Skirty skirt skirt.

Holy cow was this one a long time in coming. Let me start at the beginning. After Sarah was born, 2 years ago, I thought it would be a great idea to learn how to sew my own clothes. I had my brand spanking new copy of Cal Patch’s book “Design-It-Yourself Clothes: Patternmaking Simplified” and I had even read through it already. My post-partum body, however, did not think it was such a good idea and refused to cooperate. So after a few failed attempts I shelved the book, knowing that one day things would be different.

It took two years. Things aren’t really that different, I’m just getting more sleep. Thankfully Valorie Wells’ Jenaveve linen came along last year and it all but requires you use it to make a skirt. So bound and determined to make an article of clothing for myself I set out a few weeks ago with tape measure in hand.

Don’t be silly, I did not measure myself.

Ok, I tried and it totally did not work. So then I took measurements from my favorite clothes which worked much better. I got the first muslin all put together and could not believe that it actually fit. It wasn’t perfect but now I had a solid start. So a few more tweaks, a little swing, another muslin and BAM! I have a pattern. Just for me. It fits ME! Me, me, me, me, me!

Let me repeat that,

I have a pattern.

I know it fits. I can make dozens of them and they will all fit me. Then it snowed, but I was not deterred. So I skipped downstairs to my “studio” pulled out that lovely linen and….and….And…..AND! Are you kidding me? Why did I only buy a yard? For a skirt? For ME? Am I crazy?

Still undeterred, I proceeded to draft the pattern pieces necessary to piece the technically enough but not really enough fabric together so I’d have a whole skirt. I also managed to keep the front of the skirt intact and the back looks plausible if you don’t dwell on it too long. Look, a birdie!

Finally, as I was putting on the finishing touches I managed to stitch through my left index finger, breaking the needle into about one thousand pieces, a fair number of which lodged themselves in my finger. After my own attempts at surgery failed I did finally go to my doctor (who would like me to head to the ER the next time this happens) and so it took another week before I could finish it and wear it. It did stop snowing, thankfully.

Next up, a car and train skirt for Ellen!

Winging It.

I’ve been meaning to try out Malka Dubrawsky’s improvisational piecing method.  Once everyone in the house had been sick, recovered, relapsed and then finally healed I had my chance.  Ms. Dubrawsky’s blog is an endless source of inspiration for me, she not only works on quilting but sews all kinds of things and she dyes her own fabric. I love that. So I was delighted when her book came out and went to work on my Zen sewing skills.

What I really love about this practice is that I can’t really do it wrong.  What I learned about my scraps, however, is that they are not wonky enough. There are too many straight lines here. I will have to practice some more.  I did find that this would make a fabulous window blind, a la Kaffe Fassett’s “Jewel Squares Blind” but without the fuss.  

So there you have it. A very relaxing way to use up some treasured scraps.

The Birthday Dress

I love the idea of making my little girls dresses for their birthdays. I get very excited about it. I have lots of ideas. I have lots of ambitious ideas. I do not currently have the skills required to accomplish those ambitions. I can try. So I did, and this is the story of Simplicity pattern #7794 (ca. 1997).  This is a fine pattern. If you follow it. If you come up with a handful of hair-brained ideas to “improve” this pattern you will end up like me. You don’t want that. Now, while I could regale you with a long list of my no-so-brilliant ideas, instead I will leave you with the words Sarah used when she tried this dress on:

“I’m fancy!”

In my book that’s a noteworthy success.

Photomidable

Last week I decided to tackle one of my most formidable challenges. No, not that quilt. No, not that other quilt. Ugh, no, not that pair of pants or the skirt. For the love of Christ I am NOT going to finish the paper piecing either. Sheesh.

Ok?!

Fine.

I wimped out and made a little cozy for my crochet hooks.

There, are you happy now?

I also used it as an excuse to learn how to use photoshop filters.

Hehhehhhe…:)

Waterpaper:

Glow

I don’t remember what this one was called.

Pastels

Sandstone, and here I came to rest. Not only because this was one of the last filters, but, ok yes because it was one of the last filters and I had to go to bed.

Aren’t they cute all lined up like that. I even had enough foresight to include extra pockets for my MIA hooks.

Nigh’ Night.

Earthy

I started work on Kaffe Fassett’s “Earthy Mitered Squares” quilt pattern, from “Simple Shapes Spectacular Quilts: 23 Original Quilt Designs.” While his interpretation is indeed “earthy,” I have to admit, once I got to the quilt shop I learned that my own Earth is a bit louder than Kaffe’s.  I am also learning how to use Photoshop. You may need sunglasses.

That is not all, there is more to my story. This was just the first of (ok, now I have to get up and count them) 17 different striped fabrics I get to chop up and sew together.

Mark asked me, approximately “why are you making this quilt?” I believe I responded “I don’t know.” I’m still trying to figure it out, but I think Thomas Knauer makes an excellent point about this, sort of, on his blog.

Here I am!

We did manage to escape the gravitational pull of Chicago and are currently planted in Bloomington, Indiana! While the move went well and we’ve all settled in here, getting back to our previous routines has proved a bit of a struggle. No matter, here we are at the start of a new year full of possibilities and promise.

So off I go!

I was going to post a lovely picture of the impromptu mini-blankies I made for the girls but I ran into a bit of a snag in the cooperation department.  I can tell you what I did, though.

1. I backed a fat quarter with pink minky.

2. I called it a mini-blankie.

Aren’t you glad you stopped by my blog! I sure am!

Where, oh where, oh where…?

Is she? Um. Well not sewing, that’s for sure.  We’re moving, selling our condo, Hubby’s finishing his dissertation and chaos really is all we deal in these day. It all happened so fast. I have sewn a couple of things. I might manage a photo of them in the next couple of weeks. Once the dust settles in, maybe, September (??) I’ll be back here. Sewing. I will return.  Thanks for checking in!