My Threads

I interrupt this vacation...

Today, my daughter Cori sent me photos of a skirt I made for my granddaughter, Lindsey.  I made this skirt for Lindsey for Christmas.  I wanted photos, but Cori's been a little busy.  So almost 9 months later, she got around to it.  To be honest, I made this skirt and it didn't quite fit, so I had to do some re-sewing, but still...

I was inspired by this skirt I saw in Belle Armoire last fall.  Not for an adult, but for a little girl.  Since I happen to have a little girl (as a grand-daughter), I decided she would love this skirt.  I did a shirred elastic treatment to the back yoke on the skirt, figuring that there was no way it wasn't going to fit.  I was wrong, she has quite a little booty!  After a quick re-work, this is the result. 

Isn't she a cutie?

Now, back to my vacation. 

Perfect Pants...

I've had some light gray linen blend fabric for some time that I thought would make up into some great summer weight pants.  On Saturday morning, I had a pair of pants on that I made a couple of years ago, and I love the fit, so naturally, I decided that I would use the same pattern for my new gray pants.  It's an out of print McCalls 3740, the has a couple of different versions.  I want the classic fit, with side pockets, fly front, no pleats.  This pattern came together beautifully

 

Nice sharp creases (nevermind the wrinkles - they press out), a perfectly aligned waistband....

 

Side pockets that sewed in like a dream...

 

I couldn't have executed a better fly.  These were the perfect pair of pants.

Except, one thing I always say,

never

never

never assume anything.

 

Apparently, this wasn't the pattern of the perfectly fitting pants I was wearing on Saturday morning.

Time to myself

On Memorial Day weekend, we made the mistake of taking the travel trailer up to mountains, in a rain storm, and it got stuck.  Really stuck.  So stuck that it had to stay there.  In almost 38 yeas of marraige, it was the first time I asked Andy to "GET ME OUTTA HERE!"  He did.  He brought me and Ruby home (she was just a big muddy mop).  He went back up, did some fishing, and was unsuccessful in getting the trailer unstuck.  Flash forward to this weekend.  Andy and Nathan travel back up to the mountains to retrieve the trailer, but this time, Ruby and I are smart enough to stay home.  I don't think Andy was shedding any tears over this decision.

While they are away, it's a perfect time for me to head to the sewing room.  I had a couple of projects cut out that have been waiting for me to come back to.  I did, and I actually finished them.  Two T-shirt tops from Jennifer Stern.  I had made one a month or so ago, and liked the fit so much, that I decided these would be a good addition to my wardrobe.  The first one was out of a chocolate brown rayon knit.  I purchased some teal blue rayon knit when I got the chocolate knit at Joann's.  I also had a piece of hot pink bamboo knit that I got from Sally's Fabrics that would be perfect for this pattern.  I loved working with the bamboo knit. 

 

What was Ruby doing while I was busy sewing?  She was pining away for Andy.

Can you say Moo?

Okay, I got the dress done.  McCall's 5535, which I thought looked pretty cute, easy, and comfortable.  Two out of three isn't too bad, but when one of them isn't the "cute" part, that can be bad.  This dress went together like a dream. Fast, fast, fast.  I actually (gulp!) wore it to work, and it was very comfortable.  After I took photos of it, I realized there was a reason it was very comfortable - it's like wearing a large bag. 

 

What makes it even worse, I was hanging it my closet, and I realized I have two other dresses that are crazy brown/white or cream prints.  It looks like a herd of cattle in my closet.  I can't do anymore brown dresses.  Ever. 

I can't believe I wore this to work.  I'm sorry everyone.  I didn't know what I was thinking.

(No, that isn't a cow patty on the floor.  It's one of Ruby's sticks.  She likes sticks.)

What I'm going to work on now

Last weekend, I made a little (or not so little) jacket from Burda magazine.  I'm not sure how I feel about it yet.  I'll post about it in a minute.  Yesterday, I stopped in to Joann's after my JC weigh-in, and found this in the bargain bin.

