Choir Sundays 09 #34

This Month's colors: Purple, black and/or silver w/blue jeans.
I'm wearing my Loes Hinse Bistro Jacket from a black poly/rayon herringbone weave suiting, my grey poly/rayon jersey blend variation on the funnel-neck view of Textile Studio's Monaco Shell top, and my new bootcutjeans purchase from the 'snoop shopping' trip...all 45 minutes worth...I managed to squeak in at Coldwater Creek last week (more on that next week).

And, um, just for the record, I finally took the kitty to the vet for the first check up, just to make sure our little foundling was a healthy cat and, um, turns out it *is* a girl kitty. Yes, I feel quite sheepish...Fortunately, 'Frisco' is a gender-neutral name, eh?

Choir Sundays 09 #33

This Month's Colors: Brown, purple, and/or mustard yellow w/blue jeans
Yay! I finally finished another item for the closet! The twinset is from an amazing heathery brown rayon/lycra jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. I originally ordered just a yard to make the Jalie 965 tank top, but the fabric was sooo incredibly nice that I had to order another piece to make a matching cardi. I decided to try Jalie 2566, and I finally got the buttons on the cardigan last night.

The jeans are the Lee bootcuts again; I've got the Jalie bootcut pattern; maybe I'll get to it one of these days. It would be *so* nice to have a TNT jeans pattern that won't ever be discontinued by the manufacturer... ;)


Oh, just so you know...I have an 'unscheduled' blogging break next week (reasons will be explained on the other blog...not to worry, just a break); so I'll see you back next Sunday!

The Jester-ish Costume

Most of the Jester hat patterns I found were either for knitters, or called for craft foam and glue. And neither of the two sewing patterns were created by folks who actually sew...they were created by people who wanted Jester hats and got creative enough to try them. One was, as I said earlier, incomplete in the directions and incorrectly diagrammed. The other, which was the the one I actually adapted was for plastic. But at least it gave a direction.

I probably goofed by making the crescents smaller than were diagrammed; I didn't want a mammoth jester hat; this is for a little skit and it only has to suggest a jester. So I reduced the measurements a bit...and ended up with a hat that didn't have enough room for the top of The Actor's head.

'Costuming, not couture!'...I opened the seams at the top for about 2", folded the points back and added a hexagonal gusset. Laid the scrap of purple on top of the Actor's head, put the opened up hat on top and just pinned it all to fit; then I zig-zagged around the fold and trimmed all the excess away underneath.

Not at all precise but it worked. I stuffed the crescents lightly w/polyfill...you can see how Very Excited The Actor is with his new hat:

















He didn't like the stuffed points at all; after some discussion I let him pull the poly fill out and he was happier. 'Happier' still not meaning pleased, you understand...just less disgusted...


The tunic was easy...a modification of my favorite Bible costume pattern, McCall's 2339. It might've been better a little longer...or if I'd've cut the ragged edges a little more shallow, but I think it'll do.

I'm sure I have some jingle bells around somewhere but I've looked everywhere I *think* I should've put 'em and I haven't found them yet. If I find 'em, I'll sew a bell on each point on the hat.

We'll see what The Director says...

Never Fails

I get the biggest shot of inspiration when I can do nothing about it.

My little jaunt to Coldwater Creek yesterday didn't just net me a new jacket; I saw some great clothes that I'd love to sit down and knock off.

Jackets w/short sleeves...or just little cap sleeves. Shirts w/ruffles. Knit tops w/stretch lace lower edges.

I wish I'd had time to visit the dressing room and take phone pictures for future reference.

But. I have a week to make the jester costume. I've got the Bible Costume pattern pulled out for the tunic; I want to at least cut that out first, so I know how much fabric I have left for the hat.

And the directions for the hat that Nancy found for me online are, um, incomplete. I also think they've shown sewing the incorrect sides together...all the pieces are connected, then the instructions say to 'try on the hat'. But at that point, it's a flat thing. No hat to try on.

But it is a starting point...I think I'll get some scrap fabric and play around w/the shapes to see if I can get it to work.

Oh...and I tried looking at other patterns for Jester Hats, but the next place I checked had one of those 'hijack the computer' pop-ups (doesn't take 'no' for an answer) and I had to CNTRL-ALT-DEL to kill it. Now I'm scared to look farther...Yeesh.

Anyway, with my jacket purchase I received a coupon good for 25% off an entire purchase anytime next week. If I finish the jester costume, I may treat myself to a little snoop shopping spree. There's a JJill and an Anthropologie in that same complex...maybe I'll take the digi cam along...

A Twinge of Guilt

But not for what you'd think.

Ya'll, I actually went out and bought a denim jacket today.

I don't think I've bought a jacket for myself since the Amazing Jacket and Dress Deal I found on the clearance rack at Dillards...6 years ago?

But I got an email advertisement from Coldwater Creek featuring a denim jacket that I had to go check out at the local CWC shop. The one that opened...a year and a half ago?...that I hadn't been in yet.

Anyway, I had an errand to do that was sort of near the fancy shopping center where CWC is located, so I went ahead and ran over while I was in that neck of the woods.
It took me a while to find the denim version of the jacket; they also had it in two jacquards (orange and purple), but denim was what I wanted.

A size 12P fit fairly well and looked good. Knowing how much I've worn my Vogue Denim Jacket, I figured I'd wear this one bunches and bunches, too. And, looking at all the details on it, I will tell you straight up that $40 is worth not sewing it myself. I didn't feel the least bit guilty over that. In fact, I was congratulating myself because my sewing abilities allowed me to recognize a great buy when I found it.

But after I got home with it, I looked at the care label and found that it was made in China. And I wondered...who made my lovely jacket? Did I just contribute to an abusive system?

I don't know...and I can't do much about it at this point. But I can, every time I put that jacket on, pray for the unknown sewing machine operator and his/her co-workers. It is the least I can do, when she/he made such a nice little jacket for me to run around in.

Jester Costume Coming Up

Made a stop at the 'Wal-Mart that still has a fabric department' today to pick up jester costume fabric. The Drama Teacher wanted Mardi Gras colors -- purple, green and gold. I looked over the buck and a half table; there was a nice dark yellow poly fabric, but nothing to go with it. So I ended up getting three pieces of poplin from the $2 shelf.

