I found the missing Vogue 1100 pattern.
It was in the 'to file' basket. I'd put it where I would've put it had I been done with it. Imagine that.
So, I dug out the altered pattern pieces and came to the conclusion that the skimpy hem WAS my fault; when I trued up the lengths after doing the FBA I neglected to make the side and back longer than the front. So...that explains the 5/8" hem.
And I wrote up the review and posted it. So far, I have exactly 1 (one) comment.
I think I've dropped off the Pattern Review radar. Y'know, there are folks who are prolific and are recognized and others take the time to read their reviews. But I've been so inactive for so long...only occasional reviews or board posts...that I'm basically unknown by the large part of the membership. So I am not going to get a lot of readers and/or comments.
That's just the way things work.
But...the review is there, and, when/if I make that jacket again, I can go back and remind myself that I need to add an inch and a half to the side and back pattern pieces...and put the long edge of the collar on the jacket.
It may not help anyone else, but it will help me. ;-)
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 0520
On another note, just after third service today I popped into our childrens' area and snapped a photo of the set for the summer theme. Our children's ministry team cut out and fused the emblems to the banners on the 'turrets'; they more closely resembled the plain ones hanging from the rafters when we handed them off. I was amazed that they intend to cut out and fuse a bunch more of those emblems on other banners...they're not using some fancy die cut process; those are traced from a template onto paper-backed web, hand cut out and then fused.
I was really impressed, not only by how good it looks, but by the fact that they were willing to do that part themselves. That's just the kinda folks we work with. ;-). More banners will be going up as the week progresses.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Knit Tops!
So, last night I thought about those knit tops that are sitting in the queue and I thought...those'll only take 30 minutes apiece or so to sew...
So I pulled 'em out and put 'em together while I was doing laundry. Two more Jalie 965 tank tops, one aqua and one navy, (I've quit counting how many of those I have...alot...), an aqua Simplicity 4076 scoop-neck T, which is replacing the first top I made from that view of the pattern as it is getting pathetically pilled up, and a navy T from a previously untried T pattern, Jalie 2566. That's the same envelope with that great cardigan; I actually combined a couple of the views to get a cap-sleeve, scoop-neck t. I may wear it for choir tomorrow to get a real photo...but it's definitely going to be a TNT T-shirt option for me now.
So, yay! Four new tops with an evening and a morning of off-and-on sewing!
Next up: a little necessary sewing for the home and an alteration project for a friend (just a hem...), then I can focus on the fun stuff again...
So I pulled 'em out and put 'em together while I was doing laundry. Two more Jalie 965 tank tops, one aqua and one navy, (I've quit counting how many of those I have...alot...), an aqua Simplicity 4076 scoop-neck T, which is replacing the first top I made from that view of the pattern as it is getting pathetically pilled up, and a navy T from a previously untried T pattern, Jalie 2566. That's the same envelope with that great cardigan; I actually combined a couple of the views to get a cap-sleeve, scoop-neck t. I may wear it for choir tomorrow to get a real photo...but it's definitely going to be a TNT T-shirt option for me now.
So, yay! Four new tops with an evening and a morning of off-and-on sewing!
Next up: a little necessary sewing for the home and an alteration project for a friend (just a hem...), then I can focus on the fun stuff again...
Friday, May 18, 2012
Slipped up on SWAP
Oh, last fall I really thought I could participate in the SWAP contest at Stitcher's Guild. I made an excel spreadsheet with a rough outline of what I'd need...and that's as far as I got. I mean, so far this year I've managed to make myself exactly, what, 3 garments? And I just saw today, when I finally made it over to the SG site after all our internet connection problems, that the voting is even over and the winners announced.
Lovely collections, all, and I'm delighted that there were a number of ladies that participated this year. SWAP is alive and well, which is a very good thing.
But I *really* do need to sew a collection for myself. I need to get some more go-to patterns developed...I particularly need a jeans pattern...and so many of my wardrobe staples are beginning to really show some age.
But...ain't it always the case...there is just more to do than I have time in which to do it. The lack of sewing is not the only place where this is manifesting itself. Even if we hadn't had the electronic issues that we've been dealing with, my blogging...on both blogs...as ground to a crawl. I'm doing good to post an occasional status on Facebook...and we won't talk about the appearance of my house.
But I have great job security, as more and more things come to light that need to be addressed with the data base. The children's ministry has costumes for the summer, and the Girls Ministry classes are going forward. Things are being accomplished. Just not stuff that I can see when I look around me.
So, back to the SWAP...or, at least, making a plan and sewing it...that's something I need to, somehow, move up the priority list.
Shoot, getting in the sewing room, period, needs to move up the priority list...
Lovely collections, all, and I'm delighted that there were a number of ladies that participated this year. SWAP is alive and well, which is a very good thing.
But I *really* do need to sew a collection for myself. I need to get some more go-to patterns developed...I particularly need a jeans pattern...and so many of my wardrobe staples are beginning to really show some age.
But...ain't it always the case...there is just more to do than I have time in which to do it. The lack of sewing is not the only place where this is manifesting itself. Even if we hadn't had the electronic issues that we've been dealing with, my blogging...on both blogs...as ground to a crawl. I'm doing good to post an occasional status on Facebook...and we won't talk about the appearance of my house.
But I have great job security, as more and more things come to light that need to be addressed with the data base. The children's ministry has costumes for the summer, and the Girls Ministry classes are going forward. Things are being accomplished. Just not stuff that I can see when I look around me.
