I've been tagged

(Quick,Lisa, answer the poll while you can say 'yes!' to question 6)
Angie tagged me, so now I've got to answer the following 10 questions that I'm sure everyone in the blogsphere is dying to know my answers to. Then tag some other folks.

I'll answer the questions, but last time I played tag it didn't work so well, and this *has* been going around for a few days, so I'll just tag anyone who reads this and who needs material for their next blog post... ;)

1. What kind of Seam Ripper do you use?
Oh, I NEVER need a Seam ripper!

(chortle. sputter. snort. ROTFLOL...) Ok, I'll 'fess up. I usually use a heavy straight pin and unpick the stitches. Really. But on those occasions when a seam ripper is unavoidable, and assuming I can find one, I use one of my surgical-scalpels-with-a-handle that are now sold as seam rippers. You could also use them to cut pigs, if necessary, but I won't go there (any other Midwest hog-farmer's daughter will understand what I'm talking about).

2. What do you use to snip threads at the sewing machine?

Why, the thread cutter doohickie on the back of the sewing machine head, of course! At least I can always find it.

3. What do you use to cut out patterns/fabric?

Patterns...any pair of sewing shears will do. I've got 4 pairs, ranging from the 'cut the vinyl with these' black-handled Mundial's to the 'I will cut off your hand if you touch these' Kai shears I purchased at the most recent Atlanta Expo. Fabric...well, I have an Ergo cutter that I love, but I dropped it and stepped on it and broke it about 6 weeks ago. It still works...sort of.... A replacement is on my Must Purchase list at the Atlanta Expo next year. Unless I find one before then.

4. Do you stash zippers?

Um, sort of. I've got a few that I purchased for projects that got, um, derailed, but my Big Batch of Zippers is actually part of a UFO...someday I'll go into details on that, but not right now. (ah, the suspense...)

5. Which takes up more space in your stash...knits or wovens?

Definitely wovens. Good knits are too hard to find and I tend to make them up very quickly.

6. Are you wearing anything that you made today?

Oh, I hit the jackpot here! I'm wearing the Meh! Denim skirt and a black-and-white rayon sleevless, cowl-less Cowl Top. Being Sunday, earlier today I also was wearing the Surprise Denim Jacket. I'd even made the necklace I was wearing...strung black glass beads. (It's 'black and white w/denim' for church choir this month... ;) ).

7. Does anyone else in your family currently sew?

Um, I'm working on that.

8. What is the last $$$ sewing-related (non-fabric) item that you bought?

I guess that would be the books/notions I picked up at the Atlanta Expo in March.

9. Cutting out, pressing, hemming. Which do you like the LEAST?

Hemming. Definitely hemming. There's lots of positive creative energy going into cutting out, and pressing is done just a little at a time, but hemming is the last grunt up the hill, when I'm tired of this and just want it DONE!

10. Do you have any non-chain garment fabric stores in your area?
Well, I've heard rumors of one or two that I've not been able to verify...I don't suppose Sew Sassy counts, because that's mostly lingerie-sewing needs. Sir's is a fabric outlet that's about 45 miles away; usually worth the trip. And there're some Very Nice fabric stores in Nashville (see yesterday's post... ;) )

Ok...there's my ten. Anyone who's left to answer...feel free! ;)

Road Trip Report

Well, Miss D (a newbie to our church sewing team) and I went up to Nashville today to catch the tail end of Textile Fabrics annual 50% off sale. Was it ever a delightful day!

We left really early, and got into town just a bit after nine. First on the program was "Find Muna Couture". It was just a bit of a tricky assignment...Muna Couture is on the SECOND story of a little strip shopping center. But we only drove by once; spotted it on the second pass. What a charming shop! I'd love to go just hang out for a day and watch a master couturier in action. Muna had photos all over the place of pictures her clients have taken of the garments she made for them...is that devotion or what? And...oh, my, the fabrics!!! TO DIE FOR!! Silks and rayons like I have never seen anywhere...even on the Internet! But we caught it at a fortuitious moment; all her cotton fabrics were 50% off. Even so, I had to stretch the budget to get the one piece I'd promised myself I'd get, but it will be a classic and I'm pleased with it. It's the brown embroidered denim eyelet...yes, the same fabric that was available in a popular newsletter/swatch service last year. Muna's price was a little higher, but I consoled myself with the fact that it sold out quickly last year and I didn't have to pay shipping... ;) If I ever need to create a garment from some truly wonderful high-end fabric, I know where to go now to find said fabric. Anyway...it'll be a jacket...but I've got to decide which one.

Then we went on to Textile Fabrics, which really was not too far away. I know Miss D had a HUGE pile of stuff she carried up to the counter...mostly batiste and ginghams, I think. She's embarking on a home sewing business, doing heirloom things for children, and so she got stuff for that. Me, selfish fabric oinker that I am, got fabric for my own closet. First, the necessaries...lining for the trench coat. While I was at the lining rack, I saw Ambiance that, at 50 % off, was $4.50. I wish I'd taken a list of colors I could use! I got two pieces that I *know* I have an immediate use for. Then, the fun stuff...a piece of purple wool crepe (75% off) and a piece of printed rayon/linen, also 75% off (they were in the clearance room). And...the piece of fabric I couldn't leave in the store...a gorgeriffic piece of royal blue, grey and white striped silk duppioni. Oh, is it beautiful! and it's my absolute favorite color in the whole world...the photo doesn't do it justice:




While at Textile Fabrics, Sarah, who posts as Redhead on PR and Stitcher's Guild, dropped by and shopped with us and joined us for lunch. We had a grand time getting acquainted for real!

Then, Miss D and I ventured over to Jo Ann's; I wanted to look at Burda patterns (I got 3) and, as the Buttericks were on sale, I got a couple of those, too.

As I said, we had a delightful day!

The Simple Top that Ain't

So I thought I'd pull out one of my 'simple' projects that have been recently added to the 'make it now' pile...when at Sir's in May, I picked up a nice piece of rayon lace for a ridiculously cheap price...I think it was like 2.14/yd, tax included. And I had some nice shiny rayon cross-dyed faille that matched it exactly. So I might as well go ahead and get my intended simple City Dress Shell (a modification of the bodice of the Loes Hinse City Dress) cut out and stitched up, no?

Well...I cut the front and back (only pattern pieces) from the rayon underlining, then centered those pieces on the lace yardage and basted vertically through the centers and around all the edges, then cut the lace larger than the rayon. I'm already intending to do massive amounts of hand-sewing, tacking down all the edges, so I want to leave lots of seam allowance on the lace. It looked good, laying on the table.

But, when I picked it up, I noticed a severe case of the 'honeycomb effect' (So named because of a skirt we made for our first Scrooge production, from a honeycomb-netted lace. It worked fine the first year, but over the months in between, the hanging weight of the skirt caused the honeycombs to collapse vertically...that is, they got longer and skinner. That skirt grew EIGHT INCHES! So...now, the 'honeycomb effect' is my phrase describing what happens when a fabric with gaps woven or knitted in changes shape under the effects of gravity). In the case of my top, when I picked the front (all nicely basted around the edges) up, the lace collapsed and I had extreme puddling going on just above the basting on the bottom edge.

So the top pieces went very quickly back to a horizontal position on the table, and now I'm basting chevrons out from the center to the edges. I'll have to stitch the two layers together (that's why I had to go get some grey thread yesterday...didn't have an Exact Match in the house). There's a nice vertical line I could use to baste, but I really think the diagonal will hold it better...if I can stitch it and keep everything dead flat.

Once the two layers are secured together, construction is a snap...but I'll have a sizeable amount of hand sewing to do to get the finish work done.

It's a lot of work for a $4 top, but it'll look like a million bucks when I'm done...if I can keep it all square.

Simple it ain't. ;)

If You Keep a Pattern Long Enough...

...the Right Fabric will show up. And, maybe, it'll even be on sale.

