Choir Sundays 2010 #12

(A pretty day...breezy...but pretty!)
March colors: Black/grey/yellow w/blue jeans.

This is the Jalie 965 tank top and Jalie 2566 Cardigan, both from the charcoal gray yummy 'designer rayon knit' that came from Gorgeous Fabrics, with the Lee bootcuts and the plastic yellow jewelry again.

Also, got the official word today: we are adding another service in June, on Saturday nights. There's talk of a rotation w/the choir, so that everyone will not be singing all 4 services, but splitting into teams and rotating through somehow. Not sure yet how that will affect Choir Sundays...we'll see...

Gorgeous Fabrics Week 10

Since the Flute Player has outgrown a number of tops this this spring, I figured I'd better get a few things made for her if I could. I pulled out the last of several orange-based pieces of fabric that I ordered from Ann about a year ago specifically for her, as orange is her favorite color, and looked for a pattern to use.

I decided to try something a little different, and traced off the boat-neck version of Jalie 2005, in a size S this time (I think the last tracing I had for her was a 'P'...she's really shot up in the past year), and I used the cap sleeve from Jalie 965.

I had to take a sharpie and write 'BACK' on the turned under portion of the back neckline...*I* had trouble telling the front from the back, and I knew which way I'd flipped the shoulder seams!

She's happy.

I had a fair sized chunk of fabric left...I'd only gotten a yard of this, but it was 70" wide. So I scraped and pieced a Jalie 965 tank top for her out of it; that may be my 'catch up' garment early next week! ;)

From Pillar to Post

As in, running from one to the other.

My Sweet Baboo is out of town this week; the annual SDM conference has taken him to Orlando this year. I count the days he's gone in terms of mornings that I have to make sure the two still-in-school kids meet their morning timelines...ordinarily, MSB takes The Actor to his bus stop on his way to work; it throws a bit of a glitch in my morning when I've got to get him off and then come back and get The Flute Player out the door.

Hopefully, next year they will be at the same school, and life will be much easier.

But, aside from that, it's been a busy week. The only evening I *didn't* have to be somewhere else I spent running errands. So...no sewing so far this week, although I'm very close to having the-next-size-up Jalie 2005 traced off for the Flute Player so I can crank out a couple of tops for her soon. Seems like I just get one traced and then it's too small...love those multi-sized Jalies!!

Anyway, in the evening phone conversations with My Sweet Baboo, I inquired as to where the SDM conference will be in the next few years. He told me it will be in Denver next year, Honolulu the year after, and in Boston in 2013.

I want to go to Boston with him.

There are *lots* of sewing blogger/sewing board buddies in the area; there's great fabric stores in the area and it's a day trip to the NY Garment district...right?

I could have such fun while he's sitting in stodgy conference sessions!

Better start saving my pennies now ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 #11

This was another one of those marathon days at church...and the photo was taken afterward. So, yeah, I look pretty tired. And my *usual* fashion photographer wasn't available, so The Flute Player filled in. I definitely need to give her some pointers about taking pictures. But, well, it is what it is. I had to wait until the computer was available to post the photo (homework takes precedence!), and I'm waaaayyyyy sleepy (as in my ears are ringing)...you wouldn't believe the typos I've made just this far. I hope I catch 'em all before I hit 'post'...

March colors are black, charcoal gray and yellow, with blue jeans. In addition to the dark wash boot cut Lees, I'm wearing a black silk/lycra charmeuse modified Loes Hinse City Dress shell, my gray wool/lycra Loes Hinse Bolero Jacket, and a $5 crinkled scarf from Wally World.

The rest of the month will probably be some variation on what I've worn already. I suppose I ought to just break down and make myself a yellow tank top so I can layer it under black, since it really looks like yellow is going to show up in the rotation at least once a year.

I'll think about that tomorrow. ;)

Gorgeous Fabrics Week...9...

Yeah, I missed week 8, so I'm a garment behind.
But, since the spring play has completely fallen through, I may be able to catch up next week. We'll see. ;)





Anyway, this pitiful hanger shot is Burda 05-2009-108, from black cotton/lycra sateen. The vest really looks a lot more polished in real life; the only real problem is that it is a lint magnet!!! Must keep lint roller handy...

I don't know when I'll manage to get a photo of it actually on me; I don't have any tops to wear with it for choir this month, although it'll probably get worn quite a bit in future months. Maybe I'll wear it to work this week and get a photo then.

Scatch That

Once the dominoes start falling, they just keep going...

After 2 rehearsals, Six Characters has also been scratched...besides the impossibly tight schedule, it turns out that there are some issues raised in the play that are, well, inconvenient for the student body at large at this time (an alumnus committed suicide a couple of weeks ago; the play ends with one of the characters shooting himself).So.

The kids are to consider over the weekend and come up with either monologues or small group skits to do for a showcase night.

It'll give them something to work on, and hopefully by next year there will be order and purpose in the house once more.

I don't handle roller coasters well; I'm feeling a little dizzified...

The Tragic End of Macbeth...

Tragedy takes many forms...some are devastating, some merely discouraging.

The production of Macbeth has had a rather sudden demise...a multitude of factors contributed to it, not the least being that, in this uncertain economic climate, with school funding at critical levels, our director/drama teacher found an opportunity for employment in a well-funded private school and took the opportunity.

Who can blame him? He has a mortgage to pay like everybody else and he didn't have tenure.

But that left Macbeth quite without direction.

So, the magnet coordinator, our tech theater teacher and a young lady who was helping with Macbeth and who has completed her bachelor's in theater teamed up to produce another play; the kids auditioned last night, the cast was set today, and they will rehearse virtually every day this month to stay with the original opening night of April 30.

The new play is Six Characters in Search of an Author...not something I recognized, which I suppose shows my ignorance as I'm told it is a classic piece, written early in the 20th century. It is a bit abstract and cerebral...not the kind of theater that *I* particularly care for, but the kids are excited about doing it.

Which is good, because they're going to be working awfully hard.

I, however, am not going to be doing nearly so much. The costuming for this show is going to be via procurement, not production. It's going to be costumed in contemporary garb, so the kids will likely have a good bit of stuff in their own closets. I'd rather sew than run around looking for things, but, well, you do what you gotta do.

I probably won't post much about it; mostly because I have a distinct feeling of not knowing what in the world I'm doing.

But I might have a chance at getting back on track w/my 12 garments in 12 weeks plan...we'll see...

