Man, I Miss You Guys

In fact I have been missing a lot about life lately.  Yet, another season of workaholism has left me neglecting those things I enjoy the most but for the next 16 days I am free!! It is almost like a semi retired state.  Yesterday,  I stayed up late watching movies. Today I woke up late, had a new visitor to the apartment, got another present and shopped for some upcoming recipe adventures.  I even finished a hat…my third hat in a row.  I still have to take pictures and stuff but that will happen soon enough.  For now I wanted to stop in and say hi so my upcoming blogfest would not be so awkward.  Hope the holiday season is treating your well.

The Voodoo/Sequin Tree

When I saw the sequin tree tutorial over on Centsational Girl I knew I had to make one.  How could I resist?!  The colors were the same as my Christmas decor and it had BLING!! I have to say I do love myself some bling…LOL!  Plus I had the cones in my crafty arsenal already and was itching for an instant gratification project.  So during my Black Friday adventures at JoAnn’s (believe me I am not crazy…JoAnn’s is a pretty easy in and out in the wee hours of the morning…20 minutes tops), I remembered about the sequin tree and bought a few packs of sequins and a 350 pack of pins.   Right after I got home I set about making the tree thinking I would have it finished in a day or two.  3 hours later I only had three rows at the bottom.  Hmmm…curious…the picture didn’t look that cumbersome. 5 hours later…what the heck this is taking forever! 6 hours later with a crick in my neck I finally decided to look back at the tutorial.

So first, let’s recap some key things in the tutorial that I did not bother to read or just did not sink in.

“It’s a simple, yet time consuming process..”

“Styrofoam cone or ball – small cones (around 8″ tall)”

“Sequin…8mm”

“Beads…4mm”

“…and you’ll need a ton of pins…”

Next, let’s recap my mindset and my supplies

“…itching for an instant gratification project.”

Styrofoam cone – around 12″ tall

Sequin…5mm

Beads…2.5mm

Pins…550

As you can see the math does not add up to instant gratification.  Instead it added up to sore appendages, assembly line style repetitiveness, and lot and LOTS of patience.  I did get a rhythm going that sped the process and since I had resigned myself to this being a process project I worked in spurts instead of killing myself to get it done.  I did have to make a few runs back to JoAnn’s for pins but all in all the assembly was just as the tutorial had suggested “…simple, yet time consuming…”

So the final supply total was

Styrofoam cone – One around 12″ tall

Sequin – 2 pkgs blue, 2 pkgs green 5mm sequins

Beads – 1 pkg 2.5mm beads

Pins – 2,000!!!!!!!!

Nope, you didn’t read that wrong.  It took me over two THOUSAND pins to finish this tree! TWO THOUSAND!!  This my friends was a labor of love or masochism..you decide.  It took me 1 week of off and on pinning to finish my voodoo/sequin tree.  Meticulously sticking the poor styrofoam cone so that the sequins overlapped juuuussst right.  I even added a dab of quick dry tacky glue because I decided that if I was going to go through the pain it better last FOREVER!  When I got to the top of the cone it became a bit more cumbersome as there were so many pins in such a small area that you had to angle them in juuuust right to find available space.

Now all that said let’s do another recap

Do I love my tree? – Yes, it is all the bling I had hoped for.  Plus you can use it on someone as a massage tool as the pins make it feel nice when grasped or as a bludgeoning tool since it is pretty heavy.

Could I have bought something similar at the store? – Sure…but we all know that crafting is about the activity not the cost or time…OBVIOUSLY!

Would I do it again? – Yes and No.  Would I do THIS size again NO.  But I am obviously a masochist as I have already started another with the RIGHT sized materials.

Call me a glutton for punishment…but look at the BLING!

Old Lady Update presents…Weaving!

• Yarn:
  • Warp – Noro Silk garden (1 ball)
  • Weft – Noro Silk garden (little less than 1 ball)
• Length: about 72″ (not counting fringe)
• Width: 5″
• Loom: 16″ Ashford Rigid Heddle Knitter’s Loom
• Dents Per Inch: 7.5

So after my hectic week of travel, work, and team training, I finished the week off with an all day weaving class at the new and wonderful Yarn Lady.

