SarahbelleSews

Woo-Hoo!!!

2012-01-19T19:02:00.000-08:00

Look!

Look!!

Look!!!

My beautiful daughter is Simplicity's Blogger du Jour!

http://katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com/2012/01/simplicity-2256-big-reveal.html

She made this great jacket, blogged about it, et viola! (Okay, it might have taken more time and effort than that . . .)

She will be continuing the discussion of construction details, and fitting alterations on Simplicity's Facebook page and her blog for the next several days. Pop over and join the fun!

Where's Katie???

2012-01-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

One of the blogs you will see listed at right has disappeared.

Gone.

Kaput.

Finito.

Buh-bye.

www.katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com was removed by google. No explanation, no warning -- it just vanished into cyberspace.

The blog's author will attempt to restore it as was, but if she is unable to do so, she will re-invent her blog on wordpress. I shall keep you informed, as I know we shared many followers.

After a moment of silent meditation, you may go back to your lives.

Help request

2011-11-28T07:06:00.001-08:00

There may be a temporary dearth, or complete absence, of posts regarding new creations for a while. I am full-tilt into Holiday sewing, and gift-sewing mode, and cannot posts gifts that haven't been gifted, yet.
I do, however, have one quick project looming that isn't a surprise, and i could use a little advice:

I am piecing a quilt top out of all Minkie fabric. It's a pre-cut kit, that was on sale at a great price.
Because the Minkie stretches quite a bit, I am wonder how best to handle all the stitiching required for a blanket.
My options are: my Pfaffie, with its incomparable walking foot; or the Baby Lock serger with Differential feed. Because I am joining minkie to minkie, the differential feed setting ought, theoretically, be Neutral, but that may well not be the case, and I like having the option of making adjustments as I go.

The serger uses a LOT more thread, and, since it's a blanket, ravels aren't an issue, so I can't really justify the expense, or added bulk. But sergers go really fast, and -- well -- I like that!!!

Still, Pfaffie has never let me down, and she's all ready threaded with the right type/size needle and the right colour of thread, and the 1/4in. guided foot.

Since this was a pre-cut kit, I don't have any remnants with which to experiment, so I appreciate having the benefit of my readers' experience.

Any thoughts???

Sarahbelle's Superb MacCheese

2011-11-10T12:24:00.001-08:00

Note: This recipe, is the Gluten-Free version of my original, classic dish. It differs from the original only in the grains used for the flour and the pasta. Using traditional, wheat flour and pasta does not change any of the amounts, cooking times etc. Easy cheesy. {sorry. very bad pun.}
*Note 2: the recipe calls for half-and-half, which I never buy. I always have milk and heavy cream on hand, so why buy a third, seldom used ingredient?? If this does not apply to you, use half-and-half.
*Note3: I like a mix of shapes. Large Elbows are preferred by my family, and they come in a handy 1-lb. bag. To that I like to add some farfalle. (bow ties). I think it's pretty. You should use whatever shape and size you like.

Ingredients:

1/3 Cup GF AP flour blend of your choice
1tsp Lawry's Seasoned salt
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp white pepper
1/3 Cup butter (NOT margarine -- I'm NOT kidding!!!)
*1 qt. half-and-half
*1 1/4 lb. corn/rice macaroni.
Cheese.
Lots of cheese.
Lots of coarsely shredded cheese.
The details vary somewhat (according to what is on hand, in the fridge, or on sale), but one has some standards. (!) here are mine:
Approximately 1 1/2 pounds, total, of which 1 pound must be Longhorn Colby. [I am particularly fond of H-E-B's house brand, but if you don't live in Texas, you'll just have to do your best.], and 1 thick slice of Smoked Gouda, from the deli. [I always have them cut 2 or 3 slices, to insure that 1 will actually go into the MacCheese.] For the remainder of the cheese, scour your fridge for leftover bits of Swiss, Cheddar, Gruyere, Jarlsberg, Butterkase, Havarti, Fontina, Romano. Avoid Mozzarella and Provolone as they tend to stretch a bit. On the other hand, if someone is coming to dinner that you don't particularly like - stretchy cheese can be funny.

Method:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Butter a deep 3-qt casserole dish or stoneware baker.
In small bowl, thoroughly mix flour, salt, mustard, pepper. Set aside.
Fill stockpot with 6 quarts of water. Bring to a boil. Salt liberally.
While waiting for water to boil: in heavy 3-qt saucepan, over med-high heat, melt butter. When butter has begun to brown, take it off the stove, and whisk in dry ingredients. Return to heat, and gradually add half-and-half, whisking to blend smoothly. Reduce heat to medium, stirring occasionally while sauce thickens. [BTW: you just made a Basic White Sauce, here. Keep this in your back pocket for the basis of many great sauces and casseroles.] When thickened, use a wooden or silicone spoon to add appr. 2/3 of shredded cheese.
Meanwhile, cook pasta al dente (Italian: "to the tooth" ie: firm), drain well.
In buttered dish, layer half of pasta, third of remaining cheese, half of sauce. Repeat. Mix all layers somewhat. Sprinkle on remaining cheese.
Bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until bubbly, and smell is beginning to draw a crowd.

Yum.
I promise.

Piece-y Work

2011-11-03T15:47:00.000-07:00

This little outfit for my sweet granddaughter, Emma Rose, came about during quilt class.

As previously mentioned, I am taking a block-of-the-month class at Scharmann's in Longview. The blocks are coming along nicely. The zig-zag sashing, triangle insertions, and and block borders - not so well.
In September's class, the instructor mentioned that 4 of the squares we were constructing would not be used. Why construct them?? Let me explain: These are made of half-square triangles (HST). Made by cutting squares, then sewing two squares together, with 2 seams diagonally, and cutting between the stitching lines, the result is 2 identical squares made of identical triangles.

As soon as she said that we wouldn't need them, I asked if we were to save them for a future block (3 more months/blocks in the quilt, after all). I was told no, to throw them away. Throw them away???? Toss something pretty on which I have labored???? I hardly think so! My mind immediately started churning with possibilities. Embellish a throw pillow?? Book mark? Kitty necklace?? Then I thought of how nice the batiks we were using would look against denim. Knowing I had some denim in my prodigious stash, I set about mentally planning the ensemble. With the squares sewn together in a line, it would be just the right length to embellish a little jumper for Emma Rose. By the time class ended, I knew the jumper needed a coordinating shirt, and a piping border edging the strip of piecework would be just the thing. I purchased a half-yard of the blue batik, which I really liked next to denim, and, after completing the block, I went to work.

I couldn't find a jumper pattern in Emma's size in my collection that I really liked for this, but I found the Burda for Kids 9829 that also had a great little shirt. I know this will get used again!
I even followed the pattern's advice and added ruched strips to the shirt's front. Cute, nes pas??
I debated about the very heavy, clunky ceramic buttons -- they seem a bit weighty for so little a girl -- but aren't they perfect with the batiks??
I can't wait to see Emma in this!!

Another Weird Skirt & and a Great, Basic Top

2011-10-21T20:07:00.000-07:00

While I was visiting Fredericksburg, TX this past July, I learned about a great fabric store in nearby Kerrville. Having never been to Kerrville, despite living in San Antonio for 4 years, I decided to make the side trip. The store, Creations, is a wonderful source of mostly quilting fabrics, but, also of garment fabric, patterns, books, and inspiration. Plus, they have a shop-cat that fetches faxes. He, alone, is worth the trip.

I found some wonderful rayon challis in a print to make of a pattern I had bought at Expo last year, and a coordinating solid for a top. The wonderfully helpful staff talked me into buying a pattern for the top. I can't remember the last time I paid full-price for a pattern!! I drove away cursing myself for paying $15.00 for a pattern that makes a cap-sleeved top in 3 lengths, and nothing more. It turned out to be totally worth the price. Designed by the folks at The Batik Butik, the Kintamani Top & Tunic, is simple, elegant, versatile. Designed to make the most of the very type fabric I had purchased, I shall, nonetheless, make this again of silk charmeuse, handkerchief linen, silk muslin, bamboo jersey, Japanese lawn, etc. & etc. {yes, I know -- that's redundant -- you get my point}. Besides being a great, basic design, the pattern instructions feature some wonderful construction techniques, that will show up in many more of my garments - regardless the pattern's origins. For instance: for the neck facings, one is instructed to sew only one of the shoulder seams in the facing, (both shoulder seams have all ready been sewn in the garment), attach the facing from open seam around to open seam, and then sew the seam. For a perfectly flat, round neck edge, the traditional 5/8in seam might not turn out to be 5/8 in. Doing it this way insures a facing that lies flat, regardless the drape or 'give' of the fabric. It sounded weird, but worked perfectly. One caveat: is is sized for extreme comfort -- read: BIG. Next time, I shall cut at least one size smaller than the size chart advises. That said: it is comfortable!!!

The skirt is weird in both its design and construction. But, you know, I like weird.
From L.J.Designs, the Chardonnay Skirt attracted me at first sight. It drapes, it glides, it swishes, and it has a deep front flounce. Turns out -- the flounce hides the zipper. Weirdest zipper insertion ever!!!
The skirt is constructed of one piece of fabric. That's right: one. So, when the info on the back of the envelope gives yardage requirements for 54in and 60in wide fabric -- there's a very good reason. The single piece cut on the fold means that while the center back is on the straight grain, the front flounce cum zipper is on the bias. Now: this gets interesting!!!
Careful marking of darts and zip line is a must!!! You will want tracing paper for this.
When I got to the point of inserting the zipper, I read the instructions through several times, not quite comprehending. When am I supposed to cut the fabric for the zipper to open??? Eventually, I decided to just do it, carefully, step-by-step, and hope it worked out. Of course, it did. One doesn't ever cut the fabric, because each half of the zipper is sewn to the center front, allowing the fabric to the side of the zipper to cascade into the flounce.

O-h-h-h-h-h-h-h-h!!
Below the zipper, the fabric is left open in a de facto slit. Greater modesty can be had by using a zipper longer than the 18in one called for. However, on me (I am 5ft, 7in tall), the opening began only a little above the knee, and the skirt is full enough to not ride up when I sit. again: worked perfectly.
My new ensemble is comfortable, colorful, and eclectic enough to be interesting without getting myself talked about too much.
I hope.
Well -- maybe.

Of Cats & Sewing

2011-10-19T05:40:00.000-07:00

Fergus is mad with me for rejecting his offer of help in cutting out a shirt for Emma Rose.
He has turned his back on me.

I suppose I can cut it out later.

I love getting packagesl!!

2011-10-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

Look what came in the mail for me!

This is all from Nancy's Notions. The fabric is a wonderfully soft, drape-y, bamboo jersey. I have sewn with this before. I love wearing it -- it hugs, without clinging - it glides over one's curves.

The book is the real excitement: (I nearly always get excited over new books - College Biology was a rare exception) It shows how to adapt a basic crew-necked, faced T-shirt into 14 different T's!!

I can't wait to get started! Which one shall I make first???

Skyline Redux

2011-10-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I am not quite as finished sewing a garment as I think I am.
Such was the case with the skyline skirt.

The first wearing of it illustrated 2 significant flaws: 1) tiny bits of the lace edged lining showed in 2 spots. Had the showing been even all around, I should have called it a design element, and pretended it was intentional. Such was not the case. I had a spot of lace an inch deep X 4 inches wide showing in the right side, and another spot 1/4inch deep X 2 inches wide in the front. Also: 2) Despite what I thought were careful measurements, the waist was a little loose.

Fixing both were relatively easy, if atypical. Typically, if a hem is too long, one turns it up and re-sews. This may, or may not involve letting out the stitching of the original hem. This method does not work when the hem's edge is the scallop of a lace. Another option would have been to remove the original stitching that affixed the lace to the lining fabric, move it up an inch, and re-stitch. This method, however would have involved an act that is as anathema to me as playing with snakes, that is: ripping out stitches. I rarely do this, as I don't do it well.
Since this overall look of the pink silk-and-lace lining is decidedly feminine, I chose to add 2 rows of small horizontal pleats just above the top edge of the lace, neatly taking up and inch-and-a half of length.
Pretty, non???

As for the waist - that, too, was simple. I shored up my resistance and ripped out the tiniest possible number of stitches - sometimes there is simply no good alternative - on the ribbon band at one side seam (which is where the elastic ends were affixed), and removed 4 inches of elastic, and re-stitched the end.

All better now!

How Does This Happen to Me?

2011-10-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

See the small spool of thread in the picture??? That is what I went to the store to buy.
See everything else in the picture? That is what I brought home from the store.

S * I * G * H

However, I should like to point out that the serger cone was 50% off, and matched the stitching thread perfectly (which I didn't expect), and, as for the fabric . . . Snakeskin print rayon challis, 64in wide for $3..00/yd. How could I possibly have left that behind??

Skirt, or pants - what do you think?? I have 3.125 yds., and I'd love to hear specific pattern ideas!!

Skyline Skirt, Ode to Basic Arithmatic Skills

2011-09-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

I think the reason I am calling this The Skyline Skirt is pretty obvious (if not, check out the border design), but if I were more candid, or reveling, I might call it The Design, Re-Design as you Go Skirt. Because that's what I did.
I bought this at Golden D'Or in Dallas several months ago. I was there with my daughter Varina, mostly checking things out for future use. She had actual needs, which this deceptively huge, labyrinth of a a textile emporium meet more than nicely. I had no real intention of buying anything, since I currently have more fabric and patterns than time to sew. Then we went to the bargain section in the back. Quell surprise! I thought the whole store was a bargain section! wow. Seriously: wow. No description of mine can do justice to this store's inventory or prices; you must, if you find yourself within 100 miles of Dallas, go there. But go in the daytime. Not one of Dallas' finer neighborhoods.

This fabric is a cotton gauze embellished with vertical lines of metallic threads and sequins extending from both selvages. At 60in wide, I figured I had some considerable room for creativity, so I bought 2 yds. My original plan for this was a simple, tea-length, 6-panel skirt in which one of the borders would be the hem. Later (inspired by a skirt I saw on Dharma & Greg -- I love Dharma's wardrobe!!!), I decided to make the back much fuller than the front, slit the CB up to the knees, and add a narrow ruffle all around and up the CB out of the solid fabric that I cut off. (Dharma's skirt was a 6-panel with 3 rows of narrow ruffles at the hem). Then I held it up to myself to gauge for length, and that's when things got hinky.

I discovered that the border was so deep, that to achieve the length I wanted, I could only cut off the other border - leaving no solid fabric to be ruffled. H-mmmmmmm. A quick perusal through 25 years of Threads magazine (AKA: the sewist's BEST print resource!!!) revealed several articles on CB skirt insertions. Then, I was re-inspired. Instead of a ruffle/slit on a CB seam, how about a CB panel, whose border is pleated??? The more I pictured it, the better I liked it. Now: to cut it out.

Of course, this design existed only in my head. So the pattern would have to be drafted. First: some measurements. I knew that I wanted the CF panel to be roughly the width of my knees when standing with feet, shoulder-width apart. I don't know how I knew this. Somethings, you just know. My husband took that measurement for me, and some quick mental math told me that that measurement multiplied by 3 (number of panels in skirt's front) would be just about right for half of my hip measurement + a little ease. [Note how I am describing the measuring process without actually revealing the skirt's actual measurements, and thereby risking revealing MY actual measurements?? This is intentional. Try and keep up.]

