Reporting In

Well, there was no sewing on Sunday. I napped through the early game and watched my Boys play less than their best game. I really hate losing home games, but football is football, and there's another game on the horizon. The sun came up Monday morning so the loss isn't the end of the world!

Yesterday my sewing buddy and I hit the stores on Harry Hines. I had been doing pretty well on "not buying" fabric, but I succumbed on this trip. I got 3 pieces of black which I won't even try to photograph. I picked up some silk suit weight in a beige (beige is not really a color for me) that I'm playing around with some dye treatments. Also in the bag was a knit piece out of the bargain bin and a piece that I will photograph and post as it's a bit hard to describe. Oh, and also, a piece of turquoise rayon crepe.

So, I need to count it up and add it to my fabric tracking (and I had been doing so well!). I did sew some today. One of yesterday's black pieces became a skirt for Sis. It's ready for her to try on tomorrow. I also sewed up a pair of black rayon (from the stash) elastic waist pants for her--also ready for a try-on tomorrow.

Then I played with dye. I have some photos in the camera that I will post tomorrow. I had fun with that so I'm sure there will be more adventures with dye in my future.

The Final of the Vogue Wrap

Excuse the no make-up face and the dirty hair twisted up--I finally set up the coverstitch machine with the right thread color and hemmed the dress and sleeves. It's finally ready to wear. I noticed again how much I love this pattern when I tried it on again.



This morning, it was pear preserves:



Pears were from a guild friend's tree. I hope she has more she wants to share. I'd like to make more--or just can some nice fresh ones for later.

Worked a bit on my crochet today while the pears were cooking. When I get enough done so you can see the pattern, I'll post a photo.

I worked on the teal jacket muslin yesterday. Haven't put on the collar yet as the sleeves are not working for me. I'm going to let it "sit" for a couple of days before I make any decisions on it--work with it or toss it.

Restless

I haven't been able to settle in on one thing the past few days. No real sewing mojo has taken hold, yet I've wanted to piddle at the sewing machine.

I had made note of this site a while back thinking this would be a good way to use up scraps as well have something useful to do on those days I just wanted to "mindlessly sew." So I started. Here are a few blocks I have so far:



I also worked on some crochet today. Crochet mojo comes and goes quickly with me. I cruise for free patterns off and on and I found this that I liked immediately.


Complete pattern can be found here.

I ordered the yarn back then and barely got started when distraction hit. Today, I made a couple more of the square motifs:



And last, but not least, I pulled this pattern out.



This one is from E-bay. I like the collar. I have some teal wool (that is actually in the photo above, but not true to color in the photo) that has been washed/dried once so it is somewhat felted. The fabric was given to me a couple of years ago. I knew a muslin was in order so, this afternoon I cut one so I can sew and tweak the fitting.

How this for a "variety" day? Quilting..............crochet................muslins--go figure!

Go Felix!

Cowboys 27 Packers 16

Needless to say, I enjoyed the game last night.

Not much happening in the sewing room. I hope to have something to report on later today. We'll see.

Last 2 for now

These went in the mail on Tuesday. DGD said that 5 were enough for now. So, I'm scrubbed out on this project.

Nothing new started. I've been mowing the pasture--in small increments--a couple of hours each afternoon for the last three days. The weather has been perfect for that job. I commune with nature while riding the tractor. It's good therapy for me!

Today is ASG meeting for community service projects. Today we are going to cut out projects to sew at our upcoming sewing retreat.

Later..............

Wow! What a Monday Night Game!!!

(Barber strolls around the corner into the end zone. photo from Dallas Cowboys.com)


As you might have guessed, I thoroughly enjoyed last night's game (even though I was biting my nails right up 'til the end).

Cowboys 41 Eagles 37

p.s. I cut two more scrubs yesterday for DGD.

2 Games = 2 Scrubs

Yesterday while watching the Colts (Peyton)/Vikings and later the Jets (Favre)/Pats games, I got two more scrubs done for DGD. I'm glad the Colts pulled it out, and sorry that it wasn't win #2 for Favre as a Jet.