The class started at 9:30am although the other three students were already there and setting up. I on the other hand had no loom of my own so I was the lucky recipient of the teacher’s attention as an example for the class and received a lot of personalized assistance due to my need to finish the scarf by the end of class.

Despite all the help it still took me every available minute of the class to finish my scarf. Phew!

Our teacher was one of the best I have ever had and she infused the class with a wonderful energy of excitement and creativity. I loved her samples that she brought in and the enthusiasm she had in creating yarn pairing throughout the class to keep us thinking.

The new store was wonderfully decorated in a more contemporary fiber arts direction which definitely appealed to me.  Their selection has also improved greatly.  It has been a long time since I have wanted to buy yarn but this store struck a cord with me.  Resistance may be futile!

Through all of this I came away with a new fiber love. I haven’t been this excited about a new hobby since I learned how to knit. I fought the urge to buy a loom but kept checking patterns and sites for potential deals. It was obviously kismet because I found a great deal on eBay for the loom and stand. It came on Tuesday, oct 26 th but it took me until Saturday to summon up the time and courage to get it warped.  The warping had some issues because I picked the wrong dent reed which kept catching the slubs on one of my warping yarns.  After I finally got going, with only 24″ left, one of my warp strings broke and I cannot wrap my head around fixing it.  Guess I will have to wait for this Fridays social weaving to get some info from the ladies.  Until then I leave you with a picture of my first warping.

Talk to you soon!

Peacock Apron & CathrineHolm Pots

My obsession with Cathrineholm has finally been satisfied to a sufficient enough level for me to refocus my obsessive nature back to decorating. However, the amazing colors have now saturated all areas of my creative mind and are popping up all over.  One direct result of this infusion of color is my new peacock apron. This apron is a combination of the McCall’s Vintage Apron 3979 and the waistband directions from the apron in In Stitches.

The fabric was one I have had in my stash for some time.  I loved it and wanted to make it into a skirt, but with just a little over a yard I knew that I was never going to fly.  So I waited for inspiration which came via my CathrineHolm pots and their combination of blue, green, and orange.  Through them I finally decided that my future fancy kitchen would need a fancy apron to don while making my culinary masterpieces.

Now I have already shown you my green and yellow pots but these are my latest and potentially the last additions to my set.

The blue set was an ebay buy.  I was lusting after a yellow set, but that went by the wayside.  Fueled with ebay adrenaline I spotted these and bid.  I am so glad I won these even though they were not my first choice.  I love the depth of color and the fact that they are helping me to expand into other areas of color.

I found this fondue pot at the Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market in NY.  I bought it for 5 bucks!! There was a yellow pot there too but it was pretty beat up.  This find was the highlight of my NYC shopping trip!  It has a chip on the other side but for 5 bucks I was not going to get all indignant about it

BTW…thank you all for your wonderful suggestions for NYC! I didn’t have much time so a lot of sights went unseen but I will give you the lowdown via a future post.

Week in Chic: 10/9

Heh, just realized I jumped into the future last week as it actually said 10/9 in the title before I changed it

Anticipating… A great time in New Jersey/New York due to all the wonderful ideas!!  Thank goodness for blogs too because I just found out that I am going to NY on the first Yarn Crawl of the City!  I hope to visit a few while I am there but neither my mom or my aunt are knitters so I don’t want to bore them.  Between Hell’s Kitchen Flea Market, Housing works thrift stores (various locations), Purl Soho, and Mood that is a pretty busy schedule for only 1.5 days of shopping in NY.  The rest will be quality time with the extended family.

Oh and I still need some help with can’t miss NJ/NY food choices too.

If you know of any good places to eat near any of the locations I stated above please do tell.  If you have an eatery suggestion that is not near any of these locations but is so good I need to make the journey, please share that too as the schedule is still pretty flexible.

Loving… My new Cathrineholm pot…soon to be POTS!! I got my first one and the quality of this pot is fantastic!! So the fact that it looks gorgeous is just icing on the cake.    These are not show piece pots though so I will be scoping some recipes that call for dutch ovens so I can giggle to myself now that I actually have one.

Savoring… the new Fall-ish weather.  I love it when it is chilly but not bitterly cold and that time is now.  I am dreaming of stews, crusty bread, and knitting.  LOVE the fall.