So, back to the SWAP...or, at least, making a plan and sewing it...that's something I need to, somehow, move up the priority list.
Shoot, getting in the sewing room, period, needs to move up the priority list...
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 051312
The choir sang in all the services this weekend; we're changing up our worship service schedule and discontinuing Saturday evenings, at least for a while. So, to go out with a bang, we had a full worship team last night and ice cream after the service. ;-)
I kind of got out of my fashion box, just a bit, for Saturday night...and we went out for pizza after church (not a good idea, my tummy reminded me most all night...), so I'm rumpled. The only bit of the outfit that I actually made is the top...a sparkly gray jersey sewn up into Simplicity 2603 . The blue linen jacket was from the clearance rack at Coldwater Creek a year or two ago; those aged Gloria Vanderbilt mom jeans are the closest thing I have to skinny jeans, which would be truly scary on me. The scarf is from Talbot's, a silk square with a gigantic chrysanthemum graphic folded so the green part doesn't show much, as the colors for May are hot pink, gray and navy blue. With jeans. The white canvas oxfords are the whimsey part...

For Sunday, I teamed up the tank top version of my gray rayon/lycra jersey Double Twin Set, comprised of Jalie 965 and Jalie 2566 with the rayon jersey knit Simplicity 4076 . With Lee bootcut jeans.
I will confess to a rather discomfiting moment during the third service worship today; we were really short on gentlemen (the service is at 12:30 and I think all the guys took their moms to lunch...), so I sang tenor with My Sweet Baboo. As the tenors are in the center, I ended up being in the middle of the front row, just in front of him. Which meant that at odd moments I could see myself in the monitor on the back wall...but I was behind one of the ladies who was singing on microphone, so that several times what caught my eye was just my head, the only part of me visible over her shoulder.
Only with my hair pulled back and the bright lights glinting off the lenses of my glasses, I didn't see myself. I saw The Actor (who, btw, is on a missions trip to Guatemala and cannot appreciate the irony here). Um, yeah. I was rather startled. Every time I caught that shot on the screen it made me do a double take. I actually wondered for just a second if I could reach back and pull the clip out of my hair so it wasn't pulled back quite so tight...but, being on the center of the front, there was just no way to do that. So I just kind of blinked and tried to ignore the weird feeling it gave me to see my kid's face where mine should be.
Maybe it's time for a haircut. ;-)
I kind of got out of my fashion box, just a bit, for Saturday night...and we went out for pizza after church (not a good idea, my tummy reminded me most all night...), so I'm rumpled. The only bit of the outfit that I actually made is the top...a sparkly gray jersey sewn up into Simplicity 2603 . The blue linen jacket was from the clearance rack at Coldwater Creek a year or two ago; those aged Gloria Vanderbilt mom jeans are the closest thing I have to skinny jeans, which would be truly scary on me. The scarf is from Talbot's, a silk square with a gigantic chrysanthemum graphic folded so the green part doesn't show much, as the colors for May are hot pink, gray and navy blue. With jeans. The white canvas oxfords are the whimsey part...
For Sunday, I teamed up the tank top version of my gray rayon/lycra jersey Double Twin Set, comprised of Jalie 965 and Jalie 2566 with the rayon jersey knit Simplicity 4076 . With Lee bootcut jeans.
I will confess to a rather discomfiting moment during the third service worship today; we were really short on gentlemen (the service is at 12:30 and I think all the guys took their moms to lunch...), so I sang tenor with My Sweet Baboo. As the tenors are in the center, I ended up being in the middle of the front row, just in front of him. Which meant that at odd moments I could see myself in the monitor on the back wall...but I was behind one of the ladies who was singing on microphone, so that several times what caught my eye was just my head, the only part of me visible over her shoulder.
Only with my hair pulled back and the bright lights glinting off the lenses of my glasses, I didn't see myself. I saw The Actor (who, btw, is on a missions trip to Guatemala and cannot appreciate the irony here). Um, yeah. I was rather startled. Every time I caught that shot on the screen it made me do a double take. I actually wondered for just a second if I could reach back and pull the clip out of my hair so it wasn't pulled back quite so tight...but, being on the center of the front, there was just no way to do that. So I just kind of blinked and tried to ignore the weird feeling it gave me to see my kid's face where mine should be.
Maybe it's time for a haircut. ;-)
Friday, May 11, 2012
Not Ironmongery...
We have been having connectivity issues with our internet for the last few days...down more than it's up. Trouble shooting has not found the issue, since it is so sporadic. But that facilitates sewing! Here's a glimpse of the 'chain mail hoods' ...I made 10...for the summer theme in our kids ministry. The Actor rather grudgingly good naturedly agreed to model one so I could show my internet buddies what I've been doing. This is a sparkly meshy knit...and it left silver glitter all over EVERYTHING.
I'm down to adding the waist ties to the tabbards...I think I have 8 left to do and then I'm done, except for the remaining hoods that I haven't figured out how to do yet...they may just get made from white knit and dyed...
I'm down to adding the waist ties to the tabbards...I think I have 8 left to do and then I'm done, except for the remaining hoods that I haven't figured out how to do yet...they may just get made from white knit and dyed...
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 05-06-12
Sometimes, you just can't take me anywhere.
