jeans yesterday (HMC is heading to Iceland today; first thing on their schedule, after a bit of sleep, is meeting the mayor of Reykjavik. Well, now! They'll be ministering with/at a church called Krossin). Anyway, after I finished, I looked at those pants that DD pronounced ridiculously, embarrassingly small and, just for grins, tried them on. I expected something that looked like leggings, but they really didn't. Ok, the panty lines were quite pronounced, but that was about all that was objectionable. They're knit...they stretch...and they're for sleeping in.
So I put them in my drawer. I guess I'm just not as picky about my sleep clothes ("Mom! We hang out in our PJs all the time!").
So I'm actually thinking I might pull that out and see if I can get some progress made here and there whilst I do laundry and work on the budget and prepare my Bible study lesson and scrub the kitchen floor and...and...
After all, ya gotta take a break sometime.
I finished off the sleep pants/shorts/tank, mostly just to get them out of the way, before I changed the thread and mended DD's jeans yesterday (HMC is heading to Iceland today; first thing on their schedule, after a bit of sleep, is meeting the mayor of Reykjavik. Well, now! They'll be ministering with/at a church called Krossin). Anyway, after I finished, I looked at those pants that DD pronounced ridiculously, embarrassingly small and, just for grins, tried them on. I expected something that looked like leggings, but they really didn't. Ok, the panty lines were quite pronounced, but that was about all that was objectionable. They're knit...they stretch...and they're for sleeping in.
So I put them in my drawer. I guess I'm just not as picky about my sleep clothes ("Mom! We hang out in our PJs all the time!").
Monday, April 09, 2007
Monday Regroup
It was a good service.
It was an exhausting weekend. Move out, setup, rehearsals, service, tear down, put away...Saturday was from 9 AM - 8:15 PM, Sunday was from 7:30 AM - 2:45 PM.
But, oh, my goodness...the service. The VBC set up 3500 seats. I expected them to be about 80% full. I did not expect them to have to bring in extra seats. It was a full house. The dramatic bits all worked...costume changes, remote dressing areas and all.
Kudos to Miss A, who made liners for 12 offering baskets at the absolute last minute (there is a bit of a story there!).
I didn't get my camera to anyone to take pictures, but I did talk to one of the amateur photographers at church who had brought his camera; hopefully, I'll get a few of the photos he took to show here. But DH did manage to get a photo of DD in her new top. The picture looks more wrinkled than the top did in person; at least some of the wrinkling is because the knits of her two tops are adhering a bit. I'm not sure I would've layered it like that, but, the colors were black and lavender and it was COLD yesterday...
Today I will be mending; she has brought me about 4 pairs of jeans with inconvenient holes that must be fixed before she goes to Iceland so that she actually has clothes to take. So the next batch of sewing...which will likely be orange stuff, as I've not heard that we're changing from the original plan...will get put off until the weekend. Gotta catch up on all the stuff that got dropped while we sewed.
It was an exhausting weekend. Move out, setup, rehearsals, service, tear down, put away...Saturday was from 9 AM - 8:15 PM, Sunday was from 7:30 AM - 2:45 PM.
But, oh, my goodness...the service. The VBC set up 3500 seats. I expected them to be about 80% full. I did not expect them to have to bring in extra seats. It was a full house. The dramatic bits all worked...costume changes, remote dressing areas and all.
Kudos to Miss A, who made liners for 12 offering baskets at the absolute last minute (there is a bit of a story there!).
I didn't get my camera to anyone to take pictures, but I did talk to one of the amateur photographers at church who had brought his camera; hopefully, I'll get a few of the photos he took to show here. But DH did manage to get a photo of DD in her new top. The picture looks more wrinkled than the top did in person; at least some of the wrinkling is because the knits of her two tops are adhering a bit. I'm not sure I would've layered it like that, but, the colors were black and lavender and it was COLD yesterday...