Knitting… The Heathered Hoodie Vest.  I know I said that before but now I have proof!!  The yarn is so yummy.  I am loving this knit.

Sewing… some quicky projects such as my new reversible sewing machine cover.  I used some Orla Kiely tea towels I found at GW Consignment for $1.99, some fusible fleece, and some leftover ribbon I had from a gift.  Process: I fused fleece to orange side, trimmed everything up, sewed the sides with ribbon in seam, turned inside out, sewed bottoms together.  A few hours later and I had a quick cover for my machine that lives in the cabinet.

(Click for larger view)

I plan on making another fully enclosed cover for my portable machine and serger.

I am also feeling another Weekender Bag.  I have this great upholstery weight fabric from JoAnn’s that is just screaming to be a Weekender.  Better get out my oyster shucking gloves to fend off all the pin pricks.

Dreaming… about work and my co-workers which is a sign that I am really stressed out.  Hope this vacation gets me back into restful sleep.

Planning… some wallpaper DIY projects.  I got some wallpaper samples from Hygge and West.  One will be to decorate the inside of my sewing cabinet.

Here is what it SHOULD look like…kinda.

Also I got this great bird print sample that fits perfectly on a future jewelry box project.

Alright so it is time to get packing I will talk to you all soon!! Have a great weekend

Week in Chic: 10/2

Spontaneously… Traveling to New York!! Yup, booked a ticket to leave next weekend for a 3-4 day jaunt in New York…well New Jersey mainly with a splash of New York.  Having only extended family to visit, that leaves me only one full day of shopping on Monday.  Any suggestions for fabric, knitting, and thrift store shopping for good deals in New York? Please note my newest hobby is being on the hunt for great deals or highly unique items so kona cotton or $25.00 a yard places aren’t really my thing

Shopping…at GW Consignment.  Have you ever been?  It is a great place where buried treasure is just waiting to be found.  Oh yeah, some people know it as Goodwill   My mom turned me on to that renaming when we went GW shopping.  She is not a shopper but she shopped me under the table there…LOL! 3 stores later I was pooped and she slept on the way home LOL!

Obsessing over… CathrineHolm cookware.  Damn that design*sponge and decor8!! I had to have some and so ebay came to my aid with a new CathrineHolm pot and also led me to a yellow Dansk Kobenstyle pot.  Both can be put in the oven which I love.

Collecting… hobbies but specializing in those associated with old ladies…LOL!  I now sew, knit, cook, thrift, and hope to be weaving come the 18th.  If any of you know any OL hobbies I am missing please do tell so I can get started on them

Knitting… The Heather Hoodie Vest from the latest Knitscene in Navy Berrocco Comfort Chunky.  I started this knit because my minisweater sleeves are pissing me off.  I keep getting too many stitches and this is the second time I have knit them.  I had to put it away for later.

Sewing… nothing right now.  I do plan on making Burda 10-2009-135 this weekend though.  This unfortunately was the ONLY pattern I really liked in this issue and I sold off my August and September issue because they had NOTHING I liked.  I am bummed because this time is normally my favorite Burda season.  Hope our style compatibility has not gone sour.

Alright, hope to have some crafting for you soon!

Update: Ooops forgot that I actually DO have crafting to share!! I should post it as soon as me, my camera, and the daylight coincide again.

The Great Move of 2010

It has been five years since I moved into my apartment and in those years it has been good to me.  But if you have spent any time with me over the past few months you would know that I am over it and itching, jonesing, OBSESSING about moving.  I feel like the white walls of my boxy apartment are closing in on me and I need a release.  That release will come, I hope, in February when I move into a 2 bedroom apartment in Long Beach.  Now I have quite a few months until this dream materializes so in the meantime I am playing interior decorator as I gather little tidbits from magazines and scour all the DIY decorating websites.   I figures I would preserve these ideas and inspirations as well as chronicle them for future reference here on this old blog.  Now I will try and credit everything so that you all know where to find things and no one thinks I am taking credit for their great taste.

This was seen in Real Simple Magazine.  I love the colored peg board for my future craft room.  You did know that was the impending future of the second bedroom, didn’t you?

This was an excerpt from a 2008 issue of Martha Stewart magazine.  I like the way the clipboards are both functional as organization and decoration.