Remember last week, when I was so proud of myself for leaving Hancock's w/only one zipper? Well, I did peek around a bit and found a nice piece of grey B. Black wool gab on the clearance table. However, the marking was ambiguous and I couldn't tell what the discount was. I figured it was probably at least 50%, but, without a definite price I passed it by.

After I got home, somebody's post on one of the sites reminded me that I had Simplicity 4084, a trench coat pattern, in my stash waiting for an appropriate fabric.

Duh. You can't get much more appropriate than wool gab. So, today when I had to run in for some light grey thread (more on that another day), I picked up 4 yards of the wool...at 80% off. Wow. So the wool cost, like, 3.45/yard, including tax. And the buttons were 30% off, too, so I found some really lovely buttons to go on it.

Now all I need is lining...and time... ;)

My Birthday Present

Well, actually this represents our birthday and anniversary presents to each other for this year.

Can you believe this is the FIRST brand-new bicycle I've ever owned? We got Schwinn Skyliners...got our inaugural run night before last, down the greenway to the Tennessee River.

I'd forgotten how much fun riding a bike can be.

We should've done that years ago...

*Just for the curious...I still haven't cashed in my 'three days of uninterrupted sewing' certificate that was my birthday present LAST year. :rolleyes:

Another Birthday...

The Birthday Girl wearing the 'party hat' provided by her older sister, to be worn all day. I believe I am to make 'dirt-cake style' Mississippi Mud cake, which is a standard Mississippi Mud cake w/crushed chocolate wafers and gummy worms on top. At least she didn't want a kitty litter cake. I don't care how it tastes...I don't think I could eat that!

11 years have gone by really fast.

Denim Skirt....Meh...

There's a reason most of my skirts and pants have elastic waists... my waistline changes shape without notice, which renders a truly accurate measurement a thing of dreams. I haven't figured it out, but I suspect it has something to do with hormones (that's SUCH a wonderful thing about being in the late 40's...hormones can be blamed for almost anything...).

Anyway, my great fear was that the denim skirt would be too small. Holding it up during the construction process, it looked really questionable. When I tried it on, before I added the topstitching to the sideseams and put on the facing, I was just relieved that it was going to zip. Yeah, it felt a little loose, but I was afraid to overfit, still needing to add the denim (and hence rather bulky) facings and wanting the OPTION of tucking in a top. So I trusted my measurements and didn't change anything.

And it sits about an inch below my waistline, being too big to stay up, even with the facings and a tucked-in (albeit very thin) shirt. So yeah, it's long...pulled up at my waist, it *is* about the same length as shown on the envelope. Actually, I think it's only too big in the back; when I grab the back and snug it up, the sideseams still look to be fairly centered on the side.

I'm *not* going to rip out the topstitching to try to fix this skirt; it's denim, I can get away with wearing it a little low. It's wearable...just not wonderful. And if I lose any weight (a girl can hope, right?) it'll have to hit the 'donate' pile. But...it's a good 'wearable muslin' for the time being (the denim was cheap and has been in the stash for at LEAST 10 years) and I will be altering it if/when I make it out of something nice.

I posted the review with all my thoughts on this more or less consolidated ;).

I just wish there was some way to make a faced waistband, um, adjustable... ;)

The Skit that Almost Wasn't

Our 40's detective skit finally made it onstage today...after much rescheduling and shuffling. One of the castmembers was playing bass guitar during worship when this picture was snapped, just a little before we went on, but that's our Detective, a couple of clients, and his 'faithful secretary Trixie', which would be me. The fake furry thing on one of the 'clients' is just a piece of faux fur, cut in the rough shape of a fox pelt. I'm really glad we got to do it...I'd stabbed myself in the thumb really well cutting that and I'd've been sorry to have bled for nothing ;).

But the skit went well...actually, it was one of the most fun things we've done. Talk is that this could become a series.

I need a black-and-white polka dot rayon for the next one ;)

Denim Skirt Progress

It's done enough to try on...and it fits fairly well. It's LONG, though, the Petite adjustments notwithstanding. Unhemmed, it very nearly brushes the top of my feet. I guess it will look good w/boots in the fall, though!

However, my pocket draft leaves much to be desired. Oh, they'll hold a kleenex, which is really all I need, but the angle's all wrong to park my hands there comfortably. I'll have to redraft that if/when I make the skirt again. I definitely learned something about drafting pockets...the marked line would've been a much better pocket! Next time....


Really, all that's left on the skirt is the waist facing and the hem. So I should finish this weekend!

A Shopping Day

The only sewing related thing I have to report from yesterday is that I stopped by Hancock's and picked up a zipper for the denim skirt (wasn't sure I had one, and, well, I was driving right by). And that's all I got there. Really. One zipper. I'm holding off till we go to Nashville next week.

Mostly I was birthday shopping for DD (her birthday's next Tuesday), but I did pick up some things for me...I don't remember the last time I actually bought clothes for myself, but I got a pair of blue jeans and a brown cotton rib-knit short sleeved sweater. The blue jeans were necessary; the sweater was a bit of a splurge, but it was on sale and a good basic.

I also picked up a copy of The Lucky Shopping Guide. Not as cheap as I could've gotten it from Amazon, I'm afraid, but I was at the bookstore, so...

I'd picked it up on several previous occasions and put it back, but this time I decided (maybe the recent birthday had something to do with it) that I could use some guidance on wardrobe building. I've just kind of flipped through it so far; I don't know how much it's going to help me by telling me what to do, although I do think it's going to be a help in looking at my current wardrobe with fresh eyes. I'm amazed at the numbers of (totally foot-torture-appearing) shoes are recommended; and some of the advice just won't work for me, such as the following thoughts on swimsuite style: ...too much modesty can work against you. Full coverage can make your butt look bigger -- even matronly. Revealing a bit of cheek is more flattering. Can I offer up that whether or not that is flattering depends on the appearance of the cheek? For someone in her 20's or well-maintained 30's, that may be the case, but, well, I'm 48. I'll keep mine covered, thank you very much. ;)

Workin' on the Denim Skirt

I did some sewing yesterday (after 9 days away from the sewing room, I was due!); worked on my pink print top, since I could sew it up with the cream thread left in the serger from the green linen skirt. It's done to the handsewing, which I'll do when I next get the urge to watch a movie with the kids. Next up was the denim skirt.

It's from Vogue 2872, an Anne Klein pattern that's gotten some bad press because the folks at Vogue elected to photograph it in black...which shows none of the details of the pattern and looks something like a Mission Worker's Uniform. And, of course, denim is NOT listed as a recommended fabric on the back of the pattern.

But I thought the skirt would look great made up in denim; and I thought that yoke detail on the pocket could be very cleverly morphed into pockets.
So I sharpened my drafting pencil and pulled out the tissue and went to work, using the original yoke pattern as my basis.




It really wasn't too hard to draft; the only tough spot was trimming out that uber sharp corner so that I could turn my facing (a soft microfiber twill) cleanly.


Oh, I guess the topstitching is a little tricky; I'm doing it with the bulky jeans thread in the bobbin, so I'm doing it from the wrong side with my virtual fingers crossed. So far, so good. ;)

Kudos to My Parents

For being a great Mom and Dad for exactly 48 years today... ;)

Skirts for Nieces

They liked them and they fit! DD is also in the photo, with the improvised tiered skirt I did from a straight Kwik Sew pattern. I really think I like the McCall's pattern better than my draft...it's a little fuller; more 'twirly'. Anyway, I expect to make more of these!

Here's the review if you're interested! Oh, even though I just purchased this pattern at Hancock's last month, the McCall's website lists it as 'Out of Print'; just thought I'd pass that along....

Home Again, Home again, Jiggety Jig Jig

Ah...my own bed, my own shower, my own computer with all my bookmarks and logins...

It's good to be home.