I had a little feeling that I should take today's choir wardrobe photo before we left the house but, as usual, we were on the edge of being late (and, for reasons I won't go into now, being late is a problem!) so we didn't.
Then The Actor called me while I was in my office working on the data entry at the end of 3rd service and wanted to know if he and his sister could go with a group of friends to get some lunch and see Avengers.
Um, and leave me and My Sweet Baboo on our own for lunch? To quote The Artist, "Heck yeah."
I happened to have a $25 Red Lobster gift card in my purse; that'll get ya a couple of bowls of soup and some grilled shrimp bruschetta and have a bit left towards the tip.
Only...I discovered when I got in the car...the tomatoes on the bruschetta are apparently a bit drippy.
Yup. Right on the middle of the front of my top. Sigh. Fortunately, the resolution on the photo is not that great so it doesn't show in the picture, but, well, I know it's there. I hope it comes out.
Anyway, May's colors are hot pink, navy blue and gray and that pink top is one of those 'Ooooo, pretty' deals I ran into at Coldwater Creek last summer, and I grabbed one when it went on sale. I had to take up a pretty hefty chunk at the shoulders since I'm not 5'11", but it's kind of a fun top...a jersey knit w/a chiffon overlay w/applique'd and embroidered flowers over the front pleats...and it's the right shade of pink. Those are CWC jeans, too...I'm a regular CWC commercial today...and my wardrobe staple gray rayon jersey Jalie 2919 cardigan. I opted for closed shoes, rather than sandals, because it was raining this morning and I hate wet squishy sandals....
Now to see if I can get the little dot of...vinagrette dressing? Maybe?...out of my floaty top...
I had a little feeling that I should take today's choir wardrobe photo before we left the house but, as usual, we were on the edge of being late (and, for reasons I won't go into now, being late is a problem!) so we didn't.
Then The Actor called me while I was in my office working on the data entry at the end of 3rd service and wanted to know if he and his sister could go with a group of friends to get some lunch and see Avengers.
Um, and leave me and My Sweet Baboo on our own for lunch? To quote The Artist, "Heck yeah."
I happened to have a $25 Red Lobster gift card in my purse; that'll get ya a couple of bowls of soup and some grilled shrimp bruschetta and have a bit left towards the tip.
Only...I discovered when I got in the car...the tomatoes on the bruschetta are apparently a bit drippy.
Anyway, May's colors are hot pink, navy blue and gray and that pink top is one of those 'Ooooo, pretty' deals I ran into at Coldwater Creek last summer, and I grabbed one when it went on sale. I had to take up a pretty hefty chunk at the shoulders since I'm not 5'11", but it's kind of a fun top...a jersey knit w/a chiffon overlay w/applique'd and embroidered flowers over the front pleats...and it's the right shade of pink. Those are CWC jeans, too...I'm a regular CWC commercial today...and my wardrobe staple gray rayon jersey Jalie 2919 cardigan. I opted for closed shoes, rather than sandals, because it was raining this morning and I hate wet squishy sandals....
Now to see if I can get the little dot of...vinagrette dressing? Maybe?...out of my floaty top...
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Tempted by a Sale...
Determined to be more fiscally responsible this year,I have been diligently deleting the sale emails, but for some reason I didn't delete this one from Gorgeous Fabrics. The Flute Player and I had discussed the blue cotton knit w/the note motif before and decided that it would make the best PJ pants, so when it hit the sale I hit the 'add to cart' button. And, since no fabric can travel alone, I scrounged around and bought 3 one-yard pieces of jersey knits to make some quickie tops. The stripe and the purple (which is a very rich purple, not the very brown-burgundy looking color it appears in the photo) are both rayon/lycra; the orange is a poly/lycra. Yeah, I know I have sworn off poly knits, but tangerine is one of our colors for choir this summer and I need some tangerine in my wardrobe. So I'll deal with it.
Now to head to the sewing room and work on the costume pieces that are keeping me from sewing stuff from the stash...
Now to head to the sewing room and work on the costume pieces that are keeping me from sewing stuff from the stash...
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 04-29-12
There is a cami under this top for security ;-) The last day of turqoise/gray/yellow, and I just didn't have it in me to do a repeat. Most of the stuff is hanging on the 'to be ironed' rack anyway, so I pulled out an old poly (ITY? Maybe? Feels like it) top, Burda 05-2009-103A, and wore it with Lee bootcuts.
So this is the 4th? I think? Weekend in a row that I had to Do Something (meaning the laundry and the housework is still languishing). But I had 4 ladies come with machines over the weekend, so we got all the banners trimmed out; one lady took them home to sew all the casings at the top. We fiddled around and got a decent 'Chain mail hood' pattern...I'll have to post a photo of that one...and I have 9 hoods cut out and ready to sew. Our progress on the tabbards was a little slower, mostly owing to the fact that we couldn't just go buy 30 packages of wide double fold bias tape. So, some of them have the double fold tape and some of them we are fudging with single fold, which takes two passes with the machine. I brought home 12 tabbards, but I think I have talked someone into taking 8 of them off my hands and adding the bias. The other tabbards were farmed out amongst the other ladies.
So, except for the items that I saw on the list that looks like we need to make that we haven't discussed with our Children's pastors as of yet, I think we may make it. If I can just motivate myself to go pull the stuff out and sew it.