I have been lusting after this gorgeous color scheme – green with teal.  This is the Veranda Coverlet in Verde.  The Teal Rug is a kira Rug…way out of my price range though.  I was also wondering about how dark furniture looks with lighter hardwood and I think it looks quite nice here.

I have been thinking about making myself a three way mirror when I move and potentially decorating the backs if they are the cheaper thinner mirrors.  Here are the Stave Mirrors from the latest Ikea Magazine displayed just the way I was thinking.

Other Links

Design Sponge – Everything, Just EVERYTHING about his house is perfect. I am also a little obsessed with the red and turquoise color scheme too.

Design Sponge – Love the rug and the black frame with fabric inside

Design Sponge – Pretty DIY with wallpaper.  This company sells by the yard so I might buy some to spruce up my sewing cabinet

Decor 8 – Just so pretty and clean!

Design Sponge – Love the red and turquoise used.  The aerial view is to die for! and enough room for TWO sofas?!

Threadbangers – This whole DIY series made me happy!!

Craft Gossip – How cool is this?!  Too bad I got rid of all my slides.

Instant Gratification

So after a month of no blogging I am sure you were expecting more than just a five minute instant gratification project blogged from an iPhone. Given I do have other things to show you but for now I am being lazy and subscribing to the “better than nothing” clause. Plus I get to try out iPhone blogging

Fabric is a tea towel from the Danica Studios Aviary collection. Loved the design but was being cheap while visiting SF so I only bought the towel. Now I look longingly online but dread the idea of paying shipping. Good thing I still have the majority of the towel left. Probably enough for a little bag…we’ll see

Week In Chic: 8/7

Appreciating.. all the wonderful compliments you all have given as of late.  Although I have not gotten back to all of you, I do really love your comments.  I have to say that your comments are a large portion of why I do the things I do.  So thank you thank you THANK.YOU!

Beaming… over my absolutely amazing find on my new obsession Craigslist.  I had to drive 1.5 hours each way to get this sewing table but it was worth it.

The Rocketeer has already moved in!!  I do need to have the insert cut to fit the new machine but other than that it its perfect.  It was especiallyworth the drive because the sellers were moving my brother in law got a smashing deal on some golf clubs.  $2,000 worth of almost new golf clubs for $60.00!!! I also got a set of 100% Wool Felt Fat Quarters from Joann’s that use to be $50.00 for $5.97!  Hope this bargain shopping luck holds out!

Sewing… the finishing touches on my version of the Vogue 1086.  I would like to get some patterns traced off this weekend but laziness is already setting in.

Knitting… the fronts on my betty minisweater.  This is actually coming out nicer than I thought.  If this one works out I might actually make another in wool for fall.

Eating… nothing good and that is the problem.  I did get some fruit finally this week so maybe I can get back on track to some healthy eating.

Planning… my budget.  I have been pretty lax as of late with my spending so that needs to be reigned in.   The crafty gadget and fabric buying is a bit out of control, so I am planning to sort out my stash and try to think up a plan so that I keep my eyes in my stash and my cash in my pocket.  We shall see how that goes…

Anyhoo, another week done. See ya soon.

Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 02-2009-112

Pattern: BWOF 02-2009-112

Pattern Description: This shaped jacket with contrasting print is as classy as a fitted jacket and as sporty as a trench coat. The sewing pattern comes in petite/half sizes because this style is particularly suitable for shorter women.

Pattern Sizing: Burda sizes 17-21.  Increased to a 23

Fabric Used: Canary Yellow Stretch Cotton Sateen from Downtown LA

Notions Used: Buttons!

Pattern Alterations: Increased to a 23. Eliminated the buttons and buttonholes for the neck area.  Did not add belt loops.

The Good:

• I really love the color.  I am afraid of it much like I am afraid of white but I love it …LOL   Can’t wait till it cools down some to wear it.

• I had just enough of the main fabric to finish this jacket.  I had to use lining fabric underneath the flaps but it worked out well as it would have been pretty bulky otherwise.
• I like that it came in petite sizing already as that is one less step in my pattern adjustment checkoff list.

• Love all the details!
• My sewing pals helping me discover the paper towel buttonhole technique.

• Leaving out the buttonholes at the top.  This was yet another sewing pals suggestion as I will probably never wear the jacket like that.  However, if for some reason I did want to rock that style the flaps pretty much stay in place when they are tucked in anyway so it was a win all around.