I hope to git 'er done this weekend; he'd really like to have the costume by Sept. 3 or 4 (the performance date is Sept. 9)

Now, all I have to decide is...do I want to use the green and purple for the body, with the gold on sleeves and accent, or do I want purple and gold for the body with green for accent, or shall I use green and gold on the body and the purple for accent?

The Actor would probably prefer the garment to have as little purple on it as possible.

Hm. Decisions, decisions....

Choir Sundays 09 #32

This month's colors: Brown, purple and/or mustard yellow w/blue jeans


The bootcut Lees were clean this week ! ;)

So, with them I'm wearing the Vogue 2975 top from brown poly blend crepe and the brown denim eyelet McCall's 5191 jacket.

I did some sewing yesterday and got my brown Jalie cardi done to the buttons...then discovered that I only had 4 brown buttons; I need 6. So I'll have to make a Hancock's run before I can finish it...

First Costuming Request of the School Year

The Actor is going to play a Jester in a little skit the class is going to perform at some elementary/middle schools next month and he needs a tabbard and hat.

The tabbard/tunic won't be a problem (modified Bible costume!) but I'm not having much luck finding a pattern for a hat. Simplicity has a pattern, but the Simp. patterns won't be on sale at Hancock's again before the performance date and I really don't want to spend 6 bucks on the pattern.

I looked around a bit on the net but haven't had any luck yet. Does anyone know of a good, simple Jester hat pattern? It doesn't have to be authentic...just visual enough to make the point.

Here we go...

PS. Um, I've got a serving of humble pie on my plate because, after stating that I believed my new assistant was a girl, I have had to reconsider the issue and now I must confess to an error...this is a boy kitty. He still has no name....

Slow and Steady...

Even if I only trace off half of a pattern piece a day, the pattern will eventually get traced...

I did swing by the Dollar-fifty table at the Good Wal-Mart earlier in the week and grabbed 4 yards of some kind of poly-blend suiting to make a muslin of the jacket. I'm gonna hold off on tracing the lining pieces until after I fit the jacket...especially since the lining pieces are pretty much drafted from the shell pieces. I'll get the shell pieces altered up first, then I'll do the lining.

But. Sigh. That puts my fabric in at over 86 yards...and my fabric out is still in the 20's. Unbelievable. Between working and costuming, I just haven't had as much time as I'm accustomed to to sew. Unless I get a MAJOR sewing focus going this fall, I am not going to finish the year anywhere close to parity. But that is unlikely, with the afore-mentioned costuming looming ahead.

So I'm dropping my 'Parity Plan' of giving away twice the overage. It's just not feasible this year...I'm just gonna do the best I can and then re-think the whole thing. Whatever I sew this year may be my benchmark for next year...if I only sew 35 yards, then that's what I'll limit myself to buying next year.

Who knew a little part-time job would sap the sewing time so much? But -- it is precisely the sewing time that turned into time at work. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Just gotta change my paradigm.

School Sewing Around the Corner...

We had a meeting of drama parents tonight; things are going to be a bit different this year; this year's high school musical will be a fall production. And, there is a new magnet director, who is not requiring students outside of choir to audition. So The Actor will not be in this year's musical.

Which is actually good, because it will be performed slap in the middle of the one-act play competition season. Auditions for that were today; it's a small cast, but I rather expect The Actor to be in it. There will be costuming....

And, since the musical will be in the fall, there's a gap in the performance calendar in early spring, so the Drama dept. will be doing a play in the late Feb-March time frame...they're looking at Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. But the BIG production of the year will be the complete MacBeth, done as originally written, in period costumes, about two weeks before school is out.

This is the kind of schedule I'd expect from a magnet program.

It's gonna be a busy year.

Choir Sundays 09 #31

This month's colors:Brown, purple and mustard yellow w/blue jeans.
Along with the straight-leg Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, I'm wearing my McCall's 5191 Jeans Jacket, made from stretch denim eyelet, and Vogue 8323, from purple cotton/lycra.

Sigh. I wish I looked better in jeans. Probably doesn't help that we had a feast of a dinner out today to celebrate 29 years of marriage...and this picture was taken *after* a huge meal. Ooofff.

I'll exercise tomorrow. ;)

Meet the New Assistant

We had two cats before we had kids. The cats never quite forgave us for bringing children home to torment them, but we all enjoyed the furry friends. At least, most of us enjoyed them. My Sweet Baboo sort of tolerated them.

But, kitties don't live as long as kids, and, not too long before The Flute Player's first birthday, our second kitty went to Catnip Heaven.

That was a little over twelve years ago. Even after all that time, and two household moves, I still found the occasional cat hair.

But I figured it was a matter of time until we got another cat. The kids have been asking. But I wasn't ready.

I'm still not sure I'm ready, but this kitty needed a home; she was found in a parking lot, but the family who found her couldn't keep her and she was headed to the animal shelter in a couple of days.

So now we have a cat. Hopefully, but the end of the weekend, she'll have a name.

Meantime, I'm trying to remember how to train a cat to stay off the kitchen counters and table...sigh...

Plannin' a brown jacket

I dug through the entire pattern cabinet and all my BWOF magazines trying to decide what I wanted to use for a brown jacket.

I have some lovely brown Zegna wool from Michael, so I knew what fabric the pattern must work for.

But I had some criteria...I didn't want to use my lovely wool on something that would be dated in a season or two; it had to have Staying Power. It also had to work w/a number of different shirt necklines. Shoulder princess lines were preferred, for ease of alteration.

And it had to work w/my body type...Middle Aged.

I compiled a short list of about 5 patterns, but ultimately decided upon Jacket 116 from BWOF 12/2008:


I've got 4 yards of the brown wool, so I might make pants, too.

Anyway, I expect it to take about a week to get the pattern traced (I think there are something like 12 - 13 pieces, some of which will have to be adapted and traced again for the lining).

But it's out on the Project Table to be traced...who knows, maybe I'll get a TNT out of it...

Lookit Him Sew...

I had to take pictures.

Last March, My Sweet Baboo went off for a long weekend and took a knife crafting class taught by a master craftsman in Missouri. He came home with a pretty fancy knife in a case, but he wanted to make a sheath for it.