So this is the 4th? I think? Weekend in a row that I had to Do Something (meaning the laundry and the housework is still languishing). But I had 4 ladies come with machines over the weekend, so we got all the banners trimmed out; one lady took them home to sew all the casings at the top. We fiddled around and got a decent 'Chain mail hood' pattern...I'll have to post a photo of that one...and I have 9 hoods cut out and ready to sew. Our progress on the tabbards was a little slower, mostly owing to the fact that we couldn't just go buy 30 packages of wide double fold bias tape. So, some of them have the double fold tape and some of them we are fudging with single fold, which takes two passes with the machine. I brought home 12 tabbards, but I think I have talked someone into taking 8 of them off my hands and adding the bias. The other tabbards were farmed out amongst the other ladies.
So, except for the items that I saw on the list that looks like we need to make that we haven't discussed with our Children's pastors as of yet, I think we may make it. If I can just motivate myself to go pull the stuff out and sew it.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Costuming continues
Can I just admit that there are times when I wish my name didn't pop into everyone's mind the moment the word 'costume' comes up? Don't get me wrong, I really and truly am glad to be able to sew for a cause, and I'd feel really, really awkward if I weren't involved but...there are times...
We are in our second sewing weekend for the children's ministries summer theme. We're getting a bit more done this time...we've had extra ladies coming with machines...but we've still got a ways to go, and we're running out of time. We still had a few pieces that we didn't even have fabric for, so I stopped at Hancock's (and hit a great sale!) on the way home and picked up the last chunk of fabric and...hopefully...the last notions we'll need.
It just so happened Vogue patterns were on sale for $4 each; the newest book wasn't in but I found 3 patterns to bring home just the same. The nod to the 'I wish I had time to sew for ME!' pout.
I picked up Vogue 8669, mostly because I am looking for great one-yard top patterns and I thought the sleeveless version was worth a try. Vogue 8743 landed in my basket because it's a shoulder-princess style dress. I think the fabric they show pictured on the website is too stiff for this; I'm seeing it in a nice rayon/linen blend. And I just happen to have a nice red rayon/linen blend in the stash...
I picked up the Kay Unger dress, Vogue 1241 mostly because I had a Cold Water Creek catalog lying around for the longest time with a black dress the dead spit of that one. I think I tore the picture out...but who knows where it is.
I have a real hankerin' to make some dresses...dunno where I will wear them, but I am ready to make something pretty and feminine looking.
When we're done with the knights and squires, that is...eventually...
Maybe I can snap some photos of what we're doing tomorrow.
We are in our second sewing weekend for the children's ministries summer theme. We're getting a bit more done this time...we've had extra ladies coming with machines...but we've still got a ways to go, and we're running out of time. We still had a few pieces that we didn't even have fabric for, so I stopped at Hancock's (and hit a great sale!) on the way home and picked up the last chunk of fabric and...hopefully...the last notions we'll need.
It just so happened Vogue patterns were on sale for $4 each; the newest book wasn't in but I found 3 patterns to bring home just the same. The nod to the 'I wish I had time to sew for ME!' pout.
I picked up Vogue 8669, mostly because I am looking for great one-yard top patterns and I thought the sleeveless version was worth a try. Vogue 8743 landed in my basket because it's a shoulder-princess style dress. I think the fabric they show pictured on the website is too stiff for this; I'm seeing it in a nice rayon/linen blend. And I just happen to have a nice red rayon/linen blend in the stash...
I picked up the Kay Unger dress, Vogue 1241 mostly because I had a Cold Water Creek catalog lying around for the longest time with a black dress the dead spit of that one. I think I tore the picture out...but who knows where it is.
I have a real hankerin' to make some dresses...dunno where I will wear them, but I am ready to make something pretty and feminine looking.
When we're done with the knights and squires, that is...eventually...
Maybe I can snap some photos of what we're doing tomorrow.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Choir 04-22-12
Yup. No picture.
This was one of those days where I hit the ground running...with a trip to the airport to see My Sweet Baboo off on a business trip at 5 AM...and have just now sat down, at about 10:30 PM.
I sang in the choir for 2 out of 3 services today, but I didn't get a photo.
It's all stuff you've seen before anyway.
Today was the matinee closing of the show that closes the theater at the school; there's a brand spanking new building right across the railroad tracks that will be opening next fall. There will be ball fields over the space that is now the old theater very shortly.
To Kill a Mockingbird was an excellent play to close the theater. What an incredible message it has.
I just wish we could've gotten a few more folks in the theater to see it. But our promotion budget is, like, pennies. A few posters and some facebook posts were about the best we could do.
So, in lieu of the choir photo, I will leave you with a picture of The Flute Player in costume as Mrs. Dubose...in a costume that was golden, as it fit perfectly and needed no alteration whatsoever.
This was one of those days where I hit the ground running...with a trip to the airport to see My Sweet Baboo off on a business trip at 5 AM...and have just now sat down, at about 10:30 PM.
I sang in the choir for 2 out of 3 services today, but I didn't get a photo.
It's all stuff you've seen before anyway.
Today was the matinee closing of the show that closes the theater at the school; there's a brand spanking new building right across the railroad tracks that will be opening next fall. There will be ball fields over the space that is now the old theater very shortly.
To Kill a Mockingbird was an excellent play to close the theater. What an incredible message it has.
I just wish we could've gotten a few more folks in the theater to see it. But our promotion budget is, like, pennies. A few posters and some facebook posts were about the best we could do.