 

It's just a polyester dress weight fabric, but I liked the shade of brown, and thought it would be nice as this:

 

The red version.  I know it's dumb to sew while trying to lose significant weight, but this dress should be good for that with all the elastic and such. 

Back to the jacket. I found the pattern in my latest issue of Burda World of Fashion.  The pattern looked really cute (of course) on the model, even though it's shorter than I would ordinarily choose.  I added a few inches to the length and made it up out of some fabric I bought a year ago.  I haven't worn it in public yet, but maybe today I'll go out in it.  I like the fact that it's casual and can go anywhere.

Restyled T-Shirt

I have turkey cooking, pies are done, and a little while to play on the computer, so I thought I would catch up on my blog.

A few days ago, I stopped in at Old Navy and saw that their long sleeved t-shirts were on sale for $10 each.  I have wanted to try "altering" a t-shirt, but never got around to it. 

This is the perfect opportunity.  The problem with most altered, or restyled t-shirts, is that they look great on 20 somethings, or even 30 somethings, but not so great on "50 somethings".  I wanted to make something that I could actually wear without looking silly.  So, I decided to use 2 shirts, and do a mock wrap thing.  First, I put it on my "me" form (I know, it's gross, but it is what it is) and pinned the line for the cut for the wrap.

   

Then, I did the brave thing (hey, it's only $10 - okay, $20) and cut it, leaving the sleeve and back pieces attached.  I cut the sleeves off so they would be elbow length.

 

I did an opposite cut on the other t-shirt, using only the front section.  I opened the side seam of this shirt below the cut away area and then I pinned the opposite section to the shoulder seam, sleeve and matched the side seam and stitched.  I finished these edges and then did a little painting...

   

These pieces were used for the inset at the neckline, and for the fun little "flowers" on the sleeves and where the "wrap" attaches to the shirt.  After much manipulation on my "me", I stitched the painted panel into the neckline area, and gathered up the strips for the flowers.  These were attached with matching button centers.  And, voila!

 

It's too bad about the bulging tummy thing, but other than that, I kind of like it - the top, that is.  Don't you love the necklace?  I purchased it at Silver Bella's vendor night from Kelly (I can't find a blog for her...) She used an old belt buckle for the piece.  Really cute.

Back to Thanksgiving!

Two women - same generation

Several years ago, my mom gave me a negligee that belonged to her Great Aunt Iris.  I have always been fascinated by Aunt Iris because she was a silent film actress.  How exciting to be in Hollywood at the dawn of the movie industry!  She was my Grandma Ruby's aunt.  Sister to her mother.  This is Aunt Iris.

 

She gave the negligee to my mom - I guess because she thought she would get the most "use" out of it!  I'm sure Dad didn't mind.  The label inside the negligee is "Lucie Ann of Beverly Hills".

   

The gown is really pretty, really sheer.

 

The bodice details are lovely.  Did I say the gown is sheer?  It's really sheer.  My mom tried it on once, and actually modeled it for us.  It's really sheer.

 I love the strap details.

 

Look at the way that the strap is braided and connected to the back.

 

And my favorite detail of them all - the lace up side.

 The lace on the hem of the dress is so fragile, it seems like it would just melt.

 

I never got to try this on.  It just wouldn't look right on a tall skinny girl.  The hem would have been about 12 inches too short!  Ah well.

On the otherhand, there is my paternal great grandmother - Anna.  Anna gave birth to her first four children, the last of the four being my grandmother, Anna Mae.  Anna's husband passed away when my grandmother was only about three.  Anna supported her family by running the local hotel, and being one of the founders of the Methodist Church in Glendale, Arizona.  I don't think she had any pretty negligees.  Here is Anna, with her first two daughters.  My grandma, Anna Mae, is on the right.

 

My grandma gave me this, which was stuffed in a small brown paper bag (she wasn't big on fancy presentation!)

 

This was Anna's dress.  I don't know why my grandma kept it, but it must have had some special meaning.  I believe it's made of silk, by Anna herself.  It's obviously a very practical dress, short on ornamentaion.