Sir Senior Ranger Commander happened to have some leather scraps about, and, last weekend, MSB put it all together:


And here he is with the finished project:

Technically, he cheated by pre-drilling the holes for the needle in the leather before he started sewing it, if he really wanted it to be Authentic for the frontiersmen's fellowship group...but he's not that picky. There are three different pieces of leather involved, ranging from Stiff As a Board to Lovely and Soft in hand. It was interesting to see how he did it.

For being a relative novice at these things, I think he did pretty well!

The White Campshirt

Doggone it. I knew those drag lines would jump out in the photo...they don't seem nearly so obvious IRL. Ah, well.

I actually upped the size on this just a bit; perhaps I needed to do a FBA as well to get rid of those lines. But, hey, this is *still* better than RTW.

It's Louise Cuttings 'TownANDCountry' campshirt...and it has great details. I put the pocket and tab detail patterns on the home scanner and reduced them in size by about 5%; I think that works better w/the proportion on my frame.

This one has been on 'The List' for quite a while; can you believe it is now the *only* short sleeved white blouse in my closet?

There are so many things on 'The List' that I have a real problem trying to decide which thing to do next...

Choir Sundays 09 #30

I almost didn't get to do this! Didn't get a turn on the computer until bedtime...and My Sweet Baboo shut the thing down before I could get on! Had to reboot just to post. ;)

Anyway, this month's colors are purple, brown and mustard, with jeans. I'm avoiding the mustard, but the purple and brown are ok with me....
So, I'm wearing the straight leg Gloria Vanderbilt jeans, my purple boucleLoes Hinse Retro Jacket and, just barely visible, my fairly new brown rayon/lycra jersey Jalie 965 tank top.

I'm about to decide I need to make a brown jacket; I know we'll be wearing brown again in October. Got some nice brown wool from Michael; a bunch of jacket patterns...I just need to pick one and sew, eh?

Disconnections

I've been sewing...and doing laundry...today; with any luck I'll have my camp shirt finished up by tomorrow evening.

So I'm going to vent just a little about nothing whatever to do with sewing.

Somebody who's been there...please tell me that this mental fog that I'm experiencing is hormonal and will clear up when everything finally settles down.

Case in point: The Actor came to me tonight with a question about a large twisty lollipop. I intended to tell him to wrap it in cellophane and whack it with a hammer to break the candy off the stick.

What came out of my mouth was 'Wrap it up in chocolate.'

Something similar happens on a daily basis. When I don't lose the word I want altogether.

Scary!

But I'm hoping it is temporary....

Snail paced sewing

So, if I sew in daily 20 minute increments, I *will* eventually finish something. But it's frustrating after years of being able to spend entire days in the sewing room.

I will adjust. I will, I will, I will.

And, maybe one day I will adjust enough that the housework won't be demanding so much time and I can up my 20 minutes to a bit more.

But, in the meantime, I've traced a couple of patterns (and lost a piece somehow...guess I'll just have to trace it again) and sewn a bit on my white campshirt.

School starts Monday, though, so I'm hoping that with the return of routine I can get a little more time.

Fabric and inspiration abound! But...time...oh, that's precious...

Choir Sundays 09 #29

or, AAAAAiiiiieeee!!! It's August!

This months colors: Purple, mustard yellow or brown with blue jeans.

This really was a case of just grabbing something that worked and going. I pulled my heathery purple poly/rayon Kwik Sew 2948 twin set that dates from January of '03 out and climbed into my long boot cut Lee jeans and left.

Simple and adequate. ;)

Equipping an inspiration....

Ok, I haven't had a chance to get into the sewing room for, well, a while now. I thought I'd get a chance today, but a sale flyer from Hancock's indicated a sale on McCall's and Vogue patterns, so I used my sewing-room time for some sewing-shopping time. (bad, Lisa, bad...)

It was pretty much a bust. The new Vogues weren't in the drawer yet (I had 4 on my list...), but I did pick up a couple of 99 cent McCall's patterns... 5662 and 5929...both kinda similar to things I have already, but worth $1 not to have to draft the details.

I also picked up some fat quarters:


The Flute Player has some jeans that still fit good around the seat but are getting too short; I thought I'd try Angie's Hippie Chic jeans and see if I could extend the use of them just a bit. The Princess shuddered to think I would try to make them longer by 'adding some ugly fabric'(she hasn't YET seen the FQs), but I think I'll give it a try.

After all, the jeans really aren't wearable as they are anyway...:)

Back in a bit...

Got out of town company, so I'm a bit tied up.

Hoping to get a bit of sewing done before the weekend is over; I'm beginning to feel withdrawal...

Choir Sundays '09 #28

This month's colors:brown, white, or gold with blue jeans.Ok, this is mostly RTW...blue jeans and a brown RTW sweater that's a couple of years old. But the vest is lace over white taffeta, from an OOP Butterick pattern that I haven't reviewed because I haven't made anything from it since joining PR in '03 (so, yeah, this is an old vest). Kinda cool that garments w/lace layered are actually on trend now...rare that I'm ahead of the fashion curve! ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #27

This month's colors:Gold, brown or white w/ blue jeans.

This was a case of closet inspiration. I intended to just pull out a white shirt to tie over my brown rayon/lycra Jalie 965 tank top, but instead I saw a RTW sweater set that I hadn't worn in ages tucked amongst the white shirts and got inspired. I put the lacy oversweater on over my tank top, instead of over the white sweater knit tank that it came with and, bingo, something a little different!

And, to continue my 'something little different', I wore my Vogue 2872 denim skirt.

Y'know, I might even use that lacy sweater on top of other colors of tank tops now...

Oh, almost forgot. Next week is the Quarterly Blogging break, although it seems almost silly to take a break when my posting has dropped off so severely. But, since the Break includes all internet activity other than checking e mail or the weather, I'll still get some time to catch up on a bunch of stuff that's behind. So, have a good week and I'll see you next Sunday! :)

Um, yeah....

So, My Sweet Baboo took me to *The Really Big Famous Fancy Resort Place that Used to be a Theme Park* in Nashville for an overnight birthday treat.

We couldn't drive by Textile Fabrics...while a sale was in progress...without stopping in to see if any new goodies had been added to the remnant room.

I didn't find any remnants that spoke to me when Miss A and I went up on Monday, but I grabbed six pieces Friday. Two of them aren't worth photographing...a yard and a bit of some gray Ambiance lining, and some very heavy navy blue cotton/lycra twill. One piece is already taken off to the laundry, but it's just a floral cotton knit (for testing knit patterns, I think! Or maybe for a nightgown; we'll see how much it softens in the wash), but the other three pieces are definitely worth a picture:


The pieces draped over the back are both wonderfully soft and light embroidered corduroy, tie dyed. I had to get both colorways; one for the orange-lovin' Flute Player; the other may make a shirt-jacket for me. The piece on the seat, though, is my Find...it's tie silk; a gorgeous jacquard of black, gold and cream. It's going to be a vest. I've got a yard and 5/8, but it's only 25" wide, so I'll need all of it for just the front and the facings. But, oh, won't it be nice!.

And, ahem, I spent $50 on it. Which I justified by saying 1) we did NOT take the little tour boat around the Delta atrium, which saved us $20. (I don't understand it. That boat was full every time we saw it. At $10 each...for a little wobbly loop...) and 2) we walked across the parking lots (about half a mile or so, I believe!) to the mall next door and ate at the Aquarium. After checking all the prices on the menus of the restaurants in the hotel, the Aquarium seemed downright reasonable. I figure we saved another $30 by NOT eating at the Old Hickory Steakhouse...and, bingo! I just paid for my little indulgence at the fabric store!

Um, the extra yardage in the Stash, however, may not be so easily dealt with. Oh, the rayon/lycra knits from Gorgeous fabrics came while I was gone, too, so the yardage is definitely UP. Time to do some serious sewing....

But there's nothing like walking through a mall full of poorly made, overpriced fashions to inspire some sewing.

(Cue the Beatles music) All I need is time...dut dut duh duh duh...all I need is time, time....time is all I need... ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #26

This Month's Colors: Brown, white and/or gold w/blue jeans.

So, I'm wearing my Lee bootcut jeans again; the white twill Vogue 8045 jacket and, for the top, the second go at the surplice top from Burda (FWOF) May '09. I found that that fit of that pattern really does depend on the fabric; what I did to alter it worked really well for the relatively stable poly/lycra matte jersey; this was a very stretchy cotton/lycra and it behaved very differently. It's heavy; it pulled the upper bodice down much like a slinky knit would've, so I ended up taking the almost all the extra length back out by taking the shoulder seams in 5/8".

And this one, I've decided, definitely needs a cami under it. Next time. ;)

The Handcrafts of Thursday's Children

Back in May, a group of folks from our church, including our senior pastors, went on a trip to meet the Moldovan orphans themselves, visiting two or three orphanages and the girls at Stella's Houses. They visited the orphanage at Cupcui, and the director of the orphanage had set up a room to showcase handcrafts made by the kids there... including some things that had been made by the girls who are now at Stella's House.

(Photo credits to Leisa Nelson)




These amazing handcrafts are made from the materials that they can scrape together...they have no 'handcraft education' budget, and virtually no notions or machines.

But look at what those kids have created. From almost nothing.

What do you suppose they could do with adequate supplies?

First Post on Thursday's Children

The Burda Denim Vest

The topstitching is pretty far from perfect; the denim was really bulky right at the edges and my little New Home just couldn't seem to feed it evenly. But, it doesn't show from any distance and the worst of it is on the underlap.

But it's a great top piece; especially good for wearing over a white blouse that has less than complete opacity! ;)

Here's the review....

My Early Birthday Present to Me....

I'm tellin' ya, black denim is hard to find...but I managed to find something else up at Textile Fabrics to bring home.

Besides some gray Ambiance, some brown Ambiance, and a piece of white china silk to line a white silk blouse, I bought two pieces of fashion fabric:



Only two pieces, but they're very nice....the pink stripe is horizontal on a piece of very soft, very yummy linen and I'm planning to make a tunic shirt from it. If you look closely, you can see shiny black stripes on the brown wool/lycra blend suiting (it was marked as being an Ellen Tracy fabric and is really nice...). I'm planning on some Oxford pants and maybe a straight skirt or a vest, if it works out.

It's almost worth the trip to Textile Fabrics just to pet the gorgeous woolens they've got...even if those super 150's are marked at $129/yard.... oh, they're nice!!!

I've got a couple of pieces still in processing from Gorgeous Fabrics' last sale; (those designer rayon knits...the brown I made the Jalie tank top from is so yummy I ordered another piece for a cardigan to go with it, plus a piece of gray while I was at it) but once those get here I'm going back on a 'no fabric' moratorium until I get some sewing done.

I need some work clothes! ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #25

This Month's Colors: White, gold or brown with blue jeans.
So, I'm wearing my Lee bootcut jeans with the brown poly blend Vogue 2975 pleated top and the white twill version of that Vogue 8045 jacket .

My sewing buddy Miss A and I are trekking up to Nashville tomorrow to check out Textile Fabrics annual 'half off everything' sale. I've got a short list of things I'm looking for, but, you never know when some unexpected jewel will start singing the inspiration song... ;)

Drought Breaking

So I finally finished the Burda denim vest and opened my Excel spreadsheet to record it and discovered that I did not complete a single project in June
I have to go back to September of last year to find another month in which I had nothing recorded on my list, and even then I did a wee bit of costume work. In June I did a teeny bit -- one afternoon's worth-- of mending. A day's worth of picking up/cleaning (which is not at all noticeable). And some fabric buying. But no finished garments.

So, after I saw my empty month, I decided I needed to do a couple of quick projects. I pulled out two of my recent acquisitions and quickly turned out two tops. So, after doing nothing all of June, I finished three garments yesterday. I need to get a good photo of the vest so I can write a review, and the other two will no doubt show up on choir posts very soon (brown is one of the colors for July). But, here's a quick photo of yesterday's sewing:


That's a Jalie 965 tank top, the Burda (formerly World of Fashion) May 2009 #108 vest (review coming soon) and another Burda (FWOF) May 2009 # 103 surplice top.
I didn't have enough fabric to cut sleeves (I intended to do at least cap sleeves, but couldn't manage it), and I *should've* pulled out a TNT sleeveless knit pattern to make sure the armseyes would work w/no sleeves. I've got some 1/8" elastic sewn into the lower front armholes to try and pull in the gapage that was going on there. It sort of worked. But, having no sleeves, the top will be worn under a jacket most of the time anyway. Maybe I'll remember this lesson next time.... ;)

Oh, the Princess walked by while I was cropping/resizing the photo and commented, 'That picture doesn't count because you're not wearing them.'