So, in lieu of the choir photo, I will leave you with a picture of The Flute Player in costume as Mrs. Dubose...in a costume that was golden, as it fit perfectly and needed no alteration whatsoever.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
...and the show opens
They did it.
Pulled it together and gave a strong performance. Oh, it wasn't perfect, but it was amazing. Knowing where they were Monday night and watching tonight's show...well, I'll be honest, I was bawling like a baby at the end.
I know it is a common tech week experience; horrific rehearsals that somehow meld the cast into a unit that reaches beyond what they've done before to do a show that touches folks, but it still has sort of a miraculous feel to see it happen.
Anyway, I'm very proud of the cast and crew.
Pulled it together and gave a strong performance. Oh, it wasn't perfect, but it was amazing. Knowing where they were Monday night and watching tonight's show...well, I'll be honest, I was bawling like a baby at the end.
I know it is a common tech week experience; horrific rehearsals that somehow meld the cast into a unit that reaches beyond what they've done before to do a show that touches folks, but it still has sort of a miraculous feel to see it happen.
Anyway, I'm very proud of the cast and crew.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Midnight Oil...
Rough night in the theater...
We have a first year director and, boy, is he getting his baptism by fire on this show. Let's just say this was the kind of evening that results in folks shaking themselves out and pulling it together...or falling into pouts and coming unglued. It could go either way. Everyone was exhausted by the end. But I have seen shows at this point before pull it together and do fabulous stuff...so, we'll see. One more rehearsal and then 6 performances.
Costuming, we are in good shape...I think...finally. There have been no new costumes made; everything has come from either the school's costume shop, other community theaters costume shops, the thrift store, or folks' own closets. We've altered and redesigned a few things; most of the sewing is looking at a garment and trying to figure out how to make it work. The directors' aunt, who is very active in local theater and education and has forgotten more about putting together a cast costume story than I will ever know gave us about 4 days out of her busy schedule and pulled and pinned and instructed and got us on target. It was kind of amazing to watch.
I learned how to raise the closure on a jacket quick-and-dirty style. It ain't purdy up close, but from the stage it works pretty well. Makes those contemporary jackets look much more depression-era, so it was worth doing. You press the stew out of it, then toptsitich the lapel to the jacket. Yeah. Really. But it works. We tried just tacking it, but that didn't put enough security on it and it kept reverting to the old roll line. But once we stitched it down hard, it stayed.
At least so far. ;-)
One more late night; I've got a couple of small things to do...I think...and then it'll be mopping up.
Then I can focus on the children's ministry costumes...
We have a first year director and, boy, is he getting his baptism by fire on this show. Let's just say this was the kind of evening that results in folks shaking themselves out and pulling it together...or falling into pouts and coming unglued. It could go either way. Everyone was exhausted by the end. But I have seen shows at this point before pull it together and do fabulous stuff...so, we'll see. One more rehearsal and then 6 performances.
Costuming, we are in good shape...I think...finally. There have been no new costumes made; everything has come from either the school's costume shop, other community theaters costume shops, the thrift store, or folks' own closets. We've altered and redesigned a few things; most of the sewing is looking at a garment and trying to figure out how to make it work. The directors' aunt, who is very active in local theater and education and has forgotten more about putting together a cast costume story than I will ever know gave us about 4 days out of her busy schedule and pulled and pinned and instructed and got us on target. It was kind of amazing to watch.
I learned how to raise the closure on a jacket quick-and-dirty style. It ain't purdy up close, but from the stage it works pretty well. Makes those contemporary jackets look much more depression-era, so it was worth doing. You press the stew out of it, then toptsitich the lapel to the jacket. Yeah. Really. But it works. We tried just tacking it, but that didn't put enough security on it and it kept reverting to the old roll line. But once we stitched it down hard, it stayed.
At least so far. ;-)
One more late night; I've got a couple of small things to do...I think...and then it'll be mopping up.
Then I can focus on the children's ministry costumes...
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 0415
It has been a long day.
Long week, in fact.
I'm not going into the blow-by-blow account, just suffice it to say that I have been home very little this week, as the laundry overflowing the hamper readily testifies.
Now, I had in mind one thing to wear this week, but when I got dressed I found that the top I'd planned was, after all, in the laundry.
I really thought it got through before the crunch hit. Guess not.
So I went with plan B. Last week, one of my friends in the choir handed me a turquoise jacket. She'd bought it on sale at a local department store, then, after she got it home, decided it just wasn't her style. So she gave it to me, thinking that if it didn't fit me I might be able to alter it to fit.
It fit pretty well for a RTW jacket, although there were some details that I really think I could've done better...or that I would feel like I should've done better if I had made it. Still, a free jacket is a free jacket so I thought I'd see if I could remedy at least the most glaring of those items before I wore it.
However, given the excess of unwashed laundry at my house, I grabbed the jacket this morning and wore it with my Lee bootcuts and my rayon/lycra jersey Christine Jonson Baseware 2 t-neck top
And I taught my class, sang in choir for 3 services, and then went straight to the high school and worked on costume alterations until 5 PM. Then we took the photo.
Maybe I can wash some clothes after the show opens on Thursday...
Long week, in fact.
I'm not going into the blow-by-blow account, just suffice it to say that I have been home very little this week, as the laundry overflowing the hamper readily testifies.
