Sew Happy to Be Sewing Again

OK, finally starting to feel like me again, which really means that I want to be sewing.  48 hours of snoozing and reading and I got back into the sewing room.  Started slow with hemming some of Mr. Lucky's pants that have been hanging around, then did some ironing.  Mr. Lucky is a catch because he will do his own laundry and ironing....but it's not overly precise.  I will catch up and do his sports shirts and pants when I'm in the mood.  There's one thing a good seamstress understand and that's the value of good pressing and ironing.  He brought home flowers for his invalid wife and that was good enough to get me ironing for him.

I was late to the pajama party but got them done yesterday as well.  I made the McCalls 4218 nightgown with a FBA to the side dart and 6 inches shorter.  What I thought were front tucks on the pattern turned out to be merely ruffles.  This Joann's embroidered poly fabric was loud enough so I eliminated those.  It has facings and I did a zig zag edgestitch to help them stay flat in this polyester material.  I get annoyed when patterns eliminate a simple step like this which can make your garment so much more successful.

I lengthened the straps 1/2 inch which put the bust points in the right place and it's still not too low cut at all.  It's a wearable muslin and thanks to Ann's challenge I finally made this pattern.   I'll see what I think about it after sleeping in it a few nights.  My favorite nightgown patterns are two bias cut Kwik Sew patterns. This McCalls one will have to prove its worth.  Mr. Lucky's flannel pants were also whipped out and are already put away so sorry for no pics.

By then I was on a roll so I roll edged some silk burnout from Fabric Mart and made a lightweight cowl topper.  This is exactly the same instruction as for the boiled wool and fleece ones I have up north.  (See my October 29, 2010 post if you want measurements and instructions.)  Just turn it a little when wearing it to get that diagonal line.  I used Sulky water soluble stabilizer but still got pokeys which are from the velvet burnout threads.  Not enough to bother me, what about you?  I'm teaching a sewing class locally and needed samples in fleece and a silky fabric.

All in all, it feels good to feel good again and to be back in a sewing frame of mind.  Isn't it wonderful to have a hobby that you enjoy and that makes you want to get up and do something?

While Visions of Patterns Danced in Her Head

No pics, no sewing, just cold medication, dozing and reading.  I woke up with an awful cold and fever so the closest I can come to sewing is reading A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff in a few waking moments.  Didn't make the pajama deadline, drat, but at least they are cut out and waiting for my return.  ZZZZZzzzzzzzz

Jacket Beats Pajamas

 Today's sewing time started shrinking rapidly and I have to accept that reality and move on.  Pajamas were put on hold while I worked on the Vogue 1100 jacket.  I thought I might finish in time for tomorrow's ASG chapter meeting.  Not going to happen, too many interruptions today.  Some jacket progress, however, so not a total waste.

I was distracted by those interruptions and ended up sewing the cuff on the right sleeve three times and still didn't get it right.  You can't tell in this fuzzy photo but I've done the same hand stitching on the cuffs as for the pockets.  When I made the muslin I did not put the cuffs on and decided to lengthen the sleeves 1 1/2 inches.  I stitched the cuffs on, tried the jacket on and realized I hated the longer length.  Ok, cut it off, sew the sleeve seams and little wider and re sew the cuff.  Whoops, one side looks better than the other with that hand stitching.  Unsew again and try one more time.

These are lightweight molded shoulder pads that I found a year ago at the PA Fabric Outlet outside of Lancaster, PA.  This is the type of store that has lots of "stuff" but seldom the same stuff twice.  These are perfect when you want a very light shaping but not heavy padding.  I use one for my left, "standard" shoulder shoulder and two for my right "leaning" shoulder.   Ok, time to do some hand sewing on the front collar and edges.   I won't finish it in time for this month's meeting.  That's ok, I think I want to rein in those huge faux pocket flaps anyway.  What do you think, about 1 inch less width?  Right now they looks like rudders.

Off to do more handwork, this time down the front edges and around the collar.

Getting Ready for a Pajama Party...with a Recipe, Too

I loved pajama parties when I was young.  Staying up all night, giggling, telling secrets, eating junk.  These days I love getting a good night's sleep more than any of those.  However this holiday weekend I'll be enjoying a pajama party again thanks to Ann of Gorgeous Fabrics (so aptly named)    Gorgeous Fabrics Pajama Sew Along     Her pajama sew along got me to commit to two sewing projects.   I dislike commitment so I'm quite grateful to Ann for pushing me to make this decision.

