Sharing, Inspiration and Project Photos XVIII

[stashpanache]

In the meanwhile, the sewing studio is on our guest tour of the house, and has received some "oohs", some "aahs" and one or two "oys" at the fabric and thread collections. 

Wish I were a mouse in NC

[BetsyV]

Fran I looked at your cool Jalie 965 tank photos and it looks great over that white shirt! I purposely fit the tank pattern very closely to me, though, I don't think it would work as well as your version. It looks like you allow more room and even a bit of a gather at the CF neckline?

[lessalt]

Betsy, Nice tops - I love emmaonesock knits!

[movinon]

I've rarely been disappointed by her knits too (well I guess only times they just weren't right color or too delicate, probably computer monitor issue, not fabric). 
Betsy did you lose weight, pants look loose too but those tops are REALLY slimmiing!

[BetsyV]

Lessalt & Karen Thanks!

Karen I have lost about 12 or 13 pounds since the 1st of July, when DMIL was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Given her age (84), lifetime thinness (never had to diet), mild dementia, and carbohydrate addiction etc, we can not have bread/crackers/cookies and the like around the house (or "easily findable", anyway). Out of sight, out of mind. We have all lost weight. If I could put 10 pounds back on DMIL in her seat and thighs I would, since I think she is underweight now, but it will only go back on around her waist at this point, the worst possible place for it.

Those pants never fit anyway. Too big in the waist (per usual) and once worn, they bag out through the hips and thighs. Fresh out of the dryer, they are only a little big. DMIL grabbed the wrong size for herself (14 not 10) so I kept them as I "needed" a pair of light pants.

[shams]

Congrats on the weight loss, Betsy.  That's really fabulous how you are supporting your DMIL.  She's very, very lucky.

I hope I can be forgiven for posting something I made a LONG time ago.  I am surprised there are no Halloween projects posted, or is there some unwritten ban on that? 

Since I don't make Halloween costumes anymore, I came across these scans and have enjoyed reminiscing (posted the details on my blog).  I'm so glad I finally understand how to embed photos here. 

This was the year (2002) my kids wanted to be "The Girls Who Don't Want to Go to Sleep (DD1 and her BF) and "Alien Robot from the Moon."  lol

[PeniG]

Oh!  Those kids are adorable - and original!  Let's hear it for not being what everybody else is being!

I was wondering why nobody was talking about costumes, too.  Not only is Halloween coming up, but in Texas it's Renfaire season.  Do all the costumers have their own forum somewhere?

[shams]

We have one costumer cause I remember her amazing clockwork costume posted in the last month or so.    But there are people doing some pretty amazing work out there.  Not sure where they share it.

[Madrona]

I'm *this close* to being finished with my 2 year old's bunny costume, and then I'll post it here.  I finally got the ears to stand up, the tail on, etc.  Just have to put the velcro on the hat and I'll have her pose for a pic in it.    The progress is in another thread around here about sewing furry material ... here it is.

I'm also in the process of making a pair of maternity pants (not pregnant yet, but hope to be soon).  This will be week 3 on the pants and I'm sure it'll go to 4 or even 5... 

[movinon]

I looooved taking my kids trick or treating.  I haaaaated making costumes.  I didn't mind crafty ones, i.e. getting plain sweats and using other materials, accoutrements, paints, etc. - but for some reason I HATE sewing them!  I think I may have it... they're icky fabrics I wouldn't want to work with, I don't want to put the time into them to make them look as good inside as out yet even doing "quick" and dirty work takes up valuable sewing time... so I'd always put them off until last minute (love that adrenalin thing!).  It worked out kind of well, my bd's Halloween so of course everyone had to let me do what I wanted and I wanted to sew, but I'd be sewing things for them that I didn't like sewing but no one could accuse me of not doing things for Halloween because it was my bd and I was sewing for myself.... kind of a roundabout argument, but it worked!   

Now I love passing out candy.  Wish there were more trick or treaters.  I don't like that the malls just give out globsful of candy for just going door to door to the stores.

One other costume thing I do still enjoy about Halloween... ok revealing my twisted unsympathetic humor now... I love to go into Joann's the day or night before and watch the frantic trying to figure out how to do/finish their costumes or what to make in the first place.  One year I was there and a lady wanted to know how much of this pink fabric for a Tinkerbell dress.  Here's the jist of the conversation  between the employee and customer after asking how much fabric
 -- Do you have a pattern?
No but she's 6 years old.
-- But you don't have a pattern?
Well she's about this tall (show of hands). 
-- How about getting a pattern and go with the fabric requirements on it? 
What size should I get? 
-- You need to measure her
Well she's (show of hands) about this tall, thin
--  She really needs to be measured to find out what size to start with
How late are you open?
--  Until 9:00
I don't know if I can get there and back, can you just estimate how much?
--  (employee throwing up hands stepping back) No ma'am, if it is not the right amount we cannot be responsible. 
But she needs it for tomorrow.
-- We'll be open at 9 tomorrow morning
She has to wear it to school at 8:30 tomorrow morning, they're having a costume parade

