B5331 Update

Okay, I thought I would have this jacket done this week but I am getting there! SLOWLY!!! I had to redo some of the flat-fell seams as I did not catch the fabric on the fold over and with one washing they would have started to fray and all would be ruined. I was just going to use a little permanent fabric glue but decided to do it the right way and undo them.

I got the collar and front facings on without TOO much trouble. Now I have to tell you I haven't put a collar on anything since the late 70's so this was like Clothing 101 all over again. I am glad I chose the un-notched collar version. I still have a little issue at the back where the collar and front facing meet at the shoulder seam but I think I can fix it.

I bias-bound my side seams so now I have to put on the sleeves and then do the buttonholes. My biggest fear is the buttonholes. I have been practicing but it seems that they work perfectly until I put the GOOD fabric under the presser foot, then all h**l breaks loose!

All in all though, for a muslin I am really liking this little jacket. I found the perfect mustard gold color tank to wear underneath and it looks pretty good on me too. I can't wait for it to be done so I can get some pictures up for all to see.


I did make another skirt, this time from Simplicity 2917 in black stretch sateen. Yes, another straight skirt! It's so boring I didn't even bother to take a picture. I'm not crazy about the fit, the darts hit me funny, or else they are too long. I did use some cute black/white polka grosgrain ribbon for the waist facing. Too bad you can only see it on the inside.

I am actually going to take a break from apparel sewing to finish up a quilt for one of my brothers. I have had this quilt top finished for almost 2 years now and decided I need to finish it and get it out the door! And since his birthday is later this month I think it's perfect timing. So it will take me about a week to sandwich, quilt and bind it. As much as I would love to work on the jacket I need to get this done. I will post pictures of the quilt after his birthday.

A Little Sewing Going On

There has been a little sewing going on here, just not at a very fast rate.

I did finish another skirt from Butterick 3717 out of the tan/pink striped twill I recently got from Denver Fabrics.


Nothing fancy, just a plain straight skirt, but very functional. I don't know how I did it (probably rushing to get done) but the zipper top ended uneven at the top, by about 1/8 inch.


I was going to rip out the waistband and redo it but I never wear anything tucked in anymore so I figured it was okay to leave it.

B5351

I really wanted to move on to View A of this dress using this fabric:


Which is a 30's cotton Feedsack reproduction from my stash. It's all cut out and the side seams of the top and skirt are done. But I'm having some trouble fitting it because of the construction. The top band and straps go on after the side seams are done and then the bodice is attached to the skirt portion and then the zipper put in. It's kind of hard to fit it because, in essence it is 2 separate pieces. I am also not crazy about the skirt on me, it really hugs my little potbelly. Not a feature I want to emphasize. So I've put this aside to think about and work on something else.

B5331

A lot of people have made this pattern and I really like how they have turned out so thought I would give it a try. I chose this cotton fabric from my stash to make the muslin, if it works out it goes well with the taupe-brown skirt I made back in June. I just need to add a gold camisole underneath.


I'm making View B with the puffed sleeves. I am hoping they are not TOO puffy. The pattern calls for top-stitching on the princess seams and I remember Michelle at Cheap and Picky had flat-feld hers'. Since my first attempt at flat-feld seams worked out well on the taupe-brown skirt I thought I would give it a go here, after all this is just the muslin.

I was concerned about the curves of the seams but they came out good. The picture on the left is the right side and the right is the underside.


The underside could be a little neater and more even, but I think the right side came out very nice and neat. So I am very pleased with this. Now I just have to finish it. Hopefully this week.

Fido Friday

Lily, 1 1/2yr, and Edgrrr , 8mos, before we left Chicago in 2003.



Just babies back then.

Can I Rant............a little

I know a lot of people have it tougher than me right now but so many things have gone wrong in the last 2 months, that I need to rant.....just a little.

In the past 2 months:

Lily had the tumor removed from her paw.
I found and lost a job in 2 days.
The Husband's breaks went out....while he was on a trip.
The Husband's alternator went out.....at least he was home.
The Husband's filling came out.
Our house was egged over the 4th of July.
Our roof leaked...again. Hopefully The Husband fixed it....again. (Not his fault, it is SO hard to find roof leaks).
The tv broke.....luckily it's just the bulb and is on order and The Husband can fix it.
The sprinkler pump went kaput .....a new one is on order, hopefully The Husband can fix it.
Lily is having trouble with her left front shoulder...hopefully it's just arthritis and not a cancer. We are trying medication.
I have not found another job.

Most of these are very fixable, but costly and we have already been living on a tight budget. We are better off than most, we still have some money put away and a little coming in, but these extras don't help. I know I shouldn't complain, but I'm just asking for a little reprieve here or a little luck.

Something About Me Monday

Sunday, July 20, 1969 - "The Eagle has landed"


I know exactly where I was this day, down the street at my cousin's house. They had 1) a big 4ft above ground swimming pool and 2) a big console color tv.

I remember my Uncle Johnny calling us all in to see the landing. Later that night we watched Neil Armstrong take that first incredible step on the moon. What a day!


"That's one small step for man , one giant leap for mankind."

Fido Friday

Super Bowl Sunday, January 20, 1985

What, you may ask, has this to do with Fidos? Well it happened to be the coldest day ever in Chicago with a temperature of -27 F and windchills at.....well pretty damn cold!

The Husband and I lived on the northside of Chicago about 2 miles from Lake Michigan. We had a good amount of snow on the ground that was frozen solid. You couldn't go anywhere because a) almost every car battery was frozen and b) it was to damn cold to walk!

We had our first two Rotties at that time, Wysti was almost 2 and Echo wasn't even 1 yet. The dogs had to go out to do their business but we worried about their paws getting frozen so we came up with a great idea! Actually I think it was The Husband's great idea. I know it was his tube socks and suspenders we used to make these schnazzy dog leggings.

Here is our story...........

Everything started out okay. They seemed to like their leggings. Echo is on the left and Wysti on the right.
Then they got into a tussle.

Then Echo tried to help Wysti get her's off, or maybe she wasn't really helping.

Eventually Mom had to step in and put a halt to the fun. Obviously our idea didn't work out very well. But it was funny. The Husband's tube socks were never the same again. The dogs went out, sans leggings, did their business at the bottom of the steps and ran back in without freezing to the patio!

These two were just the sweetest dogs, I miss them.

And who won the Super Bowl that year?
San Francisco beat Miami, 38-16

Something About Me Monday

Green

I am very drawn to the color green.


That could be why I have 30 green tops hanging in my closet. At least they are evenly divided between 15 tanks and tees, and 15 long sleeved blouses and sweaters. My favorite greens are apple green, lime and sage......hmmmm all based on foods!

My eyes are a bluish-green.

All of the walls in my house are green.

My Jeep is green.

My RV is green.

My engagement ring is a Tsavorite Garnet (this is a real garnet not created or heat-treated) , which is green.


I love the tree frogs in my yard, which are green.

Green is said to be very calming.

I must need a lot of green!