In case you missed Sarah Palin on SNL . . .
When felines and fiber invade your home.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Know Thyself
That saying is supposedly inscribed in an ancient Greek temple. Here I offer it as advice to my friends who seek to make garments that fit whether they be sewn or knit. If there is one lesson that I have learned in my 40+ years of sewing, it is to ignore the size measurements shown on pattern envelopes. Sewing patterns have way too much ease. I learned this lesson when I took my first sewing class in the 8th grade when my instructor tried to tell me that I had to make my jumper in a size 14 because my bust measurement matched that of the size 14 on the pattern envelope. I knew that the size 10 fit and I remember getting in trouble for arguing with her. At that time, I had been sewing for a year or so and I knew what size to make. I ignored the instructor and made the size 10 and it fit perfectly. The reason that I am bringing this up is that I finished a skirt and blouse last week and I was somewhat amused to read the reviews on Pattern Review for the blouse pattern. All the reviews said that the blouse was too big. It was also too wide at the neck--something that is a basic design flaw of the pattern. Let me offer one piece of advice which will save my sewing friends some trouble. Do not depend on the measurements listed on the pattern. If you want a garment that fits well, here is what you do.
First, take all of your measurements wearing the proper undergarments and write them all down.
Second, find garments you have that fit you well and measure them--bust, waist, hip, back length, shoulder and sleeve measurements and write those down as well.
Third, know what kind of ease is necessary for a particular garment--fitted, tailored, oversized etc.
When you select a pattern--look to see if the finished garment measurements are listed on the pattern envelope. I believe that McCall's is the only company that consistently does this. Vogue and Butterick put the finished measurements on the pattern tissue. I'm not sure what Simplicity does. If there are no finished garment measurements then you will have to flat measure your pattern pieces to see what the finished measurements are. Compare these measurements to those of the well-fitting garment that you measured. This is far more reliable than relying on the size measurements on the pattern envelope.
Case in point. My blouse is Vogue 7999 which is no longer in print. According to the sizing on the envelope, I should make a size 12 (bust 34) or a size 14 (bust 36). My bust measurement is a hair under 35. I made a size 10 which is, according to the pattern, for a bust size of 32 1/2. I made a muslin using the bodice lining which is fitted. It fit perfectly except there was some gapping at the neckline making it too wide. I had read about this problem on Pattern Review. I found that taking a small tuck in the neckline eliminated the gap. I slashed my bodice and bodice lining pattern pieces at the neckline and reduced the neckline length by 1/2 inch.
I put the body of the blouse together and tried it on.
Perfect fit!
I finished up the blouse, taking longer than I probably should have but I did add things like French seams: and hand sewn thread bra strap stays.
Here you can see Raquel modeling the top:
The fabric is silk charmeuse which I had gotten several years ago on clearance at Joanns. The lining is china silk from G Street.
I also finished Butterick 4859 which is a fitted skirt with a fishtail type hem in the back. The front is cut on the bias and there are inset pieces that run across the front and down the back. The back is very form fitting and the hemline flares and dips lower. I'm fairly pleased with the skirt. I used a cheap polyester suiting from Joanns and bemberg rayon lining. Typically I don't like polyester, but I thought it would be fine as a basic black skirt for work. One problem I'm having with skirts these days is that they constantly turn around on me when I'm wearing them. I'll have a skirt on for an hour or so and when I look down it is sideways or almost backward! I don't know why this continues to happen. Even fitted skirts do this! Here are some details from the skirt. First I finished the seams because I thought they might show where the hem is longer:
I also topstitched all the decorative seams with a double needle and topstitching thread:
Here is the back of the skirt (unpressed):
Here is the outfit:
Knitting news--still plugging away on my Surplice Lace Camisole. Can you tell that I'm not terribly motivated with it? I did go to G Street to get some ribbon for it. As can be expected, there was none that matched so I bought two different colors that coordinate. When I finish it, I will decide which one looks best. I also want to show this to my knitting friends:
This is Stretch Magic clear elastic beading cord in the thinnest diameter available. Why is this important for my knitting friends? Because it is a great product for lending support to gapping necklines on knit garments. I used this product to support the low, wide neckline on Labyrinth. It gapped badly after blocking and I knew that it would reveal all kinds of unmentionables if I dared to wear it to work. I threaded some of this cord in a tapestry needle and wove it through the neckline where I picked up the stitches for the ribbing and again through the Bind off edge of the ribbing. No matter how much the sweater stretches out, the neckline isn't going anywhere! I highly recommend adding this to your little arsenal of finishing supplies!