• My buttons were super inexpensive!! Normally for me buttons cost more than the whole damn project…LOL…but for this one I found them at Joann’s and they cost me all of $7.00 for the lot.  Love it!
• Finally posting this jackets after it has been finished for AGES!!! LOL!

The Bad:

• Holy Cow is there a lot of topstitching!  That is what kept me from getting this done quicker.  What made it worse is I am quite OCD about my topstitching so it is slow and tedious and will be ripped if it looks crappy.  Thank goodness for the adjustable blindhem foot.

• Although I made a muslin, I was focused more on the sewing technique and should have looked a bit closer at the overall fit (and this picture! especially since I look hunchbacked, short, and wide.  I am not hunchbacked.  The rest…well…LOL!).    Although I have finally come to terms with some of my major adjustments like petiting patterns, I need to now focus on other details like back width, swayback, etc.  The back has some extra fabric floating around that should have been remedied since there are back seams and I could have petited further.  I also think I need to adjust for the width of my back as the sleeves seem ample length but pull a little when I stick both of my arms out.  Or maybe that is just the way it should be since only zombies walk around with both arms straight out all the time.  mmmm…braaaaiiinnnssss
• I used a knit interfacing due to the stretch in the fabric but should have used more stable woven interfacing as this did not NEED the stretch in the areas that had interfacing.  I just wanted the interfacing to be lightweight and not too stiff.  Must find proper substitute for this in the future.

The Ugly:

• I am really upset at how the front facing and jacket meet in the front.  Per Burda’s instruction I snipped the fabric where requested but it is exactly at the breakline for the facing.  I should have snipped a little inside to give it some stability and maybe even added some interfacing to give it some structure there.  It peeves me to no end as this was one of the last steps before the jacket was complete, but I will get over it…I hope.
• What is with the super tiny pockets?!  I was gonna redraft them but I was afraid they would be too close to the bottom of the jacket and might hang too low.  I often think of just cutting them off and having them be mock pockets and sew them closed.  I do like the flaps so i wouldn’t get rid of those.

Conclusion: Although I have quite a bit in the bad and ugly categories, I really do like this jacket.  Now I just need to get a years supply of Scotch Guard

Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 07-2009-118

Pattern: BWOF 07-2009-118 Dress

Pattern Description:A shirred bust section, a wide hem flounce, a halter-neck strap plaited from cotton tape – this dress of lovely printed batiste is irresistable and you will be too when you wear it!

Pattern Sizing: Burda sizes 34-42.  Increased to a 46 and again in hips to a 50.

Fabric Used: Lightweight cotton and silk from Downtown LA

Notions Used: 1/2″ Bias Tape

Pattern Alterations: Increased to a 46 and again in hips to a 50. Eliminated the bottom hem flounce.  Added 7 more rows of shirring from 9 to 16.  Used elastic thread instead of zigzagging over elastic.

The Good:

• Loved the Fabric.  I found this fabric in Downtown LA at one of the shops I frequent (name escapes me).  I had seen this fabric last season and wanted it then, but resisted.  When I went earlier this season I had seen a woman buying it and decided that I had waiting long enough.  Luckily for me he have a little over 2.5 yards left.  PHEW!!  This is definitely one of those fabrics I would have regretted NOT buying.  It is lightweight and so soft…I wish we had feel-o-vision as I would love for all of you to touch it.  It also have a lovely sheen that makes all the vibrant colors pop just that much more.

• Easy to make.  I had never done shirring before with elastic in the bobbin but it was quite easy.  I even wound my bobbin using the machine…shhhh don’t tell.  Actually the key was to skip the tensioning disc and instead go from the spool, through the first step as if to thread the machine and then to the bobbin.  This will give just the slightest tension and the machine will do the rest.  This is hard to explain but I will show a picture if anyone needs it.   The hardest part was braiding the straps, which was not that hard,  but did make my OCD flare up.  I have not braided in years, even then I only braided hair, and now we know just one more reason why I wear my hair o’ natural…LOL!