At this point I had to move away as I thought I was going to burst out laughing aloud.  I wondered if the customer even knew how to sew.  October 30th and people are at JOANN'S thinking that's a place to get help figuring out how to do their costumes, just because they sell fabric.  Of course there are the very knowledgeable who work there and love to sew and can tell them -- and the rest.  But this one took the cake, you had to hear the attitude, like it was the employee's fault she didn't know what to get 12 hours before wearing time.

I am so easily entertained......

[BeeBee]

My grand finale of Halloween costumes was the Green Power Ranger (never thought I'd be buying gold lame for my son ).  That thing was a bear:  jump suit, hat, mask, gloves, boots, cuffs.  All out of felt with a gold lame quilted cape thingy.  Done with a smashed right middle finger (lol, no, I didn't use it inappropriately - it got stuck in a truck door.  )  There must have been over 100 pieces to that pattern:  patches for the hood eyes, cuff buttons, ack!  Before that we had the usual ghost, little devil, Oscar the Grouch (modified and very cute purchased costume).  I love Halloween - you get to dress up like someone (or thing) you aren't, get free candy, watch scarey movies and you don't have to cook, buy gifts or visit family.  What's not love?

[stashpanache]

Lucky Me!  DGD is going to wear the Cinderella costume I made her for Christmas last year!  It fits her better now than it did then, too.  So, I only have to take her trick or treating...no costume making this year!!

Hey, BeeBee.  Great to see ya!  Are you in SF?

[BeeBee]

Lucky Me!  DGD is going to wear the Cinderella costume I made her for Christmas last year!  It fits her better now than it did then, too.  So, I only have to take her trick or treating...no costume making this year!!

Hey, BeeBee.  Great to see ya!  Are you in SF?

I will be this evening and over the weekend.  I love the west coast.  Off topic, but I have SF thread printed out and may hit a few fabric shops on my way to the wine tastings.   

[vtmartha]

Umm.  Beebee.  Could I arrange for you to take my 33 yo son shopping for clothes while in SF? 

[BeeBee]

Sure, Martha.  Does he like Channel?

[vtmartha]

 Beebee    You obviously had your first cup of coffee long before I did.  Have a great trip!

[movinon]

Good for you Stash!  Whatta relief!

Beebee how long are you in SF?  Will be there next week.....

[shams]

Karen, if you and Beebee want a little fabric junket while in SF, let me know.  I drive a minivan and am not afraid to use it.    (Even a short run to, say, Fabrix and Satin Moon since we are probably all limited on time.)

[movinon]

Thanks Shams, Kaaren sent me a PM too!  My only challenge is right now I have NO IDEA what my "schedule" is except that I'm planning to leave here about 4 Wed. a.m., my daughter has the day off work (not sure when class is so may have a 3 hr. window when she's busy), I have to go toilet papering one night in east bay (yes, you read that right, it's what the trip was planned around...) and that's about it.  Will try and get an idea over the weekend. Trying to meet one other cyberfriend and maybe someone across the bay.  Unorganized!
I'll probably not have anything I've made... thinking through what to wear and I always end up with jeans and casual tops to fit into whatever she wants to do w/o looking too dressed up.   

Fabrix....oooh haven't been there or SM in years!!!!!!!! 

PS - does anyone know yet how long Beebee will be there?

[RuthieK]

Hope its OK to share someone else's project, but have you seen YorkshireLass's Marfy jacket made in wool tweed - its gorgeous, with bound buttonsholes etc.
(P.S. YorkshireLass kindly gave me permission for this, so please enjoy her blog and review :-)  )



http://sewyld.blogspot.com/2009/10/ta-daa.html

http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=44162

[KathrynT]

Well, if Yorkshire lass doesn't mind..
Her jacket looks great and it's always good to see links to more sewing blogs!
The styles from East that you posted on your blog are really nice.

Well, I've just moved on from a handbag with the perfect pockets, but I liked but didn't love the exterior.  Now I have a handbag that I love the exterior, but for goodness sake, only 1 internal pocket!  I need a minimum of 2 zipped pockets and another 2 for the phone and keys.  Here is the new interior.  It has the required 4 pockets.  I made it from some pink and gold fabric I bought in Thailand so it might be silk.  It took a couple of think and unpick moments, but I'm very happy.  I blanket stitched it in just below the zipper. 

[marciae]

Kathryn - - great 'inside' - - and the pattern would be........??