I'll be missing my knitting group again tomorrow night. I'm going to a seminar called "Understanding your Retirement." Not that I can afford to retire in the next 10 years, but I figured that I better know what to expect so that I can plan accordingly.
Before I go, let me leave you with these two little Sarah Palin funnies that Ems sent to me:
Bushism of the day
This one comes in video format from the David Letterman Show! Enjoy!
Kitty Cam: Mikey assumes his usual position on the couch next to me as I type!
First, take all of your measurements wearing the proper undergarments and write them all down.
Second, find garments you have that fit you well and measure them--bust, waist, hip, back length, shoulder and sleeve measurements and write those down as well.
Third, know what kind of ease is necessary for a particular garment--fitted, tailored, oversized etc.
When you select a pattern--look to see if the finished garment measurements are listed on the pattern envelope. I believe that McCall's is the only company that consistently does this. Vogue and Butterick put the finished measurements on the pattern tissue. I'm not sure what Simplicity does. If there are no finished garment measurements then you will have to flat measure your pattern pieces to see what the finished measurements are. Compare these measurements to those of the well-fitting garment that you measured. This is far more reliable than relying on the size measurements on the pattern envelope.
Case in point. My blouse is Vogue 7999 which is no longer in print. According to the sizing on the envelope, I should make a size 12 (bust 34) or a size 14 (bust 36). My bust measurement is a hair under 35. I made a size 10 which is, according to the pattern, for a bust size of 32 1/2. I made a muslin using the bodice lining which is fitted. It fit perfectly except there was some gapping at the neckline making it too wide. I had read about this problem on Pattern Review. I found that taking a small tuck in the neckline eliminated the gap. I slashed my bodice and bodice lining pattern pieces at the neckline and reduced the neckline length by 1/2 inch.
I put the body of the blouse together and tried it on.
Perfect fit!
I finished up the blouse, taking longer than I probably should have but I did add things like French seams: and hand sewn thread bra strap stays.
Here you can see Raquel modeling the top:
The fabric is silk charmeuse which I had gotten several years ago on clearance at Joanns. The lining is china silk from G Street.
I also finished Butterick 4859 which is a fitted skirt with a fishtail type hem in the back. The front is cut on the bias and there are inset pieces that run across the front and down the back. The back is very form fitting and the hemline flares and dips lower. I'm fairly pleased with the skirt. I used a cheap polyester suiting from Joanns and bemberg rayon lining. Typically I don't like polyester, but I thought it would be fine as a basic black skirt for work. One problem I'm having with skirts these days is that they constantly turn around on me when I'm wearing them. I'll have a skirt on for an hour or so and when I look down it is sideways or almost backward! I don't know why this continues to happen. Even fitted skirts do this! Here are some details from the skirt. First I finished the seams because I thought they might show where the hem is longer:
I also topstitched all the decorative seams with a double needle and topstitching thread:
Here is the back of the skirt (unpressed):
Here is the outfit:
Knitting news--still plugging away on my Surplice Lace Camisole. Can you tell that I'm not terribly motivated with it? I did go to G Street to get some ribbon for it. As can be expected, there was none that matched so I bought two different colors that coordinate. When I finish it, I will decide which one looks best. I also want to show this to my knitting friends:
This is Stretch Magic clear elastic beading cord in the thinnest diameter available. Why is this important for my knitting friends? Because it is a great product for lending support to gapping necklines on knit garments. I used this product to support the low, wide neckline on Labyrinth. It gapped badly after blocking and I knew that it would reveal all kinds of unmentionables if I dared to wear it to work. I threaded some of this cord in a tapestry needle and wove it through the neckline where I picked up the stitches for the ribbing and again through the Bind off edge of the ribbing. No matter how much the sweater stretches out, the neckline isn't going anywhere! I highly recommend adding this to your little arsenal of finishing supplies!