Got a couple of photos I'll share tomorrow, but thought I'd at least check in! I missed posting...but foreign computers and I don't get along. I did get to read some of my sewing buddies' blogs, but couldn't comment for some reason...

Finally, I got to step foot inside of Baer Fabrics after driving past it for years and years! Unfortunately, I only had a scant hour or so to spend, and I never even made it to the third floor (home dec), but I did get a nice piece of be-yoo-tiffle red rayon/linen that will be a long-awaited red dress. Not sure which pattern I'll use; I've got a couple of possibilities right now. I want to get some of my queued-up sewing done; I'll mull over the options while I sew on the denim skirt that's Next Up. I also picked up a remnant of what appears to be RPL mini-houndstooth suiting that I'm going to use as a muslin for the Hot Patterns Razor Sharp Pants. The fabric was $3.50/lb...isn't that a clever way to price remnants? My piece appears to be 2 yards of 60" wide fabric...it weighed in at exactly one pound, so that was about $1.75/yd. I should be able to get the RS Pants just fine, and if it fits well, they'll be, um, sharp pants. ;) The third piece was a chunk of nice black bridal satin (Sounds like a contradiction in terms, doesn't it?) that I'm going to use to replace the lining in my 20-year-old winter coat. I don't want to spend the time doing it, but, since I can't find a coat ANYTHING like that one and I'm tired of putting my arm between the sleeve and the sleeve lining, I'm going to bite the bullet and give it a whirl. But that's notions and it doesn't count against the stash (that's my story and I'm sticking to it).

So I didn't fall TOO far off the 'sew the stash!' wagon... ;)

Off to Hoosierland!

Um, is it possible to travel while in the doghouse?

Oh, about Friday, I got the urge to make another summer skirt. I wanted a cool, elastic waist, easy-to-wear skirt to take on the trip. Y'know...something that would be quickly made Saturday afternoon...

Uh-oh.

Well, I grabbed the green linen that has been sitting around looking at me accusingly since it arrived from Michael in mid-April and some yucky coarse transparent white cotton something to use as a lining and an (gulp) untried Vogue pattern.

Everything was going along swimmingly until I tried on...or, tried to try on... the skirt yoke.

It wouldn't fit. Further investigation revealed that the pattern was drafted for, um, stretch knits only. (The *Pattern illustration* didn't LOOK like knit fabric...). Anyway, you can read the whole story...or at least the highlights of it... in the review. I'd added enough to the pattern to adjust the size to fit at the hips, assuming that, for a pull-on skirt, that would also take care of the waist (no finished measurement available there). That'd work for a woven...not so much for a negative-ease knit pattern. And that was just the first of several goofs, missteps and blunders I made.

Anyway, my theme song for the weekend was 'Rip a little, sew a little, Rip a little, sew a little, PICK PICK PICK Rip a lot sew a little more...'

All the while, I was SUPPOSED to be getting things for us and the two younger DKids organized and in suitcases for the trip north.


Well, in the long run, the skirt turned out well and is in the suitcase.

But the packing's only about half done, and My Sweet Baboo wants to leave at 8 AM. I am feeling some definite grumbly vibes here.

I didn't know it was going to take so long to make a simple little skirt...there is a Sewing Twilight Zone, and I wandered there-in for a bit. Now, I don't have done what should've been done and, well, I'm setting the alarm for early in the morning.

Oops.

anyway, we are bravely leaving DS in charge of the mail, the paper, the lawn, the recycling/trash and the house for a week.

I'll catch up sometime around the 10th...

Have a safe and happy Independence Day, everyone!

Yesterday's sewing

The great thing about a sewing queue is that, although it may seem like there's a long time when nothing gets done, suddenly, things get finished.


I finished the Batik City Dress yesterday; I actually purchased the fabric to make this dress two years ago, and, although I was tempted, did not change my mind! I know this is not an on-trend design at this moment in the fashion world, but it's a comfy summer dress and I'll wear it a lot.

I also finished the skirts for my nieces. Without going into details, I'll just say that life has thrown them a serious curve ball and they're growing up in a difficult situation that really is nobody's fault. But my mother, who seems to be the one who sort of oversees their wardrobes, has lamented that it's difficult to find age-appropriate clothing for them, and, while neither one wear skirts or dresses very much, there are times when something a little dressy is in order. They're a year apart in age, but virtually the same size...a little bigger than DD. At first, I thought I'd use the KS pattern I modified for DD's black/turquoise skirt, but quailed when I realized I'd have to trace a larger size and redraft the flounces. Hancock's pattern sales to the rescue...I picked up McCall's 5134 for a dollar, and found that the measurements Mom sent were spot on size 12. So I just traced off the skirt in a size 12 and made two w/no alterations (well, I left off the bling) from a couple of the mod knits I picked up at Sir's last month. I'll *try* and get photos of them on the girls when we're up north next weekend...it will be interesting to see how this long-distance sewing works out.


DD, however, was most intrigued w/the scraps. No sewing here...just some creative fun. But I have been informed that 'It's time for you to give me another sewing lesson, Mom!'

Hm. I guess so. ;)

Photo Woes...part umpteen...

I logged onto Yahoo photos yesterday and discovered that they were encouraging folks to move the photos...so I clicked on the little box and moved everything to Flickr. Flickr was most appreciative and gave me the three months pro account, which is good, so I've got a little time to do the housekeeping that will be necessary as I don't intend to pay for that account unless it hits the point where I just have too.

But, of course, it broke over a year's worth of photo links to my reviews, which I need to go back now and correct. It probably wasn't a good idea to do it just before we leave town for vacation, but, oh well. I'll try to work on it a little at a time, starting with the most recent and working my way backwards. Then, hopefully I'll meet myself somewhere in the middle, where I'm still working from oldest forward to replace all the broken links from Photoworks upgrade a couple of years ago.

And I'll cross my fingers that, once it's finished, no one will dump the links on me again... ;)

Gotta Sew...

No, I'm not done with any of the household stuff, but I'm planning to 1) finish the City Dress and 2) cut out a couple of skirts for my nieces...maybe even get them largely sewn ...today.

Partly because I want to take the skirts with us when we head to Indiana next week, and partly, because, well, if I don't get a stitch sewn in something soon I'll start getting very grumpy.

So I gotta work it in amongst the backlogged housework somehow...

Random Diversion 2

Still working on the house; thought I'd dig up another one of my 'literary efforts' to share. I wrote this in 2000...it's very similar to the first one I shared; giving my take on a Biblical character who is frequently, I think, misunderstood and maligned. Anyway, for those of you who have time for a cup of coffee, here's...something different:

Dear CJ,
We found the following diary or journal on the third week of the dig. Bronswell and I both believe it to be significant, if not authentic. It was inscribed on clay tablets, with bits of decomposed papyri lying about that it seems to have been copied from, or perhaps was being copied to. The translation was done by Tim Norbert—he said he made an idiomatic translation rather than word-for-word, to try and catch the flavor of the manuscript; I hope you find it as interesting as I did. Read it over and let me know what you think.
Yours, Bettina

2 Ziv -- J. conducting business with Bildad. Last of the sacrificial sheep slaughtered; J. to go day after tomorrow to select next batch. Bebai very excited to have permission to join his siblings in Adin’s feast tomorrow. Have been invited, but J. needs to finish business and I have beginnings of a head cold and need to see to the bread baking. Think we’ll stay home. Weather hot for this time of year.