 There are no buttons.  The closures are hooks and eyes.  There is a little piping on the bodice and sleeves.

In  

In the back, there is a pleat, or gusset, which I believes allows room for a bustle.  Somehow, I don't think a bustle was ever under this dress.

   

So, now you see the contrasts between my paternal side, and my maternal side.  What a perfect balance!

Girl time

  For the past several days, we've been lucky enough to have Heather come stay with us while she was in town for her friend's baby shower.  I hate having my kids living far from home, but at least we get to see her from time to time.  We were just sorry her husband, Ben, couldn't be here.  With Heather home, it's always a good excuse for a party, but this time we had a belated birthday celebration.  My baby's 32!  Yikes! 

I also managed to finish one of Lindsey's "summer" dresses this past week.  Oh well, she can wear it as a jumper.  Actually, with the temperatures still in the low 100's, it's still summer in my book.  This dress is from a pattern and fabric I purchased online from Bunte Fabrics.  The pattern is called Feliz, from Studio Tantrum.  Lindsey picked out the fabrics from some little swatches I received in the mail.

   

This is taken on the front porch of Lindsey's house.  I'll post another "Andy's projects" on this later. The photo isn't the most flattering pose, but she just loves this dress.  Especially the back:

 

The dress was somewhat of a challenge, but managed to turn out okay!  When I went to Lindsey's house to take the dress to her, I was surprised by the fact that she was wearing something that I had made her a few months ago, but never saw again!  She looks cute in her little peasant top that I made out of the scraps of a top I made her mom, Cori.

 

It looks cute with the little black skirt she had on.  Lindsey's mommy and daddy aren't home right now, so they haven't gotten to see the new outfit.  (They are flying back from Honolulu, at this moment!)  Lucky ones!

What kind of Grandma am I???

So a few months ago, we were watching the grandchildren for the weekend.  When my granddaughter, Lindsey, asked me to make her an "evening gown" to play in, I thought it would be kind of fun, and give us something to do while the boys were out doing boy stuff.  She said she wanted a sleeveless gown made out of sparkly lavendar fabric.  Okay, let's go off to Joann's to see what we can find.  The fabric we found - perfect!  Even though it was kind of on the expensive side - after all, she's the only granddaughter I have.  We started looking through the pattern books.  She loved every floor length gown in the book, but we narrowed the pattern choices down to a couple.  She kept telling me it must be sleeveless.  I assured her that would be no problem.  I decided to pin fit the pattern paper on her, just to be on the safe side.  Again, she tells me - it must be sleeveless.  I reassure her that it is sleeveless.  No, she tells me - this has stuff up here by my neck!  Aha!  She means strapless!  And how is that going to happen?  What's going to hold this dress up?  Not wanting to disappoint, I make it happen.  Not only is this dress "strapless" - it has a detachable train!  I really debated not ever admitting to making a strapless gown for a 5 year old, but I don't think she'll ever be seen in public in it.  Have I just helped in creating a monster?  The joys of being a grandma!

Summer Sewing

For all of my good intentions to make a summer wardrobe, I finally got a dress done today!  I fished through my old stash of fabric, and decided to use this gorgeous royal blue (unfortunately it's a poly-crepe) for this dress.  I don't usually go with synthetics in the summer because it's way too hot here in Phoenix, but since the style is loose, I decided to go ahead.  This one was fun to make up, and I love the little pleat detail across the top of the bodice.  I picked up this pattern because I really like the jacket that's included on Vogue 2975.  I purchased a piece of fabric in Seattle for that.  Here is the dress

I'm not in the photo because I look really bad today (I've been sewing!), but here it is on my "cloned" body.  I had a My Twin dress form done a couple of years ago, and I love using it.  I don't love looking at it - I had quite a shock when it was delivered.  Why do we see ourselves so differently than what we really are?  I really had no idea my shape was as bad as it is!  But, the good thing is now I can do a better job of fitting myself, which is usually no easy task.