I made this one in about three days after I finally finished those curtains. I’d used the basic pattern before for the giant paisley shift and just re-drafted the neckline. The slit means it doesn’t need a zipper, so that helped keep things speedy.
The band at the bottom is leftover Liberty of London fabric from the scarf I made for a friend in December. I like how the William Morris pattern looks almost like an Indian print when you put it on this silhouette.
…and here’s a gratuitous baby shot. Because dress projects kind of pale next to “here’s a new human” projects.
Karen
Posts by Karen Kaminski:
Toby, Cover Your Ears
Forty-eight hours ago, if you had asked me who or what my favorite creature in the whole world was, I would have said Toby. But now someone is giving him some stiff competition for that spot:
Meet Skyler, the long-awaited nephew, born April 30. He may be my new favorite thing ever.
(Okay, uncover your ears now, Toby.)
Friday Unrelated Information
1. Some British people got married today, I think? Ha!
2. Here in America, the Allen Telescope Array has had to go quiet due to lack of funds. Part of SETI, the radio telescopes were just getting ready to start focusing on the Earth-like worlds identified by Kepler. Donate here; they need $5 milllion.
3. And finally, Llama Font is exactly what it says. Llama Font!
Anna Karenina, Part Seven, Chapter 16
(Levin is meeting his son for the first time after Kitty has given birth in Chapter 15. I have not met my nephew yet–I think he changed his mind–but it seemed likely last night so I got this typed up.)
Levin, gazing at this tiny piteous being, vainly searched his soul for some indications of paternal feeling. He felt nothing for it but repulsion. But when it was stripped and he caught a glimpse of thin, little arms and legs saffron-colored, but with fingers and toes and even with thumbs distinguishable from the rest; and when he saw how, as though they were soft springs, [the midwife] bent those little arms which stuck up, and encased them in their linen garments, he was so filled with pity for that being, and so alarmed lest she hurt it, that he tried to restrain her hand.
[…]
The odd-looking little face wrinkled up still more and the baby sneezed…What [Levin] felt towards this little creature was not at all what he had anticipated. There was nothing merry or joyful in it; on the contrary, there was a new and distressing sense of fear. It was the consciousness of another vulnerable region. And this consciousness was at first so painful, the fear lest that helpless being should suffer was so strong, that it quite hid the strange feeling of unreasoning joy and even pride which he experienced when the baby sneezed.
I Would Get A Gold
During the process of getting the drapes cut, sewn, and finished, I measured a lot (and did you notice how evenly they were hanging in yesterday’s pictures?). Fortunately, I’ve gotten pretty good at wielding my metal tape measure alone–which is why I had to grin when I saw this xkcd comic (click for big):
I would win that event for sure.
Tuesday Project Roundup: Public Service Announcement
“Please, if you or anyone you know is thinking about making lined drapes, don’t let them. There’s another way. Get professional help.”
I wish I had heard a PSA like that before I started this project–but at least they’re done now:
Drapery construction is not complicated, which was the source of my hubris initially, but it is just so. much. fabric. to wrangle and feed through the machine evenly. And of course I wanted to line them, so that doubled the fabric to wrangle.
But they are done (I know I said that already; I just can’t believe it) and it’s really nice to have them to close at night:
And with these finished, all the windows in the house are now covered. That only took 2.75 months!
What Homeowners Do
Homeowners get really, really excited about basement storage. But do you blame me? Look at this shelving unit! I was looking at the IKEA wood shelving units because they were cheap and because they had an option for a wine rack, but then my dad offered to make me something. The materials were the same price as IKEA, but I ended up with more storage and exponentially better quality. (I could use those shelves as bunk beds if I had to!)
And I even got a wine rack: Dad surprised me with one that holds twenty-five bottles and takes up exactly half of one shelf. I blame exposure to the J. Peterman catalog at a young age, but I’ve always wanted to be the person who has the right wine on hand (including champagne). Now I can be that person–thanks, Dad!
(Somebody else gets excited about basement storage, too.)
Friday Unrelated Information
1. I was invited to my first knitting group last night (my first in six years of knitting!) and the lovely ladies there taught me how to crochet. Look–a new skill in my crafty arsenal:
2. Here’s something to think about, especially for people who share things on the internet:
“Loneliness does not come from being alone, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important.” (Jung)
3. I’ve had “The Rainbow Connection” in my head for two days now. Would you like it in your head too? Watch it here.
Happy Birthday, Charlotte Bronte
Many happy returns to you, Charlotte. I’m glad you didn’t die of tuberculosis at boarding school, and I’m glad you gave Jane Eyre a happy(ish) ending, especially when you didn’t do so with Villette. (Although I understand why you didn’t, given the events that inspired that one.) I just wanted you to know that I’ve been reading Jane Eyre for about twenty years now, and that I think you (and your sisters) were pretty revolutionary. Happy birthday!
Meeting Face
There have been a slew of long meetings at work lately. They’ve actually been pretty enjoyable for long meetings, but I have to be careful with my face, as some pictures lately have made me come to the conclusion I have Chronic Bitchface (click for big):
As the image source says, “there is no known cure.” I just have to remember to keep some sort of smile pasted on during the meetings.
(Image found first via Kara’s Pinterest. Pinterest deserves its own post, I think; I have an account now too!)