Now, I had in mind one thing to wear this week, but when I got dressed I found that the top I'd planned was, after all, in the laundry.
I really thought it got through before the crunch hit. Guess not.
So I went with plan B. Last week, one of my friends in the choir handed me a turquoise jacket. She'd bought it on sale at a local department store, then, after she got it home, decided it just wasn't her style. So she gave it to me, thinking that if it didn't fit me I might be able to alter it to fit.
It fit pretty well for a RTW jacket, although there were some details that I really think I could've done better...or that I would feel like I should've done better if I had made it. Still, a free jacket is a free jacket so I thought I'd see if I could remedy at least the most glaring of those items before I wore it.
However, given the excess of unwashed laundry at my house, I grabbed the jacket this morning and wore it with my Lee bootcuts and my rayon/lycra jersey Christine Jonson Baseware 2 t-neck top
And I taught my class, sang in choir for 3 services, and then went straight to the high school and worked on costume alterations until 5 PM. Then we took the photo.
Maybe I can wash some clothes after the show opens on Thursday...
Monday, April 09, 2012
These are the comments I get...
I've gotten some pretty pathetic ones, but this one takes the cake. It was posted from some spammer in Pakistan; I actually laughed out loud when I read it. I mean, does the poor person even know what they wrote?
This was a comment on yesterday's lengthy choir weekend post...which, of course, did not mention a lamb anywhere:
I’ve never heard of that before, there are lots of fascinating customs. Your lamb turned out really well. I hope it brings you every good thing, including prosperity. TFS!
The link tacked on to the end purported to be to an online source for the GED. I don't think I would trust the writer of that comment to advise anyone on getting educated...unless GED stands for something else that my sheltered life would not recognize. In any case, I wasn't clicking on nothin'...not after just getting the computer back to something like normal after the last virus.
Spam, spam, spam, spam... delete, delete, delete, delete....
This was a comment on yesterday's lengthy choir weekend post...which, of course, did not mention a lamb anywhere:
I’ve never heard of that before, there are lots of fascinating customs. Your lamb turned out really well. I hope it brings you every good thing, including prosperity. TFS!
The link tacked on to the end purported to be to an online source for the GED. I don't think I would trust the writer of that comment to advise anyone on getting educated...unless GED stands for something else that my sheltered life would not recognize. In any case, I wasn't clicking on nothin'...not after just getting the computer back to something like normal after the last virus.
Spam, spam, spam, spam... delete, delete, delete, delete....
Sunday, April 08, 2012
Choir Wardrobe 2012 - Easter Weekend
Three days of services...one on Friday, three on Saturday and three on Sunday. A fuzz over 5,000 folks (counting babies and everybody) attended, spread over the 7 services. Yes, it was tiring. But it was also very cool. ;-)
Anyway, the mundane side of it was that there were 3 outfits for choir this weekend. Fortunately, turquoise is one of the colors that lives in my wardrobe, so it really wasn't so hard. The colors actually are turquoise, charcoal gray and soft yellow...with jeans...
Friday night was a last-minute. I actually had sort of a plan...but, well, I picked up The Flute Player from the school bus stop, hit the grocery store for a couple of things I needed for today's dinner and pulled into the drive a fuzz over an hour before I needed to be ready and out the door. My hair wasn't behaving well, so I decided I'd hop in the shower and give it a quick wash to see if I could get it to tame down a bit. I stuck my head in The Actor's room and gave him a notice that we'd need to leave in an hour, and hit the shower. Just as I got the shampoo lathered up good, he pounded on the bathroom door, and what I pieced together over the sound of the water was that he'd just remembered he'd gotten a text message earlier in the day and he needed to be at church an hour before choir call to help move some furniture. Which meant that we pretty well should've been walking out the door at that very moment.
At that point, I was committed to the shower, so, well, he was half an hour late. And I went with my hair gelled instead of styled, wearing what was hanging in the closet instead of what needed a touch from the iron. But, hey, I was out of the door in less than 30 minutes from when I got the word, so I felt like I had Done My Part. ;-) This was Coldwater Creek denim jeans, my gray denim Jalie 2320 jacket and the yellow sweatery-knit Simplicity 2603 top.
Saturday, I did get the ironing done before taking the Flute Player to drama practice. I stayed with her and measured the cast; that had not been done yet. I still don't know how much help I'm going to be for that show...so much depends on how well the church sewing goes this weekend. I rather expect to spend most of Tech Week evenings at school, doing alterations. Anyway, we left school about 11, ran home and changed clothes and got a bite to eat, then headed to church for round 2.
This was the first go at New Look 6407; in turquoise cotton/lycra shirting from Hancock's. I've tweaked the pattern once since this version; I think if I do one more tweak it'll be just about perfect. But this one isn't, and I usually try to wear a scarf to camouflage the too-low neckline. ;-). The scarf was a cheapie from Wal-Mart; the jeans were Lee boot cuts.
Today I wore the 'B Minus Jacket', (Vogue 1100) which hasn't been reviewed yet. I really would like to find the pattern so I can check and see if the skimpy hems were because I goofed up on an alteration or not. It's teamed up with another Simplicity 2603 top; this one from sparkly gray jersey knit, and the Coldwater Creek Knit Bootcuts. The jacket looks rather rumpley, but then, this was AFTER 3rd service today, and I was feeling rather rumpley! Actually, I think this jacket is something that is going to be worn for its own sake...not because it is particularly flattering, shape-wise. Part of that is the fabric choice; this is a tropical weight gabardine and, really, it is not at all forgiving with any kind of wobbly bobble, and I had plenty! But it feels really good on (it's that silk cotton lining, I'm sure), and I expect I'll wear it, even if it isn't skinnifying.