• Strapless bra again.  I mentioned with my last dress the strapless bra phenomenon at Chez Chic.  This dress was actually my first foray outside sans bra straps.  It was totally fine but I would have never worn this style without the backup safety plan of the halter straps.  The shirring was tight enough, but not for my liking.  Given my liking would have probably produce suffocation so halter straps prevented such a fashion faux pas

• Shirring.  Once again, easy and quick with great results.  I have some other garments in mind in with shirring involved.  Especially because I bought two spools of elastic and barely scratched the surface on the first spool.

• Straps.  Despite the fact that this drove me a little batty and finally required me to have a “good enough” attitude, I love the straps.  They are made out of folded 1/2″ single fold bias tape that you then make into 1/4″ by folding.  At first I was kinda mad as I was thinking “why didn’t Burda just say buy 1/4″ double fold bias tape?  But then I thought about the uneven folding of the tape and recanted…a little.  If you are not as OCD maybe trying the 1/4″ double fold bias tape would not be so bad.  After braiding I gave it a good steam to flatten them a little.  They turned out very nice and sturdy

The Bad:

• Not having a size A bra cup required the addition of shirring lines.  The pattern only called for 9 lines but that barely made it to the middle of my bust.  In the end I ended up with 16 lines of shirring but could have probably gotten away with 12-14 lines.  Either way, make sure to compare the front AND back lengths of the shirring to make sure it fits your bust.  Mine was a little too long in the back with the shirring that is why I say 12-14 would have been optimal.

• One of the main reasons I liked this pattern was for the front panel detail.  It is a little panel of the unshirred fabric with a piece of the braided strapping tacked down at the top and bottom.  Afterwards I realized a few things… The inside of the flat panel edges are unfinished and the braid piece likes to shift.  To solve this dilemma I tacked down the strap to the fabric panel and then did a loose slip stitch to tack the flat panel to the shirred bodice.  I think Burda should have told you this, but then again they don’t tell you to finish your edges either so I guess they thought we would figure it out.

The Ugly:

• I had originally intended for this dress to be a maxi dress as well.  However, while cutting I didn’t quite measure the length right.  Given I made the pattern exactly the same length as the 116 without flounce but it would have been nice to have yet another maxi.  I love this fabric so much that I saved the cut off portion and will be using it to line a little purse I plan to make.  Waste not Want not.

Sorry for the mispellings, grammatical errors, or rushed thoughts as I am babysitting today.  To anyone who knows me is looking incredulously at the screen right now and wondering if I have gone insane, however, I am still and auntie of 10 neices and nephews so I can babysit when in a pinch.  However, my family knows they need to mark their calendars as this is a truly rare and special day…LOL 

Peacock Collection ‘09: BWOF 07-2009-116

Summer is here and I have been itching to make some summer dresses, especially a Maxi Dress.  Enter Burda with the July issue and I was off and running.  With fabric in stash, this pattern was cut and sewn almost immediately upon receipt of the issue.  Although some BWOF devotees did not find the July issue inspirational, I am in LOVE!

Pattern: BWOF 07-2009-116 Maxi Dress

Pattern Description:The perfect dress for your dream vacation. It‘s long, flowing, sun-backed and colorful. Contrasting straps trim the plunging V-neckline, creating a pretty décolléte.

Pattern Sizing: Burda petite/half sizes 17-21.  I made a 23.

Fabric Used: Knit fabric found at M&L in the discount section.

Notions Used: None

Pattern Alterations: I increased the size to a 23 and then again at my hips to a 25. Took in the top portion of the bodice by 1″ and took off 5″ of length at the bottom. Did not use the suggested zipper in the side seam

The Good:

• Burda patterns are made for me.  They only takes minor adjustments unlike the Big Four patterns.  Although I had to take in the top portion of the bust area by an inch and flaring back out to the size 46 at the skirt connection point and shorten the pattern by 5″, I still call this a winner.   Just wait until I actually get GOOD at making these adjustments.  Then there will be no stopping my rampage through my Burda magazine collection.
• I love the fabric although the colors have been hard to match jewelry wise.  I got this in at M&L fabric in the discount bin.  The colors did not sing to be at first because Black is not really a color I love, but the border print was fantastic.  I wish I would have done a better job cutting the pattern out with the print in mind, but originally this was supposed to be a muslin.
• Maxi stylings.  Ok, I know that some fashionistas do not like  Maxi’s and especially dislike them on petite women.  However, I absolutely love the style and had to have it.   It just feels so comfy to me.  Probably because it is only a step or two away from being a nightgown…LOL!  Anyhoo,  I am hoping the abundance of  skin up top balances out all the fabric on the bottom half.  I tried to get the suggested day wear ankle length for my maxi but after 3 adjustments with the hem, I gave up so it is not quite as short as they suggest.

