Size matters!

Yes it does! The last week and a half I've been working on my red gown. It is fitted with a boned corset type foundation so I needed to make sure that it would fit perfectly before cutting into the silk crepe. One thing I've learned is that the body measurements listed on the commercial patterns (with the exception of Burda) are completely off. They leave entirely too much ease for the measurements listed. I've learned that it is best to take your measurements then look at the finished measurements for the pattern and choose the size that has the correct amount of ease. It is helpful to refer to an ease chart like this one. The gown I've been working on is a perfect example. My bust measures 35 inches. According to Vogue's size chart, this would be between a size 12 and 14. I made a size 10 and sized it 1/2 inch smaller than the pattern. The finished bust measurement for the 10 was 36 inches. The foundation of this dress has 10 strips of boning to hold it up since it is an off the shoulder style. If I made the size that corresponded to my measurement, it would have been huge. As it were, I made the muslin using the 10 minus 1/2 inch at the bust, plus 1/2 inch at the waist and plus 4 inches at the hips. The muslin fit perfectly. I was afraid that the added bulk of the foundation might make it tighter than the muslin so I cut the garment with 1 inch seam allowances at the side seams so that I could fine tune the fit.

I tried something new. I bought stainless steel flat chain boning. Typically this comes in precut lengths with little tips on both ends of the boning strips. I purchased a 12 foot roll, cut it with bolt cutters and applied the ends myself using two pairs of needle nose pliers. I needed all different lengths for this and I have several more projects that need boning. I have to say that I love this stuff! The plastic stuff curls and it is uncomfortable. This stuff curves in all directions so it moves with your body. It is typically used in dance and theatre wear. Here is a peek at what the inside of the foundation looked like:


The foundation is covered with drapes that twist together at the left front and get stitched down to the top edge of the foundation layer. I was really pleased with this dress and I think it may be my favorite gown so far. I love the Belville Sassoon styles and I have several of their gown patterns in my queue. Here are the finished photos:




Here is me in the gown!


There was a photographer at the banquet who took some lovely photos of our group of six and I will post them when I get those copies. Of course we DAR-lings all had our proper white gloves on in the photos taken there! We must always be prim and proper at our DAR functions!

Kitty Cam: This one is from Ems--Chelsea takes a snooze on the window sill.

Happy New Year!

Better late than never! I've been busy since the new year. I was involved in the usual holiday happenings plus I had some projects to finish up. My first FO of the new year was a sewn one:

I cut this out before Christmas for the Patriot's Ball which was scheduled on Dec. 19 --the day of the big snow! It was rescheduled for Jan. 2, so I put this together on Jan. 1. It took a little longer than I expected because I decided to do my usual seam finishing--French seams! They just look so nice in silky or lace fabrics. The fabric was a cheap lace from Joann's with a polyester lining--two things I never sew with but I was trying to go on the cheap! The lace was embroidered and had more texture than most inexpensive laces. It also had some gold in it. The lining was a light taupe. I was pleased with the final result. The bustier is one I've had for several years. I get a lot of wear out of it. Here's a close up of the skirt fabric:


I have a couple of knitting FO's:
First--the Whirligig Shrug from IK Weekend Knits. This was made for Baby Bianca--my niece's baby.


Details:
Pattern: Whirligig Shrug by Stephanie Japel, Size 12 - 18 mos.
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash in Ivory, less than 1 skein
Needles: Knit Picks Options, 24 in. size 6
Modifications: none
This is a fun, quick knit. If you have any little girls to knit for, this makes a sweet gift!

My most recent FO is Wicked by the Zephyr Girls. I've had the pattern and yarn for several years and I finally decided to get this one done.



Details:
Pattern: Wicked by Zephyr Girls, Size 32
Yarn: Odyssey by Reynolds, 100% merino in Teal--10 skeins
Needles: Knit Picks Options 24 inch, size 7; Addi Turbo 16 inch, size 7
Modifications: Extra hip increases and I picked up 2 stitches under the arm when starting the sleeves. There were 54 sleeve stitches and the cuff pattern is an 9 stitch repeat so I added 2 stitches for the pattern to fit!