And about halfway through today's services I wondered why my legs felt so sore. Then I remembered all the up-and-down I'd done yesterday, measuring inseams and out seams and bending over to write things down...guess I got my exercising done...
Now, after going through all of this, I gotta give a little disclaimer that, really, it's not about the clothes any more than it's about a bunny. Before we left the house this morning, I posted what was on my heart about the day on my other blog. Just so you know. ;-)
Anyway, the mundane side of it was that there were 3 outfits for choir this weekend. Fortunately, turquoise is one of the colors that lives in my wardrobe, so it really wasn't so hard. The colors actually are turquoise, charcoal gray and soft yellow...with jeans...
Friday night was a last-minute. I actually had sort of a plan...but, well, I picked up The Flute Player from the school bus stop, hit the grocery store for a couple of things I needed for today's dinner and pulled into the drive a fuzz over an hour before I needed to be ready and out the door. My hair wasn't behaving well, so I decided I'd hop in the shower and give it a quick wash to see if I could get it to tame down a bit. I stuck my head in The Actor's room and gave him a notice that we'd need to leave in an hour, and hit the shower. Just as I got the shampoo lathered up good, he pounded on the bathroom door, and what I pieced together over the sound of the water was that he'd just remembered he'd gotten a text message earlier in the day and he needed to be at church an hour before choir call to help move some furniture. Which meant that we pretty well should've been walking out the door at that very moment.
This was the first go at New Look 6407; in turquoise cotton/lycra shirting from Hancock's. I've tweaked the pattern once since this version; I think if I do one more tweak it'll be just about perfect. But this one isn't, and I usually try to wear a scarf to camouflage the too-low neckline. ;-). The scarf was a cheapie from Wal-Mart; the jeans were Lee boot cuts.
Today I wore the 'B Minus Jacket', (Vogue 1100) which hasn't been reviewed yet. I really would like to find the pattern so I can check and see if the skimpy hems were because I goofed up on an alteration or not. It's teamed up with another Simplicity 2603 top; this one from sparkly gray jersey knit, and the Coldwater Creek Knit Bootcuts. The jacket looks rather rumpley, but then, this was AFTER 3rd service today, and I was feeling rather rumpley! Actually, I think this jacket is something that is going to be worn for its own sake...not because it is particularly flattering, shape-wise. Part of that is the fabric choice; this is a tropical weight gabardine and, really, it is not at all forgiving with any kind of wobbly bobble, and I had plenty! But it feels really good on (it's that silk cotton lining, I'm sure), and I expect I'll wear it, even if it isn't skinnifying.
And about halfway through today's services I wondered why my legs felt so sore. Then I remembered all the up-and-down I'd done yesterday, measuring inseams and out seams and bending over to write things down...guess I got my exercising done...
Now, after going through all of this, I gotta give a little disclaimer that, really, it's not about the clothes any more than it's about a bunny. Before we left the house this morning, I posted what was on my heart about the day on my other blog. Just so you know. ;-)
Friday, April 06, 2012
The 'B Minus' Jacket
Some things go together so nicely; others, well, others make me think I've no business claiming 'advanced' sewing skills.
The Vogue 1100 jacket started off well enough, but the whole collar debacle kind of threw all my sewing rhythm off and I ended up with a so-so jacket.
The redeeming features are the color and the fabulous scarf panel lining. Oh, and the fact that the fabric was on mad clearance and the jacket cost something like 20 bucks all told. The small things that are 'off' will glare to me (and quite possibly to other seamstresses), but, well, in the middle of the choir it's not going to matter so much.
For all that, I really like the pattern and would like to make it again, now that I have THOROUGHLY acquainted myself with the pitfalls.
I did have what I believe is a drafting-an-alteration error, after all. Won't go into it here, but it resulted in very skimpy hems. If I make it again, I will correct that.
Anyway, here's the hanger shot. I expect to wear this for choir on Sunday, so you'll see the 'on a real body' photo then.
I'm just really, really glad to move this into the 'Done' column!
The Vogue 1100 jacket started off well enough, but the whole collar debacle kind of threw all my sewing rhythm off and I ended up with a so-so jacket.
The redeeming features are the color and the fabulous scarf panel lining. Oh, and the fact that the fabric was on mad clearance and the jacket cost something like 20 bucks all told. The small things that are 'off' will glare to me (and quite possibly to other seamstresses), but, well, in the middle of the choir it's not going to matter so much.
For all that, I really like the pattern and would like to make it again, now that I have THOROUGHLY acquainted myself with the pitfalls.
I did have what I believe is a drafting-an-alteration error, after all. Won't go into it here, but it resulted in very skimpy hems. If I make it again, I will correct that.
Anyway, here's the hanger shot. I expect to wear this for choir on Sunday, so you'll see the 'on a real body' photo then.
I'm just really, really glad to move this into the 'Done' column!
Thursday, April 05, 2012
Two Steps Forward, One and a Half Back
I am *still* working on the Vogue 1100 Jacket. I finished off the bottom edges and topstitched it all, then decided the facing had somehow wonkered up too short; the jacket was curling at the bottom. So I unpicked the topstitching and released the bottom edge; I'm going to have to hand hem it, to offset the facing at the bottom a teeny bit.