I wanted the back to be much fuller, and, I abhor waste, so I cut the CB panel to the same measurement as front panels, and used the remaining fabric for the flanking back panels. I wanted a sleek, straight-ish look in the front, with a few surprises in the back. As my waist is, so far, smaller than my hips, I took the difference between those two measurements, divided by 12 (number of seam allowances), added 3/4 in to that, and reduced each seam allowance the resulting number at the waist, narrowing to 0, at fullest point of hips. Taken step-by-step, this is easier than I just made it sound. Then I cut off the border from the bottom of the CB panel, and cut a piece of the leftover border from the first cut that was 4 times the length of the piece I had removed. I don't know why I thought I would be reducing the width by 1/4. I had several inches of fabric leftover! I must have been tired.

I pleated the fabric unevenly, because the embroidered lines are uneven, and I thought that was more interesting. (maybe that explains why my math was off in the amount needed for pleating!). Here is the panel, during the pleating process.

At this point, I realized that the fabric was much more sheer than I originally realized, and I wanted to line it. Unable to find a lining color that matched this funky brown/taupe, I went with pink. why? I can't really say. Sometimes, these things just come over me. Unable to leave well enough alone (or pretty enough -- although: when is pretty enough really enough???), I sought some lace from my prodigious stash to embellish the lining. I thought this lovely, elegant ivory Leaver lace was just the thing, don't you? {Yes, I know - no one will ever see it but me. Yes, I know - satin ribbon, china silk lining edged in lace that serves only to put a smile on my face when I am getting dressed is completely impractical and decadent in the extreme. Why, yes. It certainly is.}

The lining was attached via serger, prior to finishing the waist, so the two fabrics were treated as one. I faced the waist with a heavy satin ribbon (not yet pretty enough). The front of the waist was stabilized by sewing twill tape to the underside of the ribbon, and elastic was inserted in the back half, easing in the fullness.

She is done. What do you think? I am wearing her tomorrow with a pale pink silk sweater, and gold kitty necklace I bought at the Smithsonian. (the necklace is a reproduction of one given to Jackie Kennedy when the First Couple visited Egypt.) Classy enough for a Faculty Meeting??

Cutie Pattotie Birthday duds!

2011-08-16T17:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Emma Rose!

I have not seen Emma since Christmas, when she was just 5 months old, so I had to do some wild guessing as to size, color/style preferences, etc.
Ottobre, and my local quilt shop, The Whistling Chicken, helped a lot!!!

When I saw this adorable ensemble in the Summer 2009 issue, I knew I wanted to make it.

It was in the size range that I guess Emma to be, so I only had to find fabric coordinates. Not a problem!!!!!

Carthage's local quilt shop is just lousy with beautiful cotton muslins (perfect for quilt-making, n'est pas?) that I thought would make this up beautifully. The toughest part was narrowing down the selection to only 3 fabrics. When I saw these, I loved the way the severe brown worked with he girly-pink, and the juxtaposition of preppy plaid, mod flower-power, and sweet tiny calico.

I added only lace to the brim of the hat. A girl's gotta have a touch of lace!

I love the Ottobre designs, and the construction methods. A word of warning: Ottobre assumes a level of experience somewhat higher than does most American pattern instructions. They aren't necessarily difficult, but they don't hold your hand through every step. If you are a beginner, you might want to have a more seasoned sewist on stand-by to help interpret.
But don't let that stop you from trying!

I shall post pictures of Emma Rose wearing her new birthday suit, as soon as someone takes them and E-Mails them to me. Ahem!!!!~

Weird new Dress or: Why I Like Weird

2011-08-06T08:13:00.000-07:00

Truthfully, there may be no real explaining why I like some weird things.

Kosher dill pickles and Dr.Pepper when you are no longer pregnant?
A dyed-in-the-wool Southern Belle who hates Summer, heat, sweating, catfish and most fried foods?
An avowed lexiphyle who, nonetheless, says "y'all" frequently?
Somethings will remain mysteries.

I can, however, explain why I like atypical, eclectic, okay - weird - clothes: they can never be dated.

Haven't you sometimes had an item of clothing that you loved so much, you wanted to wear it forever? As long as it was intact, and still fit, you wanted to wear it even if it did scream, "1987". But you relegated it to the back of your closet, and the fond-memory portion of your brain because you knew that every time you wore it people would wonder why you were still wearing clothes that went out of style 27 years ago.
Here's my theory:
If you wear clothes that are artistic, outre, avant-garde, that is: clothes that never were mainstream trendy, or never were 'in style', then they can't really ever go out of style, can they?

Here is my latest foray into the artistic, outre, avant-garde style of dressing.
Vogue 1234, designed by Sandra Betzina.
Yep. This is one weird dress.

Sort of princess-seamed, but with bust darts. Pocket-like projections that aren't pockets, and, amazingly, don't give the impression of hips that are the results of a cheesecake-only diet/ never exercise lifestyle.
This was the strangest thing to sew I have tackled in a long time.
The instructions were surprisingly confusing. I say, "surprisingly" because one of the reasons I gravitate to Sandra Betzina designs is for the wonderful engineering, excellent construction techniques, and clear, understandable instructions.
The pattern pieces don't look like any typical pieces. They are narrow in strange places, stop abruptly, and jut out strangely in improbable spots, and it is nearly impossible to look at individual pieces and see the end result.
I did not find this in the least daunting. This was not the first time I had sewn something of pieces that did not make sense initially, or during construction, but worked perfectly at the end.
The instructions suggest labeling dots on the pattern pieces to be matched by a letter/number combination. Thus: 1A, 1B, 2C, etc. Then, when constructing, match correspondingly labeled dots by keeping the patterns on the fabric, until matched, then sewn. Okay. If that's such a great idea, why wasn't the pattern so annotated when it was being printed?? This pattern retails for $27.50 -- Vogue couldn't spend the extra ink to label dots according to the designer's instructions? I found the whole 'label and match' thing to be way too complicated and time-consuming. I kept the pattern instructions open and handy, and followed the pictures. No problems.
This actually went together beautifully, making more and more sense as pieces were joined.

I made it of a silk/rayon jersey that I ordered from Gorgeous Fabrics. Their name is not an exaggeration - gorgeous, indeed!
The pattern required a 2-way stretch, and I worried that my, frankly zaftig, body would not be flattered by a clingy knit. Not to worry -- this knit doesn't cling - it glides. It feels wonderful, resists wrinkling, and machine washes easily. I shall buy this again!

A word on the relative value of so expensive a pattern: It may retail for $27.50, but I certainly didn't pay that! For that kind of money, the pattern would need to contain more than 1 dress, with only a sleeve variation; or would need to have some very unusual sewing technique that I wanted to learn. I bought this on one of Hancock's sales for $3.99. Let me suggest that you sign up for their loyalty card so that you, too, will know of each and every sale. Vogue patterns @ $3.99 is not to be missed!!!

Next up: Birthday pretties for Emma Rose!

Clown pants (and a pretty top)

2011-06-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know they look like clown pants.
I don't care. This pattern makes a pair of pants that is wildly comfortable, goes together quickly with next-to-no fitting, and is extremely adaptable.
I was first attracted to this pattern for its wearable art possibilities. I used the pattern's option of dividing the center panel into irregular blocks, and setting them cross-grain, straight-grain, on the the bias, and not quite any of those.

This was all ready figured, printed and cut, by the designer, Carol Lane-Saber. Another option would be to cut the center panel on the straight grain. here's where the possibilities begin:
1) center panels could be cut of a different color of the same fabric as rest of pants
2) center panels could be cut of different fabric as rest of pants
3) center panels could be print, with sides a coordinating solid
4) piping or lace could be inserted in panel's seams
5) panel's seams could be embellished with decorative topstitching
6) & beyond Whatever you can dream!

The fabric is one of those in my rather prodigious stash that I should like to tell you about, but can't. I am sure I didn't buy this fabric, because I think I would remember choosing something this bold. I think I would only buy something this distinctive if I had something particular in mind to do with it, and I would all ready have done it. I know it has been in my stash for several years. I could never decide what to do with it, but couldn't quite give it up, either. A burn test reveled it to be rayon, so I know that my mother didn't buy it - she hated rayon. The mystery may never be solved.

It was the blue that decided me.
One day a few weeks ago I wore a lapis blue sweater, and received 3 (three!) compliments before lunch! Each one saying, "That is your color!" I came home and searched my stash for some fabric in that color, and could only find this. One of the blue colors is the same as that sweater, the other blue in the stripe is a turquoise that I like very much. And so, the search for a pattern for this fabric began.
I can't really say why I thought that taking this busy stripe, and using it in an even busier pattern was a good idea, but somehow, it grew on me.

In my defense, I can only say that if those rat-bastards at AARP are going to persist in sending me invitations to join, thereby implying that I am old, then I am going to exercise the option of dressing like a crazy old lady.

Now for the coordinating top.
Again with the blue.
Thinking that the clown-pants were excitement enough for one ensemble, I wanted a top that was a little more subdued.
I bought this pattern, designed by Lyla J Messinger, at Sewing & Stitchery Expo last March, and have been looking for the perfect opportunity to make it up.
Now that I have, I am brimming with ideas for making it again, but differently. [stay tuned - next time, there might be colour-coordinating lace at the edges!]
Made of rayon chiffon in the two blue stripes found in the clown pants, this pattern went together quickly, and easily. I constructed it all of French seams, and used my Pfaff for the rolled hem.
The rolled hem could have been done a little more quickly on the serger, but that incorporates a lot of thread into the hem, and, as the fabric was very lightweight, and the hem cut, in parts, on the bias, I didn't want to risk a lettuce-edged effect. Pfaffie did not let me down!

Next up: a truly eclectic, crazy-old-lady dress of a lilac/blue silk jersey. Take that, AARP!!!!

Why Quilters sometimes Sew.

2011-06-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

I am currently taking a Block-of-the-Month class at Scharmann's Sewing in Longview. The gorgeous fabric collection selected for this quilt is all batik, called Tonga Rhapsody.

I have always loved batiks. Everything from traditional 1-colour wax-relief batiks, to the myriad of multi-coloured batik-style prints that are currently en vogue - I love them all.

A couple of months ago, when our block kits contained a new batik of mostly purples, corals and black; I took one look at 'Fig' and said, "Skirt!" The class thought I was nuts. [The preacher's wife in the class thought I had Tourrette's, and was simply grateful that I hadn't uttered something a little more classically Tourrette-like, but, I digress] They are getting used to my brand of nuttiness, so the instructor merely replied, "It's available by the yard."

It took a while to decide which skirt to make, and, although I have several recently-purchased skirt patterns that I haven't used yet, this New Look favorite from 1990 was selected. I chose the view with the front drape, and pleated swag. I wanted something a little atypical. Something casual, yet classy. Something no one else would wear, but not because it's too weird. {Although a little weird is always good with me.}

This skirt works up quickly, and resents few problems. The one thing I did different this time around is the waist treatment.
I do not have the same body I had in 1990. Yes, some grading up of sizes was involved. I decided to replace the 2-in straight, stiff waistband, with a 1/4 in bias-bound edge. I am very happy with this adaptation.

What do you think?
I can't wait to see this fabric made up into a quilt!

Duckies and a Onesie

2011-05-24T19:09:00.000-07:00

The other 2 fabrics that were mentioned in the previous post, are now sewn up and on their way to a new home.

One of the fabrics was a long and wide length of super-soft cotton interlock that has little rubber duckies on it. I bought it to make a dress for Emma Rose, but as you see, it was enough to get a dress, pants, and ducky applique. There was still nearly a yard left over that is gone to Emma's Aunt Katie who will make something wonderful for Myra of it.

The dress and pants patterns are from Burda Issue 12/2006. The pattern directed me to sew buttons at the top of each godet insertion on the front, but I thought embroidered duckies were a better idea. That success inspired the ducky applique on the coordinating top. Sometimes, I just don't know when to stop myself.

Of course, the ensemble wasn't complete without an actual rubber ducky. When Fergus tires of playing with it, I'll send it on to Emma. I will. Really.

Also, at a deep discount was this darling little pink/purple/yellow bug print. Whilst visiting Myra's mommy, I found the perfect pattern to use for it: from the recent issue of Ottobre, I found this wonderful onsie-with-skirt. Seriously: how cute is that???

Binding made of coordinating hot pink interlock finished the garment, but the outfit was completed with the addition of hot pink sandals, and hot pink, sparkly shades.
Emma will be so chic!!

$2.00 Outfit --- $2.00!!!!!

2011-05-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

I pretty much always love sewing something cute for my adorable grandchildren, but how great is it when I can make something for them with so little money!?!?

This outfit for Brody began with a trip to Jo-Ann's for zippers to replace 2 that had broken. I went to Jo-Ann's for zippers. Just zippers. Really. I only needed zippers.

Alas, the Clearance section in the back of the store beckoned me. Haven't you ever had that happen?? Here I was, headed to the checkout with my 2 zippers, when a small, yet insistent voice could be heard from the back of the store, "Sar - ah. Sar r-r-r-ah! We have bargains back here." It would have been rude to not go and look.

I found 3 super-cute cotton interlock prints that needed to be children's tops/dresses. 2 of them will be outfits for Emma Rose (to be blogged about on completion), but this little print wanted to be part of a new short set for Brody. It told me so.

The fabric was $3.00/yd., but I only needed 1/2 to 3/4 of a yard to get Brody a shirt. Allowing for the possibility of shrinkage, I bought 3/4 yard. After deducting my professional discount, and adding tax, I paid just under $2.00. There was no shrinkage, and it was much wider than needed, so Katie (of www.katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com) will likely get a shirt for Duncan out of the remnants.
The pattern, thread, and ribbing were all ready on hand - remnants of sweatshirts/T's made long ago - and so, cost nothing.
The shirt wanted a cute pair of shorts to go with it, so I rummaged through my stash and found a great length of linen/rayon gabardine that I bought to make a skirt or pants for myself of. I haven't decided what to make of this gab, so I don't really know how much I'll need; but it is a weird width - 58 in. - so I used the 13in. difference in its width and a standard 45 in., to cut a pair of shorts. That way, I still have plenty of length for whatever I ultimately decide to make. The thread, elastic, and embroidery thread for the shorts were all leftovers from other projects, so my only investment is the original $2.00 spent on the interlock, and a coulple of very enjoyable hours. It goes in the mail Monday.

I can't wait to see how cute Brody is in it!!!

Problem (s) solved!

2011-04-18T21:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, completing a garment, or project, doesn't mean your are done working on it. (Sewing is kind of like husbands that way.) Such was the case with these two items.

The knit top is made of a cuddly, albeit bulky-ish bamboo. I love the colour, and the feel, but the pattern I chose had a little idiosyncrasy: the front facing would NOT stay put. I graded the seam, and understitched it, of course, but it persisted in rolling out at inopportune moments. I considered many possible solutions, but the best seemed to be the easiest -- stitch alongside the tucks through all layers of fabric.
Done.
I'm not sure I should have liked this solution had it been made of a print, or a woven-in design -- I might have felt that the extra stitching was too busy -- but perfectly matched silk thread atop a solid-coloured fabric is just the thing. I actually like the looks better, now. Win, win!!