Today I will be mending; she has brought me about 4 pairs of jeans with inconvenient holes that must be fixed before she goes to Iceland so that she actually has clothes to take. So the next batch of sewing...which will likely be orange stuff, as I've not heard that we're changing from the original plan...will get put off until the weekend. Gotta catch up on all the stuff that got dropped while we sewed.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
He is Risen!
Belated Resurrection greetings...by rights, that should come first thing in the morning. But, as the reality of the Resurrection did not really hit the disciples until that evening, I guess I'm not too late to extend my wishes for all who stop by here to experience the joy of that reality.
He is risen, indeed!
He is risen, indeed!
Saturday, April 07, 2007
"Sewing IS Fashion"
Sewing for your (older) children is SO rewarding...(snort).
I talked to DD at lunchtime yesterday, telling her I'd like her to stop by the house in the evening so I could test fit *my* flannel Burda one-seam pants and have an idea of whether I should size down for her or not, and she told me that she'd been thinking...she had planned to take her (exceedingly ugly, IMHO) basketball shorts as goof-off wear, but there is snow forecast for Iceland next week, so she decided to just use her basketball shorts for sleepwear. End of sleep pants problem, for the moment.
That still left us with her need for a lavender shirt to wear Sunday morning as part of the combined choir. I had cut out and begun assembly of the scoop neck version of Simplicity 4076, but she didn't sound at all optimistic that it would work. So I persuaded her to come home so we could check it; I mean, if it didn't work she was going to have to go shopping today.
Wonder of wonders, she said it 1) fit and 2) was kinda cute. But I could not get her to put it on for a review photo. She argued that she wasn't made up for a photo; that we could get a *good* picture Sunday, when she had the shirt all accessorized and fashionable.
I rather exasperatedly offered that this was a sewing photo, not a fashion photo, so accessories really wouldn't matter. She gave me an equally exasperated look, and uttered words worth quoting, if surprising coming from her..., "Sewing IS fashion!"
So the best I could do was put the top sorta close to her. I don't know if we'll get a good picture of it actually on her Sunday or not; it's going to be a very busy day, and I'll probably give my camera to a non-choir friend (I hope) so we can get some pictures of the costumes in the dramatic bits.
I told her she really needs to let me sew for her more often, so I have a good idea of what size she needs and what adjustments I need to make. She just rolled her eyes....
I talked to DD at lunchtime yesterday, telling her I'd like her to stop by the house in the evening so I could test fit *my* flannel Burda one-seam pants and have an idea of whether I should size down for her or not, and she told me that she'd been thinking...she had planned to take her (exceedingly ugly, IMHO) basketball shorts as goof-off wear, but there is snow forecast for Iceland next week, so she decided to just use her basketball shorts for sleepwear. End of sleep pants problem, for the moment.
That still left us with her need for a lavender shirt to wear Sunday morning as part of the combined choir. I had cut out and begun assembly of the scoop neck version of Simplicity 4076, but she didn't sound at all optimistic that it would work. So I persuaded her to come home so we could check it; I mean, if it didn't work she was going to have to go shopping today.
Wonder of wonders, she said it 1) fit and 2) was kinda cute. But I could not get her to put it on for a review photo. She argued that she wasn't made up for a photo; that we could get a *good* picture Sunday, when she had the shirt all accessorized and fashionable.
I rather exasperatedly offered that this was a sewing photo, not a fashion photo, so accessories really wouldn't matter. She gave me an equally exasperated look, and uttered words worth quoting, if surprising coming from her..., "Sewing IS fashion!"
So the best I could do was put the top sorta close to her. I don't know if we'll get a good picture of it actually on her Sunday or not; it's going to be a very busy day, and I'll probably give my camera to a non-choir friend (I hope) so we can get some pictures of the costumes in the dramatic bits.
I told her she really needs to let me sew for her more often, so I have a good idea of what size she needs and what adjustments I need to make. She just rolled her eyes....