3 Ziv -- O horrible day! Such a day should not be! Must make the effort to tell this; no one will believe the catastrophes that have befallen us today...Saw Bebai safely off with Uthai to Adin’s and began baking bread. After noon meal, Bildad and J. completed business and B. left, then the news began. First, it was Shimei, terrified and bleeding, who burst into the house and announced that the Sabeans had attacked while they were doing the plowing and had stolen all the oxen and the donkeys grazing in the next field. His coworkers were slaughtered. He was wounded but managed to come home to tell the news. Just as he was saying, “I alone have escaped” -- unbelievably, we would hear those same words three more times -- Ahimaz came in crying “Master! Master!” He was near hysterics and it was all we could do to calm him enough to hear his tale. He said that fire of God (I have never heard of such a thing) fell from heaven on the pasture where the sheep were grazing, and the sheep and the rest of the shepherds perished. “I alone have escaped” he said with a sob, but before the words were out of his mouth, Jalam staggered into the room bleeding even worse than Shimei and fell on the ground. At length he managed to tell us that three bands of Chaldeans had attacked the camel caravans and slaughtered all the servants and stolen the camels and the goods they were carrying. As he was gasping “I alone have escaped,” Elizear came in with his garments torn and ashes on his head, grieving, with the worst news of all. “Oh, my Master and Mistress! Great distress has fallen upon your house! As your children were all feasting with Adin, an incredible wind blew hard and,” he gulped here and began to weep anew, “ The house fell with all the children inside. I was in the yard, and I saw it all. Everyone died. I alone have escaped.” Then he wailed, “Oh, my Master and Mistress! It is an evil day!” J. and I sat still for a time as he wailed, then J. stood up, tore his robe and fell face down on the ground. He was weeping as he said “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked will I go out of the world. The Lord has given and the Lord has taken away -- blessed be the name of the Lord!” I have wept and wailed all day, but it will not bring my children back to me. I don’t understand why God should decide to destroy all we have or hold dear. J. is no help. He shakes his head when I ask him “Why?” and says we should be grateful for what we have had and enjoyed. He has gone with half of the household servants to excavate Adin’s house to collect the bodies -- Ah, God, my children! -- so that we may have a proper burial for them. Ahimaz has taken the rest of the servants to bury what bodies of the servants they can find; I have been tending Shimei and Jalam; S. will probably mend well enough, I’m not so sure about Jalam. Not one of our neighbors has come to sit and grieve with us.

4 Ziv--The men worked by torchlight last night and managed to recover all of the bodies of the children. I worked today to wrap them with the burial spices. A more horrible thing I have never had to do. They were all so mangled and broken. The maids helped, or I could not have done it. None of the neighbors have come by. Zilpha says that the gossip at the well is that we are under a curse and they are all afraid of angering God by showing mercy to a house he has condemned. Angering God! If anything we have done has angered God, then all of humanity should have been wiped from the face of the earth long ago. I know my husband and my children -- there is nothing that should have resulted in this kind of judgment. I would like to know why. Just one question -- WHY??? We lay the children in the burial tomb tomorrow. May God give us strength to do it, especially as he has left us with little else. Shimei some better today, Jalam feverish.

5 Ziv--J. and I and the servants laid the children in the tomb; the professional mourners would not even come to our aid. Even two of the house servants begged to be released today for fear the curse will extend to them. J. says that we are nearly penniless now and may have to sell some of the ground to get ourselves back on our feet and pay the creditors for the goods the camels were carrying, along with the wages for the hired servants. I do not feel we need so many servants with so little to care for, but perhaps he is right. He says there is still more to life ahead of us and that God is faithful and we will be restored. I do not know why God would strike such a blow if he intended to restore it all to us. I cannot conceive of going on with life as it is. What is there to live for? Our friends have abandoned us, the servants are nervous and the God we have served so faithfully has proven himself either unfaithful or uninterested. The children are all gone...why bother? I fear Jalam dying as well.

(here a piece of the tablet was broken and some of the words are missing)

...at noon today. We wrapped him in the cloths and gave him to his people, who hissed at us. I wept after they left, but J. scolded me and said we should be willing to let God have that which he had only lent to us. What glory does his God get if we are bereft of everything and our name is only a hissing in the street? J. went to the city gate to sell a piece of ground, but no one would buy it, calling it cursed. We have had to dismiss as many of the servants as could find a place to go, which was nearly all of them. Only old Ammihud and his wife Keturah are left to us. J. has no animals from which to choose a sacrifice, but he had the weekly worship today anyway, calling on God and thanking him for his blessings to us. I left. If we have had God’s blessing, I think I would rather be cursed.

9 Ziv--Oh, God, what has your servant done that you inflict him so? J. began to break out in boils today and the townspeople drove him out, saying he would bring calamity on them as well. He has gone out to the garbage pile to sit and mourn, scraping the boils when they pain him too much. I went to the well for water today and was nearly driven off. I have decided to go at an odd hour from now on. I sit and weep for hours at a time. Only Keturah speaks to me with any sympathy. It’s as if we were suddenly a household of lepers. I see no future for us.
What shall I do if he dies? Oh, that I could die myself and be done with it! Life is evil, evil!

10 Ziv--This is a living nightmare. I took some pottage to J. at the garbage pile; he is boils from head to toe and looks absolutely miserable. His face is swollen and he is scarcely recognizable. It broke my heart to see him so, and I couldn’t believe his God is allowing such a faithful servant to suffer so. “Why?” I said, “Why? Why? Why?” J. said God must have his reasons, which made me absolutely furious. There just can be no reason for this.
“How can you say that?” I demanded, “Where has it gotten you? Sitting in a dung heap covered with boils! Curse God and die! Give it up! Then I can lie down and die, too, and be done with this whole mess.” I don’t remember what else I said, but J. got really angry with me. “Watch your tongue, woman!” he scolded, “You’re talking like an idiotic pagan woman. Listen to me...we will not accept just good from God, but also whatever adversity he sends our way. Do you understand me?” I think his illness must have addled his brain. I wish I understood why all of this is happening...

11 Ziv--J. even worse than yesterday; blisters in his mouth making it difficult to eat. What is the use of anything?

12 Ziv--Weather turning very hot and humid. J. still miserable.

13 Ziv--Hot. Bildad, Eliphaz and Zophar came from their cities, having just heard of our misfortune. They brought Elihu with them and have all joined J. at the garbage heap, weeping and wailing and throwing dust on themselves. At least someone cares enough about us to come and mourn.

14 Ziv--Still hot. Bildad and friends still with J., nobody is speaking...or eating much, either. I’ve made two trips to the well today; I think they will need plenty of water, sitting out in the sun like that. It’s such a difference from the hospitality we offered them the last time any of them were here.

15 Ziv--Heat merciless. No change in anything.

16 Ziv--No relief in (it looks like water has been dripping on the tablet; the rest of the words on this tablet are obliterated)

19 Ziv--There must be some break in the weather soon. Thunderheads have sprung up around us again today, but there has been no rain. The men at the garbage pile are nearly ill from the heat. Still, no one is speaking. I wonder how much longer this is going to last...

20 Ziv--Well, the silence is broken. When I took the men their water at noon, they were engaged in a heated discussion. Seems they are trying to convince J. to confess the secret sin he must have hidden from everyone but God. So they, too, think that all this has been some sort of deserved punishment. Even now, I can hear them all yelling at each other out there. Thunder still in the distance; heat still oppressive.

21 Ziv--Incredible things happened today. Began with continued heat. Elihu was speaking when I took the water at midmorning; shortly after noon, a tremendous storm broke. Neither I nor the servants have ever seen anything like it. It went on forever with thunder that seemed about to shake the house apart. We cowered in a corner and wondered how the men at the garbage heap were withstanding the storm. To our surprise, after the storm they all came in smiling and amazed. They said God had spoken out of a whirlwind of the storm and said that Job had done what was right, and had commanded the others to bring him seven bulls and seven rams so that J. could make sacrifices and pray for them. Job washed himself -- the boils are much better -- while the others went to the town to buy animals for sacrifice. Just before evening Job called us all out for the sacrifices and we had quite a worship service. People from the town came out and sat with us: at least the testimony of Job’s friends seems to have put us back in favor with the townsfolk. While the sacrifices were being made, all of J.’s brothers and sisters arrived, bringing bread and other food. We had a feast of sorts with all the guests, and everyone mourned with us and consoled us for the evil things that had happened. Then, when everyone left, each household left us a gold ring and a piece of silver. Job retired this evening making plans of how to invest the small fortune we now have. I do not claim to understand God, but it looks like things are turning around. I don’t think I will ever again take my blessings for granted.