I'll be missing my knitting group again tomorrow night. I'm going to a seminar called "Understanding your Retirement." Not that I can afford to retire in the next 10 years, but I figured that I better know what to expect so that I can plan accordingly.
Before I go, let me leave you with these two little Sarah Palin funnies that Ems sent to me:
Bushism of the day
This one comes in video format from the David Letterman Show! Enjoy!
Kitty Cam: Mikey assumes his usual position on the couch next to me as I type!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Hockey Moms
Wondering what the title of this post means? Well for those who don't know--I am a hockey mom--one, I might add, of major proportions! Both of my kids played--yes, even Ems! I spent every weekend with my car trunk loaded with stinky equipment bags and goalie pads traveling hundreds of miles, often before the sun came up to go to rinks scattered all over the mid atlantic. I frequently lost my voice cheering for my kids' teams--Chesapeake Chiefs, Howard Huskies, Tri City Eagles, Hammond High School. And I still hold the title of the commissioner of the Howard County Scholastic Hockey Association which is my local high school league--one reason I haven't blogged as much lately as I've been finalizing my ice contracts, holding league meetings and creating game schedules for my 11 teams. Why is this important? It's important because in no way, shape or form do I want to be associated with the most well known hockey mom that's been in the news this season. Thus, for my knitting friends, you will notice that my new Ravelry avatar has changed from my red lips picture to this:
With last night being the Caps' home opener, DH and I spent our anniversary going downtown (to DC) to do a little genealogy work at the DAR library in the afternoon, followed by dinner at Capital Q which has the best barbecue in the city. It's a casual place where you get your drinks in cans or bottles and rolls of paper towels sit on the tables. After dinner, we donned our Caps jerseys, went next door to Starbucks and headed over to the Verizon center to take our places in the nosebleed section to enjoy the opening game. I must admit that I was stunned to see the Chicago Blackhawks score 20 seconds into the game! Given that the Caps lost 7 - 4 in Atlanta the previous night, this had me a little concerned. Fortunately they came back and won 4 - 2. I have great hopes for this team after last season. I hope the change in goaltenders wasn't a blunder!
Philly had their home opener last night as well! Guess who dropped the ceremonial puck? Guess who was booed from the audience when doing so? I guess those working class hockey fans in Philly don't see the VP candidate as "one of us."
For more on this story, go here!
This may be a three post day. I have some FO's to share, but I have to photograph them. I finished the bodice of my Surplice Lace Camisole and I've started on the lace section. I have a couple of sewing FO's to share. I'm not fast with my sewing because I tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. I love finesse in my sewing so I tend to use couture sewing techniques for seam finishing, lining and other details which add a lot more labor. I'll try to photograph my goodies today.
Other news--I had my hair cut on Friday and had it done much like I did last Dec. I asked her for more copper in the color but it doesn't show as much because it seems darker. I like it though. I think next time I will have it cut shorter in more of a stacked bob.
That's it for now!
Bushism of the day:
"You know, when you give a man more money in his pocket -- in this case, a woman more money in her pocket to expand a business, it -- they build new buildings. And when somebody builds a new building somebody has got to come and build the building. And when the building expanded it prevented additional opportunities for people to work." --George W. Bush, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
Kitty Cam: Ems' new kitty, Chelsea, loves to get into things and she also loves to play with Cosmo!
With last night being the Caps' home opener, DH and I spent our anniversary going downtown (to DC) to do a little genealogy work at the DAR library in the afternoon, followed by dinner at Capital Q which has the best barbecue in the city. It's a casual place where you get your drinks in cans or bottles and rolls of paper towels sit on the tables. After dinner, we donned our Caps jerseys, went next door to Starbucks and headed over to the Verizon center to take our places in the nosebleed section to enjoy the opening game. I must admit that I was stunned to see the Chicago Blackhawks score 20 seconds into the game! Given that the Caps lost 7 - 4 in Atlanta the previous night, this had me a little concerned. Fortunately they came back and won 4 - 2. I have great hopes for this team after last season. I hope the change in goaltenders wasn't a blunder!