Fixing this skirt was a little trickier, and far more frustrating.
When I finished this skirt I was very happy with it. I wore it frequently with several different tops, blouses and jackets. For an atypical design, and busy print, it is surprisingly versatile. Yes, I was very happy with it -- until the zipper burst as I was putting it on last week. For this fix, a replacement zipper should have been all that was needed; and would have been, if a simple replacement is what I had done. Oh, no. I had to get creative!
Originally, I had installed the zipper, then assembled the lining, and attached it at the waist, hand-stitching the opening at the zipper to the zipper tape. Pretty standard stuff.
However, that hand-stitching was pretty labour-intensive, as the zipper tape is quite stiff. So, this time around, I decided to overcast the skirt opening and the lining fabric as one. That part worked great. But it left me with an inch at the waist on either side of the zipper that was, well -- ugly. Really, really ugly.
I tried all sorts of folding, trimming, turning under and stitching, and each maneuver made the problem uglier. I finally gave up and went to bed, deciding that I should either re-do the whole thing [horrible thought!!!], or resign myself to only wearing it with blouses untucked to cover it.
Laying in bed, fighting Fergus and Max for space (The cats won't sleep with each other, but they both want to sleep with me. Just my luck -- two guys fighting to sleep with me, and they are both neutered.), the solution came to me:
I could sew buttons on either side of the zipper top, and connect them with a little piece of elastic. All sewn by machine, the fix took less than 5 minutes to execute. Yippee!!!
Now I can wear this skirt with any kind of top I please! Although, I kind of like the looks of my fix, and will probably wear it only with blouses I can tuck in.
Which means I shan't be wearing it with the coral bamboo top I made to wear with it, as it isn't quite long enough to stay tucked.

s * i * g * h

Good thing I like a challenge!

It adds up to Quilting

2011-04-07T05:48:00.000-07:00

Yes.

It has been a while since I have blogged. Some of you may have thought that I quit sewing. au contraire. I was working on a project that is intended to be a surprise for my husband, who occasionally see my blog posts when they are cross-posted on Facebook; and, since the surprise is for him - I couldn't risk ruining it.

Most quilts have a story, a reason (a rationale, if you will) that the artist chose to create that quilt, with those fabrics, in those colours at that time. While I believe that "I wanted to" is reason enough to start ripping fabric, this quilt does have more of a story.

My husband teaches High School Math - brilliantly, I am told. A month or so ago, he was notified that he is receiving an award for his endeavors. One of his students was given the assignment (in AP English) to write an essay chronicling a person of influence in his life. He wrote about David. The English teacher submitted his name for the award, and a committee of august School Board members concurred. I should note that David, a retired Green Beret, who spent 2.5 years in Iraq post-retirement, and only finished college recently, while convalescing from injuries sustained in Iraq; has only been teaching for 3 years. This is his 1st year at this High School. Yes -- I am understandably proud of him!

When David told me about the award, I wanted to commemorate it, somehow. I remembered that he has a favorite saying, "We all use Math every day." He has this saying on a small sign in his classroom, (a bumper sticker, actually), but it is getting quite faded. I wanted him to have something more permanent, and bigger. So, with the combined help of my Elna embroidery machine, my Pfaffie, outfitted with 1/4in guide and walking foot, and the staff at Carthage's own, The Whistling Chicken [thanks, Diana!!!], I eventually produced this banner.

It not only features David's favorite saying, but I incorporated as many mathematical examples as I could. Featured in the piecework are: right angles, isosceles triangles, right triangles, rectangles representing 2:1, 2.5:1, 3:1, 3:2, 3:1.5 proportions, and squares. There are arcs in some of the stitching.

I'm giving it to him tonight, just before the Banquet. What do you think???

Fergus likes it.

Why sewists sometimes quilt.

2011-03-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Followers of my blog (at least those few of you who are not related to me by blood or marriage) do so mostly because you are fellow-sewists. Some of you may wonder why anyone who can fairly quickly sew up clothing - fashions - that can be worn out, shown off, embellished and enjoy publicly and privately might want to spend the considerable time (and money!) making a bed covering that will never see the topside of a red carpet. (okay, neither will any of my clothes, but the theoretical possibility exists!)
Truly, there are as many different reasons for quilting as there are quilters. Certainly the same is true for sewists. I can only offer you some of mine:
1) Creation/re-creation. There is something oddly satisfying about taking a lovely solid piece of fabric, hacking it into little bits, attaching it in differing ways to other hacked-up bits of fabric, and having, as a result, something completely different than any of the originals, but as equal or more, lovely than the originals.
2) Challenge. Saying that quilts are hacked-up bits of fabric, attached to different hacked-up bits of fabric hardly does justice to the plethora of innate talents and learned skills involved in creating something pleasing to the eye and touch.
3) Documentation/memories. Saving bits of the clothes you have made for yourself and your loved ones to later be sewn into quilts is a lovely way to keep those memories alive.
4) Expression. Few things say "I love you" more than tangible evidence of time and talent spent creating something warm, soft, cuddly and beautiful.
5) Personal satisfaction. There is an inestimable, and indecipherable "itch" in artists that causes them to be inspired to creation by seeing other lovely creations. As a flower or a sunset inspires painters, architecture inspires fashion designers, nature inspires architects, etc & etc, so quilters are inspired by each other. Towards this last, I offer the following image:

I received an advertisement for this quilt kit in an E-Mail, and immediately thought, " oo-oo-oo. I must make that!" Not: 'I must buy that' or 'I want to have that' but 'I must make that.' Yes, of course, I want to have it. But more than that, I want to make it. I want to hack up those pretty, pretty fabrics, and re-attach them in such pleasing ways, so that I can have both the pretty colors to look at, and the satisfaction of knowing that it is so, because I made it happen.
So, then: we are quilters, sewists, artists, creators, because we are hopeless narcissists?

Fine.
I can live with that.

Party (mix) Time!!!

2011-02-28T07:44:00.001-08:00

I was recently reminded of the fact that, when I started this blog, I said that it wouldn't be only about sewing. It would also be about food, family, kitties, and anything about which I care to rant. A co-worker reminded me today that, in nearly 2 years, I have only posted 1 recipe. Actually, what she said was (mouth full of Party Mix that I brought to work), "Sarah, why haven't you posted this recipe on your blog?" Okay.

But, first -- an explanation: I was recently diagnosed with Celiac Disease, necessitating an immediate and strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. That sounds simple enough. Don't eat anything made of wheat, rye or barley. But wait! Oats, while not a naturally-occurring source of gluten, is frequently cross-contaminated by wheat in the field, farm, and processing facility. There's more. Food manufacturers put wheat flour, wheat starch, hydrolyzed wheat protein in prepared foods that, if made at home, I should never do. So every label must be read at every shopping trip. (manufacturers frequently change formulas, or suppliers). Then there's malt. Malt is made of barley, and used to flavor many things from Ovaltine to Corn Flakes. [Need I tell you that dining out is a nightmare???]
I share this so that you will know that, henceforth, any recipe that appears on this blog can be assumed to be Gluten-free. Such is the case with my NEW AND IMPROVED Party Mix.

The Gluten-free imperative knocked me for a loop. I confess, I was seriously depressed for a while. I am now crawling my way back to some semblance of normalcy, and beginning to enjoy a smattering of this challenge. What follows is a personal triumph. It is an adaptation of Chex's original party mix - tweaked. It is undoubtedly the best Party Mix I have ever made!! Now, you can make it, too. Please note: when I specify a Brand-name food -- I am not kidding - it really makes a difference.

Sarahbelle's Party Hardy Mix

1/2 Cup Butter [NOT margarine!]
2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce -- Lee & Perrins
2 scant tsp Seasoned salt -- Lawry's
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp Tabasco
4 Cups each Corn and Rice Chex cereal
1 Cup Gluten-free Pretzels
1 Cup Gluten-free Sesame sticks
1/2 Cup dry-roasted, unsalted peanuts
1/2 Cup dry-roasted, unsalted cashews

In a 9 X 13 in baking pan, scatter butter that is cut into chunks. Place pan in oven while it pre-heats to 350.
When butter is melted and just begins to brown, remove from oven and stir in all seasonings until dissolved and well-mixed. Add cereals, nuts and sticks in increments, tossing well to coat with butter mixture.
Bake for 15 min.
Remove from oven, reduce temp to 325, stir mix well, return to oven and bake for 15 more minutes.
Remove from oven, reduce temp to 300, stir mix well, return to oven and bake for 15 more minutes.
Remove from oven, reduce heat to 200, stir mix, and keep warm until ready to serve.

Seriously. best. mix. ever.

can't. stop. eating.

Men's wear

2011-02-27T17:03:00.001-08:00

wow.

I knew it had been a while since I had blogged, but I didn't realize it had been this long!!!

mea culpa

I have, actually, been working on several projects, but none of them are bloggable, yet. One project is a quilt-of-the-month club project, and so, won't be done until next January, or so. Another is a surprise for someone who reads my blog, and I wish it to remain a surprise, so --- no blogging about it. Another project is a skirt that is still mostly in my head . . . . well, you can see how all of this diminished the appearance of my output.

I did, however, finish a shirt for my husband, David.

It's really nothing special - it's a simple men's sport shirt. Not custom tailored, no French cuffs, no real fitting to speak of. It has only 2 features that are at all noteworthy: his initials are monogrammed on the left front pocket (chic, non?); and the inside features NO RAW EDGES. Okay, I am pretty fond of that last point. It was constructed completely of flat-felled seams, even the armsceye, excepting the hem, which was overcast and double-stitched on my serger. Have I mentioned how much I love my Babylock, lately???

Weinachts Kleidung - Kapitel Zwei

2010-12-19T17:47:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in previous posts that I had corduroy enough for overalls for Brody. Ta da!!

Brody, like his father, James loves all things with wheels, so naturally I embroidered a little car on them. Of course, when I say "I embroidered" I really mean that I engaged my Elna Embroidery machine (which I got for Christmas last year) to do it.

I had some leftovers of velour that I wanted to use, but there wasn't enough for leggings like his girls cousins (which is just as well, as I doubt his father would have encouraged his dressing to match girls), or a T-shirt as I had hoped, so I went scrounging in my stash. Voila! I found remnants of a wonderfully soft, super-fuzzy white sweatshirt fleece. I have no clue what was the original garment from whence this came. I haven't bought any sweatshirt fleece since we moved to Texas 16 years ago. I brought with me a considerable collection that I had purchased in Tacoma, WA, and have been using it on the rare occaisions that I feel the need to make something that warm in this hot, humid climate. So, I've had this piece for a while. It was just enough to get the body and sleeves of a shirt for Brody, and I cut the neck and sleeve bands and pocket out of the leftover velour.

Naturally, the shirt's pocket needed a little red car, too.

What do you think??? Fergus likes it!!

Weinachts Kleidung

2010-12-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

A month or so ago I won a raffle bag at our local quilt club meeting (you may read our monthly newsletters, and get info regarding meetings at: http://panola-co.tamu.edu -- all are welcome) that contained 1-yd cuts of 5 coordinating fabrics. {and, may I just say: "Yippeeeee!!!!!} One of the fabrics, however, didn't look as good with the other 4 as they did with each other. When I pulled it out of the stack, and scrutinized it by itself, I immediately thought: little girl's dress!

Since I hadn't yet sewn clothes for Emma Rose, I decide to make an outfit for her. The print reminded me of the one's worn on the show Little House on the Prairie, so I set about making a dress in that style. I thought that a pinafore over it would just be the thing to finish off the look, and yet, I didn't stop there. It's cold in Pennsylvania where Emma Rose lives (see: http://varinascostume.blogspot.com/ for commentary), so I made a jumper out of corduroy, and added matching velour leggings. As a bonus - the velour is so wide that I had enough fabric to get Myra leggings, too. Also: the corduroy was on sale for such a great price, I bought enough to make Brody David overalls. I cut them out this morning, and am hoping (fingers crossed!) to get them finished and wrapped by Christmas.

Here is the whole outfit together. The dress is McCall's 4641, altered only by lining the bodice of self fabric. The jumper is Butterick 4009, altered only by lining the bodice of matching Ambience leftover from a skirt of mine. The leggings are from the Ottobre magazine issue #04/2004-2.

What do you think???

It doesn't fit -- how can this be?????

2010-12-05T06:06:00.000-08:00

Sewing has always fascinated me, from the artistic aspect -- which buttons with which fabric? --- to the mathematical -- manipulating a plane, a 2-dimensional object, to fit a body, a 3-dimensional object -- what's not to love?? Sometimes it frustrates me, but that can be fascinating, too. This is one of those times.

Whilst attaching the facing of this blouse to the front panels, I was horrified (NOT too strong a word, considering the price of the fabric, and its local unavailability) to discover that the pieces didn't fit by several inches. How can this be??? They were cut at the same time, using the same pattern pieces. They were certainly the same size when I cut them out 6 weeks ago!

Two explanations, which are both applicable: 1) the facing piece must have shrunk somewhat when I steam-fused the interfacing to it, and, 2) the front panel must have stretched somewhat when I ironed it flat, post-application. [remember my virgin post of "pressing vs. ironing"]

Okay. Now what? I see 2 options, here:
1) Cut off the longer piece to fit the shorter one. I immediately reject this one, as it requires that I cut the entire hem by 3 inches, causing the blouse to land at a very unflattering spot on my prodigious, now completely useless, child-bearing hips. This could be, however, a great option for other projects.
2) Stretch to fit. This worked for me. Since the edge had a decided curve to it (read: bias), it stretched nicely without any risk of tearing. The interfacing I used was a weft-knit, and had some stretch to it, as well. This did, however, leave me with another conundrum: puckers on the larger piece - the one that shows. S * I * G * H There really is only one solution to this:

Lie. Lie, until your pants actually burst into flames. If the puckers' location is symmetrical, and not-unflattering, you may pretend that they are a design element. (" I meant to do that.")
Said with enough bravado, this method could fool Chanel herself. Add a note of incredulity to your voice, and a look of disdain to your countenance, and the questioner will regret having raised the question. Practice with me now: "This? Why ---- it's a design element!"

Well, there is another option. One that I attempted with mixed results: press the little buggers out.
The trick here is to relax the fibers as much as possible, manipulate their shape to the one desired, and fix that shape permanently. Saturating the fabric with water will relax the fibers nicely, and your iron will seal the deal. I keep a mister bottle full of distilled water nearby for just this purpose. Why distilled water, instead of tap? I want no risk of mineral deposits marring the finish of a fine fabric.

Here are the results. Not bad, eh? I retain the option of lying, as I have that 'look of disdain' down pretty well.

Now --- on to the collar!

Emma Rose's Muppet Blankie

2010-11-30T14:52:00.000-08:00

I confess: I am not much of a knitter. Oh, I know -- people who don't know how to knit at all think that I am wildly talented. My daughters are not in that group. [see:http://katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com/ and http://varinascostume.blogspot.com]

My pitiful knitting efforts are mostly confined to blankets, scarves, and flat things without fit or shape. very. basic. knitting.

Once in a while, however, I see a yarn that must be made into a baby's blankie. Such was the case with this lovely, feathery, brightly-coloured yarn. I saw it last June, when my youngest granddaughter, Emma Rose, was still a grandfetus; but I knew the blankie had to be.

Why do I call it the Muppet blankie??? There's a story: when I first spied the yarn, it was its paler, more dignified pastel cousin that I intended to use. However, my daughter, Varina was shopping with me, and she preferred the bright one, claiming that it would bring favor with Emma Rose's dad, as it represented the colors of Muppets Sesame Street characters. A spirited (read: knock-down, drag-out) conversation ensued, culminating in my calling my son for his opinion. Daniel did, in fact, prefer the Muppet colours.

Only after starting the blankie was Varina's diabolical long-term plan revealed: she intends to wait 4 - 5 years, when Emma Rose is thoroughly enthralled with all things Sesame Street, and tell her that the blankie is made of actual Muppets. The yellow is Big Bird's feathers, the red is Elmo fur, the green is Oscar the Grouch hairs . . . Poor, poor Emma Rose.