• Strapless Bra.  Ok people.  I am 32 and this is my first time sporting a strapless…LOL!! I just have a major fear of wardrobe malfunctions and the girls, if let loose, are probably liable to hurt somebody…LOL! However, this dress called for it and it is one of my 101 in 1001 goals so here I am!  I actually wore another dress out already with strapless stylings (soon to be posted).  This dress is particularly good because essentially the bust area works as a second bra of sorts.  SCORE!

• Super comfy.  Did I say that already?  That is because it is so true!

The Bad:

• Excessive Length.  I have already told you about the 5″ that I cut off, but I reiterate because this is a petite sized pattern made for 5′3″ women.  I am 5′3″ and 1/4 inch and the original length was dragging the floor.  I was especially sad because I cut the pattern with some really cute details at the hemline that had to be hacked off in order to make the dress wearable.  Ah well, still cute

• A little maternity in the side view.  Yup, kinda looks like I am a stubby stick from the side.  I probably could have adjusted the bust more at the bottom to have it cinch in the front a bit more, but then I think I would have needed the zipper to get in and out of it.  Laziness won over fit this time.

• The strap thickness is thinner than what is shown in picture.  I actually thought I made a mistake and kept looking closer and closer at the picture.  The models straps just look much wider than mine.  Once again, still cute, but not what I expected.

The Ugly

• While making this dress I decided to google “sewing with twin needles” where I came across an excerpt from Power Sewing.  While perusing the advice my eyes fell on a passage regarding sewing knit fabric with the blue banded twin needle instead of the red to prevent skipped stitches.  WHAT?  There is a difference?  Why yes!  So I went out and bought one at my local sewing shop, as Joann’s did not have them and/or I have never seen them there, and it sewed like a dream.  All inspired by the ease of it all I decided to attach my straps with the same needle.  One spool located thread snarl later and SNAP!  No more twin needle
• I adjusted the gathering in the front to be a little more gathered in the middle.  The original design was just a little bit of gathering and evenly dispersed.  I ended up getting a little bit of a weird gathering where the middle black part starts.  Nothing big, just a little personal pet peeve.

All in all, highly recommended so you better get started so you don’t miss the summer heat

The Fixins…

…for a a new quilt are all washed and ready to go, now I just need the time.  Well I also need a little patience as I will be modifying a pattern by putting in sashing.  This is just a bit of math but still an impediment to me jumping right in.  I hope I bought enough fabric   Guess that just means I need to jump on it before every quilter in the world starts clamoring for it and buys out this gorgeous fabric

The Paper Towel Technique or Paper Backed Buttonholes

Invention is the mother of necessity

Thorstein Veblen – US economist & social philosopher

…as my sewing guild (i.e. the ladies I sew with from class) and I found when I was trying to put the buttonholes into my jacket.  Now mind you I waited to put buttonholes in my jacket until I could use my friends Bernina that makes absolutely fabulous keyhole buttonholes and I was determined to get them done that day.  Buttonholes or BUST was my mindset.  So imagine my surprise when the buttonholes were less than perfect.

Now my jacket fabric is a cotton STRETCH sateen  fabric and the interfacing is KNIT interfacing.  Those two elements combined were the perfect combo for some wonky buttonholes.   Had I thought of this beforehand I might have put some preventative measures into place.  However, with a nearly finished jacket time was of the essence and I needed those buttonholes DONE! So I was prepared to persevere no matter what the cost, even if it was wonky buttonholes.  Good thing my sewing guild members were a little more level headed and farther removed from the desperation.  Rochelle suggested I try a method that she had learned from her tailor – use paper to stabilize the fabric and sew through.

S0 for the second buttonhole I used regular copy paper (see buttonhole in foreground).  To my elation it was completely stretch free but the feed dogs slipped and slid making the keyhole opening inconsistent and often not quite keyhole shaped.