(Here the clay tablets end…the remaining fragments were too fine to reassemble.. However, according to Job 42:12, we must suppose that Job did quite well investing his ‘small fortune.’)

Mind the House

Ok, when I start dreaming about cleaning house it's time to hit 'PAUSE' on the sewing machine and resurrect my housewifely skills...or at least try. So I'll likely not get much sewing done today. I've got SERIOUS budget catching up to do... we're switching to a new accounting program and it's backlogged from, um, January. But I think My Sweet Baboo finally got the last kink out of the transfer last night and now all I have to do is back balance Jan and Feb, then spend a couple of days entering the next 4 months. Not fun, but it'll be SO NICE to actually know what's what in the budget. After Feb is balanced out, I can drop the old system and just go with the new one, so it'll go a little faster. Once it's Caught Up, a little weekly maintenance should keep it it good shape.

Meantime, I've got bathroom cleaner working away in the master bathroom and laundry inching its way through the machines.

And an orthodontist appt. for the two younger dkids in the middle of the day.

But, if I'm a good girl and work hard, I *may* let myself sew a bit this evening while My Sweet Baboo is working with the Urban Rangers at church. I'm finally working on the Batik Butik rayon I got from Timmel Fabrics about 2 years ago. It's going to be the Loes Hinse City Dress. I figured I'd just do that one next, since the fabric has a black background and there was black thread in the serger... ;) Anyway, all I have left to do on the bodice is hem the second sleeve, then I'm ready to start on the skirt. It really won't take long to finish it up; Loes' patterns are pretty quick to make.

The Eyelet's in the Closet!

I think I like these! I really had my doubts when the skirt was going together, but it really does hang and move nicely when I'm walking...it'll definitely get worn! It's going to be a good 'warm weather' choir skirt.

I like the little jacket too; I *won't* be wearing it w/a white tank top...I just did that because it didn't show up well in a photo w/a black top underneath. DH rolled his eyes and shook his head a bit over it...when I asked him if he thought it looked silly, he just kind of smirked. I bet he'll like it better w/a black top underneath, too ;).

I posted the review at PR, for anyone who's interested.

BTW, a big "Thank You!!!" to Carolyn for suggesting the blue/black color combo!

Back from 'Camp'

Was that really just a day and a half? Much doing, little sleep...lots of fun...it was our first year but it won't be our last. And I bet we take more girls next year...

Spotted this beauty during free time...nice of it to hang around long enough for a photo...

Off To Camp

(and I'm counting my blessings that it's only one night...is that pitiful or what?)

Anyway, I'll catch up Saturday morning... ;)

Black Eyelet In Progress

What a difference in sewing frustration levels the underlining makes.

For the skirt, I'm using a semi-sheer drapey crepey probably poly fabric from a Fabric Mart Freebie bundle. This drapes beautifully, so I thought it would soften up the fairly crisp eyelet. Besides, it was the only even close to suitable black in the stash and I'm NOT BUYING FABRIC IN JUNE! (Yes, I'm yelling at myself...I'm still wandering over to the Roll Ends page on Emma One Sock...and I hear Michael has Zegnas at rock bottom prices, but I am holding FIRM. Only 10 more days...)

Anyway, I didn't realize how incredibly unstable that crepey black was until I tried to keep it square on the cutting table. I probably should've soaked it with spray starch and pinned it to tissue and the whole nine yards to keep it square, but I was trying to squeeze the project into the timetable anyway and I just fiddled and fiddled trying to keep it straight.

I sort of suceeded; but it is kind of whopperjawed in places and wants to shift dramatically as I'm sewing it to the eyelet. I tried glue basting it, but the eyelets are so big that the glue leaked through them and made a mess, so I just zig-zagged the two layers together. The eyelet is uber stable...first, because the cotton base fabric is stable and second, all that embroidery has really stabilized it. But that crepe...!

Anyway, I've got it underlined, pocketed, and the center seams sewn. All that's left is sideseams, waistline and hem. And I'm going slowly, holding my breath, and using the seam ripper a little more than I had anticipated. All because of the underlining.

The little jacket, though, is going together easily. The cotton shirting I'm using for the underlining on it is nice and stable and stays put beautifully.

Dunno how much I'll get done this week; tomorrow I go for my stint with the older girls at Missionettes Camp. Fortunately, it's just an overnight (actually, they call it 'retreat', not camp), so I'll be back Friday evening. The guys will still be at Pow-Wow (the Royal Ranger camp) until Saturday evening; I may take the two DD's on a girls night out (mayhap we'll go see Nancy Drew). Depends on how much sleep I get on Thursday ;)

Time for a New Bag

We did have a nice dinner! My Sweet Baboo needed to work a bit late last night, so we didn't have time to catch a movie...but the restaurant wasn't at all crowded when we got there (I guess there are some benefits to going out on Monday). Surprisingly, his salmon was waaaayyyy underdone in the center (it was a thick piece), so he got a fresh plate and they took his dinner off the tab. Upshot: we have enough left on the gift card for another dinner somewhere down the road.

Then we decided to take a walk around the mall, since we were on that end of town. I was in sore need of a new backpack...


The one on the left is about, oh, five years old? Five years of constant use has really beaten it up; you can't see it in the photo but the leather covering the piping has worn through and split in a couple of places. Sad...that was a good, fairly roomy bag.

There was ONLY ONE STORE in the whole mall with leather backpack-style bags...and there were only two styles there. At least I didn't spend hours agonizing over the choice...I just got the bigger one.

Which is not as large as my old one, but it does have some better organizational sections, so maybe it'll be ok.

I'll switch bags for Very Formal occasions, but that's about it. Otherwise, this is my bag. I know, I know, backpacks are clunky, anti-diva, and Not At All stylish. But I can carry it freehanded and it doesn't fall off my shoulder.

It works for me. ;)

Date Night

Ok, maybe Monday isn't the top of the list for nights to Go Out...but the younger kids are at camp and the older kids will be attending the college/career ministry tonight.

So My Sweet Baboo and I are actually going to use a restaurant gift card and have an evening out. We won't have to worry about anybody at home; we can stay out as late as we want.

Or as late as we can manage ;)

We might even see a movie. I think the last movie we saw on a 'date' was the original Pirates of the Caribbean... we really don't get out enough...

Hm. Wonder what's playing...

Bonus Post: The White Dress

I thought I could, I thought I could... :D

I'll post a review directly. Next up: the eyelet skirt...

On a Break

I got up this morning and hit the white dress; suddenly remembered I also have to sew the rest of her badges on her sash, and there were a couple that we were out of so I sent an email to the coordinator to see if they came in this week. Figured I might as well do today's post while I was away from the machine...

But I've made a fair amount of progress. I got the collar made last night, and by the time I turned the computer on I'd gotten the collar on the dress and the lining on the bodice; the only tedious bit left to do is the zipper, which must come last because of the lining (my least favorite sewing order, but, alas, it can't be helped). I discovered that My Sweet Baboo had a stash of unwaxed dental floss that he's been *trying* to use up (!!!!), which I confiscated so that I have some good gathering thread again (anyone know of a good source for unwaxed dental floss?). Gathering the skirt and skirt lining shouldn't be too bad.

I really do think I can finish this today. :)

Meanwhile, I've got a bandage on my thumb...I used a surgical steel seam ripper to cut the 'fur stole' from the faux fur yesterday...following the recommendation to cut only the knit backing, to prevent 1)having a weird cut edge on the fur and 2) cut bits of fur flying like feathers all over the place. Unfortunately, I got a little careless while cutting across the knit at one point and cut towards my stabilizing hand and ended up stabbing myself in the thumb. It was a little achy last night but it's ok today.

And I even lectured myself on being careful before I started...guess I didn't listen to me any better than my teenagers do.

Put that cutting table away!

I finally finished cutting out the lining for the jacket from this pattern; I've cut the body of the jacket from the green jacquard upholstery fabric I got from Hancock's last month; the lining is a bit of rayon bemberg-like lining I picked up at Sir's. I thought it'd be a quick cut, but it wasn't. Even with the fabric already interfaced (typical of a lot of upholstery cuts), it took what seemed like forever.

Of course, the pattern has 12 pieces, some of which are cut for both lining and shell, so I don't know why I thought it'd be quick.

But now the only thing on the cutting table is a length of faux fur; one of the other ladies in our '40's detective skit needs a fur stole type thing to throw around her shoulders, so I'm carefully cutting the knit backing with a surgical steel seam ripper. It's tedious but not difficult. OH, and one of our black biblical robes is going to stand in for a judges' robe in a skit Sunday, and needs some quick mending.

Fortunately, DD's dress *should* be very straightforward...I think it will go together quickly, if I can EVER get it to the sewing machine! ;)

Oy, I'm Late!

Errand day run amuck. Tried to register DS for the magnet school...missed the little line in the midst of the paragraph of fine print about making an appointment. Assumed that the instruction for final transcript meant that the middle school was to send a full transcript over to the high school. Wrong. It meant I was to bring a copy of his final report card (which seems to be missing). Paid Discover. Purchased gift for a party DD will attend tomorrow. Spent too much time in a bookstore, came home with more than just the summer reading books. Quickly skimmed one book DS is to read for advanced freshman English...shook my head at what The Powers That Be determine suitable for fourteen year old children as I used my sharpie on two paragraphs graphically describing an intimate encounter between unmarried people (not to worry; it was totally unrelated to the development of the plot and therefore unecessary. I don't deface books easily; this was blatantly gratuitous). At least it's somewhat more reasonable; I don't care for some of the language but at least that doesn't create mental pictures.

And my Neue Mode jacket is still on the cutting table with the upper sleeve, front facing and entire lining to cut. Not a stitch on anything.

And DD's dress has to be in a suitcase by Sunday night.

And I have suddenly developed 'I can't stand this mess!!!'-itis.

So I'm late posting...maybe I'll have something a little more sewing-related to report tomorrow? After I find that doggone sheet of paper that is DS's final report card

I'm Committed Now

And the winner of the 'what'll be my eyelet skirt pattern' toss is...

Cutting Line Designs FarewellTOArms skirt!

Yeah, I know...that wasn't even on the short list. But I was checking skirts made from my two 'gores w/godets' patterns, sort of thinking that I'd leave the godets un-underlined if they didn't come up too high, and saw my FTA skirt in the closet and realized that was perfect...only four pieces, nice sweep...so I cut it out, with a black crepe underlining.

AND I had enough eyelet left to cut out Vogue 8398; view A w/o the collar, with the blue cotton as the underlining. I altered the pattern and made a quick muslin. It's Really Ugly...and hard to see...so I'm not posting a photo. But all I needed to do was take a bit of the curve out of the shoulder and I was good to go.

I have one more pattern already altered and ready to cut so I think I'll cut it out, too, before I put away all the stuff. But I'll have a good long queue ready for sewing!

Still Ruminating on the Eyelet...

I finished cutting DD's dress yesterday, and decided to take advantage of the mess...er, the cutting equipment being out and up and cut some more. I *need* a denim skirt in the worst way (we're casual in church choir for the summer; a denim skirt is an approved alternative to nice jeans, which are the base for the next three months) and, inspired by Gorgeous Things, I altered and cut out Vogue 2872 from my long-stashed denim. It's really just an 'inspired by' Ann's skirt, not a knock-off, and denim really is Not At All what is suggested for the pattern. But I think it'll look cool top stitched along the style lines (which are totally not visible in the envelope photo; ya gotta look at the tech drawings).

But amidst all the figurin' and cuttin', the back of my brain was still mulling over the eyelet. I'd like to cut that out before I put the cutting table away. So now we're down to the wire.
I Googled images of eyelet skirts, trying to see if I could pin down the illusive vision I'd had of what I wanted and didn't really see anything that I thought worked. So I mentally went back to the inspiration...a friend's skirt, which was long, flowing gathered tiers. But, in a bit of a lightbulb moment, I realized the reason I was struggling is that I was trying to meld two inspirations that were not compatible. My friend's skirt was more of a traditional eyelet, only in black...cottony, small holes. But the cool, trendy eyelet that I got has GREAT BIG holes, and lots of 'em. Gathering will not work with this eyelet. And I don't think it would pleat well, either, which rules out Simplicity 4186, which was the skirt pattern I'd sort of had in mind when I ordered the fabric.
But, Kathryn's yellow eyelet skirt has also figured into my eyelet mania; that skirt does have the big eyelets like mine...it's not gathered or pleated...but I don't have enough to do the full circle. Nevermind; it's helped me focus down on what I want. I thought I wanted a cute litte flippy eyelet skirt...I don't...I want a long, flowy eyelet skirt. So now the two top contenders for the project are Simplicity 4189',view e, Kwik Sew 3108, view B, and Loes Hinse's Gore Skirt, 4-gores-with-godets. I haven't made the Simplicity pattern yet, but both the KS and the Gore Skirt are TNT's. And I love wearing my skirts from both patterns. SO... I think I'm about to flip a coin... ;)
As to the fabrication, I've had the eyelet laying in my bedroom wrapped up with the blue shirting (posted a draped photo a couple of days ago). I really like that combo. But, to be honest, this skirt will get worn the most as a solid black piece. Then I could wear it with a variety of tops in choir...for any of the months when the colors are 'Black and (whatever)'. If I put the blue in the skirt, I could only wear it when the color was black and blue. So, as much as I liked the blue, I want to WEAR this skirt and I've decided to put black under it. Black on black will be less trendy anyway, so hopefully it'll have a longer style life.

Now, if I have enough remnants, though, I've got an idea for something trendy...that'll be an extra bonus garment anyway...so I'll either use the blue or white to make an 'inspired by' version of This Michael Kors Jacket. We'll see how much eyelet is left...

And that's enough links for one day! ;)

Trixie's outfit

I finished Trixie's secretarial attire Saturday; *I* think it's wonderfully homey for a poor spinster secretary. The blouse is an OOP Simplicity pattern, and I used a serger rolled edge to simulate piping. I need to work w/a hairstyle; after My Sweet Baboo snapped this photo, I played with my hair some more and got a much more convincing style; I just hope I can recreate it for real.

Due to technical difficulties (um, it would take more time to tape and produce than our production team has available), we'll be doing it as a live skit on the 24th.

Which means we won't get multiple takes...

But in all honesty, I kinda like that skirt (OOP Butterick that I mentioned here). It's got five gores; two in the front and three in the back. The center back gore has some nice shaping in it and the skirt skims my backside very well. It's more A-line looking than the envelope picture shows, but I think that's because the poly doesn't drape well. I thought about taking the sideseams up so that it was straighter, but I'm afraid I wouldn't have room to walk if I did that. So it'll have to do. But I may make it again to wear in real life...from a nice drapey something. ;)

Another Wadder Salvaged

I intended to be going well w/DD's white dress, and I got the eyelet part cut...but, when I pulled some stashed cotton broadcloth for the underlining, I had a glitch: it had never been preshrunk. So, to make the 'laundry time' productive, I went back to the process of replacing the front on my Simplicity 4074 surplice top. I'd already pulled the original front off and recut the new one, so it was just a matter of finishing the neckline on the new front and plugging it back into the shirt.

I freely admit I *hate* doing stuff like this, but, as I've mentioned before, I hate wadders, too...with such a passion that I'll do anything to avoid one. Even replacing the whole front of a finished princess-style knit top.



I suppose I might add that this top *really* wanted to be a wadder. The almost icing on the cake was that it somehow jumped under the serger knives (it's been, oh, 4 years since I had a garment do that to me?) and got a nick in the body. Fortunately, it was in the underwrap side, and just a few tack stitches should hold that boo-boo safely hidden away. Tension problems w/the sewing machine (could've been User Error; I was doing it at night...) means that the hems are a little wavy. But at this point I'm not going to redo them, although if it bugs me enough I could redo it at some point in the future.

But at least I have a top that's wearable now!
Um, one or two people expressed an interest in seeing the original front, so here 'tis. I'll just say that 1)the bust point is not marked on this pattern and 2) it occurs lower down on the front than you'd think. Those two open flowers, with the circle...were centered only about 1/2" below the full bust. It looked *really bad*, but I'd finished it off, thinking I'd make it a Donation (there are folks who don't care about stuff like that...remember the t-shirt w/the fried eggs on the front from the late 70's?), before I realized I could cut another set of front pieces from the remnants. I was going to make another top, but, well...I *hate* wadders... ;)

Movie Night

We'd been promising the kids we'd do it for weeks; last night was finally a 'nothing on the schedule night', so we did Dominoe's for supper and watched the latest addition to the family DVD collection (a movie that we did not manage to see in theaters)...The Incredibles.

We are so behind the times.

But it's ok...we had fun. It's a cute movie.

And I LOVED Enda Mode... ;)

Fetch the Blue Card

A Necessary Errand...DS's Blue Card (Inoculation Record) expires about two weeks after the next school year starts, so we're planning to go down to the Health Department today and get it updated. That means at least a DT shot, and possibly an MMR too...I've lost track of all the updates to the requirements. Anyway, I'll be working on This while we wait...and that could be a while.

Then we can stop by the magnet school and get him registered for his freshman year.

We'll get to start the class scheduling process later in the summer; we had HORRIBLE experiences w/that with our older kids, but that was largely due to the fact that they could not just transfer to the magnet school, due to the fact that they were the racial minority in the zone we were in. We have since moved, and that is not a problem in this zone...so we'll only have to deal w/one school and he will not have the problem of two schools each offering the required class when he is at the other one. The registration process is just a little more involved because of the transfer.

When we get back, I'll start cutting out DD's white dress...the pattern is now altered and traced (a size 7 in girth; size 10 and a bit in length), so I'm ready to get going on it....

Hmm...blue....

I had some great suggestions for the eyelet! I'd considered doing multiple separate linings as Kathleen suggested, and that's still a remote possibility, but I really wanted an underlining instead of a lining (although if I change my mind about the pattern, I might change my mind about that, too). Summerset suggested a bright red or orange...but that would mean a trip to the fabric store, and that's disallowed in June! ;). But Carolyn suggested blue...and I have a lovely yummy blue shirting from Michael that's been aging in the stash for something like 4 years now; that's a *serious* contender.

I'll give myself about two days to percolate over which pattern I *really* want to use; I've still got Trixie's blouse to sew; (our taping got moved to Tuesday) and DD's white dress for the Honor Star service, which is not EVEN traced yet and must be done by a week from Monday. But I want that black eyelet to be next ;)

Just one more piece of fabric...

I've joined the Stitcher's Guild Fabric Moratorium pledge to NOT purchase any more fabric for the month of June, so this should be it...for a while...


But lookie what arrived yesterday! . I've been looking for eyelet like this since, oh, February...and is it ever terrific! Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics had it on sale over Memorial Day and I just *had* to get some. I'm planning a skirt, like, say, Simplicity 4186 , but I'm waffling on the underlining. I have some drapey black georgette-type fabric that came in a bundle from Fabric Mart last year that I'd planned to use...it wouldn't be at all bulky and so would be good, but now I'm thinking that maybe I'd like a little contrast to make those pretty flowers pop. Somewhere in the stash I *think* I've got some brown mystery woven that is almost batiste weight...in fact, it's one of the longest residents of the stash bins. But I don't remember the last time I saw it. It must be buried pretty deep...unless it was a purge victim, which is possible. There was a mini-purge something like 10 years ago; I don't remember what all departed the bins at that time. (Yes, it is time for a Fabric Moratorium...)

So I guess I'm soliciting opinions...who votes for black? White or cream? Something else?

I need to make it quick before eyelet is Over.

Finally a Photo: the first true self-draft

I made this skirt a couple of weeks ago; it's been waiting for a photo op before I wrote it up. DH was taking ebay pictures last night and I jumped in and made him take a picture.

This is my first truly self-drafted pattern; something that came from math and rulers and didn't have any elements traced from another pattern. My inspiration was Loes Hines' Tango Skirt, which is a pull-on ten gore skirt with a bit of trumpet flare at the bottom (you can't tell that from the photos at the website; you've got to click on 'Line Drawing' on the right side of the skirt page to see how the skirt is made).

Anyway, I thought...it's one piece, no zippers, no darts...how hard can it be?

I added what I *thought* I wanted for ease to my estimated hip measurement, (it'd been awhile since I measured and I was too involved to strip down to the skivvies for a new one) and divided that measurement by 10. Then I added 3/4" (for 3/8" seam allowances) and I had the width of my gore....I'll call it 'X' inches. 'X' inches turned out to be a measurement that ended in '.9', so I fudged it up one tenth of an inch so it was easy to measure. I drew a rectangle that was the new 'x' inches wide, and the length was my waist-to-just-below knee measurement, plus 1 3/8" for the elastic at the top (1") and the hem (3/8"). At the bottom, I marked the center point, so I'd know where to balance the curve. I measured to the top of my knee, since that was about where I wanted the flare to start, and eyeballed how wide I wanted it (I think I added 2 1/2"; that'd be 1 1/4" on each side; I'd check but the pattern piece seems to be AWOL at the moment). A French Curve ruler to true up all the curves and angles, and I had my pattern piece! I angled the seams back towards the center at the hemline, to help pull out extra fullness in the hem allowance (I have a Kwik Sew flared skirt pattern from which I learned that little trick). I cut ten of them from one of the knits I picked up at the Sir's Spree last month.

Sewing it was a snap...10 seams, elastic waist and hem. I did try it on before I added elastic or hemmed it, and I found that it really was much too full in the hips. It wasn't just an inch too big (the addition resulting from rounding the gore measurement); it was nearly a whole gore too big; I think I'd overestimated the amount of ease I needed (2" of ease comes to mind...I think that's what I estimated). So I just took the skirt back to the serger and re-sewed each seam 1/4" deeper, then tried it on again. *That* was right (for a lightweight stretchy knit, anyway), so I finished it out w/elastic and hem and it's done!

You really can't see the flippy hem in the pictures; it just looks sort of pleated at the bottom.

I'm not sure the length is dead perfect; it feels a little short for this forty-mumblemumble something female, but I think I'll just pass it off as a summer skirt and it'll be ok. But for a fun exercise in pattern drafting it worked great!

Same song, second verse

I was planning to post a tutorial about how to put the zipper in the pocket, but I discovered that the photos I have taken of the process are not in my files on the computer, so I'm going to have to round them up and do it later.

Meantime, I have taken the front off of my Simpicity surplice top...the one with the, um, badly placed flowers (No, I did NOT take a photo...just trust me that the little outlines of the flowers with the circle in the center were *almost* in the worst possible place on the front of the shirt). I'd never have worn it as it was but, aside from that little problem, the shirt is really cute and I liked it a lot. Well, I just so happened to have enough fabric left to cut two new fronts, so I will replace the offending pieces with something cut with the flowers as far away from the bustline as I can manage...

Replacing the already serged pieces will be tedious, but I'll end up with a top I'll wear, so it's worth it!

