sewing
Gifts For The Out-Laws
[Out-laws: when they’re not in-laws but you have enough of a history that they’re more than “my boyfriend’s family”]
Doc was in charge of getting gifts for his family this year but I wanted to add a little something on the side. So I made lavender sachets for the ladies in the family, with scraps of cotton and velvet and lavender from the hedge in the front yard:
I also finished the socks for Doc’s dad, which turned out about as “Pa Ingalls” as I’d thought. They were a hit, though. (Doc’s dad and I bonded over a hatred of too-tight socks.)
When You Love Someone Enough To Sew For Him
I think I’ve made it a tradition to make Doc a shirt for special occasions–first a shirt for Christmas last year, then a shirt for our anniversary in spring. This time, he got one for his birthday:
The details are the same as the Christmas shirt last year: McCalls M6044 with added length, added back yoke, redrafted sleeve vents, and flat felled seams, in Kaufmann Mammoth Plaid again (this is a better idea of the color).
In general, I don’t know that other people are as thrilled about gifts of clothes as I am–but that’s a pretty pleased face. I think he likes it.
“New” Workspace
The work my dad did in the basement finishing the windows has made it a really nice place for sewing projects. Sure, I’m still waiting on a cutting table, but the windows being finished means it’s clean, and it’s really nice to have space to spread out the fabric.
(The basement is also the Land of Old Cat Furniture so it’s nice for Toby to have a place to sit…that isn’t my fabric.)
I brought in the rug and some plants from the deck and put some other pots in the window well to brighten things up. And I have a StyleArc Esme top all cut out and ready to sew now!
Tuesday Project Roundup: Alterations By Karen
I haven’t had a lot of sewing mojo lately but I did cut eighteen inches off a dress I made last year. Instant new top!
We’ve had a warm fall and I’ve been on a budget for a new car, so my wardrobe has felt extra-challenged. My feet have decided to only be happy in flats, too, so there’s a perfect storm of “I have nothing to wear!” So far I’m resisting J. Crew and trying to see what I can do with what I have. So far…
Jumping In
Much like C.S. Lewis’s conversion to Christianity (“When we set out I did not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and when we reached the zoo I did.”), I became an instant convert to the idea of a jumpsuit a couple of months ago. I blame J. Crew, as I do for many things in my life:
Yes, I know they’re very fashion-y. Yes, I know they’re not the most practical thing to wear and actually use the restroom in. But much like C.S. Lewis, I accept their fallacies wholeheartedly.
An indie designer released a knit version recently that is promised to be both fast and comfy, and I really think I may need to try it out.
Thus endeth the parable of the jumpsuit. May Bernina have mercy upon us.
(Images from J Crew [now sold out] and the pattern designer’s Pinterest page; original links there. )
Tuesday Project Roundups: Gathered Skirt
I finally finished the skirt whose measurements convinced me to start doing yoga again and packing lunches. (Post titles considered but not used: Gathered Skirt for a Gut and Poufy Skirt for a Paunch.)
The fabric is the second cut of ankara print I got last September and the pattern is your basic gathered rectangle-with-a-waistband. I added pockets to it like I did the other skirt, but unlike the other skirt I made these out of the same fabric, i.e. correctly. And I made it the fashion-y “midi length” which the internet tells me will be big for fall.
It has a deep hem because I was too lazy to trim off the extra fabric and I think that adds a structure that really shows off the fullness at the bottom. Final verdict: I really like it, despite its waist measurements.
Tuesday Project Roundup: Muumuus In Action!
I finished the self-drafted “boxy t-shirt” maxi dress and got Doc to take a picture of me wearing it…in the snack aisle, because muumuus–even by any other name–are all about allowing one to eat snacks.
I’m not sure how I feel about this one. The pattern placement is a little, um, questionable, and the knit fabric is more like a swimwear knit, slippery and not very breathable.
But I got a lot of compliments and someone who can remember the days of disco even said, “It’s very Halston.” So I guess it’s a success as a dress? It’s definitely a success as a muumuu.
Inspired By Air Conditioning
I have a knit dress to finish, two more cuts of knit to make up, and a linen tunic I was planning, but all I can think about are jackets–because it’s summer and that means every office everywhere is way too air conditioned.
I have more ikat to make a fraternal twin to the ikat jacket I finished a while back, but I also am thinking of making another one in a boxy, mod shape:
(source)
(source)
And I found this fabric, featuring not only shades of orange and Japanese fish scale patterns but tiny, stylized deer–pretty much a fabric designed to appeal to me:
So let The Summer Of Jackets begin. And turn up the thermostat already, people.
Tuesday Project Progress: More Knits
I have a knit dress on the table that I wanted to finish this week but yard work put a damper in my plans. It’s an experiment in copying something I saw on a sewing/fashion blog:
I liked the t-shirt-dress-meets-caftan style of it so I got some cheap jersey and started winging it.
Stay tuned for how it all works out.