The paper ripped away nicely, barely leaving any remnants behind.  With a little tweezer action it would be nonexistant

Inventive juices flowing we then thought to use a coffee filter but alas there were none to be found and these buttons had to get done NOW!!  Janna being the clever sort suggested paper towel.

They are made of paper and have a rougher texture so should grip the fabric a little better too. Both of which were absolutely true!

The paper was not as clean ripping away when done quickly (see above), but when slowly removed produced less remnants that what you see here.  The hole was a little less rigged than the paper method as the paper towel was probably more prone to stretching but not by much.  I have not washed these buttonholes but since there was not that much material left behind I don’t think this would be a problem.

Lastly, we tried some non woven sew in interfacing but that didn’t really work at all as the buttonhole was not any better and lots of hard to remove material was left behind.

Now I am sure there is a technique out there very similar if not exactly like this (if you know it please tell me or send me a link), but that information and material list was not at my disposal at 9pm sewing at someone elses house with the desparation of a woman in need of closure.  However, EVERYONE has paper towels so when in desparate need of a wonkless buttonhole try the new (at least to me) paper towel technique!

When It Rains It Pours…

…but this time in an absolutely FABULOUS way

Because I have a new addition to the sewing family.  Meet “The Rocketeer”!  Also known as the Singer 500A Slant-O-matic!!  This machine is not just a sewing machine to me but a piece of beauty.

I came to own my Slant-O-matic through my sewing class friend Rochelle.  She is the best for showing me new things and sharing with me her amazing love of gadgetry and sewing…two weakness of mine.   Every time I see her I always wonder what new thing I will just have to own or can’t live without.  The Slant-O-matic was the latest of those oh so wonderful discoveries.  See, my friend collects vintage sewing machines and she wanted this machine to find a good home.  I was hesitant to look at it as I just bought my “new to me” Brother machine which bringing my household number up to 2 machines.  However, when she brought it down it was love at first sight.  When I saw the sleek design of the machine and just how super unique it looked I had to have it.  Don’t get me wrong, I tried to fight against my urge to buy it but I HAD to have it.  The absolute selling point in the design area was the stitch selector switch.

It reminded me so much of one of those old Cadillac or jaguar emblem.  The ones you see and know that that car is a beauty – drives like a charm and has an engine that purrs.  This sewing machine was all of that.  She is my equivalent to a new vintage caddy   Vroom Vroom baby!

Now outside of needing to won this machine for just it aesthetic appeal, there were a few practical points to my purchase as well.  First, this machine is heavy duty, at least more so than my Brother, therefore it had the potential of handling thicker and more unruly materials than my newer lighter plastic sewing machine.  It also has has a larger throat for quilting – 4.25″ versus 5″.

The slanting angle of the needle gives more visibility to the sewing and the bed of the machine just seems larger and more airy.  I didn’t realize how claustrophobic my Brother or older Singer made me until I started sewing on The Rocketeer.

The machine also has a variety of embroidery stitches and the ability to handle double needle sewing.  Oh yeah did I tell you how much I love that flip top?!  Unfortunately I don’t have a picture with the hood down but it just adds to the sleekness.  So cool!

I also justified my decision my reducing my existing machine number at home by giving my niece my old Singer Prelude in order to accommodate “The Rocketeer”.  Now I have two Brothers and one Singer.  A little over the normal nuclear crafty gadget family number.

Things that will take some getting use to are the screw on feet as I have been pretty spoiled by the quick switch snap-on feet of my new model sewing machines.  There is a adapter that will allow for the use of snap on feet but I am waiting a bit before I dive further in to the gadget collecting.

Second is the threading of the machine which takes a bit of time as you have to go through a few more levers and also thread it through and around some holes.  Reminds me a bit of serger machine threading but with practice I should be able to get over this.

A few other karmic facts about this machine that just go to show you have destine I was to own it:

• During my last vacation I picked up a Professional Buttonholer for a zig zag slant machine thinking it would fit my Brother.  Now I own a slant needle machine to go with my new buttonholer.
• I have been itching to make a quilt.  Rochelle told me that the previous owner who she bought it from was an excellent quilter and used this very machine for her artistry.

So there you go complete justification for my new vintage addition.  But really this machine needs no justification because it is Fraking BEAUTIFUL!

Keegan approved!