Friday, April 06, 2007
An Aggravating Knit
I got both DD's one-seam sleep pants and my sleep shorts done to the hems; held up DD's and thought, wow, that looks small.
So I took it to drama practice with me last night; she was working on another project for HMC so I was able to get her to try them on.
She said they were too small...so small, she wouldn't even walk out of the bathroom so I could *see* how much too small. I guess I'll hem them later and stick them into the box of clothes that younger DD has inherited from various sources and will grow into someday. Well, I thought, I just underestimated her size. She's not two sizes smaller than me after all.
Then I came home and tried on my shorts...from a pattern I've made several times, which fits fine. Those doggone shorts were, um, pretty snug. I think I can sleep in them, but no way would I wear them anywhere where I'd be *seen*.
Wazzup with that?
Now, the striped jersey was not nice to play with...it curled and twisted, and I had a hard time laying it out so the stripes matched/ran straight. I think I must have stretched it out in trying to get it square and, after it was cut, the fabric relaxed back.
ETA: After thinking it over,suddenly, she remembers...the fabric was just a little too narrow when folded in half for me to place the one-seam pattern in my TNT size on it, so I fudged it in a half inch or so, thinking the stretch in the knit would allow me to cut it slightly smaller. HA!!! WRONG!!!
So maybe it wasn't completely the fabric's fault after all, and in my head I'm hearing the song lyrics,'Stupid, that was stupid...no one could say that that was smart....' :rolleyes:
I think my pj's will end up with something usable, if not as cute as I had thought, and DD's will eventually get worn by her younger sister, but that doesn't solve the problem of getting DD something to take to Iceland. So, today I will pull some plaid flannel from the stash and try again...with a larger pattern. I may just lengthen my size; better a little big and baggy than too snug ;)
So I took it to drama practice with me last night; she was working on another project for HMC so I was able to get her to try them on.
She said they were too small...so small, she wouldn't even walk out of the bathroom so I could *see* how much too small. I guess I'll hem them later and stick them into the box of clothes that younger DD has inherited from various sources and will grow into someday. Well, I thought, I just underestimated her size. She's not two sizes smaller than me after all.
Then I came home and tried on my shorts...from a pattern I've made several times, which fits fine. Those doggone shorts were, um, pretty snug. I think I can sleep in them, but no way would I wear them anywhere where I'd be *seen*.
Wazzup with that?
Now, the striped jersey was not nice to play with...it curled and twisted, and I had a hard time laying it out so the stripes matched/ran straight. I think I must have stretched it out in trying to get it square and, after it was cut, the fabric relaxed back.
ETA: After thinking it over,suddenly, she remembers...the fabric was just a little too narrow when folded in half for me to place the one-seam pattern in my TNT size on it, so I fudged it in a half inch or so, thinking the stretch in the knit would allow me to cut it slightly smaller. HA!!! WRONG!!!
So maybe it wasn't completely the fabric's fault after all, and in my head I'm hearing the song lyrics,'Stupid, that was stupid...no one could say that that was smart....' :rolleyes:
I think my pj's will end up with something usable, if not as cute as I had thought, and DD's will eventually get worn by her younger sister, but that doesn't solve the problem of getting DD something to take to Iceland. So, today I will pull some plaid flannel from the stash and try again...with a larger pattern. I may just lengthen my size; better a little big and baggy than too snug ;)
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Just Keep Sewing
So, I'm rolling the edges of the altar blankets today.
Then I need to start sewing up the cutting I did yesterday; I cut a pair of jersey Burda One-Seams for DD for her sleep pants, and also the scoop neck version of Simplicity 4076 from a lightweight lavender cotton/lycra. When I told DD I'd cut out a lavender top for her, her response was, "I'm not going to lie...I'm afraid." If it fits, it'll be cute, but as she rarely allows me to sew for her I don't have a good feel for what fits her. I cut a ten, and will use 3/8" seam allowances for a bit of ease and lengthened it 2 1/2", but I'm crossing my fingers. Her overwhelming confidence in my ability to actually make something cute is *so* encouraging...(koff koff). Anyway, she needs that stuff really quick, so it'll be first up after the rolled edges.