I'm happy with this one though I wish I hadn't done as many hip increases. I forgot that seed stitch doesn't cling like ribbing and the bottom is a little loose. I may run some clear elastic thread through it for support.

I've started a new sweater for the SKC Knit along. I'll post about that later. This weekend we've been taking down Christmas. I still keep winter around though. I collect snowmen and they stay out until March when the bunnies come out. This year I added to my snowman collection:




The top 2 are candy containers as their heads come off!

I'll have to fill you in on some of my knitting and sewing goals for the upcoming year--but I'll do that later!

A monumental thing--my car turned 200,000 miles! And people say American cars are junk! I love my trusty Ford and I'll be sad when it finally dies--which doesn't appear to be any time soon!


Kitty Cam: This one is from Ems. Chelsea and Mokey pause for a portrait before fighting over who gets to sleep in the sink!

Is it June yet?

There's not a teacher in American who isn't asking that question! I've been feeling that way since February. I burned out earlier this year--probably because the current economic situation has vastly affected my job. Secondly, because the school system I work for is terribly misguided in many ways. That's another lengthy post for another day.

Now it is time to catch up! Hockey playoff season kept me busy--at least through the second round of playoffs when my beloved Washington Capitals were eliminated by the reviled Pittsburgh Penguins in game 7. I guess it just wasn't meant to be this year--but I would have preferred any team to the Pens. And now it looks like the Pens may win the Eastern Conference Championship which means I will actually have to cheer for the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup finals! That will be a first. DH says that you cheer for your conference. This is true unless my conference is being represented by the Pens! The DC area has some long lived rivalries. In football--it's Redskins vs. Cowboys. In baseball--it's the Orioles vs. Yankees. In hockey--it's the Caps vs. the Pens --with the Flyers being a close second! I will say that I was impressed with the class that the Caps fans showed in game 7 which was a home game. The final score was 6 - 2. All the other games had been close but this one was a total blowout. Still during the last minute of the game, the fans were on their feet cheering "Let's Go Caps!" They then gave their team a standing ovation at the end of the game. This is quite a contrast to the New York fan who threw trash on the ice when the Rangers lost a game. The Caps gave us a great ride this year! It can only get better!

I did very little knitting during the last few weeks. I have to finish my 2nd Musica mitt then I have a summer project that I hope to start:


I knew the minute I saw the cover of the newest Vogue Knitting magazine that I had to make that! I am also working on Sylvi which will be a very long term project --at least until I get to the back. All that seed stitch blows!

I also participated in a sewing swap! It was a pincushion swap where you were to make a pincushion and include some other goodies for your swapee! I chose to make a theme--gardening--specifically bees! I made these pincushions:




The beehive is made out of felted wool and the flower pincushion is made from a bottle cap and craft felt. The bee pins were done with a craft punch and shrink plastic. I also made a little bee bag:
This was adapted from a pattern in the book Omiyage. The original design was a cicada so I made a few changes! I also made some bee stitch markers and included some wildflower seeds and other goodies! I also received a lovely package from my swap partner:


I love the pincushion she made! It has a center compartment with all the little necessities--seam ripper, scissors, needles, and measuring tape. I decided to keep it on the end table in the family room which is where I do most of my mending.

I've been planning some summer sewing projects. I have a great piece of vintage fabric that I unearthed at my Mom's house when I was cleaning it out:

The fabric screams to be made into a 50's style halter dress. I had a pattern like that but decided that I wanted something I could wear to school. I will make the bottom right view but I will change the skirt. The pattern has a pleated skirt which doesn't work with this fabric in my opinion. I will do gathers and probably make it a little fuller. I will also fully line the dress.

The next project is another dress:

I will be making the bottom right view. The dress will be made with the black fabric. The little modesty panel and the skirt lining will be in the gingham.

The last dress I have planned is this:

I love this pattern and I have a similar vintage dress which doesn't fit. I fell in love with the Beatles fabric! I will probably add black piping to the bodice seams to bring out the details.

I need to get out in the garden. I've done nothing in that department. I hope to put some flowers in my front urns and get the hanging planters and deck planters done in the next week or so. My spring concert is this week so that will be keeping me extra busy!