Part of the problem is that the pockets I drafted turned out to be too long. So I'm going to trim about 3/4" off the bottom of the pocket bags and see if that helps with the lumpy bottom edge much.
They really only need to be big enough to hold a kleenex anyway.
So...*maybe* I'll get the jacket done by Sunday. If I can work on it steadily tomorrow. 'Cause tomorrow is about the last chance.
The first of our 7 Easter Services (yes, we are repeating the same service 7 times, because we can't fit everyone into the building at once) is tomorrow night at 7 central; we're having 3 on Saturday (2 PM, 4 PM and 6 PM) and 3 on Sunday (8 AM, 9:45 AM and 11:30 AM). If you are interested, the services will be streaming live at therockfamily.tv (the dot tv stands for Tennessee Valley, not Television like I thought...)
Next week the children's ministry sewing starts. Of my list of 8 or so volunteers, 2 of them have already told me they aren't going to be able to make it. And I still don't know for sure what all we are doing...only that we need to do it quickly.
Part of the problem is that the pockets I drafted turned out to be too long. So I'm going to trim about 3/4" off the bottom of the pocket bags and see if that helps with the lumpy bottom edge much.
They really only need to be big enough to hold a kleenex anyway.
So...*maybe* I'll get the jacket done by Sunday. If I can work on it steadily tomorrow. 'Cause tomorrow is about the last chance.
The first of our 7 Easter Services (yes, we are repeating the same service 7 times, because we can't fit everyone into the building at once) is tomorrow night at 7 central; we're having 3 on Saturday (2 PM, 4 PM and 6 PM) and 3 on Sunday (8 AM, 9:45 AM and 11:30 AM). If you are interested, the services will be streaming live at therockfamily.tv (the dot tv stands for Tennessee Valley, not Television like I thought...)
Next week the children's ministry sewing starts. Of my list of 8 or so volunteers, 2 of them have already told me they aren't going to be able to make it. And I still don't know for sure what all we are doing...only that we need to do it quickly.
Sunday, April 01, 2012
How DID I sew before the Internet?
'Toteworthy' nailed it...the problem with the jacket wasn't the mysterious unknown alterations, it was that I put the collar on upside down!!
Spent a bit of time spent unpicking and resewing and...TA DA...the humongeos error has evaporated:
It's wrangled and mangled and in need of a good pressing, but I am back to the point I was at last night. And the collar is as it should be. A long shot from perfect, due to the fudging necessary to deal with the already-trimmed seams, but WAY better than it was.
Obviously, the guide sheet is a necessary friend for this project. And, since I recollected that page one/two of the guide sheet was missing from the envelope when I originally cut the jacket out, I signed up for Club BMV and ordered another copy of the pattern.
I'm going to have to make this again, correct from the beginning, and see how it turns out. ;-)
Thanks to all my internet buddies who offered consolation and advice, and especially to 'Toteworthy' for spotting the actual error!!
Spent a bit of time spent unpicking and resewing and...TA DA...the humongeos error has evaporated:
It's wrangled and mangled and in need of a good pressing, but I am back to the point I was at last night. And the collar is as it should be. A long shot from perfect, due to the fudging necessary to deal with the already-trimmed seams, but WAY better than it was.
Obviously, the guide sheet is a necessary friend for this project. And, since I recollected that page one/two of the guide sheet was missing from the envelope when I originally cut the jacket out, I signed up for Club BMV and ordered another copy of the pattern.
I'm going to have to make this again, correct from the beginning, and see how it turns out. ;-)
Thanks to all my internet buddies who offered consolation and advice, and especially to 'Toteworthy' for spotting the actual error!!
Choir Wardrobe 04-01-12
And the choir colors have changed...for April, we are wearing aqua, dark gray, and yellow. At least I have some of that in the closet! ;-)
So, today I've got the Lee Bootcuts, my Simplicity 4076 original scoop neck T, made from a very worn and pilling poly/rayon/lycra blend knit I got at the Atlanta Expo probably 6 or 7 years ago. It's matched up with the Jalie 2566 cardigan and Jalie 965 tank top from the Double Twin Set and some yellow plastic beads.
It might look odd out of context of choir, but I blended well with others today. ;-)
Next weekend, in an attempt to get everyone into the building for Easter services, we are having 7 services spread over 3 days. It's gonna be a marathon...but it should be great! And, although what I wear really will be the least of all the aspects of the weekend, here on the sewing blog you will likely see 3 outfits, as we are serving in all seven services.
And praying hard for a larger facility. ;-)
So, today I've got the Lee Bootcuts, my Simplicity 4076 original scoop neck T, made from a very worn and pilling poly/rayon/lycra blend knit I got at the Atlanta Expo probably 6 or 7 years ago. It's matched up with the Jalie 2566 cardigan and Jalie 965 tank top from the Double Twin Set and some yellow plastic beads.
It might look odd out of context of choir, but I blended well with others today. ;-)
Next weekend, in an attempt to get everyone into the building for Easter services, we are having 7 services spread over 3 days. It's gonna be a marathon...but it should be great! And, although what I wear really will be the least of all the aspects of the weekend, here on the sewing blog you will likely see 3 outfits, as we are serving in all seven services.
And praying hard for a larger facility. ;-)
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