Plan 1 is to make the nightgown from the McCalls pattern # 4218 .
I like the front tucks and side darts which give it a little shape without clinging.  I'm using more of a wonderful crepe backed satin rayon that I've used previously for sleepwear....Kwik Sew # 2981

 Patternreview for my three versions of KS 2981

For Mr. Lucky I'll make another pair of flannel pants from Simplicity #8082.  I made him  a pair when he was up north a few years ago and he seems to enjoy wearing them so he deserves another set.  That flannel will come from a local sewing friend with an amazing "collection."

 Lastly I'm considering doing a tracing of an Edith Head designer Vogue pattern, #1560.  I don't look anything like the model on the pattern front (oh, no, Jane, you're just being modest, I can hear you saying) but I think the dress would make a lovely nightgown in a lightweight knit without the zipper.  You can't tell from that tall, tanned Amazon on the pattern but it has an upper bodice with bust darts, a center front and a back seam and narrow straps which cross in the back.  I won't get it sewn this weekend but the sew along is putting it to the front of the queue for a first fitting.


Here in the US it's Thanksgiving weekend, my second favorite holiday after July 4.  We'll be spending the day with local friends and all I have to bring is an appetizer and a dessert.  I'm using Cooks Illustrated/America's test Kitchen Cookbook for two of my go to recipes.  Here's their great Cheese Coins :

Makes 50-60 coins

8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
1 1/2 cups all purpose four
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 t salt
1/4 t cayenne pepper
1/4 t paprika
2-4 T ice water

1.  Pulse all ingredients except the water in a food processor until combined, about 12 pulses.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of water.  Squeeze the mixture with your hands to form a ball, adding more water as necessary.  Form the dough into two 10 inch logs and wrap each tightly with plastic warp.  Chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

2.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Slice the logs into 1/8 inch thick coins and place on parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake in the middle of the oven for 15-20 minutes, turning the sheet around midway through that time.  Cool for 3 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Hmmmm, sharp cheddar, butter, flour, what's not to like.

Buttons and Books

Vintage button gift

Aren't buttons amazing?  Every color in the rainbow, every material know to man....but you still have to search high and low to find just the right button for a project.  That is why I stopped stashing buttons a few years ago.  I was notorious for collecting buttons, in NYC, in PA at Sauder's, on vacation.  And guess what?  When I needed buttons for a project, I seldom had the right number, size or color.  So, no more stashing buttons.  I've been quite good about that resolution....but here are buttons which a dear friend just gave to me last week.  We met some years ago in a women's group at my church and I had always admired her style and then admired her character and charm.  I'm saddened for myself that she's moving into a retirement center back up north since she had joined our little sewing group last year.  But joining us did get her back into sewing.  When she was here in FL packing and cleaning out the house she gave me a large bag of fabrics, hem tapes, zippers and some bags of buttons.  Most of it will go to my ASG meeting since I hardly need one more item.... but I could not resist keeping these wonderful buttons.   Aren't these beautiful?

Making slow progress on the turquoise jacket.  Fine by me, I enjoy the process just as much as the result.  As I've started the actual construction I also have to commit to the embellishment I'm going to use.  That's where Patternreview and snoop shopping give me so many ideas.  I loved the padstitching on this version of the jacket, from merrypatter   merrypatter's blog of Vogue 1100    I'm doing a similar version with three threads of embroidery floss stitched twice around the edge.  I like the hand rustic look but did it in tone on tone so it wouldn't look so "country."  I hope that's true....you can tell me otherwise, you won't hurt my feelings.

Vogue 1100 pocket embroidery

I haven't mentioned any books in this blog yet but that changes today.  Last week I needed a light little read at night to take my mind off of a bunch of decisions I'm trying to make.  Found exactly the right book to do that.....and there was sewing in it, too.  It's been out for years so perhaps some of you have already enjoyed it....Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons by Lorna Landvik.  I almost always enjoy girlfriend books which span the years (think Ya Ya Sisters and you know what I mean.)  This one opens in the late 60s this capturing today's Mad Men and vintage trends.  But I especially enjoyed the format. The suburban women of the book meet in their 20s and 30s and start a book group.  The ensuing two plus decades follow their lives and the books they read over those years.  Loved that idea and the author carried it off delightfully.   Of course it has to merely touch on many topics and social issues over those years so it's not a finely hewn character study but an entertaining read.  And yes, the character who sews knows what she's talking about...."Kari was a snob when it came to her material--she loved fine worsted wool and soft silks and Egyptian cottons."  


This week's evening read goes an entirely different but just as enjoyable direction.  Work Song by Ivan Doig is introducing me to copper mining in Butte, Montana, the Wobblies, and mine safety for miners....obviously still a relevant subject around the world although this story takes place in 1919.  I've enjoyed several of Doig's other books and this one is a page turner of a historical novel.  Lightweight but pleasantly enjoyable.