[RuthieK]

I have finally completed the shirt I cut out for the August WiaW and I am reasonably happy with the end result.
This is also using McCall's 5522, and I still had trouble getting the sleeves in (3rd time a charm with Yorkshire Lass's tip on using a strip of sheer knit to ease the sleeve head).
I went with 5 shades of teal for the machine embroidery, plus a few beads on the chest embroidery. I did all the top stitching in white, as well as the buttonholes, but used teal buttons sewn on with teal thread. I think this struck the balance of interesting without being too much.



http://sewing.patternreview.com/cgi-bin/readreview.pl?readreview=1&reviewnum=44617

[vtmartha]

Looks great, Ruthie!  I highly recommend Sarah Veblen's sleeves class on PR.  While I took the PR class, I was so far behind in the fitting department that I didn't actually set the sleeves at that time.  But I have since attended several workshops with her in person and she is a master at developing sleeves which fit the body and still fit the armhole.

[fzxdoc]

It looks as though several of us are completing projects these past few days.

Shams, those Hallowe'en costumes are so cute. They make me long for a daughter that age again! Sewing Hallowe'en costumes was always such fun. My DD's school had a Hallowe'en parade at lunchtime on that day, and the kids were all so excited. I think it was the best holiday next to Christmas, at least for my DD.

Ruthie, your blouse is really pretty, and I bet it's very flattering on, with those stripes angling in so nicely to the CF in the waist area. I'd love to see closeups of the embroidered motifs on the chest and cuff.

And thanks, too, Ruthie, for posting the links to Yorkshire Lass's gorgeous Marfy jacket.  I'm heading back to study the jacket more closely when I finish writing this post.

KathrynT, that is a pretty lining for that purse. Is there a link that shows more photos of the outside of the purse as well? I'd love to see them!

I finished a simple circle skirt with fabric that caught my eye because it is a mermaid print.  You can read about it here on my 'blog, and here is a photo:

Kathryn

[BetsyV]

Ruthie thanks for posting Yorkshire Lass' jacket - she does beautiful work!
And your blouse came out great! I would like to know more about the strip of knit trick for setting in a sleeve.

KathrynT - a bright purse lining is SO much better than black. And inside pockets are always important!

Fzxdoc I can't believe you're still making summer clothes when it is so obviously fall! Very cute skirt, and what a gorgeous view.

[Diane P.]

For those of your who haven't ventured to Kathryn's blog to see more photos of the view and her circle skirt, you definitely want to take the time.  Wonderful eye candy.

Shams -- those Halloween costumes are darling.  I especially like the accompanying poses.  One of my favorite things to do each year was the Halloween costumes.

RuthieK - fabulous shirt.  Just the right combination of colors.  Would love to see it on you when you have a chance to get a picture taken.  Thanks for posting the pictures of YorkshireLass's Marfy jacket and also the link to the East website.  What wonderful clothes and a collection that would be perfect for my daughter.

You women are so creative, I can feel the mojo coming over the wires.  I know that I haven't mentioned everyone but please now that you all provide so much encouragement to the rest of us who love to sew.

[marciae]

Kathryn - the skirt is beautiful - the mermaid design is great - - and the vew is breath taking!  Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!!  The bottom of the top looks quite interesting also!

[vtmartha]

Love it, Kathryn!  The top echos the filigree of the coral in the skirt.  Is the skirt mid-calf length?

[Linda 75142]

Kathryn, lovely outfit-------------- VIEW TO DIE FOR!

[fzxdoc]

Thank you Linda, Martha, Marcia, Diane, and Betsy for the compliments on my simple circle skirt. The mermaid print is a fun one, and I am enjoying wearing it. It is a rayon blend of some sort, and it doesn't wrinkle, which is nice.

Martha, the top is a double layer of a filigreed sweater knit. It's slightly sheer, so I wear a bodysuit underneath for modesty. The jacket that comes with it is a single layer of the same knit and has one of those drapey fronts that can be tossed over the shoulder to be secured with a pin, tied, or just left to hang. I love that tank/cardigan combo so much that I now have it in 3 colorways! It's sold at a local shop so I'm always checking to see if they have a new shipment of colors in. I often wear the pieces separately, and occasionally together.

Kathryn

[shams]

Just beautiful, Katherine!  Perfect construction and so well accessorized.   

[appleannie]

Fabulous Kathryn, love the color combination, fun print and wonderful drape of your circle skirt.  And,there's a lot to be said about the million dollar view from your sewing room!!!

Anne

[stashpanache]

Oooohhh.....So pretty!  Love the skirt AND the view.

Stash

[Queenie]

Kathryn,
What a beautiful outfit!  Isn't it wonderful to be able to create something that is unique to you?
The view from your sewing room is breathtaking--I long for the mountains- it is 88 degrees here right now- predicted to be 90 on Wednesday!
Dotty