Praying for Shannon

If you recall, I mentioned that during my 12 weeks of sewing Gorgeous Fabrics, I meant to use the time to pray for Ann...and, just as I was starting the challenge, I learned of another sewing friend who was battling cancer, so I've been using my sewing time to pray for her, also. I didn't mention her name, because she said she was not being very public about it.

However,the news has now gone pretty public, so I thought I'd share a bit about my friend.

Most of the folks in the online sewing community know and love Shannon Gifford; Shannon has taught numerous online classes at PatternReview, written fabric sewing tips for Emma One Sock, written articles for Threads magazine, published the online sewing newsletter 'Sensible Sewing'...she's been visible online, and always helpful and gracious.

But beyond that, Shannon grew up in my neck of the woods and I've had the privilege of meeting her In Real Life on her trips back this way to visit family. She is just as helpful and gracious in person as she is on line. It has been a treat to know her.

I knew she was in a battle; I didn't know the scope of the battle until I happened to stumble across a chat that pointed me to a discussion thread on the Pattern Review boards that lead me to the blog about her battle.

I haven't been very active on the boards for quite a while; I'd missed a lot of earlier discussion, I think. I found the info just in time to read today's post that the doctors have pronounced the cancer no longer treatable.

Both Shannon and her husband have displayed remarkable faith and courage throughout; you can read the whole story on their blog.

I've got 4 more garments to make from my Gorgeous Fabrics; as I'm sewing them, I will of course be praying for Ann...with the fabric being a direct point of contact to her...but I'll also be holding Shannon in my heart and praying for her as well.

I'd like to encourage my friends in bloggy land to pray for them, too.

Choir Sundays 2010 #10

Colors for Easter weekend: black/charcoal gray/yellow w/black pants

Not very Easter-y, I know...after I got to church, I suddenly remembered that I have a lovely black eyelet skirt that would've been very nice to wear today, but, I was stuck in a pants mindset for some reason.

They're my black stretch cotton sateen LaFred Daphne pants. These pants always look better in the mirror, I think. Every time I see a photo of them I make a mental note to pull them out and tweak the fit a bit...anyway.

I've also got on my gray rayon/lycra Jalie 965 tank top and my black rayon matte jersey Simplicity 4076 Surplice top. And the yellow plastic jewelry again. ;)

You may very well see that yellow plastic jewelry every Sunday this month. ;)

Choir Saturday?

Well, in order to accommodate all the folks we anticipate coming to church this weekend, we added a Saturday night service just like the services on Sunday. So the choir sang and we were in black/gray/yellow. This is 2/3 of my new Double twinset...the Jalie cardi and Christine Jonson's Basewear Two turtleneck shell, made from yummy rayon/lycra jersey knit from Gorgeous Fabrics. And, since it's Easter Weekend, we're wearing black pants (or skirts!) instead of jeans. I have my old reliable Vogue 7881 pants from black cotton twill, one of my best Wal-Mart dollar table finds ever.

The yellow plastic jewelry is my nod to the color; I just *couldn't* do Easter weekend in black and gray. I snagged a scarf at Wal-Mart that I may wear tomorrow...haven't decided yet. Yellow and I generally are not on speaking terms. ;)

And I have a confession...I am not going to get my 8th Gorgeous Fabrics garment done before midnight. It's all cut out, and the interfacing is on, but, well, I knew it'd be dicey once we started cranking on Macbeth. Incidentally, we started cranking, then one of the gears stripped out, so I'm rather on hold on that at the moment. But I did get all the kids measured; I should know by Monday what direction we'll be heading.

But, throw that AND Easter weekend preparation/extra services in my week and I just flat ran outta time. But I did manage a garment a week for 7 straight weeks; that wasn't too bad! I *will* finish all 12 garments...it's just going to take a fuzz longer than 12 weeks now.

Gettin' busy...

I've got all but one of the kids measured for the Macbeth cast (or should I say, 'the Scottish play? No, we're performing it...I'm good... ;) ). I'm going to drive up to Sirs on Friday to see if I can buy a large quantity of lightweight black fabric, with a substantial quantity of grey fabric to go along with it. We've got 11 witches in the cast, plus Hecate, who are all going to be in shredded Bible costumes of layered black and grey.

Planning to cut on Monday.

Meantime, I have my next Gorgeous Fabrics project on the cutting board...a Burda Magazine vest from some black cotton/lycra sateen. I've been needing a black vest for ages; and I made this pattern up once before in denim, so I'm pretty confident it will work. I did pinch 1/2" out of the front armsceye and rotate it into the front dart to see if I could reduce the gapishness of the armhole; we'll see if it worked. That'll be the first time I actually put that principle into practice.

But it's a busy, busy week; I'm really going to have to push hard to get that project done...

Choir Sundays 2010 # 9

(sheesh, blogger's acting WE-IRD today; I moderated a comment on yesterday's post that shows up if you click on '0 comments', but isn't registered as being there; doesn't show up on the 'edit posts' page, either...well, anyway...)

March Choir Colors: Green and black w/blue jeans


It's the Lee Bootcut jeans again along with my black poly/rayon Textile Studio Florence Jacket and the Burda 8/2009 blouse I finished yesterday.

It's funny; last week I wore the blouse I originally purchased this fabric for...felt marvelous in it, loved wearing it, love the blouse...and got ZERO comments on it. Today, I wore the bonus blouse and wasn't at all sure the style suited me and was even wondering if I would hang on to it or not and I got 5 - 6 compliments; some from people I barely knew. So I guess I'll keep it.

We took a couple of other photos of just the blouse, both tucked in and untucked (sorry for the wrinkles), since it is tunic length. It looks better when belted, but I need a belt to hold up my jeans and two belts just DON'T work.

I'm not crazy about the way the sleeves/armholes look, but under a jacket it's ok.

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: Week 7

Ann tends to cut fabric generously; after I cut The vintagey tie-neck blouse from the green silk jacquard, I found I had a generous yard-and-a-quarter left over. Plenty for another top, so long as it was on the simple side.

I decided to try one of my Burda magazine patterns. I picked a little shell top from the August '09 issue that's gotten several favorable reviews, looks pretty cute and requires 1 1/4 yards of fabric.



I didn't have anyone around to do a photo; I'll get one in the next day or two and post a review.

However, I had some issues with the blouse that no one else mentioned. I think part of the problem is that the 42 that I traced is simply Too Big in the shoulders/upper chest, the neckline is way wider on me than other reviewers. So it kind of shifts around, which makes me feel like the flounce is lopsided.

I used the rolled hem foot on my sewing machine to hem the flounces and I'm not terribly adept at it... I think I inadvertently stretched the edges. And, since the rolled edge foot requires sewing down one flounce and up the other, the stretching is not symmetrical; one side curls under, the other curls out, which also adds to the lopsided feeling.