I'm using Simplicity 8336, which may be OOP now. I couldn't get on Simplicity.com to check as the site was having problems when I tried to access. I make a habit of reinforcing the "v" neck with a decorative stitch. I hope you can see the detail in the photo here. Can you see the satin stitched "triangle" in the photo at the base of the "V"?




I bar-tack at the top of each pocket and I also use that triangle stitch as the sides at the top of each side-slit. I've learned it's a good reinforcement.

I particularly like how this pattern has you complete the back neck area.



It's easy to sew and gives a nice, neat inside finish.



The top of the photo is the "V" and the lower portion is the back facing in the above photo.

Beautiful weather here today. In the 50s this a.m. and the high is to be in the 80's with low humidity. If it's not too wet, I'll probably mow some this afternoon. May not make the sewing room today.

Cowboys play tonight. Go Boys!!!!

Charity Sewing

I did sew a bit last week. I just haven't taken the time to report in. In my "spare" time, I was trying to keep up with Ike's path. We were forecasted to get 4-6" of rain and high winds as part of the aftermath. We got rain, but not flooding rain and some wind, but nothing more that one of our spring storms. We were lucky to be on the outskirts. It has now past us by. My heart goes out to the folks in Galveston and Houston (and parts in between).

Back to sewing..............




I've had this speciality machine foot for so many years that I can't remember and have seldom used it. Well, I was trying out this pattern for a large size dress for our ASG community service project, and I wanted piping between the yoke and dress. I saw this as a good time to bring out the pearls and piping foot. As you can see, it worked great!





I used it to make the piping and then again in sewing in the piping. When sewing the yoke to the dress, I placed the piping in the groove as I sewed the seam connecting the yoke to the dress. I sewed slower as to not get tucks in the yoke (it was a doubled yoke so a bit more bulky).

Here I hope you can see:



Finished dress in the largest size the pattern provides (a 6X): I altered the pattern by making the neck bigger so it could be a "pull over the head" rather than putting in a back zipper.



I also got the word from DGD that the "scrub fits great, Grams!" so I've cut 2 more to sew for her. I'll probably make 5 or 6 so she doesn't have to wash them as often, and that will give her a week's worth or more. I'm using all stash fabrics so that does my heart good. I've picked up some really cute cotton prints over time, and I think they will be perfect for this project. I'll post photos of the finished products before they go in the mail.

And, on a parting note, you haven't seen Miss Onnie Onyx in a while. She'll be 2 in December.



I've no clue what is hanging from her mouth on the left as you look at this photo. She's always busy and too curious for her own good!

9/11 - I Remember

Click here to hear Darryl Worley sing.

"Have You Forgotten?"

I hear people saying we don't need this war
I say there's some things worth fighting for
What about our freedom and this piece of ground?
We didn't get to keep 'em by backing down
They say we don't realize the mess we're getting in
Before you start preaching
Let me ask you this my friend

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

They took all the footage off my T.V.
Said it's too disturbing for you and me
It'll just breed anger that's what the experts say
If it was up to me I'd show it every day
Some say this country's just out looking for a fight
After 9/11 man I'd have to say that's right

CHORUS 1
Have you forgotten how it felt that day
To see your homeland under fire
And her people blown away?
Have you forgotten when those towers fell?
We had neighbors still inside
Going through a living hell
And you say we shouldn't worry 'bout Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

I've been there with the soldiers
Who've gone away to war
And you can bet they remember
Just what they're fighting for

CHORUS 2
Have you forgotten all the people killed?
Some went down like heroes in that Pennsylvania field
Have you forgotten about our Pentagon?
All the loved ones that we lost
And those left to carry on
Don't you tell me not to worry about Bin Laden
Have you forgotten?

Have you forgotten?
Have you forgotten?



Darryl Worley/Wynn Varble, 2003

The Vogue Wrap

This pattern is a keeper. The dress is not yet hemmed. (or the sleeves) I was too lazy to set up the coverstitch machine yesterday evening. I really like how this turned out. I will change one of my alterations a bit. I lengthened the bodice 2" and I need to take some of that out. The weight of the knit pulls it down when the skirt is sewn on so I need to take out about 3/4" for the next one.