And, while I was cutting, I went ahead and cut the rest of those two fabrics into garments for my wardrobe: I cut a banded-neckline, cap sleeve version of my TNT Vogue 7799 from the lavender, and I squeezed a much-needed sleep set (NSS shorts and a cropped tank top) from the remnant of the jersey I used for her sleep pants. I still need to cut the floral print skirt; if I can manage to get that cut out, it'll be sewn the moment the last stitch on the stuff for DD is in.
But all deacons are expected to help with the load out of the church/load into the civic center/set up Saturday morning, so things will be ready for the rehearsals in the afternoon...first choir, then drama. And the two younger Dkids are planning to dye eggs sometime this weekend, too.
So I may or may not get the skirt done. But I suppose it's not that big of a deal; I'll only be in street clothes for choir; then the rest of the service will be in costume.
Then I need to start sewing up the cutting I did yesterday; I cut a pair of jersey Burda One-Seams for DD for her sleep pants, and also the scoop neck version of Simplicity 4076 from a lightweight lavender cotton/lycra. When I told DD I'd cut out a lavender top for her, her response was, "I'm not going to lie...I'm afraid." If it fits, it'll be cute, but as she rarely allows me to sew for her I don't have a good feel for what fits her. I cut a ten, and will use 3/8" seam allowances for a bit of ease and lengthened it 2 1/2", but I'm crossing my fingers. Her overwhelming confidence in my ability to actually make something cute is *so* encouraging...(koff koff). Anyway, she needs that stuff really quick, so it'll be first up after the rolled edges.
And, while I was cutting, I went ahead and cut the rest of those two fabrics into garments for my wardrobe: I cut a banded-neckline, cap sleeve version of my TNT Vogue 7799 from the lavender, and I squeezed a much-needed sleep set (NSS shorts and a cropped tank top) from the remnant of the jersey I used for her sleep pants. I still need to cut the floral print skirt; if I can manage to get that cut out, it'll be sewn the moment the last stitch on the stuff for DD is in.
But all deacons are expected to help with the load out of the church/load into the civic center/set up Saturday morning, so things will be ready for the rehearsals in the afternoon...first choir, then drama. And the two younger Dkids are planning to dye eggs sometime this weekend, too.
So I may or may not get the skirt done. But I suppose it's not that big of a deal; I'll only be in street clothes for choir; then the rest of the service will be in costume.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Next Up
I've got the altar blankets distributed; one of the bolts was a bit short of what was labeled on the end (Wally World had just done their inventory and I told the lady I'd believe the end labels...well, one was right and one wasn't) so now I'm trying to decide if I need to get a bit more fabric or not. We were asked to make 26 - 30, and we will have exactly 26, so I guess we're good. I'm going to roll the edges tomorrow and then, hopefully, I'll be done with church sewing for the week.
But...HMC is going to Iceland next week for 10 days of ministry. If I can find out exactly where they'll be, I'll post it...I know I have had at least one person from Reykjavik drop by here from time to time. I know they'll be doing a TV broadcast for Gospel Channel Europe while they're there, but I don't know when it will be aired. (GCE airs our church services at 10:30 pm on Sundays and Wednesdays...but I don't know what time zone the '10:30 pm' is in ;) The Easter productions should be aired in the next couple of weeks or so). But I digress! My point was that she needs some PJ pants really bad, since they will be staying with host families while they're there and her PJ pants are, um, seriously worn. So I spent what time I had yesterday tracing the Burda One-Seams in a size or two smaller and a couple inches longer than I wear and I plan to get her some knit sleep pants made in the next couple of days. Plus, HMC will be joining us for choir again,and this time they are asking them to wear lavender. DS hasn't said anything to me about needing a shirt, but DD has expressed a need for a lavender shirt. So I'm thinking Jalie 2005 in some lavender cotton/lycra that's in the stash...