I changed one element; instead of using a button-and-loop on the neckline, I made bias tubes for a tie closure; I like that. I may put beads on the bottom of the ties...haven't decided yet.

This one may sit in the closet for a while before I decide if I like it or not. If I make it again, I will definitely use a smaller size above the bust.

Later that same day... I did a check and found that the left side of the flounce *did* come farther up the neckline than the right side. So I did some unpicking and refolding and now they do, technically, match. Why didn't I think to do that before I put the facing on??? *smacks head* That didn't help the asymetric draping, but at least I know the thing's even. I'm still not sure about this style; the double-folded armhole hems wing up a bit. Don't think there's anything to be done about that... I'll put details on the review, when I get it written.

Burda Already?

I was shocked to pull the April issue of Burda Style magazine out of my mailbox yesterday...a whole week before April arrives!

Something in the shipping/distribution must've changed significantly; Burda used to arrive the first week of the issue month.

Haven't had a chance to look through it yet; think I'll do that while I munch breakfast.

Choir Sundays 2010 # 8

March choir colors; Kelly green and black with blue jeans

Why the vest (Burda 05-2009-108)? Well, My Sweet Baboo and I have lay leadership positions in church, and we have magnetic name tag/badges that we wear, but we can't wear them in choir. So I needed a top layer so I could get the badge on/off easily. A black vest would've been a lot better, but, um I forgot about the black velveteen vest that's also lurking in the closet and just grabbed the denim one.

I tried tucking the shirt in, but it looked way too American Old West, so I just let it be untucked.

Um, it's the Coldwater Creek bootcuts this week, and the OOP McCall's blouse that was fresh off the sewing machine last night. Here's the review...

But I gotta say, I *love* this blouse!!! It feels very elegant on. How many do you suppose my wardrobe could stand?

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: Week 6

I barely finished this one...sewed on the last button at 11:30 PM.

I'm planning to wear it to church tomorrow; I'll get a real photo then.

G'night. ;)

Tryin' to keep up!

View A is the next Gorgeous Fabrics project...I cut it out of the green silk jacquard I got in December (I think Ann still has some on her site) today and made the collar/tie and got the slit in the back faced. I also covered 4 buttons (Hancock's had NOTHING that would work) and made a skinny bias strap for button loops...the pattern calls for thread loops, but those are awfully hard to button behind your head. The button loops were a little tricky to put in; I was really working blind and had to do one of them three times. Still not terribly happy with it, but as the silk is delicate I'm not going to pick it out again. Movin' on to the tucks in the front.

I *hope* to finish it tomorrow night, so I'm still on schedule with a garment a week. But this has been a busy week and I've had to really push to get this much done. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Cucumber Costumes

I'm one of the teachers for the Junior High girls class on Wednesday nights at church; this being Spring Break, we decided not to have a lesson, since so many of the girls are traveling. Instead, I revived an idea from my former stint as youth group leader at our former church and we had the 'First Annual Friends Club Very Veggie Pickle Party' this evening.

It was purely coincidence that the party fell on St. Patrick's Day.

We ate Veggie pizza, watched the most recent Veggie Tales release, and had a costumed cucumber contest.

11 of the girls brought costumed cucumbers in; quite a variety (although we did have two Johnny Depp characters...Jack Sparrow and The Mad Hatter):


Actually, The Flute Player is the one who made the Jack Sparrow Cuke, with a teeny bit of help from her sister. I just told her where a box of scraps was...I was really surprised to see that she used a piece of fusible interfacing for his 'shirt'. And the vest? Gorgeous Fabrics brown rayon/lycra jersey. Too funny...

Choir Sundays 2010 #7

March Choir Colors: Kelly green and black w/blue jeans

Hey, might as well wear the new shirt, right? Jalie 2682, in the Gorgeous Fabrics green rayon jersey, worn with the Vogue 8305 Cardi-wrap, which, if I remember right, is also a rayon jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics. I've got the points tied at the back of my neck...mostly just to keep the sweep under control.

And the Lee bootcuts. Again.












And, just for the record, this is the green shirt by itself:






















Yeah, I think cap sleeves would've been better. Oh, well. It'll be under a jacket mostly anyway.

I know these aren't great pics...but I was at church for 11 1/2 hours today. I'm beat...zzzzzzzzzz....

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics - Week 5

Yeah, it's wrinkled and it's on a hanger, but it's done! I'll take a better photo when I wear it (and it really is darker than it looks in this pic!).

I probably should've gone with cap sleeves instead of just short sleeves (borrowed from Jalie 2005, btw). It'd probably have looked a teensy bit more uptown. But, well, I just grabbed what was handy. Actually, I think I like this top best sleeveless, but I work in an office in which sleeveless tops are discouraged...and we have great fluctuation in temperature; for some reason my office is one that experiences the extremes. Other parts of the building will be ok, but mine will either be a refrigerator or an oven; I wanted to be able to pull my jacket off if we went into oven mode... ;)

Now I've pretty much sewn all the quick knit tops; heading into the wovens. And MacBeth costumes (lunch meeting on Wednesday of next week to get the direction).

Taking a deep breath....

First order of the year

And, well, it's ok.

I got the black sensuade...and I'd be delighted, except for one little detail.

The folks at fabricdotcom neglected to mention that this fabric has some fused-on rather sticky (as in grabby...like rubber...not like honey) interfacing applied to the wrong side.

















I'm not entirely sure it will work for trim applications now; the interfacing may show on a cut edge. Rats! I may just have to use it for purses/bags; I think it will be just fine for that.

The doubleknit is very nice; feels a little syntheticy to my hand, but, well, it *is* about 3/4 polyester, so I shouldn't be surprised. It will make very nice exercise/chill out pants. Actually, it'd probably make a killer little black dress, too, but I don't really *need* a killer little blac dress. I *do* need exercise/chill out pants.

And I love that plaid.





It'll definitely make a shirt that will be the one to wear when I need to be bright. ;)

What Iron Resolve???

Just yesterday, on my way to work, I gave myself a Serious Talking To.

About how I have way more fabric than I can possibly sew in any reasonable amount of time.

About how I'm plain out of fabric storage space.

About how I need to trim expenses from the budget.

Yes, I believed. I could go without adding to the stash.

Now, that's not 'go without buying fabric'...because I was totally ok with purchasing something to be made immediately into a garment that was needed. But buying something for the stash...just because I liked it...yeah, I could hold off.

You know what happened, don't you?

I got an email from fabricdotcom this morning, with a sale. I clicked through, and found that one of the fabrics on sale is Sensuade. Now, about 8 years ago I bought a piece of lightweight black faux suede at Hancock's and have used it for trimming on a couple of jackets. It didn't ravel, it stretched slightly, and it was WONDERFUL. I have been looking in vain for more for the last couple of years. When I saw 'premium suede that will not ravel when cut,' I knew I'd found my, um, really nice grail. Specially at $9.99/yard...I think I paid $15.99/yd for the 3/4 yard piece I got way back when.

So much for not stashing.

They had listed that there were 8 yards of black left; I got an order off quick for 2 yards of it.

And, since I had been bemoaning my lack of not-sweatsuit-looking knit pants, I got some black Poly-rayon-spandex double knit so I have some pants that I can wear to the chiropractor, to physical therapy (if I have to do that again) or even just doing the back exercises at home without looking like I'm a complete slob.

That put me within $4 of free shipping, so you know I couldn't leave it at that. I have some woven shirt patterns I want to try, so I looked through the shirtings and fell in love with a vivid plaid

That was well enough for free shipping; I checked out quick before I got any more.

So, if I squeaked in before the black suede sold out, I've got 8 yards on the way.

I'm telling myself it's a little treat to make up for missing the Expo. And, since I've already sewn almost 18 yards up so far this year, I *technically* haven't added to the stash.

Right? Right??? ;)

Crossing my fingers that there was still some black left... ;)

Choir Sundays 2010 #6

March colors: kelly green and/or black with blue jeans
So, yeah, the green top I finished yesterday, Jalie 965 from green rayon/lycra jersey from Gorgeous Fabrics, is paired with the surplice view of Simplicity 4076, which is made from a yummy rayon/lycra matte jersey I found at one of Textile Fabric's summer sales.

The jeans are the Lee bootcuts you've seen in Choir Sundays about a bazillion times. And will likely see about a bazillion more...although I *have* traced the Jalie stretch jeans pattern. Maybe I'll get those made one of these days...

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics - Week 4

ANOTHER Jalie 965 tank top! These things are such great bottom layers; I may very well wear this one tomorrow. It's from my most recent GF purchase; I'm fortunate to have some knits so I can crank out quick projects whilst I'm working on other things. I actually got two tops from this piece of fabric; the second is close to being finished. I've got one more piece of green fabric to get through this month; but I don't think I'll need to do any choir sewing for April, so I can focus on other projects.

Probaby MacBeth costumes, actually, but we'll see...

The Double Twinset

As promised: the cardi and the tank and the sleeveless turtleneck on a person and not a hanger! I bet I wear these a lot. Good basics.

Choir Sundays 2010 #5

February colors: Black and White

Since this *is* the last Sunday for black and white, and I hadn't worn either of my recent black-and-white creations, I thought I ought to wear ONE of them, anyway. Since I wore the striped top to work this week, the choir winner was Jalie 2682, from a yummy knit I got from Gorgeous Fabrics a little over a year ago...I *think* she called it 'Fireworks'. I'm wearing it with the regular ol' cotton twill Vogue 7881 pants...just a basic top/pants combo, but it worked!

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: Week 3

The third piece of the double twinset: the Jalie 2566 cardigan. I had problems w/the buttonholes; the clutch in my sewing machine is slipping or something and I had to unpick the first buttonhole twice before I got it to work properly. Time to see the Sewing Machine Doctor, I think!

I'll try to get photos of these three pieces on me instead of on the hanger in the next couple of days.

Meantime, I've cut out two garments from the green knit I got from Ann at the end of December...a Jalie 965 tank (again!) and the Jalie 2682 (the v-neck empire waist top), with short sleeves from the classic Jalie 2005 t-shirt pattern.

I hope I have some green thread... ;)

"She Wore the Dress, And I Stayed Home!"

Yeah, I know, it's about sisters, not moms/daughters, but it applies.

I guess after last year's dress success, I might've been just a pinch cocky about sewing up this year's dress.

It took more tries than I anticipated to get the fit acceptable. So I was later than I wanted to be when I actually started sewing the dress, but I thought I still had time. It really wasn't that difficult of a dress, and I already had the lining done.

Things started deteriorating this morning when I pressed the assembled front of the dress (I'd sewn the front and side fronts together) and discovered that the crease from the fold on the bolt wasn't just a crease...it was a fade line. And the crease wasn't right on the center of the fabric, so the pink line was off center. Couldn't cover it up with trim.

Fortunately, I'd cut the dress with a 'without nap' layout, so I had some extra fabric. Thought I'd make a sharp little shell top out of the remnant...but I cut a second center front piece from it instead, took the front assembly apart and replaced it.

Then I made a bone headed boo-boo on the boning and put it in with the natural curve going the wrong way on 5 out of 6 of them (I caught my error as I was getting ready to sew in the last one). I used Rigilene, which I sewed directly to the lining, so I had to take all those out and redo them.

The facing wanted to roll to the outside, even after understitching. So I hand picked it all along the top. I'd put some loopy silver trim along the top edge, so the pick stitching was well hidden.

I made another bone-headed boo-boo sewing the lining into the jacket...had to redo the sleeve/sleeve lining seam. In both sleeves.

And The Flute Player is simply not well enough endowed to hold up a strapless dress. So I ended up adding clear elastic straps. She wasn't terribly pleased with that, but, well, it was way better than the possible alternatives.

I started sewing this morning, never got a shower, never ate lunch, and was working on the jacket when My Sweet Baboo got home from work and informed me that the event actually started at 6:30 tonight, not 7, as I had written on the calendar.

Once I admitted to myself that there was Simply No Way I was going to be ready in time to go, the stress eased considerably.

But I spent a lot of mental energy fussing to myself all day today that it was really silly of me to have undertaken this project at all; she's going to outgrow the dress very soon...probably before she even gets to wear it again.

What was I thinking????

Oh, well, she's out the door and enjoying the awards dinner w/her brother and her dad....and the dress did look nice...

The CGP

Ok. I should be cutting out the actual dress for dinner tomorrow night; but I just took a break and checked Bloglines and found that Lori over at 'Girls in the Garden' is hosting a Compliments Guaranteed Party and asks 'What garment that you have made gets compliments every time you wear it?'

I thought, "0h, boy, instant blog post!" and jumped on to answer the question.

It's gotta be my Hot Patterns Cadeau T...probably because it's such an unusual top and on the outer edges of my normal style range. Took a couple of iterations w/cheap fabric before I was ready to cut into the good stuff, but it was worth it!

I had a bad feeling about it...

Sure enough, the lining was way too big...

I just don't have the knack for pin fitting, I guess.

I put the lining on The Flute Player, and promptly pinned out almost all the extra I added after pin fitting it. She really just needed a bit added at the waist;nothing like I added to the paper pattern.

Ya just can't snug tissue paper up properly.

Anyway, I adjusted the pattern, took the appropriate lining pieces apart and recut them, then sewed it all up again. So it's ready for me to put on her really quickly in the morning.

As if I have time to sew anything on Wednesdays anyway.

I'm getting nervous about finishing; I just keep reminding myself that at this point before last year's dinner I hadn't even decided if I *would* sew her dress or not.

I really am ahead of the game...even if it doesn't feel like it.

But...the Actor was counting on borrowing a tux from the school costume closet; that is not allowed any more, so he's *really* stuck, and my attempt to get The Princess to run him around to thrift stores this evening was pretty much met treated as total lunacy. So I don't know what we're going to do for him.

And DH's suit has been waiting around to be taken to the cleaners for, like, forever. Now it may be too late...

Saturday this event will be behind me, one way or another, and I can think about something else. ;)

Pin Fit Report

I finally got the Flute Player's Fancy Dress pattern (Simplicity 5561) traced and pin fitted yesterday.

Interesting, to say the least.

By way of a SBA (small bust adjustment), I shaved just enough of the curve off the side front bust so that the notches matched the center front piece w/no easing. That worked pretty well (Couldn't believe they drafted it such that it needed to be eased - in a shiny formal wear fabric, that'd look AWFUL. Just MHO).

The front fit fairly well. She needed just a pinch more in the waist; I think I let the side front seam out about 3/8 on either side.

I had to take in the top of the side seam a bit...about 1/2" on either side.

But the back...omigosh, the back was WAAAYYY too small. It was 1 1/2" short of reaching to her spine at the top, and a full 4" too tight at the waist. That's for just one side.

I need to go back and compare the measurements and see if it really measures what it says it's supposed to; that was unbelievably small. Or...maybe the pattern isn't nested as I expected; that is, perhaps the smallest size isn't necessarily the innermost lines? That might make sense, although...the front was reasonable. But I was watching the Olympics (first time we'd turned them on all week!) and I might've been just a teeny bit distracted.

Anyway, my plan for tonight is to alter the pattern to match the pin-fit, then cut out the lining and sew that up quickly for a fit check. If the lack of ease in the tissue paper is what caused the strange fitting issues, that'll show up and I can tweak it however I need to before I actually cut the dress out.

We don't have choir practice this week because there is an audition for prospective choir folks (um, believe it or not I started choir before they started auditioning folks, so I'm grandfathered in. Whew.), so I'll have all Thursday evening for sewing.

Hopefully by then I'll be well into construction. If not...I'm in trouble ;)

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: Week 2

This is the second piece of the 'double-twin set'...and I'll take a photo of all three pieces actually on me when I finish the cardi (which only needs buttons and buttonholes at this moment). Anyway, this is the Jalie 965 tank top once again. I *love* this pattern...it's so perfect, having a scoop that's not too low, shoulders that are wide enough to cover straps, and a band on the armhole that snugs it up to keep it from gaping. Perfect as a bottom layer, or even a cool summer top on its own. Unfortunately, I believe it's now OOP...but I *think* PatternReview still has a few in stock. It's a gem!

To the best of my recollection, I've got this top in 8 colors: cream,black,light blue,orange,red,purple,brown and now grey, plus I'm planning to make one in the next few weeks from a green knit I got from Ann in December.

I really should line 'em all up and take a photo of the whole set, 'specially since I need to update the photo link on the review.

Oh...My Sweet Baboo and I have some other duties at church that will keep us out of choir tomorrow, so there will be no Choir Sunday post.

And I broke my promise to myself Thursday; I didn't expect my day to turn into a day at work (I thought I was just going to run in for a little bit). So. Hoping to get the tracing paper out today...

Putting It Off

Truth be told, I want to be sewing a jacket...working on the muslin for that Burda Magazine jacket that's been traced for forEVER.

But I've got to do the Fancy Dinner Dress. And, I'm not really feeling the inspiration. Too much like costume sewing, of which I had my fill in the fall, and which is about to start again in earnest.

But I made myself a promise that I *will* get the pattern traced, adjusted for a AA bust and pin fitted before I go to bed tonight...

Fancy Dress Fixin's

This year's Quest Force Awards dinner is a masquerade...formal dress, with a mask, not a costume. The Princess gave The Flute Player a fancy mask for Christmas, so, of course, The Flute Player desires a dress that will match her mask, which is purple, silver and black.

I had hopes of running down a grey/purple cross weave taffeta...hence the road trip to Sir's. I knew it was a shot in a million, but, well, I had to try.

They had three cross woven fabrics; orange/brown, orange/lime green and red/blue, but no grey/purple.

And they had a table full of lovely woolens, including a couple of very nice boucles, that I drooled over. I picked up a couple of other pieces...black/white stripe cotton/lycra jersey and a black/gold pinstripe cotton/lycra shirting...and carried them around a while before I shook myself into remembering that this trip was JUST for the dress. But the only thing they had that would work was bridal satin...and I just couldn't do a dry-clean-only fabric. So we had lunch at Cahoots and headed back south.

We hit paydirt at Hobby-Lobby; they had a good selection of (washable!) crepe-backed satin and we found both the purple to match her mask and a nice silver to go along with it. Back to Hancock's for the patterns and for trim and notions and then we headed home.

I tried to get her to let me do a variation on last year's dress, but it was to no avail. She wanted something more sophisticated, and she wanted sleeves. I thought a sleeveless dress w/a shrug would be nice, but as we perused patterns looking for a shrug she spotted the shorter, flared skirt dress in Simplicity 2251 and it was all over but the begging.

Fortunately, it comes as small as a 4, so I *think* it won't take too much alteration to make it work.

It had better not; the dinner is Feb. 26...a week from Friday...

Choir Sundays 2010 #4

February's colors: Black and White

Well, this is a good example of an outfit that *almost* works...mostly because the jacket is a near miss. I really ought to call it a donation and pass it on, because it just doesn't quite fit right, but, well, I need a black-and-white jacket on occasion. So, until I manage to replace it...it's what I've got.
But a couple more photos like this may cause me to go hunting some smashing black-and-white houndstooth to make a replacement.

Anyway, the jacket is McCall's 5529 in a double face poly/rayon blend suiting. Nice and drapey...it's the perfect fabric for this pattern, but I didn't make a muslin and, well, it could fit better.

I'm wearing it with a Jalie tank top, that you can't see, and my black RPL double knit Loes Hins Gore Skirt modification from the 06 SWAP combo. The sash is an Ultrasuede copy of a RTW wrap-and-velcro sash from...1992?

And the new Valentine's scarf. I didn't get it tied as I wished, and I kept fiddling with it all morning. More scarf-tying study is needed. ;)

Smitten

Now, I am nothing close to a fashionista. In fact, I once thought I could write a book titled Confessions of a Fashion Klutz about my struggle to just look, um, not like Jon Arbuckle, if you get my drift.

I really have come a long way.

Every once in a while, I even get accessories right. But that's rare.

I skip most of the fashion-interest blogs because they tend to be way off my snark meter, but there are a couple -- aimed at women past the first blush of youth -- that I have in my bloglines reading list. One of these, Une femme d'un certain age is written by a lady who's pretty close to my age, so, even though our complimentary colors are just about opposite of one another, I garner glimpses of what it would take to add a little oomph to my appearance.

And she has a scarf wardrobe that seemingly doesn't end; every week she posts a photo of herself wearing one. They look smashing on her; she ties them and wears them marvelously well.

I, on the other hand, generally don't wear scarves well; I can't get past the 'drool bib' feeling. But I'm trying.

Anyway, all of that leads up to me being smitten with a scarf right out of the blue. I once ordered something online from Talbot's, so now I get the email advertising. Usually I just delete it, but yesterday I spotted the words 'Accessories - buy one, get one 50% off' and I clicked through.

And there it was. A Valentine's Day Scarf that struck a nerve somewhere in my little girlie heart.

I wanted really bad to drop a large hint to My Sweet Baboo that it would make a fantabulous Valentine's Day gift, but, well, there's no way I could've pulled it off.

So, while I was out garnering fancy dress materials for The Flute Player, we stopped by Talbot's and I got...the last one of those scarves that wasn't on a display mannequin.

And, since it was a BOGO sale, I also got a second scarf that caught my eye.

For me, the two scarves were a ridiculous amount of money spent. But I'm considering it rounds spent in the ongoing anti-frumpy-fogey war.

Now, I need to bop over to Une Femme and study her scarf-tying methods.

I'll post about the fabric I purchased (only what was necessary for the dress! really!) on Monday...

Twelve Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: Wk 1

So, the first garment from Gorgeous Fabrics is a Christine Jonson Basewear 2 sleeveless t-neck, from some of Ann's aMAYzing designer rayon/lycra jersey, in charcoal gray. I'm sorry for the hanger pic, but, believe me, a photo of me in my 'I stayed home in my sweats and didn't even wash my hair today' state would surely be tragic. I'll get a photo of it actually on when I don't look quite so Phyllis-Dillerish.

The gathers at the armholes are to close the gaping that that shirt tends to have on me. After I made it, I remembered that, while I like this for a regular t-neck (with sleeves), the sleeveless version is not so great on me. Hence the clear elastic sewn into the turned-and-stitched edge finish on the front of the armholes.

I knew that; I just forgot. But this is typically a bottom layer...under a jacket or a cardi...so it's not that big a deal. And the gathers are much less noticeable on an actual body.

Weather permitting, I have a road trip tomorrow up to Sir's Fabrics tomorrow. The Flute Player is once again in need of a dress for the annual Kid's Ministries Awards dinner, and, although Last year's dress still fits fairly well (I think...? Mayhap I should have her try it on, just to make sure...), she wants a purple dress for this year. I've already checked the two Hancock's in town...while I was looking for Wash Away Basting Tape (the other store was out, too. Someone doing a school production must've cleaned everybody out)...and they don't really have what I'm looking for. Sir's does have a fairly large selection of fancy fabrics, so she and I are going to head up in the morning, see what I can find, have lunch and head back home. (It's about a 45 minute drive)

I'm hoping I can get in and out without another stash-swamping 50 yard purchase...Sir's is a daaangerous place....

I got mine!

Did you see this free Hot Patterns offer from Fabric.com?

I've already downloaded my copy...dunno when I'll get around to it, but, oh the possibilities for pretty things!!

Stalled

Somehow, I ran out of Wonder Tape (wash-away basting tape).

I can't put in a zipper w/o it anymore. Seriously. So I made a quick stop at Hancock's this evening, only to find that they were sold out of it.

Ish. Maybe I'll run by the one on the other side of town at lunch tomorrow...

Choir Sundays 2010 #3

February's colors: Black and white

It's funny; with two new black-and-white tops out of the sewing room in the last week or so, I chose to wear an old favorite today. There's a reason for that; this is one of those days that I feel chubbier than usual and for that reason I wanted something a little, well, camouflaging. ;)

So I pulled out my Hot Patterns Cadeau T and wore it with some black straight-legged Lee jeans.

And didn't feel the least bit sausage-casing-like. ;)

12 Weeks of Gorgeous Fabrics: The Plan

I realize that if I'm going to manage to make one garment a week for 12 weeks, I'm going to have to do some planning. And some of those garments will be very quick to make, so I can kinda double up and do some more involved projects (looks like I'm going to be switching thread in the machines a lot! ;) )

Anyway, here's what I'm planning:

I've cut out a test run of the Jalie 2909 "classic trousers" from some poly/lycra suiting off the Wal-Mart cheap table. I cut the size recommended by my measurements, but the farther I get the more skeptical I am...it looks *small*. But I'm plodding along, because I have two pieces of woven cotton/lycra from Ann that I want to use for pants...one is a black sateen, the other is a twill w/a printed white stitch stripe. I'm hoping this pattern works, or is at least close enough that a little tweaking will let me cut into those two fabrics.

I've also finally muslined the jacket pattern from Burde December '08, with the intention of using that same printed stripe to make the first real jacket.

I probably won't wear the jacket and the pants together. ;-)

I've got some dark grey 'designer' rayon/lycra jersey on the cutting table now; I'm pretty sure I can get three 'real quick' items out of it...I'm planning a double twinset; the Jalie 2566 Cardigan, with the Jalie 965 tank top and Christine Jonson's Basewear Two mock t-neck shell. So I can wear the cardi with either top.

I've got one project that's been in the queue for ever that I'm going to finish up...the Vogue 2064 DK wrap tunic from some fuschia rayon/lycra jersey. I'll be glad to get the push to finish that one!