Philly had their home opener last night as well! Guess who dropped the ceremonial puck? Guess who was booed from the audience when doing so? I guess those working class hockey fans in Philly don't see the VP candidate as "one of us."
For more on this story, go here!
This may be a three post day. I have some FO's to share, but I have to photograph them. I finished the bodice of my Surplice Lace Camisole and I've started on the lace section. I have a couple of sewing FO's to share. I'm not fast with my sewing because I tend to make things more complicated than they need to be. I love finesse in my sewing so I tend to use couture sewing techniques for seam finishing, lining and other details which add a lot more labor. I'll try to photograph my goodies today.
Other news--I had my hair cut on Friday and had it done much like I did last Dec. I asked her for more copper in the color but it doesn't show as much because it seems darker. I like it though. I think next time I will have it cut shorter in more of a stacked bob.
That's it for now!
Bushism of the day:
"You know, when you give a man more money in his pocket -- in this case, a woman more money in her pocket to expand a business, it -- they build new buildings. And when somebody builds a new building somebody has got to come and build the building. And when the building expanded it prevented additional opportunities for people to work." --George W. Bush, Lancaster, Pa., Oct. 3, 2007
Kitty Cam: Ems' new kitty, Chelsea, loves to get into things and she also loves to play with Cosmo!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Live from New York . . .
It's Saturday Night Live's version of the VP debate!
I have to admit, that if Obama wins, I will miss these sketches. However if McCain wins, we'll see them for the next 4 years--only they won't seem so funny then.
I have to admit, that if Obama wins, I will miss these sketches. However if McCain wins, we'll see them for the next 4 years--only they won't seem so funny then.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Tina Fey does it again!
First of all, please forgive me if you find these comedy skits offensive. I think they are absolutely hilarious! So here is the skit from last night just in case you missed it!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Things happen in threes!
Three posts in a day for me! I decided to break up what would be a really long post into three parts. Be sure to check out the previous two!
It's been a busy week. I'm finding school to be a little difficult in some ways this year. I dislike my schedule in that I have lunch at 10:45 a.m. There is one advantage to that however. I've been losing weight. I eat a filling breakfast of a high fiber, high protein cereal with soy milk and juice right before I leave the house in the morning around 7:30. I'm just not that hungry at lunch time when it is so early. I end up eating just a small salad or a low calorie frozen entree which is typically less than I would eat. I have a little break an hour later so then I have a little bit of veggies--usually a snack size bag of cherry tomatoes or pepper strips. That tides me over until my last class. If I'm still hungry, then I'll have a lowfat string cheese that I always have on hand in my little fridge. Everyday on my ride home I have my cup of fresh berries. Berries to me are like candy. I just can't get enough of them. I always have blueberries and sometimes I mix them with raspberries or blackberries. I will also admit to having a small square of dark chocolate sometime in the afternoon. I guess my whacky schedule is making me eat healthier so all is not lost.
We had back to school night this week which kept me out late on Tuesday. I've been pretty much glued to the news this week. This financial mess has me rather worried. I fear that my rather meager retirement account may be in some jeopardy. I also worry about the ability to get credit--not for me, but mainly for Bird. He has a large amount of private student loans and we are hoping that he can consolidate them. The only way that he can get a halfway decent interest rate is if DH cosigns for it. That is a little scary in that if Bird can't get a decent job, then we will be responsible. I just don't want Bird to have to pay 18% on a large loan. We'll see how it all plays out. It's funny how one views money when they are, as my mother used to say, nearer the grave than the cradle. I look around and see that I've wasted a lot of money over the years on stuff--stuff that I don't need and stuff that I will never use. I've gotten much better about not buying things impulsively. I have bought some yarn for winter projects (more on that later) and some dvd's and that's about it. I've decided that I need to make a dent in my rather huge fabric stash so my future sewing projects will be stash projects. It's fun to go through my containers of fabric. I always come across stuff that I had totally forgotten about. My taste hasn't changed so I always love the fabric I have. I just often end up changing the pattern that I will use.