My concerns may turn out to be moot. As you can see, when I laid the blankie out to take its picture, Fergus jumped on, and immediately settled in for some serious pur-r-r-r-r-ing.

I may need to get some more yarn for Emma Rose.

It will be genteel pastels.

Black Friday deals

2010-11-28T07:04:00.000-08:00

I must admit -- I am not generally a Black Friday shopper. There is hardly any bargain in the world worth getting up (or staying up) to stand in line in the dark, and fight crowds that will induce me to such behaviors. [I discourse in slightly greater length on this subject in my weekly column in the Panola Watchmen {http://panolawatchman.com/index121.htm}]
This year, however, I no longer live in a city that has ready access to all things retail, and I found myself visiting my daughter, and her family in Temple, TX. Hancock fabrics had a great sale on Vogue patterns that neither of us could resist (as, when have we tried?? OR: why would we????), so we braved Friday morning crowds, both of her little angels in tow to snap up some bargains. I got these:

The first two I bought because in the lines I saw many wearable art possibilities, and the others I liked pretty much as designed.

Then, when Mitchell finished rounds and came home to watch the kids for us, we headed to Austin, because neither of us had yet visited The Domain; and we rightly assumed that most of the ultra-high-end stores there would not have Black Friday deals that would attract huge crowds. We were half right: no deals, huge crowds anyway.
En Route to The Domain we spotted a Jo-Ann's, and, as I was looking for corduroy to make a jumper for Emma Rose to match a particular calico, we braved the crowds.
I found the fabric I wanted, and some velour for leggings to match. The velour is so wide that Myra will also get leggings out of the cut, and the corduroy was such a steal that I bought what remained on the bolt, giving me enough fabric for overalls for Brody out of them.

Wasn't this supposed to be the year that Sarahbelle sewed for Sarah?????

s * i * g * h

Work in Progress

2010-11-18T03:08:00.000-08:00

I've been outside of the sewing loop lately. Other aspects of my life have commanded my attention.
For the skirt I recently made (post of 17 Sept 2010), I sewed a casual bamboo knit top to go with it for casual/business casual events (post of 19 Sept 2010), but I wanted something more dressy also. A beautiful coral silk habutai that I bought from Thai Silks (http://thaisilks.com) at Expo this past March (post of 9 March 2010) is just the thing. It's not finished yet, but there is some progress:

It is all cut out of Vogue 8322, and interfacing - a medium-weight knit - is fused.

Buttons have been purchased that are so attractive as to serve for jewelry. [What was the thinking, here? I love getting new jewelry! Maybe it was that the coral-coloured stones on the buttons are fake. I should never wear real coral, as its production necessitates the destruction of a delicate biome, and I never wear fake jewelry, as -- why should I? -- my husband buys me the real stuff.]

Both machines are cleaned, oiled, have new needles and are threaded. Wait a minute -- both machines???? Since I am sewing a fine, drapey silk, oughtn't I construct with French seams instead of the serger???

Review post of 27 Sept 2009 for the answer.

A Binding Proposition

2010-10-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

I (with help from Pfaffie) am done quilting Emma Rose's blankie, so it is now time to bind the edges.
First, it is essential that you have the right equipment. Here is one of the most important pieces of equipment in my arsenal -- a kitty. Fergus likes to hang out nearby when I am working around the house. Here, he is napping atop my Embroidery machine. [Dust covers are another essential piece of equipment.] How does my kitty help the sewing/quilting process? He makes me smile. Smiling makes any endeavor seem to go faster.

Quilting done, the next step is to determine exactly the amount of overage needed to fold over the top, tuck under and bind.

There are 2 methods for doing this that I use: the first is to lay the quilt on a flat surface and fold and pin, re-fold and re-pin, basically play with it until you are happy and repeat all around. I call this the SWAG method. (Scientific Wild-Ass Guess). The second is the one I actually used on this quilt. Whilst folding and pinning, I discovered that there was a 4-ft stretch along one edge that only had 2 inches of overage. Ergo, the overage could only be 2 inches. I (along with roughly 40 Million French sewers and quilters) call this fait accompli.
Mark your overage all around, then trim to markings. As you see, I mark with pins. Marking with a water-soluble or erasable marking pen is an excellent idea -- I just can never seem to remember to buy one of those things!

Now, fold and press. The corners are tricky, but don't worry about them - we're getting to that - press each side independent of the next, not worrying about the corner. Pin sporadically to hold in place.

Corners can be managed 2 ways -- mitered, or lapped. In my opinion, there is no aesthetic advantage to lapping, and it is generally done only by quilters who don't know how to miter a corner. I'm not going to let that happen to you, Dear reader! Here's how to miter:
On your ironing board, post-pressing edges, lay your item face down. Fold back the 2 sides comprising the corner to be mitered. Pin the edges together, placing the pin flat against the backing/wrong side of garment. This is your stitching line.

At your machine, stitch from outer point to folded edge. You may back-stitch, to lock the stitches, but you will get a sharper point if you start with a tiny stitch (pulling thread tails taut behind the pressure foot), and increase gradually. This is easily done on your computerized machine, it can be done on most mechanical machines, if you stitch slowly.
Trim the excess fabric to 1/4 in. and turn.

Here is the finished corner, and quilt.
Done!!!!!
Viola! Neat and pretty, non?

Fuzzy, Hoppy quilt (top only, so far)

2010-10-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

When Varina and I visited Sewing & Stitchery Expo, one of the many quilt patterns I purchased was the "Hip Hop Quilt" from N.E.I Enterprises (www.EasyPatternStore.com OR: muddledmadness@verizon.net). When my son, Daniel (http://goodevilgenius.tumblr.com/ OR: http://joestryker.com ) called to tell me that his anticipated child was going to be a daughter, I knew I wanted to make this for her in pinks and pastels. Particularly, I wanted the bunnies and carrots to be fuzzy and soft, so they are made of Minkie, and the bunny tails are made of fake fur. ( No actual rabbits were harmed in the making of this quilt.)
This quilt top went together beautifully. It probably would have gone even easier, if I had paid closer attention to instructions, and not made a couple of mistakes. For instance: I somehow cut out 2 bunnies facing left and one facing right - opposite the directions. I didn't think that would matter in the least, but it affected the direction of the carrots, and the number of 12 in. strips vs. 18 in. strips in the closest border. This cause some measure of angst, as, except for the bunnies, carrots and their backing blocks (which was made of fabric purchased for this quilt) , all of the strips and squares were made of fabrics scraps from other projects. The peach sprigged gingham was first used in a quilt I made for my first grandson, -- 2 years before he was conceived. No running to the store for more of this fabric!! Fortunately, I had enough to cut more of the needed strips.
The "Baby Girl" fabric (2nd border) is scraps from a quilt I made for Myra. (I made blankies for my other grandson, Brody, but they were all blue, and didn't work for this quilt. Brody will soon be joined by a new boy-cousin, and will contribute scraps for a quilt for him -- someday.)
So, this quilt is a little bit from Logan, and a little bit from Myra, and a lot bit from Oma Sarah. I hope that someday Emma Rose will love it, as much as I love her.

Kitty Love!

2010-09-27T17:08:00.001-07:00

My new kitty, Fergus, loves to help me sew and quilt. Unfortunately, he is too young to be trusted with a rotary cutter, so he really isn't much help at this point.
His talents will be much more useful when the quilt is done, and I need some quality control.
[Which explains why so many of my projects are embellished with cat hair.]

Fergus also loves wrestling with his combat bear. Fergus is a fearsome fighter. He always beats the bear.

and now, the top

2010-09-19T15:51:00.000-07:00

To go with this skirt of the previous post, I used a lustrous bamboo knit that I bought at Expo from Vogue Fabric Store. The fabric drapes, wicks, breathes, its production is kind to the environment -- it is wonderful!!
The pattern -- eh.

I used Butterick 5354. I love the design. The construction -- well, probably my dissatisfaction is my own fault. Since the pattern specified using 2 or 4-way stretch knits only, I assumed that I was making a t-shirt. As such, I ignored the pattern's instructions and proceeded as I always do to make a Tee. Wrong. This is not a T-shirt. It is a blouse made of knit fabric.

I started off on the wrong foot, with the fit. I cut a size 20, as that is the size that corresponds to my full bust measurement. had I been making a large, shapeless Tee, this would have been fine. Instead, I have a shirt that fits at the bust point, but is too large in the neck and shoulders. had I treated it like a blouse, I should have cut a size 16, and done an FBA.

Then there's the sleeves. A typical T-shirt applies the sleeves flat to an open armsceye, then sews the underarm and side seams at once. This pattern instructed to sew the side seams, sew the underarm seams, install ease stitching, and attach it in the round. I ignored this, and sewed it flat. Wrong. Now I have some tiny puckers in the sleeve cap, and a slightly protruding point (possibly only noticeable to me) at the top of the sleeve. Since I attached the sleeve with my serger, ripping it out would take more than the seam allowance, and would not leave me with enough fabric in either the sleeve cap or the armsceye to re-construct. I am going to have to learn to live with this. Oh, bother!

Still, I like this pattern well enough, that I shall make it again. I think the tucks around the neckline are flattering, and lend a polished look to an otherwise ordinary top. This style is pretty enough to wear to work with a suit, even if this particular shirt made of it isn't!

next up: monkeying Around PJ's for my grandson, Logan. Then, I'll get back to making a silk blouse and jacket for the rest of this ensemble.

Sewing up Expo

2010-09-12T19:49:00.000-07:00

You may recognize this fabric as part of the haul from Sewing & Stitchery Expo. It is a cotton/rayon plain weave, whose hand is somewhere between a challis and broadcloth.
I made it into out of a Vogue pattern 7880. I had used this pattern once before, to make a thin metal-flecked silk/cotton gauze that I bought in Dubai.
This skirt has a completely different look, and attitude to it. The gauze one is a grayed-pink, and is floaty -- somewhat ethereal. I wear it with a pale pink silk Tee, and a short unlined jacket of the same gauze as the skirt.

This time around, the fabric is more substantial. It hangs straight down. I am making a hot coral pleated-neck top out of a bamboo knit to go with it for business casual, and a light coral silk charmeuse blouse, and olive damask jacket for a more polished professional look. Those items are still in my head - but I have purchased fabric and patterns for them, so it will happen!

This pattern is less challenging to sew than it first appears. Keep each pattern piece with its fabric piece until needed to avoid confusion. The only tricky part is the stay. A short, kind of half-lining, it is attached to inner layers that are longer than outer ones, and then attached at waist. Sew the wrong side of the stay to the right side of the bottom layers and when you attach it and turn, the skirt will be lined.

I shall keep you updated on the rest of the ensemble as it progresses. Time, work, family, and energy permitting.
Fingers crossed!!!

Scarlett's sad little dresses

2010-08-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

When I worked on my undergrad degree at the University of Texas, my unique major (Textile Artifact Conservation, within the broader scope of a BA in Human Ecology), allowed me access to the Historical Garments Collection, the Rare Books library, and the opportunity to do research on the GWTW collection of garment artifacts at the Harry Ransom Center. [BTW: Scarlett O'Hara's waist may have been 17-inches -- Vivien Leigh's was not.]
It is a stunning collection. Scarlett O'Hara (Hamilton Kennedy Butler) was nothing if not fashionably, and superbly clad. Of course, the famous "curtain dress" is the hallmark of the collection, but, in fact, it is merely one of hundreds of thousands of artifacts in the Ransom Center's possession. There are scripts, props, hand-written notes by directors and writers, costume sketches in Walter Plunkett's hand, and scores and scores of petticoats (Director David O Selznik insisted on authenticity to the tiniest detail).
Sadly, the garments have not always had the care they require. In order to be displayed they must now be repaired, restored and displayed oh(!) so carefully.
UT has mounted a major fund-raising effort to solicit contributions for this effort.
I confess: I have mixed feelings. Such an important collection of American literary and film history ought not be allowed to fall unaided to the ravages of time.
From design to materials to construction, these dresses continue to educate and inspire creators of current and future art.
I am bothered in the extreme by the fact that my alma mater has allowed this level of negligence to occur.
I am simultaneously gratified to see that something is, at last, being done to rectify the problem.

You may view the collection, and read the fascinating history of its association with the University of Texas here:

http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/contribute/endowments/opportunities/costumes/

Let me know what you think.

Finally!

2010-07-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

I know -- I asked for pattern advice regarding the teal knit nearly 2 months ago. I just finished it this afternoon. Other stuff to sew/quilt/knit keeps coming up!

The pattern went together beautifully, and quickly (1.5 hours sewing time, including pressing, changing serger from 4 to cover/chain to 4 thread operation).

I followed the instructions pretty closely, with the following exceptions:
1) I raised the point at which the front drapes starts at top 3 inches, fearing it would be too low cut.
2) Instead of clean-finishing the front edges and hems, then topstitiching them, I used a cove/chain stitch on the serger to accomplish it in one step.
3) Instead of gathering the front drape to fit the side panel, I adjusted the differential feed on the serger to do that while connecting the seams.
Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my BabyLock???

I was warned that Christine Johnson patterns run big, but failed to heed the warning. Now I shall be taking up the shoulder seams, and, may be putting a dart or two in the back.

Still: it's done!

Do I look as sassy in this as I think I do?

No time to sew, but still sewing . . .

2010-07-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

This past week I taught a group of 7 wonderful young ladies (age range: 7 - 13 yrs.) some of the basics of sewing. In an intensive, 5 hr/day - 5 day week, we learned about sewing machine functions, care and maintenance of one's machine, fabric selection, pattern selection, fabric preparation, pattern layout, seam construction, seam finishes, elastic insertion, understitiching, construction differences between woven and knit fabrics, embellishment, waiting one's turn for help, and the fact that Miss Sarah does not, in fact have the instructions to every pattern ever printed in her head,and that one should read the instruction sheet and try to understand before giving up and whining. I'll admit: this last was hard-learned. I am exhausted!!!!

The girls each made a knit T-shirt, and coordinating sleep pants. A couple of the girls finished their basic project early, and made tote bags, which I embroidered with their names. Here is a picture of the motley crew at week's end.

After a hard, but fun week of learning the language of sewing, we then had cake!!!! Now, back to projects at home for myself. Maybe. First: a nap.

and one more

2010-06-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Whenever I make a bunch of purely functional receiving blankets, I like to also include one particularly lovely not-just-functional one.
This is it.

I started with a 45in square of flannel. This one has tiny lilac flowers. Then I cut coordinating lilac checked flannel into 45 X 9 in strips. For the corner pieces, I cut 9 in squares.
I sewed 2 squares to the ends of 2 of the checked strips, and attached them to the flowered square at opposite sides, attaching the remaining 2 strips to the other 2 sides, sewing all the way across. No, it does not work to construct the strips into a square, and attach it. Flannel sometimes stretches while sewing, so attaching one strip at a time allows you to make adjustments as you go.
The border attached, I then pressed under a 1/4in finish all around, then folded the border's pressed edge to the wrong side at the seam allowance (encasing the allowance, as I press).
Before stitching the border down, I mitered the corners, trimmed, turned and everything went smoother.
After the border was stitched, I attached eyelet trim, beaded with lilac satin ribbon.

Would anyone care to see a mitering tutorial, step-by-step????
I can do that.

Blankies!

2010-06-08T18:56:00.001-07:00

This does not represent the greatest challenge to my skill, but I love making receiving blankets for new babies!!
These blankies are for my newest grand-daughter, Emma Rose Jones, who is due in late July.
I make the blankies bigger than standard receiving blankets -- they are 45 in square. This way they will be used for a long time -- from swaddling to summer naps to flags for living-room forts. After washing in hot water for maximum, and final, shrinkage, I true up the edges by folding a selvage to a cut edge, and clipping, then ripping the excess. Then, I search my stash of pretty colors of wooly nylon and serger thread. {note: the variegated purple is new for this project -- what do you think?}
Setting my Baby for 3-thread operation on a medium-narrow stitch, with short length, I then overcast the edges, changing threads as needed -- or as the mood strikes.
Next project for Emma Rose is a quilt made of Minkie and flannel. My grands deserve the cuddliest blankies ever!!!

Help request

2010-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

I promised that I would make up the teal interlock I had bought to go with my new pants. Towards that end, I have gotten as far as washing the fabric, and trying to select a pattern. And herein squats the toad.

I cannot decide between these 4 patterns. Each has much to recommend it. Some of them I have used before, and know what to expect, others I have not yet used, and am anxious to do so. 2 of them are surplice front (so: I am not considering the other views in these 2 patterns), yet each wraps in a different direction (meaning that one of them is the traditional female right-over-left, and the other is avant garde!) Of the other 2, one has a built-in faux shrug, that I think is adorable, but the neckline looks a tad low, and broad for modesty. I can adjust that -- but, do I want to?? The other has a cunning mini-boat-neck cum cowl. Very interesting construction on this one.

What do you, dear readers, think?? Remember: I have a short, squatty neck, full, high bust, and soft, pudgy midriff.

The fabric, on which the patterns were photographed, is 97% Sea Island Cotton/ 3% Lycra. Very soft, has a lot of drape, a little on the thin side -- quite sumptuous.

I anxiously await your opinions.

Paris Pants!!

2010-06-01T19:22:00.000-07:00

I finally finished a project for moi! It was an extremely easy pair of pants, yet still took a couple of weeks to complete! s * i * g * h

The fabric is a wonderful loose-ish weave linen that I purchased recently at Sewing & Stitchery Expo. The pattern I used (LaFred's Thalia pants) were purchased at S & S Expo 4 years ago. Okay. So it took me a while. I get around to using everything I buy, eventually.

I really struggled over the best use for this fabric. I purchased it with not an idea in mind as to what I would make of it -- only that it was bottom weight or jacket weight, and I really didn't want all that busy-ness near my face. So, it would be a skirt or pants.

After I got it home, and washed it in HOT water, I was happy to discover that it wrinkled only slightly, and not unattractively, and shrunk hardly at all. Quality is always worth the investment. [read: not the cheapest fabric I've ever bought.]

Much searching, and not a little angst was involved in choosing a pattern. When I purchased the Thalia pattern, I envisioned rendering it in a soft, challis with a soft hand and a lot of drape. (I still intend to do that.) So, I had a hard time reconciling myself to using this full-bodied fabric for this project. I'm glad I talked myself into it!!

The pants are very comfortable, were easy to fit, and look nice enough for work. I immediately set about searching for a great interlock to make a t-shirt to coordinate with this, found a lovely teal for that purpose; but got sidetracked by a dear friend.
This past month at our local Quilt Club meeting, I presented a class on all of the seminars I had taken at Expo, and brought with me all of the patterns, books, CD's, and fabrics that I had purchased. One of the members admired this fabric, and remembered that she had an applique in her stash that would look wonderful with this print. She brought it to my office the next day, and I knew that I had to put it on a simple white tee.

Alas: a thorough search of all local fabric stores failed to offer the quality of interlock I was after. I wanted to wear it too soon for an Internet order to arrive, so I had to [gulp!] go to a department store and purchase a t-shirt ready made! Can you imagine? I simply couldn't find the same quality of fabric on the bolt. Where does Ralph Lauren shop for fabric?? He found just what I was after!!

I don't normally go for a 'cute' look -- but, Barbara was right: this adorable applique was just the thing for this ensemble!
I'll get that teal t-shirt made someday.

A-a-a-a-r-r-r-r-gh!!

2010-05-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

My next project will be utilizing one of the pieces I bought at Expo, this past Feb. If you recall (scroll down to previous posts, if you don't), I bought a fun linen print, of Paris Cafe scenes in teal, black, lime on natural linen.
Last night I pre-washed it in hot water, and machine-dried it, so as to incur all the shrinking it will do. Then I measured it.
I have 2 yd, 17 in of a 54 in wide fabric.
54 inches wide!?!
Who does that anymore?
Worse, I am hard-pressed to find a pattern in my collection that includes fabric yardages for 54 in fabric. Once, all patterns did.

Why don't pattern companies include yardages for widths of fabrics that mills still use???
And no, David, calculating the total square footage doesn't help. Not all problems in life are solved by a standard geometric principle.
A-A-A-A-R-R-R-R-G-G-G-H-H-H!!!

Decades of Style -- hours to sew

2010-05-16T10:15:00.000-07:00

I love vintage fashions, and my sweet husband bought this pattern for my most recent Birthday.
It is from the company: Decades of Style. (www.decadesofstyle.com) This design is adapted from typical, feminine skirts of the 1930's -- this particular one is from 1936. Decades of Style pattern company faithfully recreates American women's fashions from each decade of the 20th Century. They do not, however, dictate vintage sewing techniques. I like that! The construction techniques detailed represent some of the best industry techniques, and tips I have ever seen. A couple of steps looked strange to me, as I read the instructions, but made perfect sense as I performed them. I shall purchase and sew up these patterns again!

The shaped seam is not accomplished with a typical 301 butterfly (right sides together, press open); but rather, the seam allowance on the RF is turned under and pressed, then lapped RS's up, over the LF and topstitiched. I finished the seam edges first with a 3-thread narrow overlock (have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my Babylock!!!), and topstitched with one of the decorative stitches on Pfaffie (have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE my Pfaff??), using rayon embroidery thread.

I'll make this pattern again, but next time, I'll lengthen it about 4 inches. This time I used a lightweight, loosely woven linen; but I have a lovely warm brown wool tweed that I bought last summer at Pendleton, that will make this up nicely. I didn't line this one, perferring, instead to wear a Swiss batiste slip under it -- the wool will get lined with my usual favorite Bemberg rayon.

Although I didn't need to make any adjustments for fit (some days, you just get lucky), the designer has some wonderful advice about that. Allow me to quote: " This pattern conforms to a fictional standard size." Fictional. That about sums up standardized sizing.

Brody Bear Overalls

2010-05-06T15:20:00.000-07:00

For Valentine's Day I made my grandson, Brody a pair of corduroy overalls with a little bear embroidered on the pocket; and coordinating long-sleeved T-shirt, on whose pocket I embroidered a heart, and into whose pocket I tucked a note that read, "Oma liebens Brody". He may not be able to read just yet, but I know he understands. I think they were adorable.

It is, of course, too hot now in South Texas for corduroy, so Brody needed new overalls. I had a great piece of blue chambray that I didn't disburse, so I cut it up into short overalls. I took the embroidery up a notch by combining an image with alphabet. 2 completely different programs on my machine that had intimidated me in February, but I was determined to conquer now. It turned out to be pitifully easy. I had to use the "edit" button. s*i*g*h

The facings are cut from a lovely vintage Battenburg Lace-edged linen table topper that I inherited from somewhere (I've had it a while). I cut off the Battenburg lace and saved it (look for it to grace the edge of a new blouse for me), and I hope to have enough linen left to get Brody a little shirt to go with his new overalls.

Check out the adorable wooden bear paw buttons. There's a little story behind that. I rarely (despite my recent disbursement) get rid of anything, so if a garment is otherwise unusable, but has great buttons, zipper, piece of lace, etc., it is saved. About 30 years ago, when we lived in Germany, I made a little jacket for James, Brody's father. A long, but fun tumble down a snowy, slushy hill resulted in tears and stains in the jacket that could not be remedied. 2 of the 4 wooden bear paw buttons were broken, but I managed to save the other two. Now James' son can wear them. Cute, huh???

Fabric Disbursement -- Finis!

2010-04-28T18:12:00.000-07:00

This marks the last installment of new fabrics looking for homes.
I shall continue to update those claimed, as they are gone.
Let's get right to it:

This is another piece of upholstery fabric. It is very heavy crushed velvet. I made a pantsuit out of this material when I was in high School -- only it was in turquoise. Hey: it was the '70's! This piece measures 3.5 yd X 56in.

This great lovely is going to a sweet lady in New England who recently updated her church's on-line bookkeeping system -- bringing The Friends into the 21st Century. Ironically, she is using this fabric to make a costume for a Renaissance Festival! I just love creative people!

This lot features a herringbone acrylic tweed-type fabric. Very substantial. Perhaps it could be a vest?? It measures 1.375 yd. X 54in. With it is a Royal Blue poly crepe knit that measures 1.375 yd. X 64in.

Next up is a silver-gray polyester double knit that is 1.5 yd. X 56in. It is featured with a white poly ribbed double knit that is also 1.5 yd X 56 in.

Finally: a silkie jacquard that is labeled, "Hamill Textiles 1986" it measures 1 yd X 45 in. With it are some weirdly-shaped remnants of peach cotton interlock. I remember the shirt I made out of this. I literally wore it out, I loved it so much! Great color, super comfy, and refused to stain! The main piece measures 1.875 yd long, and half of it is 23 in wide, the other half is 14 in wide. There are also 2 large scraps with it -- one could be short sleeves, the other could be ribbing or pocket or facing.

That's all for the time being. Now: let's get stitching!!!

Disbursement -- Day 4

2010-04-23T19:18:00.000-07:00

Gone. All gone. Every fabric in this post has found a new home with a lovely Sunday School teacher of 9-yr-olds, who not only teaches her charges about kindness, love, and appreciation for their many blessings -- she bakes for them, too!! She recently rose to the challenge of creating worms in dirt cookies. (gummy worms stuck in a no-bake fudge cookie). an accomplished sewist who has recently gotten interested in late 20th Century fashions, she will give these a good home.

I shall be out of town this weekend, and so, there won't be any additions until Monday night. That gives you all 3 days to ponder which lots of fabric(s) you want.
Here are today's offerings:

Here are 2 pink polyester crepes, that each measure 1 yd X 44in. The Tea Rose is a lightweight crepe, suitable for lining, or a blouse. The pale pink is a tad heavier.

On the left is a Royal Blue polyester satin-weave. It is 2.5 yd X 60 in. With it is a lovely Rayon Challis. Wonderful fabric, just not my colour. It measures 3.125 yd X 58in.

Here is a nylon tricot suitable for nightwear, but then, could you get to sleep with this much bright colour staring you in the face??? I decided that I couldn't, so if someone wants it -- please help someone else and earn it. Look closely -- there are bright green frogs hiding amongst the flowers in 4 yd X 45in.

Lastly, (for the non) is a brown and yellow geometric poly print that is marked "Klopman Mills - 1970". It measures 3 yd X 45 in. I am offering it with a vintage polyester double-knit twill in Ivory that measures 7.5 yd X 45 in. This piece has some stains on it, but when I rubbed the worst one with mild soap and water, it came right out. I am confident that a good agitation in your washer will get all the stains out. You can't kill this stuff. Apparently.

Fabric Disbursement -- Day 3

2010-04-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

2 fabric lots are gone, 8 originals remain, and here are 5 more for your consideration:

This first lot features a piece of insulated nylon (thin batting is bonded to thick nylon tricot). A bright orange-red, it measures 3.3 yd X 45in and begs to be Little Red Riding Hood's cloak. With it is a piece of red leopard print pinwale corduroy. Why is this in my collection?? It is 1.5 yd X 44in. It could be a child's overalls.

This lot has a green/black, silk/wool boucle knit that my husband brought back from Thailand in 1990. I made my "Chanel" jacket out of most of it. That's an interesting story . . . you probably don't want to hear it . . . it measures 1.125 yd X 62 in. The other piece is a black/silver print on gray cotton/silk gabardine. Bought in Dubai, it was a skirt for Varina (I think) and left a remnant that is .667 yd X 60in.

These are destined to new clothes.

You want knits? I've got some knits. (I once worked for Jantzen -- great employee discount!) The Ice Cream stripe (green, blue and pink on yellow) is a 68 in tubular knit that is 2.25 yd long. Next to it is a pink/gray cotton/Lycra piece that is .75 yd X 58 in. Lastly, there is a soft, cotton/poly pale yellow rib knit. It is 1.125 yd X 64 in.
Gone. gone to a sewist who has recently discovered knits

Here we have upholstery fabrics. This is odd, because I don't upholster, and don't care to learn. These were given to me by a kind, but relentless neighbor who didn't take "no" for an answer. The gold one with cream and coral fleur des lys on the left was cut to cover a bulletin board once, and that piece is 1 yd X 54 in. Remaining are pieces that measure 1.125 yd X 30 in and .5 yd X 84 in. The one on the right is a heavy silver acetate with turquoise flowers and charcoal stems. This monster measures 8 or 9 (I lost my place and didn't want to start over) yd X 48 in.

Finally: the children's lot. This features another Daisy Kingdom blue and white cotton print, Bouquet de Fleur #26417, and measures 1 yd X 44in. Next is a pink flocked cotton (you don't see that fabric every day [anymore]) that measures 4.125 yd X 45 in. Finally, we have a peach and white cotton eyelet that measures .667 X 42 in.
What will you do to earn these????

Fabric Disbursement -- Day 2

2010-04-21T18:11:00.001-07:00

The rules for earning these fabrics are detailed in my post of 20 April. Come on, people! Get yourselves some free fabric while making your part of the world a little better. Win, win, win!

Let's get right to this:

This lot features a panel of 9 Nursery Rhyme scenes. Someone gave it to me years ago thinking I would make a Quiet Book. Not quite. The Teddy Bear print is a cotton/poly muslin that measures 3.75 X 45. The polka dot plise isn't meant to coordinate, but it matches the colors in the bear print nicely. It is 1 yd X 45.

This group is all linen. The piece on the left is a loosely woven, thick-ish linen in a natural color with oatmeal slubs. It measures a weird 1 yd X 58. The print is beige linen with palm trees embroidered allover. It is .875 yd. X 58. The coordinating plain linen is 1.125 yd. X 58.

This has a new home.

This group has soft, thin fabrics with a lot of drape. The blue is a poly that measures 2 yd. X 26. The stripe is a poly/rayon shirting that measures 2.875 yd X 60. The one that appears to be pink (bad lighting?) is actually white. It is Quiana Nylon, and measures 2.125 yd X 65. I have clearly had this one a while!

These are gone.

This group was put together because I like the way the colors looked next each other! The dark purple is a stretch velour that measures 2.3 yd. X 40. The Thai silk print (my hubby brought it back from Thailand in 1988) is a tube (maybe my mother cut off a dress. ?) that is 20in X 42. The lilac is a gabardine that must have been used for bias binding, because there is a 2in bias strip cut out of the middle, resulting in 2 triangles which, if sewn together, would measure .75 yd X 56 in.

This fabulous pair consists of a pink and ivory cotton ticking (heavier that broadcloth, lighter than poplin) that measures 2.875 yd X 60. The print is a polished cotton that measures 2 yd X 45in. The photo does not convey how beautifully these two coordinate. (Purchased years and miles apart -- the ticking at the Ft. Bragg PX and the cotton at Fabricland in Tacoma, WA -- neither of which still sell fabric) The pink stripe and flowers match exactly. I can almost see a little girl's dress of the ticking and pinafore of the print. Anyone out there sew for a little girl?? Anyone? Anyone at all??
These will be something beautiful soon.

The Great Fabric Disbursement

2010-04-20T18:12:00.000-07:00

The past 2 weekends (yes, 2!) I have cleaned out, organized and scrutinized my prodigious fabric stash. And then I culled the herd.
I have been saving "quilt scraps" from projects for as long as I have sewn. [No admissions on my age, or that of my scraps, but they are all pre-Watergate era] Back then, I didn't know anything about quilting, so I saved everything. Now that I know a little more, I only quilt with natural fibers, mostly cotton, and no blends. So, I threw out every tiny piece of fabric that was not 100% single-fiber, or, whose fiber content was unknown. I filled 3 42-gallon trash bags.
I then separated out every large remnant that is usable, but which I didn't necessarily want. The stack is over 4-ft high. At this point I wish to stress to my husband (who will read this on Facebook), that NONE of my fabric rejects were pieces that I purchased, and changed my mind about. They are instead, mostly pieces that I was given by kind friends, won in raffles, and remnants of pieces that I sewed up (and wore), but had some leftovers.
I should like to divest myself of these treasures.
This is where you, dear readers, come in: Some of the lots are pictured below, with measurements and brief details. If you desire to have any of them for your very own, here is how you 'buy' them:

For every lot of fabric(s) that you want, you must donate 1 hour of your time to any one of the following worthy causes:

Habitat for Humanity
The Humane Society
your local children's hospital
your local women's shelter
Veteran's Administration Hospital or Home
the Public Library
the Church, Synagogue or Mosque of your choice

E-Mail me at: sarahbelle7@gmail.com with your choice of fabric lot(s), what you have done to earn it, and your physical address, and it is yours. That's all there is to it.
Each day, until I run out, I shall post more pictures of offerings, and update the existing list. Here are today's offerings:
Remember Supplex?? These were purchased in 1990. This is a woven Nylon that resists water, and wicks well. It is great for men's swim shorts, or windbreakers. The print is 1.5 yds X 62W, and the purple is 1.125yd X 56W.

This lot has 3 cut pieces , 56 X 45, dbl border, and 1 allover design that measures 31 X 43. They are gauze, purchased at a Sari shop in Houston's Harwin St. I think I intended them for curtains (which is why they are cut) but they didn't suit. Added is a triangle of stretch velour that matches the gauze perfectly. Coincidence. The triangle measures 1.5 yd long X 56 at widest point. I don't know why I have this.

This lot found a home with a lovely young sewist who helped the youth of a neighborhood church (not even her own home church!) organize and manage an art sale to raise funds for their philanthropic endeavors. Way to go!!!

This is a re-embroidered cotton batik that I bought at the Souks in Dubai in 2004. It is an uncut piece of 2yd X 45, plus a cut piece of nearly a yd. The picture doesn't do the red/gold/bronze embroidery justice.

This one is gone.

These 2 pieces used to be sheets, and are still hemmed. I did NOT buy the plaid sheet. Probably, it came from my mother, who never saw a linen sale she didn't love. At one point someone cut it up for something. It now measures: one piece of 2.3 yd X 84, and a piece of 1 yd X 42. Also in this lot are 5 panels (used to be curtains) of cotton/poly batiste that measure
2.25 yd X 21, each.

These 2 pieces are Daisy Kingdom cotton prints. The peach one is "Little Lamb # 20428" It has a double border, and measures 1.625 X 42.
The pink one is "Kitty Angel #15411" It measures 2 yd X 42. Someone is sure to love these.

All of these fabrics are from a smoke-free home of cat-lovers. Do not be surprised if your fabric has great tufts of white hair from my beloved, late Kitty Dave, or a fine sprinkling of little black hairs from my sweet Maximus. They like to be nearby when I sew.

Tomorrow I shall post more pictures, and an update of your fine efforts on behalf of your community.

Rare product endorsement

2010-04-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

I have been trying lately to organize my prodigious stash of fabric. {More about that in a later post.} I am interrupting my organizing endeavors to offer a rare endorsement of a specific product, and tell you how it returned my sweet Maximus to my good graces.

This past summer my hubby and I traveled to the Pacific Northwest (our spiritual home, if not our physical one). En route back home we stopped at Pendleton, OR to tour the Pendleton Woolen mills (totally worth a detour if you are anywhere near it). A great tour was followed by an even greater shopping opportunity at the outlet store. I bought so many lengths of wool, we had to take two trips to take the bags out to the truck.

A month or so ago, on my first fledgling attempt to organize the sewing room, I discovered that Maximus had marked a folded piece of fine, soft wool gabardine. Maximus!!! What is going on here? He has been neutered, has no competition for the litter box, wasn't ill -- I have no explanation for it. I took the fabric to 3 different cleaners in 2 different towns - to no avail. No one would attempt to clean it. I set it aside while I did some research and contemplated.

It looked as though this lovely fabric was destined to be shrunk and misshapen and spotted in the hot water and vinegar/buttermilk/soda/soap/lemon juice concoctions that were offered to me as possible remedies. Before reducing my 5 yd., 60 wide length of fabric to a 4yd., 56 wide piece of rumply gray stuff; I tried one more thing: I thoroughly doused the putrid-smelling areas with Febreeze Pet Odor Eliminator. I hoped that it might reduce enough of the smell that I could get the last of it out with cold water and mild soap. Wrong. It took out ALL of the smell!!! All of it!!!

My lovely fabric is saved, and Max is once again my favorite kitty.
As if I could resist that cute face!

Expo, Day 2 (and pic's!!!)

2010-03-09T08:16:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know that Day 2 is being posted a full 10 days after the fact. I offer no apologies, but, instead, this observation: sometimes Life interferes with the best of my intentions.

Here's a picture of the haul form Day 1:

I think you will agree: I did some savvy shopping, and got some wonderful new stuff.

On Day 2, I bought the following:
5 yards bamboo/cotton interlock in Coral
4 yards silk/rayon challis in Coral
3 yards linen in a fun print that has lime green, robin's egg blue, black, etc on cream
3 yards Japanese lawn on a print with black and pink on eggshell
1.5 yards cotton flannel with owls, cupcakes and pink mushrooms on white
4 yards heavy twill tape with Lightening McQueen racing across
Pattern for little girl's Kimono and bell-bottom pants (size 2T - 7)
Pattern for skirt with interesting drape/flounce at CF
Pattern for layered top with asymmetrical hems
Pattern(s) for Victorian-style quilt, table runner and pillow AND embroidery CD
CD for embroidering roses, scallops, buttonholes

Of course, the real treats du jour were the classes I took!
I attended classes on 3-D Machine Embroidery, Pattern alteration, Shirtmaking, Stabalizers and Interfacings, Advanced Thread selection, and atypical techniques for silk. The classes were not only great fun, but I learned so much! I have all ready put some of my new-found knowledge to use: I volunteered to embroider nametags for every member (48!) of the Panola Squares Quilt Study Club. [That alone has taught me a lot about my new machine!] Using the knowledge I gained in both the Stabalizers class, and the 3-D Embroidery class, the nametags I made post-Expo, were not only easier to do, they look much better. Ta da!!
I can't wait to share more things that I learned with the Quilt Club, my 4-H members, and the students in my upcoming Sewing School (call the Panola County Extension Office at 903-693-0380 to register); and, of course, with my loyal followers.
Stay tuned: there is much more to come. (if perhaps, slowly)

S & S Expo, Day 1

2010-02-26T19:23:00.000-08:00

Today, Varina and I enjoyed Sewing and Stitchery Expo, in Puyallup, WA. We'll go back tomorrow -- we simply couldn't see everything, and take every class we wanted in one day!
Today I attended seminars on Refined Embellishment Techniques (I learned a lot about bias tape possibilities, and about couching yarns), on recycling vintage hankies, tablecloths and garments into new options (my least favorite class -- it was a shameless plug for the teacher's web-business and new book), and on working with slinky knits (didn't learn much, but it's nice to know that I was all ready on the right track!).
Of course, a big part of the draw of Expo, is the opportunity to see fabrics, notions, software, books, tools, new technology, etc. from some of the leaders in the sewing industry. Translation: I went shopping!!!
Here's today's haul:

4 yds. Burmese Silk Dupioni in a stunning copper/bronze shade
3 yds rayon/silk challis in a floral-foliage print that has greens, browns, coral, salmon on a black background
pattern for making a teddy bear crib quilt
pattern for making a 3-D fan and block quilt
book by Martha Pullen on heirloom-style lingerie, including all patterns and an embroidery CD
kit for making warercolor quilt
pattern for making reversible kimono
and, [this one really has me excited]:
CD for machine embroidering lace 1-4in Cluny and Venice lace trims. I can now make my own heavy, thick lace trims for a song!! Well, the CD was $70.oo, but the first time I make enough lace to trim the hem of a full nightgown, I shall have made it back.
Everything I bought was on special prices for the Expo, but that didn't stop me from asking for, and getting, Military discount and/or Extension Agent discount!!! Shameless, I know.

Sorry, there are no pictures -- can you believe I left home for the beautiful Pacific Northwest without my camera???

New report to follow later!

Three for Tea

2010-02-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

When my daughter, Varina (of http://varinascostume.blogspot.com) went back to Seattle after Christmas, she left a tea towel behind. I noticed that it is stained, and I felt that I should replace it. Also: I just finished teaching a 4-series cooking class for kids (see: I don't only sew) that culminated in teaching them yeast-raised bread methods. As a parting gift, I embroidered tea towels for each student, with which to cover their dough whilst rising.
I had some fabric left over, so I embellished some for Varina.
First, I bought a dozen "flour sack towels" from Costco for a song (actually $6.85), and cut each large towel in half. I did this partly because I had 14 students, and only 12 towels, but mostly because the full size was way bigger than is handy for covering a large mixing bowl full of dough. Then, I serged a narrow, tight rolled hem on the Baby, because I thought the hemming they had done was sloppy. Then I embroidered a corner of each one with a slice of decorated cake.
For Varina's towels, one has a teapot, one a teacup and the last has a slice of cake (I was on a roll).
I think they are adorable. What do you think???
I shall bring them to Varina next week, when I fly to Sea-Tac where we will spend 3 days at Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup.
I hope to see you there!

Latest Haul

2010-02-05T15:18:00.000-08:00

Q: What do you get when you mix a great sale on patterns (www.voguepatterns.com) and one of those annoying rebate credit cards that you forget about until 3 hours before it expires????

A: This

They are
V8561 Marcy Tilton
V1014 Bellville Sassoon
V1039 Donna Karan
V1110 Sandra Betzina
V1045 ibid
V1164 ibid
V1165 ibid

Not a bad haul for consistently paying the electric bill on time!

Sergers and such

2010-01-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

I have just spent the last hour or so helping a friend learn how to thread her new Janome Serger. here is what I learned from the experience:

The Jet Air Threading system on my Baby Lock Evolve is worth its weight in diamonds. Big diamonds. Big diamonds set in platinum.

Trouble with my Chest

2010-01-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

Eyes up -- I didn't mean that chest -- I meant my thread chest.
After opening, and inspecting, and trying to fit my Christmas goodies into my tiny sewing room, I realized that I needed someplace accessable in which to store the 250 spools of embroidery machine thread that came with my machine. (When my husband decides to do something nice, he doesn't do it halfway!) I considered several options at several pricepoints, and while I was researching/considering/agonizing, my sweet husband perused E-Bay and found this lovely oak thread chest.
Great idea! I have, however, hit a little snag: Actually, 2 snags:
The chest holds a total of 240 spools of thread, and I received 250 for Christmas, and all ready had a dozen or so spools. [h-m-m-m, I have been buying spools of embroidery thread for nearly 15 years, so maybe it wasn't too surprising that David figured out to buy me an embroidery machine without any hinting on my part.] So, I have to decide which spools do not rank storage in the chest.
Also, I divided the thread into 8 color groups; but, I only have 6 drawers. Clearly, I need to combine groups. But, wait! Each drawer hold 40 spools, and some groupings have over 40 spools in them.
* * * s i g h * * *
Well: I love a challenge!

Hear ye! Hear ye!

2010-01-14T16:45:00.000-08:00

Official declaration: owing to the fact that my most recent project (discussed later) took 6 MONTHS to go from cut out to worn, I hereby declare that in 2010, Sarahbelle sews for Sarahbelle!!!! Seriously, the pants were not that hard, or labour-intensive. They were simply interrupted by my sewing other projects for other people. Don't misunderstand: I don't in the least regret the time I spent on Kali's wedding gown, or Aunt Neno's vest or Logan's shirt(s) or Myra's dress, or -- well, you get the idea. I enjoyed all of those projects. However, because my job puts me somewhat in the public eye, and people know that I sew, and sometimes teach sewing, they expect to see me in new clothes that I have made from time to time. As such, my reputation was beginning to suffer.
I am happy to report: at today's meeting of Panola Squares Quilt Study Guild I wore my new pants for the very first time.
They were a big hit.
Using Sandra Betzina's Vogue 1050, and made of silk gabardine (purchased from www.voguefabricstore.com), I embellished them with tabs embroidered on my new Elna Xperience 8200, instead of purchased frogs. I'll admit to not being completely happy with the embroidered tabs. Oh, the embroidery is beautiful, and, if I do say so myself, beautifully done; but they are a tad large overall. Worse, when the pants were completely done, and I mentioned to my husband that I wish the design had been smaller, he wondered (aloud - why does he do that?) why I hadn't made it smaller. I explained that that was the size the machine made. Whereupon he walked over to the machine, turned it on, brought up the design I had used, pushed the 'edit' button, and reduced the design 60%.
It's hard to be mad about this with the person who gave me the machine in the first place, but I came awfully close.
Other than my own failings, I liked this pattern very much. There are a few places, such as the pieced waistband, that is only interfaced on alternate pieces, that didn't seem to make sense. I have learned to trust Ms. Betzina, however, and soldiered on. The waistband went together perfectly, and fits like bespoke tailoring.
I'll make these pants again, someday. First, I have a LOT of projects on my list ahead of them.
Stay tuned: this is the year Sarahbelle's wardrobe goes completely custom-made!

Ta Da!!!

2009-12-20T15:48:00.000-08:00

This is my first project on my new toy. What do you think?
An 8-thread design, that my husband designed and digitized is, admittedly, ambitious for a first project; but this is embroidered on a shirt to be given to our grandson for Christmas (yikes! in 5 days!), so I had to learn fast!
The first thing I learned is that stretchy fabrics are a tad challenging -- fabric should be pulled taut in the hoop, but when the fabric keeps stretching when you pull and never gets taut, when do you stop pulling? -- and then I learned the catastrophe that ensues when the bobbin gets knotted near the end of using thread 7 on an 8-thread design, and rips a hole in the fabric!!
The picture is, in fact, the second attempt.
My next embroidery project will be a one color design on linen. I am searching patterns for ideas now. I think I shall embellish the front placket, or collar of a blouse.
When I know, you'll know.

Linguistic Fun

2009-12-18T16:33:00.001-08:00

My new embroidery machine (Did I mention that I recently got a new machine??? Well, I did.) offers the option of taking directions in 11 different languages. (!)

I think I shall create in German for a while, then I'll try French. Japanese will come much later.

Learning

2009-12-14T19:07:00.000-08:00

I have just spent the past hour playing with my new embroidery machine.
I can now wind the bobbin, and thread the machine.

I am so proud!

Merry Christmas to me!!!

2009-12-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

My husband thought of a wonderful and creative gift for us to give our grandson. This gift would involve my custom-designing and embroidering a sweatshirt for HRH Logan. Sadly, I do not own an embroidery machine. UNTIL NOW!!!!!!

My sweet husband cannot always wait for December 25th to enjoy Christmas. A firm believer that it is more blessed to give than to receive, he just a few minutes ago, handed me a huge box and said, "Here: open this." I protested (briefly and insincerely), then tore open the wrappings to discover an Elna Experience 8200!!!!!

This fabulous embroidery machine has PC capabilities. Whatever image I can download from a website, or create with the enclosed software, it will reproduce.

I am so excited!!!!!

Pardon me while I go watch the owner's manual/DVD.

Stay tuned for much excitement in the coming year.

How I learned about straight grain

2009-12-02T18:12:00.000-08:00

My sisters will possibly recognize these shirts as ones our mother made for our father many years ago. they are made of wool flannel, with an acetate yoke lining, and one of them (the green one) has leather patches on the sleeves. I suspect the green one is the older of the two in part because I remember Daddy wearing the red one frequently, but the green one shows more wear. I remember Momma sewing the red one. On this shirt, I learned to establish straight grain.
I must have been around six years old. (I'm not admitting to how long ago this was, but there were only 3 networks on our black-and-white TV.)
I remember helping Momma straighten the fabric by pulling opposite ends (I realize now that I couldn't have been much help with this part), and watching as she played with and placed, and re-placed pattern pieces until every plaid matched perfectly side-to-side, and top-to-bottom. She did this on the dining table while interrupting herself to go tend to dinner. When she was satisfied with the placement of each pattern piece, she pointed out the grain line arrows on the pattern, and the "lines" of the yarn-dyed plaid, and instructed me to make sure that each piece was "on grain".
In retrospect, having raised 4 children, I now know that her primary function on that day was to finish dinner without my being underfoot. I have done this, myself!
Nonetheless, I learned about grainlines; and about matching plaids, taking time to do the job right, respect for quality fabric, tenacity, multi-tasking, and helping children learn new skills. All have served me well.
If you look closely ( I hope that the pictures are of sufficient quality for yu to do so), you can see that, on the inside there is not a raw edge in sight. Every seam is flat-felled, even the sleeve insertion is flat-felled. There doesn't appear to be any interfacing in the front plackets, and yet, the machine-made buttonholes are perfectly straight, tight, and flat. Amazing. These shirts are truly a work of art as well as examples of exacting technique, and I am grateful to have them.
Momma passed away 4 years ago, her sharp wit silenced forever by Esophegeal Cancer. She lives on in the sewing skills she taught my sisters and me (which I have, in turn, taught my 2 daughters); and in the love of reading she instilled in us. Momma always said, "If you have a book, you have a friend." Thanks to great public libraries, I have many friends.
Rest in peace, Momma. We miss you.

Finis

2009-12-01T19:09:00.000-08:00

Aunt Neno's vest is done.
And while, it is, of course, crass to brag, I must say: I'm pretty pleased with myself.
The closures gave me some concern, but my daughter Katie (of katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com), figured out the perfect solution -- hidden hooks and eyes. Brilliant! I had all ready decided to flat-apply the lining, and bind the edges (instead of the traditional bagging of the lining), so it was a simple thing to machine-sew hooks and eyes to the binding between edge-stitching it, and whip-stitching it to the lining. I used the 'flat button' feature on my Pfaff to sew the hooks and eyes.
Note the perfectly mitered corners on the binding -- kind of my trademark.
Now, may I just say: can I match a pattern on a CF, or what????
Thank you - thank you very much.

Now: on to the gabardine trousers I cut out in September!

I figured it out!!!

2009-11-23T18:53:00.000-08:00

One aspect of sewing that I love is the challenge design or construction goals sometimes present. (If it were easy - it wouldn't be as much fun.) A vest I am making for David's Aunt Neno has presented some challenges.
You may remember the beginnings of this vest in my post about slopers. (vor langer zeit!). I got a little side-tracked for a while, but I am back.
This past weekend, I set about cutting out the vest in earnest. I had all ready ascertained that I didn't have enough fabric to construct the vest in toto of the tapestry Aunt Neno wanted, but we had worked that out. She selected a camel-coloured suede for the back. That should have worked, but, alas, the fabric was only 20 in long, whereas the sloper pieces were 26 inches long. I considered piecing the fronts near the shoulder, but the fabric is so thick, I knew a seam would be bulky, and that is a bad place for bulk.
So, I attempted to turn it sideways. The pattern is obviously intended to go along with the straight grain, and I really didn't care for the way it looked sideways. To me, it looked obviously askew. Of course, I had been looking at it straight-wise, so mayhaps my eyes were biased.
I played with the sloper pieces, considered many creative design ideas, and eventually decided that, since the pattern is quite large (it is actually upholstery fabric), it might look okay sideways if I carefully matched the pattern across the chest.
Remember my mentioning that I didn't have enough fabric in the first place? * * s i g h * *
It took some carful consideration, and not a little colourful language, but I eventually realized that the pattern was left/right (actually: top/bottom) symmetrical. Viola!! All I had to do is turn one sloper piece in the opposite direction from the other, and I had enough fabric to match the pattern across the front. Yippee! [See the picture on the left.]
Sewing the shoulder and sides seams shows the proof. [Pic at top]. You can't tell from the pictures, but the lining is constructed, and attached, WS together. All that remains is to attach the front plackets for buttons -- I don't care to do buttonholes in so heavy a fabric, so I am leaving openings in the seam that attaches the placket to serve that purpose -- and bind the edges all around, sew in my label, and I am done. I say that as if it will appear momentarily, but in fact, with a holiday trip to spend Thanksgiving with family in the next few days, don't hold your breath!!

of helmets, protecting personal freedoms, and such

2009-11-08T05:00:00.000-08:00

Still not sewing much, but the ironing pile is diminishing significantly. I have stopped doing laundry, so as to catch up.
Last week my son, James, was involved in a motorcycle accident. (When you drive a motorcycle daily in Houston traffic, it's only a matter of time.) His wrist is broken, and now plated; his ankle is now broken, and pinned. He has all ready endured surgery, and now anticipates a lengthy recovery period. However, his head and face (such a pretty face!) survived unscathed, while his helmet did not fare so well. James wears a top-quality, full-face shield - always! My boys do not always adhere to everything their mother teaches them -- but this is one instance in which I am profoundly grateful that he did. Even my rudimentary knowledge of Physics is sufficient to tell me that hitting the ground at as little as 20mph would be sufficient impact to cause serious damage to skull and brain tissue. Because James was wearing his helmet, he escaped likely death. [actually, as my doctor/daughter reminds me: "There are worse things than death." Too true.]
Both my boys, my husband and I ride. My sons ride motorcycles exclusively, while my husband rides his mostly to work, and recreationally. Of course, when I say recreationally, I mean: David frequently loads his custom-built trailer with Dutch ovens, camping equipment, food, and pulls it with Big Red (his Yamaha Roadliner 1900) all over Texas and ArkLaTex teaching Dutch Oven cooking. I ocaissionally ride to work, if the weather's nice, and I'm not hauling much stuff. I work 4 miles from home. We ALL wear helmets.
Over on Facebook, a mini-discussion has started regarding the legal requirements for wearing helmets. Here in Texas, there is no such legal compulsion. Motorcycles operators are free to choose to protect themselves or not. Texans love their personal freedoms, and resent Big Government telling them how to conduct their lives.
While I would not so much as put the key in the ignition of my bike, and back it out of the garage without wearing a helmet, I support Texas' lack of helmet laws. Why?
Because anyone who is not smart enoug to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, doesn't have enough brains to be worth protecting. Let's get them out of the gene pool.

. . . and sometimes, cooks

2009-10-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

When I first started this blog, I promised that topics would not be limited to sewing; and, yet, thus far, they have. Today, that changes.
The truth is: I haven't done much sewing lately. As the result of the snowball effect of wedding preparations on my sewing room; now that the wedding is over (it was lovely, by the way), I cannot get any sewing done, until I diminish the HUGE pile of ironing that is all over the ironing board, sewing table, sewing chair, etc.
But not today.
Today, although Saturday -- a typical day to catch up on all neglected things domestic -- I am felled by a hideous virus. [I dare not name it "flu" lest it knows the power it has over me.] Symptoms include, but are not limited to: fever, irritability (I know it's not really the sickness making me bitchy -- I just like having an excuse), body aches and congestion! It is for the latter that I offer the following recipe for a real, honest-to-goodness, down home Texas Chili, loaded with vegetables (for the anti-oxidants), and aromatics (for the congestion). I give you:

Sarahbelle's Snot-Bustin' Chili

Please note: all amounts given are approximate -- I don't actually measure much, here -- and should be considered a jumping-off point for your own tastes.

1 medium onion
1 poblano pepper, roasted
3-6 cloves garlic
1-2 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb. coarsely ground buffalo
1 lb. fresh venison sausage
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 Tbsp cumin powder
1 heaping tsp Lawry's salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 10oz can Ro-Tel tomatoes, drained
1 15oz can stewed tomatoes, drained
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 15 oz can Jalapinto beans, drained
1 15oz can pinto beans, drained
1 15oz can dark red kidney beans, UNdrained

If you have an electric coil stovetop, the poblano can easily be roasted by turning an element on 'high' and placing the pepper straight on. Turn as soon as one side starts to smoke. If you have any other kind of stovetop: a cast iron skillet should be placed on the element, and the pepper roasted in it.
Place the peeled onion, peeled garlic, and roasted pepper in the bowl of your food processor with chopping blade. Pulse a few times until desired size.
In a large, deep cast iron skillet heat oil until it begins to smoke. Saute chopped veggies in hot oil until onion is translucent, and pepper is limp. Add meat, cook until browned. Drain meat. Season meat mixture with salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Transfer to slow cooker. (Note: In the absence of a slow cooker, cook it all in a 14in blackpot. [cast iron Dutch oven] In fact, the chili is excellant cooked outdoors in a Dutch oven, over coals.)
To meat mixture, add beans, tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Cook on 'high' for 20 minutes.
Stir. Taste. Add more seasonings, as desired. Reduce heat to simmer. Simmer as long as you like, it's basically done now, but time will only improve the flavor.
Serve with grated sharp cheddar, chopped scallions, or sour cream.
Wonderful with cornbread, and iced Dr. Pepper.
If you see someone eating this with crackers, and red wine -- know that that person is a Yankee. Serve him/her an extra bowl of chili with your pretty smile. One deserves credit for trying.

Moving on

2009-10-09T14:28:00.001-07:00

The Wedding Gown is finally done, and in the mail. I shall post pictures next week, after the wedding. Now: I need to (hurriedly) sew my outfit!
I decided to wear a skirt that I made 3 years ago that I don't get to wear all that often. I am making a new blouse to wear with it. The skirt is my own design, made of a teal silk/wool gabardine. The design/construction of this skirt was precipitated by an article in a prestigious sewing magazine about replacing back slits with pleated insertions. The article warned readers to only attempt square or rectangle pleated insertions, as triangular pleat inserions couldn't be done. Oh, really? To be fair, I started off with a rectangle, pleated it, marked the triangle I wanted, basted the markings and serged off the excess. Still, I got a pleated triangle.
The blouse is to be made of an eggplant-coloured silk charmeuse. I plan to use La Fred's new design: Athena II. I have made the original Athena twice, and love the simple lines, and interesting details. Here's one: the sleeve is a classic Chanel-style eased into the armsceye at the top, but is squared off in right angles at the bottom of the armsceye. Warning: do not attempt the afore-mentioned French seam construction with this sleeve. Trying to get perfect right angles on the second stitching is nearly impossible - if it's not a sharp angle, it ruins the effect.
Now that I have thrown down the gauntlet, and said it couldn't be done: someone, please, prove me wrong and do it. I should love to see how it is done.
A word on the fabric(s): a few years ago my husband was working in Iraq, and I joined him in Dubai for some R & R. We saw some great historical sites, rode camels, ate wonderful food, and went shopping. The best bargains were to be had in the Souks. The ancient market place, where dickering rules, but not with women. The very traditional male shopkeepers would lose face if they bargained with a woman. I set my feminist sensibilities aside, and let my husband do the dickering. Later that night, when David calculated the prices for my Customs Declaration forms, I realized that I had paid the US equivelent of $3-4 /yd for the same quality silk I was paying $28-35/yd for in Houston. We went back to the Souks and bought more fabric.
This piece is the last intact piece of fabric from that shopping trip, and I think you all agree, that this can only mean one thing: it's time to dust off the Passport, and search Expedia for good prices on flights to Dubai. Right, Honey? Honey? I'm sure he agrees.
Who want to watch my cat?

French Seams -- American Style

2009-09-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

For the uninitiated: French seams are a beautiful seam treatment used for very fine and sheer fabrics that might ravel, weaken with use and/or show through sheer fabrics. It is a double-stitched seam that encases the seam allowance in itself.
The traditional way to construct one is to sew the pieces wrong sides together, then trim the seam allowance very close to the stitching, turn to right sides together, and stitch again. It does produce a beautiful finish, that is quite strong, while appearing very delicate. The process takes 3-4 times as long as a traditional 301 butterfly seam, and is a bit tedious.
Not anymore!!!!!
Thanks to a serger method for making French seams that I learned from Serger Secrets (ISBN # 1-57954-464-9) I now whiz through French seams!
Here's all you do:

Using your serger, serge the wrong sides together with a narrow rolled hem, leaving a 6in tail, fore and aft. Then, on your sewing machine, equipped with a zipper foot, stitch right sides together, holding the serger tails taut. Viola! A very narrow, strong French seam with NO trimming. [I can't tell you how many pieces of thin silk I have had to re-stitch because I trimmed a tad too close!] Beautiful, non???

Bodice -- done!

2009-09-26T12:16:00.000-07:00

It's done. It's finally done. I think it turned out lovely, although, of course, Kali has final say. We meet for a fitting next weekend, so there may yet be some 'tweaking' to be done, but, for the non, I am moving on!

The last bit required attaching the lining (sans sleeve lining) to the bodice at neck and bottom, and attaching each sleeve lining to sleeve at hem, then pulling all three pieces through, pressing, and then my least favourite part of any construction project: hand work!!! I whip-stitched the lining to bodice at the 2 CB's (loops on the outside), and then whip-stitched the each sleeve lining to the bodice lining at each armsceye.
It will ultimately need more pressing, but I think it turned out lovely.
Now: on to the other lining, or: the inner bodice attached to the skirt. There's a little work involved in this.
Report to follow.

My Purse -- revealed

2009-09-24T05:31:00.000-07:00

Over on my younger daughter's (Varina) blog, she posted a note about purses being the true window to a woman's soul.
http://varinascostume.blogspot.com/2009/09/windows-to-your-soul.html

She's a great writer, with some interesting insights into the world and its inhabitants. Ergo: I have decided to follow suit, and bare my soul, as it were.
No pictures, however. I can't find the camera, and, while I am willing to let you know what is in my purse; I am unwilling to have you see the effort it takes for me to actually locate anything usable.

The current purse is a warm pink Sigrid Olsen hobo, lined in bright green silk. It is, however, a little too 'spring-like' for the cool weather we have finally gotten, so I shall be changing to a Fendi teal baguette, or an olive croc envelope soon.
The contents:
In 3 small inside pockets:
1) cell phone
2) business cards in gold case
3) foundation stick (Laura Mercier ) and small bottle of essential oils (Rosemary, Lavender, Geranium) that I sometimes put in diffuse in my car.
Zippered pocket in lining:
1)Passport (U.S.)
2) Keys to my office
3)defunct credit dard that needs to be shredded
Makeup bag (yellow leather with pink piping -- a La Mer GWP):
1) Compact (Benefit)
2) 2 lipsticks (Mark - Dew & Peachy)
3) 2 Lip Glosses (Stila - bronze & rose)
4) Lip Balm (Clarins)
5) Hand Cream (Cream de La Mer)
6) tweezers
7) 3 emery boards [you'd think form that, that I actually take care of my nails]
Tin of Altoids - Cinnamon
Bottle of Tums for Kids (they're cherry-flavoured)
Bottle of naproxen Sodium
Day Planner
Receipts form various grocery stores and restaurants
Towelettes (4) from Buffalo Wild Wings
Keys to the Armory (oops! that should have gone back to the Commissioner's secretary last week)
3 ball-point pens (2 blue, 1 back)
Black leather tri-fold wallet:
1) Cash: $15.73
2) Loyalty cards:
Starbucks
Sam's Club
Kroger
CVS
Hancock Fabrics
Jo-Ann Fabrics
High Fashion Fabrics
Ulta
Sephora
Membership cards:
Blue Cross
Medco (Rx)
Central Market Foodie
American Sewing Guild
Dillard's Hosiery Club
Houston Museum of Natural Sciences
Sammy Brown library
Credit Cards:
USAA Debit Master Card
First State Bank Debit Card
Capital One Master Card
Dillard's
Neiman Marcus
Identification:
TX Driver's License
US Military ID card
Texas AgriLife Extension Employess card
University of Texas Student ID card
Voter's Registration card

That's it.
So: what does my purse say about my soul??

The Bodice, unlined

2009-09-16T16:42:00.000-07:00

I promised pictures. Here they are.
The carriers on the back look backwards because they are. They will flip perfectly when the lining is attached at the CB.
Stay tuned, as the lining, floating lining and, eventually: THE DRESS all take shape.

Wedding Gown Bodice: Kapitel Einz

2009-09-15T18:42:00.000-07:00

The shell of the bodice is done.
No pictures, yet, because I am quite tired, and I'm not sure I like the neckline. It looks too narrow, but I dasn't cut it down, without seeing it on the intended. So: tomorrow, I shall cut out and assemble the bodice lining, then Thursday eve, I shall cut out and assemble the floating lining.
Sometime soon, Katie, Kali and I shall get together for a fitting, and THEN those linings, et al will get attached to each other, the skirt, etc & etc.
Yippee.

Slopers, part deux

2009-09-01T17:55:00.000-07:00

On the left, you see the sloper for the bodice of Kali's Wedding Gown. I shall, of course, be sharing with you all the details of the construction of said gown, so the sloper eventually, will bear little resemblance to the finished product. If it looks strangely unfinished, and way too colourful -- it is. It is constructed with basting stitches that are not intended to be permanent -- so I used up little bits of bobbin threads. Kali's sloper is ready for the mail, and I have 3 clean bobbins!
On the right is a sloper for a vest I am making for David's Aunt Neno. If you look closely, you can see each piece labelled with the name of the panel, and the name of the wearer, and date of construction. This is the way courtiers and tailors label slopers.
I didn't bother to do that with Kali's sloper, as we assume this is the only Wedding Dress she will ever need, or want!

Slopers

2009-08-31T18:17:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are learning the ways of the sewers, let me explain: a sloper is a muslin mock-up of a planned garment. It will be fitted, tweaked, re-fitted, re-tweaked ad infinitum until it is the desired shape, size, etc. of the intended garment. Then it will be ripped up and serve as the pattern pieces.
Couturiers and bespoke shirtmakers use slopers to custom-fit garments for their most discerning clients. Slopers are also used to produce a perfectly fitting garment when the client is not available for fittings. Once a sloper is made, an infinite number of garments can be made from it, wihtout the client having to come in for the many fittings a couture garment usually requires. For this reason I am undertaking the making of a sloper.
My son, Daniel, just announced his engagement to a lovely girl whom I had the pleasure of meeting this past weekend. [I know. Daniel got himself engaged to girl I hadn't even met. He used to be my favourite.] Kali had her heart set on a stunning, elegant gown that can only be special ordered -- in 4 months. The wedding is set for October.
Katie (of katiekadiddlehopper) and I scrutinized the pictures of the gown on-line and decided that we could make it in 6 weeks. (!)
It has a close-fitting, princess-seamed bodice that laces up the back, and a multi-layered full tulle skirt, whose overskirt separates into ruffles at CB. Really beautiful.
Then inspiration struck. When Kate was in college (St. Mary's University, 1999) I made her an evening gown that had a basque-waisted, princess-seamed bustier that laced up the back. Just like Kali's dress. Kate still had the bustier. Kali tried it on, and only minor adjustments were needed for fit, plus the addition of long sleeves, and the raising of the neckline, front and back. Easy!!
I took copious measurements, made many marks, and took lots of notes.
All that remains, is to transfer all that information onto muslin.
Stay tuned.
This is going to get interesting!

My favourite 4-letter word!!!

2009-08-24T05:16:00.000-07:00

SALE!!!! more importatnly: VOGUE patterns on SALE!!!!!
I now sew with , and enjoy patterns from many designers/creators: La Fred, The Sewing Workshop, Christin Johnson. Folkwear, to name a very few. But I first learned good sewing techniques, and an appreciation for doing things well from Vogue Patterns. As much for the designs, and engineering, as for the construction techniques, Vogue remains one of my favourites.
I am happy to report that Vogue Patterns are on sale at their website:
http://www.voguepatterns.com/newsletters/V200908Sale_2/newspage.html

Hurry! Sale ends Wednesday, the 26th!

Happy Stitching!

My favorite skirt pattern

2009-08-13T15:38:00.000-07:00

Over on www.katiekadiddlehopper.blogspot.com the author (my daughter) asked for our favorite skirt patterns. Here is mine. It's not really a pattern, per se, but rather, a fabric manipulation method. [doesn't that sound really nerdy and a little hard??]
The skirt pictured (sorry the pictures are so dark -- that fabric is really dark) is my adaptation of an 18th Century Scottish Women's Dress Kilt. (As opposed to the casual kilts that the scullery lasses wore around the castle.) Here's how I made it -- no Passport required. Although you will need a dressmaker's dummy set to your exact waist and hip measurements, or a friend you can trust not to stick you with the pins.

This fabric was 54 in wide, and a difficult-to-find Thai Ikat, so I was reluctant to cut up something I could not easily replace. So, I didn't. Cut it up, that is. I turned it cross-wise, and pinned it to my dressmaker's dummy, giving myself 3 in of ease in the hips, and having the left cut end of fabric where I wanted the underlay to end up. {Traditional kilts are wrap skirts.} Next, I pinched out darts in front and back (roughly mid-way between CB or CF and sides). On the Front, one dart was in the underflap, and the other was in the overlay (pleats at Front Left will take up fullness over that dart). Next, comes pinching up the pleats. Knife pleats are de rigeur, with a slight overlap. Have the last pleat end about 2 - 3 in from fabric's terminus. Step back and evaluate. Are you really happy with the amount of pleats? their depth? their distance/overlap one to another? Make adjustments now. carefully remove the skirt form the dummy (not you) and try it on. Are you still happy with it? If not, make more adjustments. Repeat evaluation steps as many times as necessary.
When you are satisfied with your pinching and pinning, heat up your iron as hot as the fiber you have selected will allow (synthetics are NOT recommended for this skirt), get plenty of steam going, and set in those pleats!!! Stitch darts. Stitch pleats across the top, and down as far as you like, if at all. I stitch down to the hips. After 4 children, mountains of fried chicken, barrels of Dr.Pepper, and no real exercise to speak of, I have enough bulk at my belly buck naked, I don't need fat folds of loose fabric helping.
Now it is a simple matter reinforcing the waist with the right interfacing, hemming, lining, adding a bound edge/facing over the lining at waist and front edges, adding closures.
Ta da!!

Note: the fabric used to make this skirt is a Thai Ikat that I bought at Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA 3 years ago. This frabic is distinguished by its method of fabrication. Always made of silk, the yarns for both warp and weft are spot dyed before and/or during weaving. It requires a highly skilled weaver to execute a design of 4-5 colors. This one has 9 different colors. I really did not want to cut this fabric. I must tell those of you who don't know: my actual degree (although my transcripts use the more generic : Human Ecology) is in Textile Artifact Conservation. {yeah. I know. A "do-you-want-fries-with-that?" degree} I mention this so that you will know that the irony of my having used a fabric which dates to 14th Century Siam to make an 18th Century Scottish Kilt is not lost on me. Neither was it lost on one of my favorite professors, the late Dr. Ardis Rewerts, who teased me mecilessly about it. May the great lady rest in peace.

Sleeve Detail

2009-08-06T11:46:00.000-07:00

A good friend came in to my office today wearing a blouse with this great sleeve detail.
I should tell you that, she has, over the past year lost over 100 pounds through the time-honored method of portion control and moderate exercise. (Successful as she is, even she doesn't have the magic pill.) As her new shape emerges she is starting to wear some of the cutest clothes in the best colours! This blouse was no exception.
As you can see, it really is a simple adaptation of a classic gathered sleeve. Instead of gathering the bottom, the fullness has been taken in with box pleats, and topped with a button-embellished tab. Cute!!!
Lynette advises that when I do this, I should also make the back full enough to gather at the waist with the same pleat treatment.
"When I do this"?????
Right.
I'll just put that on the list.

[yeah, I'm going to do this,]

Rolls, and Boards and Hams. Oh, my!

2009-08-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

I promised I'd talk about pressing tools.
I didn't promise it wouldn't be corny.

Tools can make all the difference in the ease with which a job is done, as well as the results. It took me a few years of doing things the slow, hard way before I realized the extent to which this is true of pressing tools. I don't know why I thought $15.00 was so much to spend on something I didn't have -- maybe I needed to be shown the full value. After over 20 years of sewing for myself and family, I was finally shown the value of pressing tools when I had to master them to pass a course required for my degree. (University of Texas - Austin, BA - Human Ecology/Textiles - 2002). Nothing like a little academic pressure to open one's mind.

Let's start with the two I have, then, I'll tell you about the one I still don't have - and why.
A Sleeve Roll is a foot long tube with rounded ends constructed, usually, of muslin on one side, and wool flannel on the other. In America, the Dress Stewart Tartan seems to be the flannel of choice. I don't know why. I am guessing it's because there is really only one company manufacturing rolls and hams (Dritz), and that is the tartan they like. Tradition, you know. [To say nothing of lowered production costs] The roll is packed firm, but has some pliability. It is essential for pressing the sleeve in a woman's blouse without the masculine crease. Lay the sleeve flat, seam towards you, and press the seam, and to within 2-3 in of the top side. reposition the sleeve so that the seamside is down. Insert the roll and press the sleeve over the roll. Your flat iron will now roll over the sleeve, smoothing out any wrinkles without putting in a crease. [Does this work on faces?] A Sleeve Roll is also great for pressing short darts and pleats on a cuved area.
A Pressing Ham is of the the same construction as a Sleeve Roll (down to the same Tartan), but is, well, ham-shaped. It's about the size of a 3-lb ham. it is used for pressing flat seams, darts, tucks and pleats that are positioned on a curve. For instance: opening the Butterfly seam on a side seam from hip to waist.
The Sleeve Board, is a bi-level padded board that has 2 sleeve-shaped boards, one wider that the other, that are held with a metal bracket/stand about 4-6 inches apart. It is basically a mini-ironing board in the shape of a long sleeve. This is the one I don't own. More expensive than the other two, I find that it serves the same purpose as a sleeve roll, with only slightly more convenience. For the price, (around $30 - $55), I can't feel the need to add it to my voluminous collection of tools. If you feel otherwise, let me know -- maybe I am not yet enlightended on this.

If any are interested in purchasing these tools: I found great prices on hams and rolls at : www.newarkdress.com and good prices on sleeve boards at: www.sewforless.com

The Cassandra Skirt

2009-08-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

A new outfit Part Un:

Here is a picture of my newly constructed Cassandra Skirt. This pattern is designed by Fred Bloebaum and is available from her website: www.lafred.com

This is the second Cassandra I have made in less than a year, so, clearly, this design is a winner!!!
It is constructed of only 4 pattern pieces, 2 of which are facings. The front and the back are attached at the waist, and only about 4 inches on each side, at that. Sounds flimsy? It really isn't. The front piece wraps around past where a side seam would be, and the back wraps around to meet the front at CF. It goes together in a trice, and Fred includes great professional construction tips helping you to learn as you sew. This skirt gives the sewer a great opportunity to learn, and practice mastering mitered corners. it's a very comfortable skirt, and the designs offers this rare bonus: if you are currently on a wieght-loss regimen, this skirt is super-simple to alter!
I had the pleasure of meeting Ms Bloebaum in person at Sewing & Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA 3 years ago --- she is as lovely in person as she seems on her website. She offered great advice in helping me choose designs that suited my physique (hint: I am NOT model-thin), and I am a dedicated customer.
This skirt was rendered in 100% cotton from the Spring 2009 mailing at voguefabricstore.com

Do you like it as much as I do????
Up next: the co-ordinating top: a Sandra Betzina for Vogue pattern, rendered in crinkled silk, also from vogufabricstore.com.

Happy stitching!

Pressing Matters

2009-08-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

I had hoped that my first 'real' post would be a tutorial regarding a great no-sew invisible hemming technique that I recently learned from a Threads DVD. Alas. My camera is not co-operating with me, and the tutorial sans pictures, sucks. So: let's talk about pressing vs, ironing.
I recently conducted a week-long summer sewing camp for raw beginners through the Extension Office, and one question that came up was, "What is the difference between pressing and ironing?"
I explained and demonstrated, and was surprised to learn that, while my adolescent students merely took the info in, my adults were shocked. They didn't know there was a difference between pressing and ironing. I guess this is something else that is no longer taught in High School Home Ec. I'll just add that to the list.
The difference between the two is the location of the iron with regard to fabric when the iron is in motion. In other words: if the iron is touching the fabric while it is being moved across the fabric, then you are ironing. If the iron is placed on the fabric, then lifted, moved, then set down again -- you are pressing.
Does it matter which you do??? Maybe. If your goal is to reduce wrinkles, then either method will work, but do know that ironing will get that job done much faster, and with slightly less tedium than pressing. To lay darts, tucks and pleats down flat, pressing is preferred. Even if the pleat runs the length of a skirt, press! Ironing runs the considerable risk of distorting the grain you have so carefully folded your pleat along, and your pleat may not so much crease, as ruffle. I have done this. If the fiber being pressed lends itself well to creasing (silk, wool, cotton, linen), then the only remedy is to thoroughly wet the fabric, and start over. So: yes, it matters. When pattern instructions say to press a dart, or pleat -- they mean it.
When next I post (no promises on a date) I shall discourse on pressing tools: hams, rolls, and boards. Stay tuned!

Virgin Post

2009-07-27T09:42:00.000-07:00

Welcome to SarahbelleSews!

I am very new to blogging, not at all new to sewing.
In the coming weeks I shall introduce myself, my family, my passions (which are not limited to sewing -- expect the ocaissional recipe, rant, picture of my grandkids and/or cat).

We'll have fun sewing, cooking, talking about sewing and learning from each other!