Can I roll my eyes?

Thursday's Children

posted by Lisa Laree to Sew Random.

I do try hard to keep 'Sew Random' focused on sewing; I use my other blog for discussing issues of personal faith. The Sew Random posts are from a life that is based on faith, but it is more of a foundational background here. However, there are times when what is in the background must be a bit more visible. This is one of those times. If you'll hang with me, you'll see that this really does have something to do with sewing, though...


In typical mixed-up fashion, I had a whole blog series based on the poem Thursday's Child. At the last minute (meaning just as I was writing this post), I decided to Google it and make sure I would quote the poem correctly.

Good thing I did. I had 'Thursday's Child' and 'Wednesday's Child' mixed up...it's 'Wednesday's Child' that's 'full of woe'.

See, I was going to to a series of posts about some kids who have very little joy in their lives...and I was going to do those posts on Thursdays for the next couple of months.

But, you know, 'Thursday's child has far to go' really is a much more positive thing to base a series on than '...is full of woe.'

So I'm going to keep the series name as I talk about some kids on the other side of the globe who have so very little, but they are beginning to have some hope. Because they *do* have 'far to go.'

And I'm going to present an opportunity to my bloggy friends to help them just a bit.

I don't have all the details down yet, but I will tell you that it involves stash purging. I'll say more as I get the rest of the plan myself.

But, in the meantime, here's the background story on the orphanage in Cupcui, Moldova:
Moldova Video
(note: the video was made a year or so ago; Stella's House II is open and housing girls; Stella's House III is currently under construction).

Never Fails

So, I'm working on a denim version of Burda May 2009 Vest, without the sleeves, and I'm at the topstitching stage.

Because the jeans topstitching thread I'm using is so bulky, I do it with the jeans thread in the bobbin and topstitch from the wrong side (it is an adventure in faith, let me tell you!).

So, anyway, my bobbin ran out last night. And I couldn't find the spool of jeans thread to refill it. That is, it wasn't with the other decorative thread and I didn't have a clue where else to look...it'd been quite a while since I'd last used it.

But, not to worry, I bought 2 mini-cones of jeans thread (they were on sale), so I knew I could use the second one. However, I didn't want to pull the shrink wrap off of it and have another loose thread tail in the sewing room if I could help it. But I was *really* tired last night and called it quits before I hunted for the opened cone.

Today I went in and sort of half-heartedly looked around for the missing thread cone. But I didn't see it and I decided my sewing time is too precious to use it hunting for something when I could just open the other cone, load up my bobbin and go to it.

So I pulled the shrink-wrap off the other cone, pulled the little sticky label off the bottom to free up the loose end and then looked around for the empty bobbin.

And immediately found the first cone of jeans thread sitting on my sewing table nestled right up behind the sewing machine.

Does this happen to anyone else, or am I the only one with such a scattered brain? ;)

Choir Sundays 09 # 24

Can you believe we are at the halfway point for 2009??? Unbelievable...

Anyway, this month's colors are fuschia, yellow and/or grey with jeans.
The Jacket is *still* the Vogue 8045 denim jacket, and the jeans are Gloria Vanderbilt RTW, which you've seen before, but the top is the scoop-neck view of Simplicity 4076. Love that pattern...!

I *am* working on an alternative for the denim jacket; hopefully I'll have something to show for it in the next couple of days!

Going a little Knit Nutty

And I succumbed to a fabric sale again; the fabric arrived earlier in the week, jumping my 'Fabric In' total to over 50 yards for the year...not good if I want to keep my purchases under 100 yards by the end of December.
But I know knits sew up quickly, and I really do need some more work-appropriate tops.

Not all were exactly what I expected (I'll 'splain that in a minute), but they are all lovely and I'm itching to find time to work on 'em:

The purple one hasn't been through the washer/dryer yet; the others have. The print runs vertically on a cotton/lycra blend; the rest are rayon/lycra jerseys. The heathery brown is pretty beefy, but the purple and the black are a bit on the sheer side (sorry for the blur, but you get the idea):





















I have a few ideas of what to do with something that is potentially see-through, all of which involve drapiness and/or multiple layers...or possibly lingerie. We'll see.

I'm wishing I'd bought more of the heathery brown now that I see it...it would make a fabulous twin set. Unfortunately, I was thinking 'one top' when I ordered it, so I don't think I can squeeze a twin set out of it.

That makes 11 pieces of knit fabric I have purchased for myself (I'm not counting the knits I bought to make The Flute Player garments) so far this year. I'm finding myself liking them so much that I've hit Fear of Cutting...I don't want to use them on something that's not wonderful. So I'm bouncing around from idea to idea as to what I want to make.

I need to quit bouncing and start cutting... ;)

More Baptismal Robe Musings

I'm rethinking the fabric a bit...perhaps a good choice would be ponte de roma? That's the stuff that cheerleader uniforms are made from; it's a stable doubleknit.

FFC has some blue poly ponte de roma, so I think we'll be able to get as much as we need.

So, I'll ask a variation on the same question...has anyone sewn w/the FFC stuff? Will it be too stiff/heavy for baptismal robes? We probably need something a bit beefy if we want to reduce the cling-when-wet factor we now have.

I sent the link to the folks who asked me to make the robes and I'm keeping my eyes open for a 'free shipping' sale...40 yards comes with a pretty hefty shipping charge, if I remember rightly.

So, we'll see what happens next. ;)

Choir Sundays '09 #23

I was busy with some other duties today, but I did manage to get to sing with the choir during second service (we have three Sunday morning services...), so I can post the 'choir outfit' for the day...

This Month's Choir Colors: Fuchsia, silver grey, or yellow w/ blue jeans.

I've got on the same ol' same ol' Vogue 8045 denim jacket, but this was the first time I've worn the modified City Dress shell, made from heavy grey lace underlined w/silvery grey rayon faille. It's been waiting for a good opportunity...and it just so happens to be the right shade of grey!

The Gloria Vanderbuilt jeans are pretty standard here, too.

Hopefully I can squeeze in some sewing this week...I survived the one-two punch of Teen Girls retreat and the jr high girl's lock-in by sleeping all day yesterday.

*yawn*

Baptism Robes on Order....opinions needed...

Attrition has taken its toll... enough baptism robes have gone missing that we've been asked to make 10 more. But, the last batch we made used all the fabric we had on hand, so I need to order more. Given that each robe takes 4 yards of fabric, we'll need a bunch. Plus, the request has been to get some slightly heavier fabric than we used before; it tends to cling when wet a little more than is desirable.

Anyway, we're looking for navy blue polyester crepe. I've done a little looking around on the web, but I'm not sure where I can find 40 yards. Does anyone have any experience w/JoAnn's 'Casa' crepe? I'm guessing it's pretty lightweight, since it's marketed for 'special occasion' use, but I thought I'd ask.

So...sometime in the next couple of months we'll be doing robes again...

A Jubilee Dress?

Nothin' like a week that is so crazy-busy I'm just hoping to make it through it to get me wishing I could just sit and sew...

But Carolyn's comment a couple of days ago about the Simplicity sheath dress pattern started me thinking.

And, y'know, this is the Jubilee year (I've been posting about it on Mondays over at my other blog)...which, being translated, means that I'm a few measly weeks away from my 50th birthday.

And, all of a sudden, I got an urge to make a fabulous dress to wear on my birthday.

And I have *NO* sewing time this week. None. Zip. Nada.

But...I can think about it...and, maybe next week, I'll have a plan... ;)

No Choir Sunday today...

I had other duties today and didn't get to sing in the choir; looks like next week will be a repeat. I *did* dress for choir today, so I suppose I could post a photo, but, well, it 'just don't seem right' to do that.

But I am thinking about NEXT month's colors...white and gold w/blue jeans. Actually, I think the plan is to wear white shirts w/gold accessories, or something like that.

But my summer white shirt wardrobe is pretty skimpy. I did get 3 or 4 pieces of white shirting last year that I haven't cut into yet; maybe I should just declare next week (as in the one that starts a week from today) as 'White Shirt Week' and see if I can at least get one made?

This week is the annual MPact girls camp; I'm workin' Mon-Wed, going to camp Thur-Fri and then doing the Jr High Girls lock-in on Friday night into Saturday morning.

So I don't think I'm gonna get much sewing done. Shoot, I may not get much ANYTHING done....

Patterns In...

Since I subscribed to Burda (formerly World of Fashion) Magazine, I've found that my pattern-buying has dropped off significantly. I'm not sure if that's due to the monthly arrival of more patterns than I could sew before the next batch arrives, or due to the fact that I *am* getting much more discretionary in my pattern-buying.

I can't say how many times I've looked at new pattern offerings and realized I already had something in my sizable stash that is pretty close, or could see how to alter up a similar pattern to have the details in the new releases.

Aside from kids' patterns, which I don't catalog because they're outgrown, I've only purchased 8 patterns so far this year.

And I just realized I haven't talked about them on the blog yet. Oh, I AM slipping!

Anyway, the first batch was back in April, at one of Hancock's dollar sales. I actually found a few Simplicity patterns that met my criteria of being sufficiently different from something already in the stash to come home. (Simplicity's site seems to be down at the moment, I'll have to link to the info at Pattern Review...)

Anyway, two of them were popular wardrobe patterns, but I'm not expecting to use them for multiple wardrobe items. 2977 is worth a dollar and a place in the cabinet for the gathered surplice tank top/dress. I'll probably make the top first, then, if I like it, I'll make the dress. Same thing with 2938; I like that pleated neckline. I think that will look good under a jacket for choir at some point.

The other Simplicity pattern is 2648. I'm accumulating sheath dress patterns...probably in order to build up my nerve to actually try one. That's one of those garments that I'd rather not fit to a pudgy body, but, well, I think as soon as I can find the time I'm going to give it a go anyway. Cut and fitted well, in the right fabric, it could be a Good Thing. Maybe. And this one has lots of fitting details in it, so I think it'll be a good candidate.

Since I'm also steeling my nerve to make jeans, I decided to try Jalie's stretch jeans pattern, 2908. I like the fact that it also has The Flute Player's size in it...I can, hopefully, make her some custom-fitted jeans for the next school year and not have to do the mall crawl to find something that reasonably fits her two-sizes-different waist and hips. But first, some that will fit my two-sizes-in-the-other-direction different waist and hips....

Since I was ordering that pattern from Pattern Review, I also ordered Jalie's twinset, 2566. I like the narrow banding on the cardigan...narrower than my favorite Kwik Sew twin set pattern. I think the narrow line is a little more, um, youthful? Otherwise, it looks like it will be constructed in just the same way. (and yes, I could've possibly just narrowed the band on the KS cardi...but I hadn't done it YET and ordering more patterns got me free shipping...). I did order one of Jalie's swimsuit patterns, but it turned out to be out of print and no longer available. :( .

The rest were from the most recent stop at Hancock's during a McCalls/Vogue sale. I got another surplice knit dress pattern...McCall's 5752, which humbly calls itself 'The Perfect Knit Dress.'. Um, we'll see about that, but I do like the neckline that is high in the back and v'd in the front. Very flattering on Women of A Certain Age. The other McCall's pattern I picked up is the Palmer/Pletsch's 'The Perfect Jean' (am I seeing a trend here?). Thought I needed a pattern for non-stretch denim, doncha know.

Finally, I did get one Vogue pattern: a Badgley Mischka skirt suit, 1065. I really had to get past the yukky color of the suit on the pattern cover, but it has nice lines and might be a good 'fool the eye into thinking I've got some curves left' outfit. We'll see.

Inspiration galore! Now, back to tracing that B(WOF) vest... ;)

How 'Bout a Vest?

Maybe a variation on a jacket would be nice...I've been eyeing This Vest Pattern in May's issue of Burda (formerly World of Fashion) magazine...and, hm, maybe a denim vest would be a good thing to use to just put a light layer over t-shirts for choir. It'd, um, cover some issues that a cotton/lycra or rayon/lycra t might not camouflage quite as well as I'd like.