I've got some green rayon/lycra jersey that came from Ann right at the end of December; I haven't decided for sure which tops I'll use but I know that will be at least two quick knit tops. Green is the color for choir next month, so it will get sewn.

Likewise, I have some marvelous jacquard green silk charmeuse that I've pegged for an OOP McCall's pattern. It just needs its pre-treatment and I'll be cutting that one.

Then there is a sturdy piece of white cotton/lycra satin that I'm planning to turn into long blouse. I'm waffling on which pattern to use for it; I don't want it to end up looking like a lab coat!

Finally, I've got another piece of the brown heathered 'designer' rayon/lycra jersey in the stash that I'm planning to use as a tunic. I've got two different ideas in my head for it; both of which are modifications to patterns I've used before. Just not sure which one will win out in the end.

So that's my 'plan' for one garment a week for the next twelve weeks! Barring the onset of costuming, it is do-able, if I pace the cutting/tracing/muslin process with the simple tops.

And I've found out another sewing friend has been fighting a battle similar to Ann's; sewing these things will be a good point of contact to pray for both of them.

So, for the ladies who are planning to sew along with this...what's your plan?

Burda Boat Neck Take Two

I jumped on that pattern pretty quickly, because I wanted the black and white striped top for choir this month.

I shaved 3/8" off the top portion of the back raglan seam, then I added 1/2" to the neckline all around. I shortened the sleeves SIX INCHES, then narrowed them by about 1/2" on both sides at the bottom, tapering it out at about the elbow.

It's a ten minute top, meaning I made it in ten minute increments.

I like the fit at the neckline much better, but it's still not perfect. For perfect, I think I need a teeny dart at the top of the shoulder on the sleeve portion.

I was surprised, too, at how long the sleeves still were. I was shooting for 3/4" length...they're a little past that, even with the amount I took off.

But this one is definitely wearable...it looks good under a jacket or an overshirt!

Support for a Sewing Buddy...

I imagine most folks who stop by here readily recognize one of my prime fabric sources, Gorgeous Fabrics. I've had the pleasure of talking to Ann, GF owner and fabric stash enabler extraordinaire, over the internet and over the phone; she's a gem.

But, if you've been reading Ann's blog, you know that she's hit a rough patch of life right now dealing with medical tests and results and other such things.

She's facing twelve weeks of some sort of treatment(this is on her blog; I'm not spilling any confidences...) as a result of the results.

Anyway. I read her latest post and wondered what I could do to support her.

And I had an idea.

I don't know if I'll be able to keep up or not, given the fact that I do have school costumes looming, but I checked the records on my stash and I have enough fabric to sew one garment from fabric I've purchased from Ann each week for the next twelve weeks.

(Well, I could probably go way longer than that, but I'll focus on the next twelve weeks.)

And, while I'm matching fabric and pattern, cutting things out, stitching things up, I'll be holding Ann in my heart to the Father.

For the next twelve weeks.

Anyone else have a goodly stash of Gorgeous Fabric waiting to move into the wardrobe who'd like to join me?

Yards out...

Nice to see something in that column! I had a pretty productive weekend; three basically black knit shirts that all finished at once; I did all the double-needle stitching on them at the same time. They're all up on the reviews (although The Flute Player's shirt is just a repeat). First up is the raglan T from the current (Feb 10) Burda magazine. I made it as a test garment and put it in the closet, but I'm still on the fence about it. The neckline is strap-exposing wide, and the fabric is not really nice to wear (it's from the buck-fifty table at Wally World). But I've already altered the pattern and cut it out of a yummy black/white/gold cotton lycra, which WILL be nice to wear! Dunno when I'll get a chance to sew it up...this is a VERY busy week...but it's a quick shirt and if I get 20 minutes or so at the machines it'll be done and I'll update the review with the 'real' shirt!

Next is a variation on the Jalie twinset pattern (I'm too lazy to link it up). I used the t-neck pattern, and borrowed the long sleeve from (I think) 2682. The Flute Player, being a dedicated puppeteer also, needed a new black shirt. It's a really nice cotton/lycra jersey that I had in the stash...wish I could remember where I got it (I went back and checked; it was a purchase from Gorgeous Things about a year ago).

Finally, I made Jalie 2682 from a yummy knit I got a while back (Sept. of '08!) from Gorgeous Things. I really liked the fabric and waffled for the longest time about what to make from it. With 'black and white' being the choir wardrobe for next month, I decided to just do one of my favorite tops.

I'm trying to limit myself to purchasing fabric only after I've sewn 10 yards from stash. I need to shop the stash first! ;) But it's hard...and, heading into more costuming, I know the temptation will be to buy since I'm not sewing. But I gotta stop the increase; there's nowhere left to put it!

Choir Sundays 2010 #2

January's colors: Royal Blue and black
One more time...the Sewing Workshop Chopin Blouse in to-die-for striped silk duppioni, worn with the standard black wool gabardine Loes Hinse Oxford pants The new camera was set wrong, so the flash didn't go off (still learning my way around it...), but I used this picture anyway because Frisco wandered through...just for my fellow feline afficiandos! ;)

...and the rest of them...

The Jalie patterns.

The prompt for the Jalies was two fold. I bought some lovely embroidered corduroy last summer in The Flute Players favorite color (orange) without knowing what it would be. We've had some discussions, and I really can't imagine it being anything other than a jeans jacket.

But try and find a classic jeans jacket for a girl's size 14. Jalie has one. I found it on the Jalie site, but it was listed as 'out of stock'. I sent an inquiry to see if it would be back in stock soon, and the very prompt reply was that the pattern is not going to be reprinted (a real shame, IMHO). However, the reply said that it appeared that there were a few left in stock at Pattern Review. So I sent Deepika a note, asking if she had any.

She did. And she had a sale on. And, since I'm a member, if I bought three patterns I'd get free shipping. So three patterns it was.

The first, of course, is the jeans jacket pattern 2321 (hm. There's a note that is says it's discontinued...wonder if it was there before?). Very classic.

I also picked up 2686, the classic pajamas. I know I have a TNT jammies pattern, but it is a unisex sizing and, to be honest, the more I've slept in it this year the more I find that it doesn't quite work; the shoulders are so wide that the arms bind when I roll over and catch the body just right. So I was sort of in the market for a lady-sized PJ pattern anyway. So I'm ready the next time silk charmeuse goes on a fabuloso sale somewhere(I intend to order six yards!!! No more shortages!)

Finally, I got 2909, the 'classic trousers'.

If you consider dropped-waist bootleg pants sized for stretch wovens a classic.