Seeing Stars

This has certainly been a learning week!

DD#2 is in the Missionettes (in the process of being renamed to M-Pact) program at church, and this is her final year in the 'Stars' class. There are badges and awards given for completing units; and girls who complete 27 units in three years, along with doing a list of other requirements, get to be Honor Stars, with all sorts of special perks.

We really are just getting ourselves chartered into the M-Pact program at church, and we're ALL learning about things. Anyway, the past two days have been spent checking and rechecking to make sure she's got all of her ducks in a row, all of her requirements checked and all of her signatures listed so she can qualify for the Honor Star recognition at camp this summer (also the first time we've done camp) She'll need a dressy white dress for the occasion (I have fabric and pattern in hand...you'll hear more about it soon), but right now we're just focusing on the paperwork.

But what has really caught me is that I help teach the next older group...the middle school 'Friends' class. And it's a bigger deal to be an honor Friend at the end of those three years. And we have done a mighty poor job of keeping up with the records this year.

So today I've been making spread sheets and checklists and we'll have to spend some of the summer working with the girls to make sure they're on track...we want their ducks in a row THIS year, not down the road when they need the records...

Meantime, I think we've got to re-do a couple of DD's projects from ages ago; no one can find records of them doing them...

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes

The Rocket City has been smoked out...literally. We live at the bottom of one of the small mountains that run along the east side of the city, and for the last couple of days I would easily believe there were wildfires raging on the back side of the mountain. Smoke that was smellable, tasteable, and visible.

But the wildfires are in the swamps of southern Georgia, about 500 miles away. You can actually see the smoke move up to our neck of the woods in satellite images.

It's just amazing that the smoke has stayed so...concentrated...for such a long distance. I can't imagine what the poor folks who live in southeast Georgia must be dealing with.

We need rain!

'Trixie's' Skirt...Making it Work

Next church costuming project: a skit that will be videotaped and shown during an upcoming service. This is a 40's detective at work (it will be in black-and-white), and we'll all be costumed accordingly.

Which is kinda fun...the 40's is one of my favorite fashion eras. I'm the underpaid wise-cracking secretary, Trixie, so I won't be wearing the fancy suits, but I do get a skirt and blouse appropriate to the era. Yesterday I decided it'd be simpler to just make a new skirt than to try and make one of the skirts currently in the wardrobe work; so I started digging through the pattern stash and the cheap fabric bin to see what I could come up with.

I had three or four reproductions of 40's era patterns, but found that one of them already had the skirt pattern traced and adjusted, so it won the toss...it's an out-of- print Butterick:


I found a yard-and-a bit remnant of black herringbone-weave poly suiting and squeezed the skirt on. Then, when I sat down to serge the edges, I saw the piece that had been cut from the folded-under portion of the fabric had a slight problem ...there was a roughly-quarter circle chunk missing from the upper left front side seam/waistline corner. Aaaiiiieee! Wait, though...it's shaped like a shallow pocket opening! Quick, back to the cutting board. I traced off the cut edge, and used the skirt pattern and the boo-boo shape to draft pocket yokes and facings, then installed them. Hey...it worked! And, bonus...I get a skirt with pockets!

The skirt also had a side zipper; not my favorite zipper installation but I was going to go with it just because I didn't want to take the time to put a CB seam in the little narrow back piece. But, guess what...I had no black zippers. And it was too late for a Hancock's run. Now what...do I finish it to the zipper? But, hey, now I've got pockets! And I had cut the waistband extra-long, just because ya never know, so now I *could* do my favorite zipper installation in the pocket! I removed the serging and the stitching on the inside edge of the left pocket so I could get at the left pocket yoke and stuck a blue zipper there-in. No one'll ever know....

It was a fortuitous circumstance all around.

All that remains is to put a hook/eye on the waistband and hem it. Now I need a blouse. I looked around a bit online at 40's fashions and have two or three blouse patterns that would do just fine, with the right fabric. I really wish I had some black-on-white polka dot fabric in the stash for that, but I don't. Maybe a plain white blouse w/black rick rack trim or something.

I'll puzzle it out while I hem the skirt. ;)

They're Baaaaack....

Is it the difference between the genders? Or the difference between a phlegmatic and a sanguine? DS came home, moved all his stuff to his bedroom and put it all away. Last night. DD (who, to be fair, is sharing a room with her younger sister and does have to deal with *her* stuff, but still...) dropped everything in the living room while we try to find a place to shoehorn it all out of sight. Sigh.

And I did a bit of sewing yesterday...I have one garment that was a test that I might keep, and one that, well, print placement is an issue (Not my fault! the pattern didn't have the bust point marked!!!). So, well, the jury's still out on it. I'll post pictures as soon as I can find a reasonable place to take them; the living room obviously is not going to work.

Must Sew Project 4: The Mantles

Last Sunday, Pastor Angie, who is one of the directors of Huntsville Master's Commission, asked me to do some sewing for them. 'I know you're busy,' she said, 'but I was wondering if you could sew six mantles...like choir robe stoles...for our third year graduates. Would it be too hard, do you think?' I'd made choir stoles years ago...using a pattern taken from a disassembled one...but I wasn't sure I could remember how it was done. And I had to make the green dress that week, too.

But...this was the first graduating class; the inaugural group of students who had gone through all three years of the program. And one of them was my oldest daughter.
I waffled, wanting to do it, but...

I said I wasn't sure I could come up with a pattern...and she said that she had a pattern for them and she'd get all the materials needed; I'd just make them. 'But I can ask someone else if you're too busy.' Then she went on to explain, 'We want the pastors to put them on the students...they're actually stoles, but we're going to call them mantles. It will be symbolic of passing the mantle on to the next generation of leaders.'

Suddenly, I caught the vision of what she wanted to do. And she was asking me to be part of it. I did some calculating in my head; I thought I could finish the dress by Wednesday and make the mantles on Thursday and Friday. I literally fought back tears and replied,'I would be honored to make the mantles for those kids. If you can get the fabric and pattern for me, I'll manage it.'

Well, I picked up the fabric and pattern Wednesday night...I've already told the Green Dress story, so you know that I really didn't get started sewing on the mantles until Friday afternoon. I'd made a request from Miss M, who has a Memorycraft, to make some name labels for me; she'd left ribbons embroidered with the first names of each of the students at the church and I picked them up Friday morning when I dropped off PJ's dress.

The pattern is Butterick 3819, view F (the scarf with the tassels). I really think that the directions for it will result in a very 7th-grade-home-ec-class-project looking thing. I added some interfacing, changed up the sewing order completely (details in the review), and probably spent twice as much time at the ironing board than I did at the sewing machine...but that included fusing on interfacing and then fusing on the letters and numbers at the end (boy, was I wishing I had a press!)



The pastors wore the mantles white-side-out through the service, and, when the third years students were presented, they came up and stood behind them, laid hands on them and prayed over them (each student had chosen which pastor they wanted to impart to them). After they had prayed and the kids had received their commission, then the mantles were reversed and placed on the students by the pastors. I thought there'd be a photo op when the students stood with their mantles, but that didn't happen. There was more to do in the service...and they each left the stage when their selected pastor had finished praying for them. DD is on the far right...these are the only photos we ended up with that showed anything at all of how the mantles were used. In true HMC fashion, the kids laid aside their special designations and went right back to ministry for the rest of the evening.

But the cool thing was that, since I'd put the names in them right at the beginning, I knew which mantle would be given to which student, and I could pray over them as I was making them. Oh...I finished at 2:10 AM Sunday morning...they took a little longer than I expected. But it was SO worth it!

Thank You

Memorial Day, 2007
In honor of those who gave their lives in the past so we could live in freedom today....

In appreciation of those who are putting their lives on the line today so our children can live in freedom tomorrow....

There are no words to convey the depth of appreciation and gratitude which these people have earned from each of us. Simple words will have to carry deep meanings.

Thank You.