Now, if I make it w/the little cap sleeves, I could wear sleeveless tops under it (sleeveless tops are one of the few no-nos in choir). But...any of my cap sleeve tops might look a little goofy under a cap sleeved vest. And most of my tops have at least cap sleeves, so I *can* wear them in choir.

I'll probably trace the sleeves and decide when I cut it out... ;)

Choir Sundays 09 #22

This month's colors: Blue jeans w/ bright yellow, fuschia or silver grey.

Ok, I made this top a really, really long time ago, and I really like it, but I never wore it for choir because we never wore gray. So, today...tada! I get to wear it! ;)

It's Textile Studios Monaco Shell, modified just a tinch to add the nice vertical 'seam', made from grey poly/rayon jersey. I think...it was a long time ago... ;)

The jacket you'll be seeing a lot this summer...my one blue denim jacket (I need to make another! I'm studyin' on it...), Vogue 8045.

The jeans are straight-legged Gloria Vanderbilts, worn mostly because they didn't need heels... ;)

I'm really giving some thought to what my next sewn garments should be...I could just keep pulling fabric off the new acquisitions pile, but, as fun as that would be, I think I need to be a little more intentional. I do need some things for choir this summer, so I'm going to be making a mental list while I'm cleaning away in the sewing nook in the 10 and 15 minute increments that seem to be all I'm getting... ;)

It's just me, isn't it?

Fanning myself with whatever's handy. Nobody else seems to feel the heat.

But I could put up with that; what's distressing me the most is that I'm trying to deny what else is happening.

I'm finding myself reluctant to commit my nice fabrics to clothes that fit because...I don't want to fit the body that, um, has been growing on me in the last six months or so.

Hormones? Um, probably. And I'm frustrated by the low back problems that have so far this year kept me from doing any kind of real exercise program to whittle my middle.

I don't even recognize myself in the mirror or in photos. Clothes that I loved last year look really bad this year. And, while I know the concept of 'fit the body you have,' I am not at all motivated to do that. This is not the body I want.

I'm not really looking for sympathy; I'm just publicly acknowledging something that I have not really been wanting to admit to myself...that part of my low personal sewing production this year may be due to a dissatisfaction with what I'm working with here at least as much (maybe more) than it is due to an abundance of volunteer sewing projects. The volunteer stuff has just been an easy way to avoid facing the truth.

So that's my Friday confession. I feel better now.

One of those weeks...

We had a 'surprise' last week in our girl's ministry and had to get ready to do our annual awards ceremony w/one week's notice. So I spent the last few days making awards necklaces and trying to coax a balky printer into printing my certificates.

But the service went ok last night and it's done. Today was 'appointments out of the house' day and tomorrow...well, tomorrow I'm doing laundry and cleaning the sewing room.

Or at least working at it. It's going to take a while to get order restored back there, but we've got to do some remodel work on the sunroom (remember the leaks?) so I've got to pull all my sewing stuff out of there and put it...somewhere else. For at least a little while.

Dunno when I'll slip in a sewing project. But, hey, organizing the sewing space counts for something...right? ;)

Mantle Ceremony

I guess putting the names on the mantles confused folks a bit; when they were used, the folks praying for them had them on right-side-out, so when they moved them they ended up on the graduates inside-out. But...whatever. It worked.




This is The Artist, with the Pastor he chose to pray over him. Pastor Pat was the youth pastor of our church when we first started attending; The Artist was in the 8th grade. Now Pastor Pat is the College and Career pastor and it was cool to see the mantle passing.

It's going to be odd not to have a kid in that program next year; we've had one in HMC since it started 5 years ago...

Anyway, it's humbling to see something I worked on used in such a significant event.

ETA: The Princess took some photos from the sound booth at the back of the sanctuary; that's all the mantles on the graduates...

Choir Sundays 09 #21

This Month's colors: Turquoise and black
Jacket: Textile Studios 'Florence Jacket', in black poly/rayon crepe suiting.

Top: Modified Loes Hinse's City Dress, in silk/lycra charmeuse, matte side out.

Pants: Black cotton twill Vogue 7881

Next month we go to blue jeans. I have Jalie's Stretch Jeans pattern on order from Pattern Review...the Reviews on it have been pretty favorable...and I've got some cheap white stretch twill from the dollar table at Wal-Mart to use as a muslin. I intend to get jeans that fit for both me and The Flute Player....soon...

And, for those who are interested and have time, the Huntsville Master's Commission graduation (for which I made those mantles) will be broadcast live on the web starting at 6 PM Central...just click on the 'my church' link on the sidebar...

A Me Project...

I pretty much just grabbed the top piece off the 'new acquisitions' pile and made an from-the-gut snap decision as to what to make from it.

It was one yard of a graphic printed rayon/lycra jersey, and in pretty short order it became a scoop-neck Simplicity 4076 T.
I didn't think about how the neckline gathers would affect the print, so the curve-emphasis was something of a surprise.

But it's a comfy t for errand running...days when I need to be out but not dressed up much.

It was kinda fun to just whip something out. I need to do more of that. ;)

Stage Photos

On the last make up day of the school year...The Actor brought home the CD w/the photos from Aida. So I can finally share the costuming photos!

Note: All Photo credits are to Jeff White


First up are the bathing dresses that we began with...first, we altered a maternity jumper, then cut the dresses and linings. But the linings were struck, and the dresses narrowed significantly even beyond the original alterations. We added the side slits so the girls could walk. I altered the patterns and cut all these out, but I did very little sewing on them.


Then, the matte jersey dresses (there are two more that weren't in the photo). The ones that we made, then had to redraft the skirt. I made the brown one and the three in shades of blue, and I applied the trim to the front of Amneris's robe (it was embroidered organza).



These are the chiffon skirts that I hemmed. I can tell that some of the girls didn't get the 'back' of the skirt in the 'back'! You can almost see the cummerbunds I contributed to for the two guards that are standing on the 'floor' level; the girls' arms are exactly in the wrong place! Oh, and check out the silhouettes of guards on either side of the throne; there were a number of scenes that utilized that silhouette look, with different lighting and colors...it was very effective.


















I cut out all the wedding attendants dresses and made 4 of them; I also did the gold lining on the train, although someone else did the hand stitch finish work on the top and bottom edges. I'm still blown away by the fabulousness of that bridal gown!