*Maybe* I'll get my multi-floral-on-black print that I got from Louise at the expo turned into a skirt that I can wear by Sunday...
But...HMC is going to Iceland next week for 10 days of ministry. If I can find out exactly where they'll be, I'll post it...I know I have had at least one person from Reykjavik drop by here from time to time. I know they'll be doing a TV broadcast for Gospel Channel Europe while they're there, but I don't know when it will be aired. (GCE airs our church services at 10:30 pm on Sundays and Wednesdays...but I don't know what time zone the '10:30 pm' is in ;) The Easter productions should be aired in the next couple of weeks or so). But I digress! My point was that she needs some PJ pants really bad, since they will be staying with host families while they're there and her PJ pants are, um, seriously worn. So I spent what time I had yesterday tracing the Burda One-Seams in a size or two smaller and a couple inches longer than I wear and I plan to get her some knit sleep pants made in the next couple of days. Plus, HMC will be joining us for choir again,and this time they are asking them to wear lavender. DS hasn't said anything to me about needing a shirt, but DD has expressed a need for a lavender shirt. So I'm thinking Jalie 2005 in some lavender cotton/lycra that's in the stash...
*Maybe* I'll get my multi-floral-on-black print that I got from Louise at the expo turned into a skirt that I can wear by Sunday...
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
It Was Inevitable...
How many trips have I made to the fabric store since March 12, purchasing *only* stuff for church sewing??? I don't even know...but I do know that each time uses a bit of resistance and willpower, and sooner or later all of it will be used up and...fabric comes home with me. Yesterday it was a crisp fuschia linen-look that was labeled as poly/cotton, but certainly *felt* like it had a bit of linen in it. I got enough for a sheath dress (at 2.95/yd, I didn't feel too bad), but I'm going to wash it well first to see if the crisp goes away with the sizing. If it does, well, I'll do something different.
Add to that the kind of background frustration that builds when I'm looking at fabric and patterns in my sewing room...that I can't sew because I'm sewing other stuff...and the availability of lovely stuff on the computer that I somehow keep looking at (bad, Lisa, bad)...and somehow it turns into 'I've been working so hard, I've earned a pretty piece of (fill in the blank).'
Or maybe three pretty pieces of knits, from Ann at Gorgeous Things. (Should I include the link? Be an enabler? Oh, shoot, why not... Gorgeous Fabric)
On the way to my house now are two yards each of Hot House Flowers Red acetate/lycra knit (orange is required for choir next month...), Fuschia rayon/lycra jersey knit and Stylized Hexagonal Print Jersey. That's a poly/lycra blend, which I normally don't care for, but the print was so pretty that I decided to try it.
So that's a total of 8.5 yards that will be taking up residence in the stash, which will bump me up over parity...unless I sew something quick.
Maybe I'll indulge that urge to cut and sew for me whilst I'm finishing up those altar blankets...can't let myself fall behind parity, right? ;)
Add to that the kind of background frustration that builds when I'm looking at fabric and patterns in my sewing room...that I can't sew because I'm sewing other stuff...and the availability of lovely stuff on the computer that I somehow keep looking at (bad, Lisa, bad)...and somehow it turns into 'I've been working so hard, I've earned a pretty piece of (fill in the blank).'
Or maybe three pretty pieces of knits, from Ann at Gorgeous Things. (Should I include the link? Be an enabler? Oh, shoot, why not... Gorgeous Fabric)
On the way to my house now are two yards each of Hot House Flowers Red acetate/lycra knit (orange is required for choir next month...), Fuschia rayon/lycra jersey knit and Stylized Hexagonal Print Jersey. That's a poly/lycra blend, which I normally don't care for, but the print was so pretty that I decided to try it.