I was going through my container of fine silks and came across this:
This is a lace print silk charmeuse that I got on clearance at, of all places, Joann's. They must have gotten it from another store because I had never seen silk charmeuse there. I bought this a couple of years ago and got the beige china silk lining at G-Street. I also bought some of this fabric in a purple on lavender color for Ems. I'm going to bag up the fabrics I have for her and give them to her since she wants to start sewing more. Anyway I had this fabric with the zipper and pattern stored in a ziploc bag which is what I've done with all my sewing projects. Here is the pattern which is now out of print:
I am making view A which is in the bottom left hand corner. I think it will look smashing with my black jeans. It will also be nice with a black dressy skirt. It was like going fabric shopping as I had totally forgotten about it!
I've been watching dvd's while I've been sewing. We haven't run the cable line to my little dvd/tv. I watched the entire series of Sex and the City and now I am on this:
I already watched season 1 which I got for Christmas a few years ago. I had actually seen season 1 when it aired on HBO. I missed some seasons in the middle. I was able to pick up seasons 2,3 and 4 on Ebay for cheap. I still need to get season 5. After this series will come Allie McBeal. I got into that rather late when it aired--only seeing the last season or two. The series dvd's are not produced in the US as there are some copyright issues with the music. They can be obtained in a region free format from Asia--go figure! That show just wouldn't be the same without the music.
I am still plugging away at Surplice Camisole and I finished one side of the bodice front. There was an error in the pattern but it still looks okay. Here is the yarn that I mentioned above:
This is Malabrigo silk which will be used for Silken Scabbard. I have one more yarn purchase then I will be set for the winter. I am getting some Malabrigo worsted off of Ebay for the Dirndl Raglan.
Our latest home improvement project is this:
New front steps! Our porch has been a wreck this past week. We had to tear off the railing and some of the planking in front. The old concrete steps, which were cracked in the middle and a bit sunken, were torn up. Also the stone support on the right of the photo was completely taken apart. We had new foundation poured for the support and it was put back together then we got new steps. We still have to put up the wood part of the support as part of it was rotten and has to be made. DH hopes to tear out the wood floor and railing and rebuild it. We had done this some years ago using decking which is not what the original was. We need to use tongue and groove flooring which will be painted. We will also get white railing. It will look nice when it's finished. After this is done, I think we should wait on any other major home projects.
It's been raining today so I haven't even gotten dressed! I have no desire to run errands in the rain. I have plenty of espresso and soy milk, so with the ability to make an endless amount of lattes, I will stay in today. I love days like this!
I will leave you with a picture of the lovely roses I found at Trader Joes:
Bushism of the day:
"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, interview on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007
WoW! I wonder why there's distrust! If the revelations of the last two weeks don't explain that, nothing can!
Kitty Cam: Another one from Ems. Chelsea found a new toy--Cosmo's tail!
It's been a busy week. I'm finding school to be a little difficult in some ways this year. I dislike my schedule in that I have lunch at 10:45 a.m. There is one advantage to that however. I've been losing weight. I eat a filling breakfast of a high fiber, high protein cereal with soy milk and juice right before I leave the house in the morning around 7:30. I'm just not that hungry at lunch time when it is so early. I end up eating just a small salad or a low calorie frozen entree which is typically less than I would eat. I have a little break an hour later so then I have a little bit of veggies--usually a snack size bag of cherry tomatoes or pepper strips. That tides me over until my last class. If I'm still hungry, then I'll have a lowfat string cheese that I always have on hand in my little fridge. Everyday on my ride home I have my cup of fresh berries. Berries to me are like candy. I just can't get enough of them. I always have blueberries and sometimes I mix them with raspberries or blackberries. I will also admit to having a small square of dark chocolate sometime in the afternoon. I guess my whacky schedule is making me eat healthier so all is not lost.