That's about it for now!

Kitty Cam: This one is from Ems--Chelsea sits still long enough for a picture:

No beans!

Here I am at home for my second snow day and I have no beans! Actually today was more of a "wintery mix" day. The wonderful snowy winters of my childhood are long past. Global warming has seen to that. Now for the beans--whenever I have a snow day, I make one of two things--either chili or Pasta e Fagiole. Typically the pasta soup is the choice because it uses things I typically have on hand and it requires no meat. As luck would have it, I didn't have beans! The soup requires dried beans and the chili requires canned. I had neither! Bummer. Even worse--I had the worst craving for a grilled cheese sandwich at lunch and I didn't have pepper jack! I'm just a big fat failure today! I had to use swiss cheese with red pepper flakes. It just wasn't the same!

So I've had two days off and I have not accomplished one single thing. I figure that snow days are freebies so I'm not "required" to get stuff done per se. I certainly could've sewn or done some knitting but I did neither. I managed to watch "24" which I had recorded and "No Country for Old Men." That is one strange movie!

So that's it! I have my winter concert tomorrow though if school is delayed we will miss our dress rehearsal. Oh well! We roll with the punches around here!

Kitty Cam:
This one is from Ems--Chelsea insists on following Mokey everywhere--even to the bathroom sink!

Sweet Victory

I've been meaning to blog since the election, but life got in the way.  I think I was coming down with a cold last week.  I stood out in the mist last Tuesday and handed out materials to those coming to vote at my school.  It was interesting to see the voters.  The neighborhood is extremely diverse with many non English speakers.  Many of them had questions and all seemed very excited to vote.  It is an overwhelmingly democratic district.  

I stayed up until 2 a.m watching the election returns and commentary. I was a nutcase the next day as I was totally exhausted. That's okay. It's not often that one gets to experience that type of victory!

My sale book order from KnitPicks arrived on Thursday. Check out the goodies:




I love all of them, but my favorite is Boutique Knits. It has some very unusual accessories. Also--check out this scarf from the Nicky Epstein scarf book:

Of course that page would catch the eye of the Crazy Cat Lady!
I also started the Silken Scabbard. No photos yet, but soon!

Saturday, DH and I headed for Pittsburgh to celebrate Ems' birthday which is actually on November 11. We got there around 3:30. Her street was covered with leaves. I love the houses on her street. They are rather large brick or stone homes with neat architectural details. Many have stained glass windows as well.

Here is the side of Em's house. Her apartment is on the second floor and she has the curved windows that you see.

Everytime I go in that house I see details that I missed before. Check out the plaster work on the ceiling:



We met Bird at the Double Wide Grill on the Southside for dinner after which Bird went to work. Ems, DH and I ended up meeting Ems' friends at the Forward Lanes in Squirrel Hill for a couple of games of ten pin bowling. I have to admit that it's been over 40 years since I've bowled ten pins! It was fun. After bowling, we took Ems back to her place and we checked in our hotel. Sunday morning we met up with Ems and Bird at Ritters which is a diner in Friendship. After a trip to Joanns, we took Ems home and we headed for the road, arriving home around 7:30 p.m. I paid a sitter to take care of the kitties so they were well provided for.

I think things will get back to normal for a short time until we hit the Holiday madness.

A bit of Nostalgia
"It was twenty years ago today . . ."
Here are some pictures from Ems' 5 year old birthday party. She just turned 25! We used to have wonderful theme parties at our house. This one was the Wizard of Oz! Can you guess who Ems was?

That's right! She was Dorothy! And of course, I was Glinda!

I just knew I'd find a place to wear that flea market 50's prom dress!
And no party at our house was complete without the special birthday cake that Nannie made. This one is of the Emerald City with Wizard of Oz figurines:

All the party guests received a goody bag with a "Doctor of Thinkology" diploma, a heart ornament and a medal of courage!

Bushism of the day:

"I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 12, 2008

Ouch! I think we are figuring out now!

Kitty Cam: We got to meet Ems' little baby, Chelsea. She's a wild thing, but she is absolutely gorgeous! She has beautiful markings!