And, for Grandma, one of the Actor singing his little heart out in 'Like Father, Like Son'. I didn't make any of his costume...that was one of the 'ministers' costumes, but the costumers (There were 35 listed in the program!) all referred to them as 'Jedi Jackets'.

So...that's this year's labor! Who knows what we'll be doing next year; there's a changing of the guard at the magnet school so about anything could happen....

Mantles Done!

I have to say, playing Scrabble while stitching away was a whole different experience...I didn't spend my opponents' turns hoping none of them would use 'my spot'! Maybe I should take a hand sewing project to every Scrabble night...

Anyway, I sewed all the turn openings closed and put tassels on two of them while playing two games; I finished sewing the tassels on the other four after I got home. I was close enough to 'finish' that I had to keep going.

And now, for the first time this year, I do not have a volunteer sewing project due date looming (that could change quickly if the word comes that we will be doing a Dickens production at Christmas, though).

I'm ready to do some wardrobe building!

It's down to hand sewing...

I finished the Mantles last night to the hand-sewing...closing the opening through which I turned 'em right side out and adding the tassels to the bottom point. I'm working today, and tonight is our monthly Scrabble party, so I'm not sure how much I'll get done.

I am planning to take 'em with me tonight, though, and stitch while I await my turn...instead of shuffling letters around to make words on spots that probably won't be available to me by the time it gets back around anyway. :-D

I also made a trip to Hancock's yesterday to take advantage of their Memorial Day sale. Didn't come home with a huge bag, but I did get a chunk of fabric and three patterns, in addition to just some generic notions. I'll talk about that another day!

And many thanks to the ladies who gave me the 'Attitude of Gratitude' award; I'll have to pass that along later in the week too!

Thank You

Memorial Day can sometimes get lost in the relief of 'a day off'...for some, like My Sweet Baboo, it's the first 'day off' since New Year's Day and a much welcomed break in the routine.

But it is not just a 'holiday'...it is a solemn time of remembrance of those who have sacrificed their lives and their loved ones so the rest of us could live in a freedom that a large portion of the world's population cannot comprehend.

We can worship in any church of any denomination without fear of legal consequences.

We can choose our own government from virtually the entire population...not just rubberstamp the candidates the ruling party chooses for us.

We can then criticize that government freely without fear of reprisal.

We have rule of law, not rule of a dictator's whim.

Each of us can choose our own occupation.

I could go on, but the truth is that we are very, very blessed in this country...and we have maintained that blessing largely due to the bravery and sacrifice of men and women who have served and are serving in our country's military services.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you and God bless you.

Choir Sundays '09 #20

This Month's Colors: Black w/turquoise

I finished the New Look 6407 blouse in cotton/lycra poplin last night so I wore it today. This is the last turquoise piece in the queue, and it's not even the last Sunday of the month....

I do have a cami top on under it; that top button really is pretty low. I'll comment on that in the review...

I'm also wearing my sandwashed microfiber Sewing Workshop Plaza Pants. They're beginning to show their age (5 years?) and really need to be replaced soon...

I Missed It!

Arg, I've been on the 'net less than I realized!

I didn't participate in SWAP competion this year; the calendar was just too full. But I did look forward to looking at all the wardrobes and voting. I dropped by Stitcher's Guild every once in a while and took a peek at some of the wardrobes, but basically I just thought I'd look at 'em all at once when the voting started.

I went over and found out that the winners had just been announced! And I didn't vote or anything!

Wow. Time flies when you're...really busy...

Sewing ahead...

My buddy The Embroidery Queen brought the mantles to me last night; the letters/numbers are GORGEOUS and I'm so happy to have that TAKEN CARE OF!!!!

I was able to return the unuseable appliques to the company from which I purchased them; I don't know if they'll give me all the money back or only a portion but at least I don't have to look at them anymore. I learned my lesson on that one!

So...my holiday weekend sewing will include finishing the mantles (I'm guessing I've got about 45 minutes - an hour's worth of work to do on each one yet; there are 6). Graduation is a week from Sunday (and will be broadcast live on the 'net, so, Yay! the Artist's grandparents can watch!); if I deliver them on Tuesday that will be plenty of time.

And, just because I am forever the optimist, I've got some turquoise cotton/lycra poplin laid out on the cutting table for my first go at the very popular New Look 6407. I'd like to wear it in choir on Sunday....

Well, we'll see...

Tryin' to get the beat

I'm finding it really difficult to post when I'm not sewing. That's kind of new; I did a daily post for so long that it feels kind of, oh, weird and disconnected to skip posting.

But when I've said all I can say about the last project, and the new one isn't ready to talk about yet, I'm having a hard time putting words together for a post. I've actually missed one or two days other than the intentional Wednesday and Saturday 'days off'...and I don't like that.

Somehow I've lost my rhythm; I don't know if I'll ever get it back or if I'll have to learn an entirely new one.

I kinda suspect it will be the latter.

Shoulder Query

I posted the review of the Burda Top I wore yesterday, and mentioned that I thought the drafting in the shoulder was rather odd. Some discussion ensued, so I thought I'd post some photos of what I was talking about.

So, I did a quick copy of the bodice upper front and upper back pieces straight off the pattern sheet w/no seam allowances. You can see how far offset the front shoulder is from the back shoulder:
















Now, there may be an entirely rational reason for this. It may be a stroke of pattern drafting GENIUS to draft this way. But I have extremely narrow shoulders which also happen to be pretty square, and I have lots of trouble with front necklines draping and gaping. And this looked to me like a prime candidate for neckline droopage. So I whacked away on my piece to pull that shoulder up...and ended up using what I'd added as facing as filler so I wouldn't have a huge kink in the neckline. You can see my altered piece (which does have seam allowances and has also been lengthened an inch) compared to the original here:
















Here's a better shot of the altered-up front piece:
















And a photo of what I did to the back to make it all match:






















Anyway, what I did worked great for me; the shoulders are very nearly spot on and the neckline is fine. But that may just be due to my particular set of fitting issues (narrow square shoulders). So I will no doubt continue to alter my BWOF tops this way.

But, because I'm curious... can someone enlighten me as to the rationale of the offset shoulders?