We had back to school night this week which kept me out late on Tuesday. I've been pretty much glued to the news this week. This financial mess has me rather worried. I fear that my rather meager retirement account may be in some jeopardy. I also worry about the ability to get credit--not for me, but mainly for Bird. He has a large amount of private student loans and we are hoping that he can consolidate them. The only way that he can get a halfway decent interest rate is if DH cosigns for it. That is a little scary in that if Bird can't get a decent job, then we will be responsible. I just don't want Bird to have to pay 18% on a large loan. We'll see how it all plays out. It's funny how one views money when they are, as my mother used to say, nearer the grave than the cradle. I look around and see that I've wasted a lot of money over the years on stuff--stuff that I don't need and stuff that I will never use. I've gotten much better about not buying things impulsively. I have bought some yarn for winter projects (more on that later) and some dvd's and that's about it. I've decided that I need to make a dent in my rather huge fabric stash so my future sewing projects will be stash projects. It's fun to go through my containers of fabric. I always come across stuff that I had totally forgotten about. My taste hasn't changed so I always love the fabric I have. I just often end up changing the pattern that I will use.
I was going through my container of fine silks and came across this:
This is a lace print silk charmeuse that I got on clearance at, of all places, Joann's. They must have gotten it from another store because I had never seen silk charmeuse there. I bought this a couple of years ago and got the beige china silk lining at G-Street. I also bought some of this fabric in a purple on lavender color for Ems. I'm going to bag up the fabrics I have for her and give them to her since she wants to start sewing more. Anyway I had this fabric with the zipper and pattern stored in a ziploc bag which is what I've done with all my sewing projects. Here is the pattern which is now out of print:
I am making view A which is in the bottom left hand corner. I think it will look smashing with my black jeans. It will also be nice with a black dressy skirt. It was like going fabric shopping as I had totally forgotten about it!
I've been watching dvd's while I've been sewing. We haven't run the cable line to my little dvd/tv. I watched the entire series of Sex and the City and now I am on this:
I already watched season 1 which I got for Christmas a few years ago. I had actually seen season 1 when it aired on HBO. I missed some seasons in the middle. I was able to pick up seasons 2,3 and 4 on Ebay for cheap. I still need to get season 5. After this series will come Allie McBeal. I got into that rather late when it aired--only seeing the last season or two. The series dvd's are not produced in the US as there are some copyright issues with the music. They can be obtained in a region free format from Asia--go figure! That show just wouldn't be the same without the music.
I am still plugging away at Surplice Camisole and I finished one side of the bodice front. There was an error in the pattern but it still looks okay. Here is the yarn that I mentioned above:
This is Malabrigo silk which will be used for Silken Scabbard. I have one more yarn purchase then I will be set for the winter. I am getting some Malabrigo worsted off of Ebay for the Dirndl Raglan.
Our latest home improvement project is this:
New front steps! Our porch has been a wreck this past week. We had to tear off the railing and some of the planking in front. The old concrete steps, which were cracked in the middle and a bit sunken, were torn up. Also the stone support on the right of the photo was completely taken apart. We had new foundation poured for the support and it was put back together then we got new steps. We still have to put up the wood part of the support as part of it was rotten and has to be made. DH hopes to tear out the wood floor and railing and rebuild it. We had done this some years ago using decking which is not what the original was. We need to use tongue and groove flooring which will be painted. We will also get white railing. It will look nice when it's finished. After this is done, I think we should wait on any other major home projects.
It's been raining today so I haven't even gotten dressed! I have no desire to run errands in the rain. I have plenty of espresso and soy milk, so with the ability to make an endless amount of lattes, I will stay in today. I love days like this!
I will leave you with a picture of the lovely roses I found at Trader Joes:
Bushism of the day:
"And there is distrust in Washington. I am surprised, frankly, at the amount of distrust that exists in this town. And I'm sorry it's the case, and I'll work hard to try to elevate it." --George W. Bush, interview on National Public Radio, Jan. 29, 2007
WoW! I wonder why there's distrust! If the revelations of the last two weeks don't explain that, nothing can!
Kitty Cam: Another one from Ems. Chelsea found a new toy--Cosmo's tail!
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