But, the eternal quest for pants for The Flute Player prompted it. I don't know how much more I can alter her size 14 TNT pattern up; time to move to Jalie so I can just keep tracing the next size. And, you never know, I might add pockets to it and make it up for myself.

But...I got the email yesterday. MacBeth has been cast and is going into production. Time to sharpen the costuming skills again. I don't know what the opening date is, and I don't know what the directors vision for the costuming will be (although The Actor has reported that it's going to be a Tim Burton-esque type of production).

I should hit the sewing room soon and hard if I want any new things for any closets here.

Got Patterns

According to my online pattern catalog at Pattern Review, I only bought 13 patterns last year.

I suppose that's not surprising, since I had Burda magazine arriving with a fistful of new patterns every month.

This year, however, looks like it might be a bit different. I hit a couple of sales...at Hancock's and Pattern Review...and added 9 patterns to the collection in a week. Better not keep that pace up over the year, eh?

I've been waffling forever over Vogue 7975. Many times I pulled it out of the drawer at the store, only to put it back. I finally decided I'd just get it and quit debating it.

I also picked up Vogue 1132 because I love that back peplum...even though it's gotten some mixed reviews.

I wanted the blouse from Vogue 1127, and I like the princess lines on Vogue 8598. I have some white fabric that should be a shirt; this is on the short list to use.

I grabbed Simplicity 2446, delighted that they had it in stock, as it's in the new release. Love those shoulder princess lines!

Finally, I picked up a variation on the jeans jacket, McCall's 5860

I really wanted to get Mc Call's 6028, but they were sold out in my size range. I'll have to watch for the next Hobby Lobby sale...

I also mail ordered three Jalie patterns from Pattern review, but I'm late for choir practice so I'll have to share those tomorrow! ;)

Things Accomplished

Y'know, the Internet really does devour a large portion of my time.

I can admit that because I saw what I could get done when I kept myself Off Of It for an extended time. I

-- actually sewed two garments (Reviews posted...they should be on the sidebar. Eventually)

-- Traced off some more (more on that later...maybe even tomorrow..)

-- Got the family budget almost caught up...and that's saying something, I was MONTHS behind

-- Went to bed pretty much on time

-- Went to work pretty much on time.

-- Played games w/my kids

Now, to be honest, I'm trying hard not to pay attention to all the things I DIDN'T get done. Like clean the sewing room and swatch last year's fabric acquisitions and...and...and....

So I'm focusing on the positive. And I intend to watch how much time I spend just poking around on the 'net so that I can, perhaps, cross some more things off the to-do list in the next few weeks/months...

Choir Sundays 2010 - #1

One of my Christmas presents this year was a new digital camera; my hubby and my kids got tired of coaxing the old Olympus into taking my sewing photos and went together and got a nice little Canon purse camera for me.... So here's the first photo with the new camera! ;)

January's colors are Royal Blue and Black; this is my Loes Hinse Milano jacket, made from royal blue poly/lycra moleskin, Christine Jonson's Basewear 2 turtleneck (I lengthened the sleeves to full length), from rayon/lycra jersey knit, and my boot-cut modification of Loes Hinses' Oxford Pants, from woven RPL.

I got some sewing done over the break, and I have some reviews to post; got some pattern acquisitions to report, too. So stay tuned.. ;)

2009 Wrap Up

These numbers aren't what I'd like...but, well, that's the way the year went.

Actually, I think my 'yards in' is a little lower than it should be; I have some leftover fabric I purchased for costuming that will go into the stash (I only turned in receipts for what I actually *used* for the costumes), but I haven't measured it or swatched it or even put it away.... So, well, yeah.
Anyway, the stats:

Fabric In:124.625 yds
Fabric Out:42.5 yds
Last fabric purchase:12/29/09
Garments made for me:19
Garments made for other people in my family: 5
Accessories: 3
Things made for friends: 1
Muslins: 1
No Wadders in '09!

PROJECTS COMPLETED:
Miscellaneous Church-Related Sewing:
black linen '18th century preacher' coat
white linen '18th century' men's shirt
6 tasseled liturgical scarves

School Costuming:
'08-'09 Musical, Aida:
Lots of pattern altering/fabric cutting before sewing anything!
4 simple shift a-line pullover dresses
5 poly matte jersey halter dresses
A bunch of partial projects, alterations and accessories...

Fall '09 School Tour skit, The Happy Scarecrow:
One Jester costume, w/hat

'09-'10 Musical, White Christmas:
drafted, then constructed the muslin of a frankenpattern for a pouffy skirted tap-dance dress
sparkly red Simplicity 3878 formal dress....started w/ a partly assembled bodice

Lengthened men's suit jacket sleeves

Fall '09 One-Act Competition play, The Compleat Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged (Abridged):
One teeny tomato print poufy long skirt, which was later replaced
two plaid 'Scottish wraps'
green leggings and poufy knickers
orange leggings and poufy knickers
weird cape from two actual pleated-top drapes
purple leggings and poufy knickers
green calico poufy long skirt (the replacement)
green calico poufy doll skirt
black moleskin Simplicity 4059 jerkin

Middle school production of A Christmas Carol:
burgundy 'antique satin' Dickens skirt

Just plain sewin':
Well, I started listing all the regular projects, and, you know, the list was just getting way too long. Nobody's gonna read it, and I've got it recorded in Excel; the totals on the projects are in the stats...that's good enough!

But, in all honesty, my sewing production was WAY down this year. Partly due to the costume sewing and partly due to the part time job...I just didn't have a chance to get into the sewing room for myself.

Hence the elevated 'fabric in' totals. It's a well-noted phenomenon that when a sewing enthusiast is denied the opportunity to sew, her fabric purchases go up. It doesn't make sense; you'd think I wouldn't buy it if I weren't sewing it. But the purchasing becomes the outlet for the creative urge; I can't make the garments for real, but I dream 'em up and buy the goods.

So, I have a pile of sewing to do in twenty-ten. Not only do I need to whittle down the tower of fabric I have from '09's purchases, but I need to regularly scratch the sewing itch so I don't buy more... ;)

And, for those of you who have stuck with me this far, I'm starting off 2010 with a three-week Internet fast. I'll explain that a little better on the other blog, but, well, I need some time. The third week of January would be my regularly scheduled break anyway; I'm just adding two weeks to it. Hopefully, I will get my house into something close to presentable (with all that crunch sewing, some nuisance medical stuff that I didn't blog about, and the holiday scramble, my house is a MESS!).

And, who knows, if I stay off the Internet, I might get something sewn... ;)

Anyway, happy New Year to all my blogging buddies, and I'll see you in three weeks!