So that's a total of 8.5 yards that will be taking up residence in the stash, which will bump me up over parity...unless I sew something quick.
Maybe I'll indulge that urge to cut and sew for me whilst I'm finishing up those altar blankets...can't let myself fall behind parity, right? ;)
Monday, April 02, 2007
The next hot project....
I think I've mentioned this before, but, being a Pentecostal-charismatic sort of congregation, there are times when people fall down in services...usually at the altar, when they are receiving personal ministry . (I'm not wandering off into the theological implications or whether or not it's a good thing; but it's a fact that it happens). So, we use small blanket-type things to cover these folks until they feel like they can get up. And, sometimes folks(guys and gals) come up and kneel, not realizing that the garments they're wearing become a little more revealing in the back side when they kneel and lean forward. So the blankets get used there, too.
Ok...so we have a need for blankets. And do you know, we apparently have an altar blanket black hole alongside the costume black hole...I've no idea how many of these things I've done (my guess is somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty) in the past five years, but once again they can't find more than just a handful. So, in the interest of being prepared for whatever might happen in our special Easter service, we've been asked to make 26 - 30 more this week.
These aren't difficult...45 or 54 inch fabric, ripped to 45 inch lengths and serger rolled along the raw edges. But they do take *some* time, and doing 30 would be a substantial effort. So I've sent the word out to the sewing ladies; I'm hoping I'll get three serger-owner/operators who'll volunteer to do a few; if 4 of us work on them, that would only be 8 - 10 apiece, which is one afternoon or a couple of evening's worth or work.
And, I still need to go out in search of another 8 or so packages of 1/4" eyelets to finish out the rest of the soldier costumes, so it shouldn't be impossible to find some appropriate fabric (I need about 36 total yards, but it doesn't all have to be the same).
So...the sewing of the Expo fabric will get postponed just a little longer...
Ok...so we have a need for blankets. And do you know, we apparently have an altar blanket black hole alongside the costume black hole...I've no idea how many of these things I've done (my guess is somewhere in the neighborhood of fifty) in the past five years, but once again they can't find more than just a handful. So, in the interest of being prepared for whatever might happen in our special Easter service, we've been asked to make 26 - 30 more this week.
These aren't difficult...45 or 54 inch fabric, ripped to 45 inch lengths and serger rolled along the raw edges. But they do take *some* time, and doing 30 would be a substantial effort. So I've sent the word out to the sewing ladies; I'm hoping I'll get three serger-owner/operators who'll volunteer to do a few; if 4 of us work on them, that would only be 8 - 10 apiece, which is one afternoon or a couple of evening's worth or work.
And, I still need to go out in search of another 8 or so packages of 1/4" eyelets to finish out the rest of the soldier costumes, so it shouldn't be impossible to find some appropriate fabric (I need about 36 total yards, but it doesn't all have to be the same).
So...the sewing of the Expo fabric will get postponed just a little longer...
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Palm Sunday
Yesssss!!!! Everyone was onstage, in costume, at the appropriate time! And, judging by the comments I heard, it was a good presentation.
I gave my digi camera to a friend to take some photos of the event...but the camera got stuck in 'review' mode and she wasn't able to get any.
I do have one photo that I snapped of the back hall in between services. It's not very informative, but you can see the rack with the soldier costumes in the foreground:
Next Sunday we will be having one service at the civic center; dunno if I'll manage to get photos there or not. We'll see.
And we have another 'hot project' to do this week...but I'm NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT until tomorrow ;)
I gave my digi camera to a friend to take some photos of the event...but the camera got stuck in 'review' mode and she wasn't able to get any.
I do have one photo that I snapped of the back hall in between services. It's not very informative, but you can see the rack with the soldier costumes in the foreground:
Next Sunday we will be having one service at the civic center; dunno if I'll manage to get photos there or not. We'll see.
And we have another 'hot project' to do this week...but I'm NOT THINKING ABOUT THAT until tomorrow ;)
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