Yes, there will be a next one.

I think I mentioned earlier that I didn't have enough fabric to cut the ties. So...I cut a short one on the cross grain and inserted it in the side seam. I pieced another one (still wasn't as long as the pattern called for) and sewed it where the pattern instructed. It is long enough to wrap around the back of the dress and tie on the side where the short tie is sewn. I'll probably sew a hook on the inside to hold the inside wrapped side in place. (Does that make sense?)

Anyhow, this one is wearable and a comfortable fit. Time will tell how I do with the poly/lycra fabric during our Texas humid fall weather.

Speaking of weather, we are waiting to see where hurricane Ike lands. Some computer models show that if it hits Corpus Christi, we will get the aftermath high winds and flooding. Time will tell.

Bump in the Sewing Road

First off, here is the "test" scrub top that went into the mail yesterday for DGD. This was some fabric that I got at one of our Guild fabric exchanges a couple of years ago. I like the colors in it, but never new what to do with it. I think it was just right for this.

Today, I finally pulled out the Vogue wrap dress pattern, traced it off and made a few adjustments. I pulled out some recently acquired poly/lycra knit from Fabric.com and commenced to cut. I really don't like poly/lycra because of the poly. I much prefer rayon/lycra, but you can't always find the prints since rayon is harder to find (for me anyway). Well, I either didn't have as much as I thought or perhaps it was 54" instead of 60" wide so I ran into a problem. I will have the skirt pieced on one side at the hem area. I had to go with short sleeves instead of 3/4 AND I'm still not sure what to do about the tie. I am down to "barely" scraps so I'm going to have to "sleep" on this one and decide what to do. I'm not sure with piecing, I'll have enough for the length of the tie as required. So.......maybe it will come to me in a dream tonight.

These vintage patterns came yesterday. Two are for Sis and one for me.



And here is the Norma Hollen book that came a week or so ago. I think this is the text that Peggy Sagers used in college. I got to have a short conversation with her at one of the recent shows.



Probably won't get back to the sewing room until Sunday afternoon. Yea!! Football is back! Nothing better than to watch/listen to football and sew!

An "Order" to process

DGD has a part-time job working with the disabled. She began her senior year in college majoring in a physical/occupational therapy area. I should know the exact title, but I don't remember (Bad Gram, I know!)

She called last week and asked, "Gram, will you do me a favor?" Well, you know my answer, "I will if I can, honey." She asked that I make some scrub tops for her. She said they are perfect for her part-time work. Well, you all know I have scrub top patterns!

I've made one (so we can test the sizing) and it's in the mail as of this afternoon. I used an XS. She will call me when it arrives, and I can make adjustments on the others from an evaluation of this one. I have a photo in the camera that I'll post later.

As you can well imagine, I have plenty of stash fabric from which to choose.

I think I'm about ready to start on that Vogue wrap dress. I think I'll have time tomorrow to cut.

I feel a hint of fall in the air here. The last couple of mornings have been cool--in the 60's. Today the high is in the low 90's. We've had some rain so some of the flowers (that thought they had been in 'death valley' due to our 100+ degree summer days) are starting to bloom again. BUT, it's time to mow again!

So the yard work starts competing with sewing again, but that's OK, I enjoy both (most of the time).

To Mssewcrazy

Thank you for your sweet and thoughtful comments concerning the recent tragedy that threw all of us at the animal hospital for a loop. Yes, working Saturday morning was hard for us. Several clients dropped by just to leave food or flowers, along with some encouraging words for us. Like the farmer's wife, "carrying on" is difficult. I think we just wanted to crawl in bed and pull the covers over our head(s).

But we made it!

The memorial service was nice. The family has lots of support and their faith is strong.

Jessi, the passenger in the car, is at home and doing well. That is encouraging to us.

Quilt Photo

And here's a photo of the binding attachment at work: