While I've been packing

I've run across all these little projects that I kept thinking I'd get around to. I guess I should be happy that I have so much time to pack, as this has given me the opportunity to go through all those deep, dark corners in the house - you know the ones I mean, we all have 'em.

One of the things on my list has been this dress from the Burda Style website...don'tcha just love good quality, free downloadable patterns? I'll be back... there are at least two more garments I want to make from here....

As you can JUST see in the background, I'm working an an area filled with boxes , empty shelves and piles of disassembled stuff. It was sanity saving to sit down and put together this little dress. Sorry not to have too many progress photos, but I stayed up late, the light was bad for photo taking, the audiobook was good, and - well- I just kinda got caught up in the process!


Here's me, in a photo taken by youngest, doing my best Twiggy.


Hooray for summer sewing, hooray for summer.


Now back to house cleaning...we show again in the morning and I've got a loooong workday ahead of me to get to that point!

Back to the boxes, the basement, the washcloths...

:)
Happy sewing,

Lisa

Egyptology robe

Got Youngest's robe done last night, and left it for him at his breakfast spot...he likes it!

It's almost the same size as his brother's with some modifications. This one is padded and lined, a slightly different proportion and more challenging to make, all told. I didn't want to cut any of the panels of Egyptian gods, so had to measure up and piece each of the outer garment pieces. Oldest's robe took about 2 hours to make, this one took about 6. It's worth it, though. He loves it.

Here we go, second last day of school...field trip day. I can't wait to release those tadpoles back into the wild!

Lisa

Origato

Ah -

so last night I finished Oldest's robe and left it folded at his spot at the breakfast table. The boys slept out in the tree fort last night, so it was among the first things he saw when he came in this morning.

He loves it! It's non-traditional as far as proportions go, and somewhat modified to withstand the type of wear it will get from our young grasshopper.

It is made to his measurements, and to his proportions. The tie and collar measurement are based on the width of his closed hand - don't you just love the Japanese aesthetic?

All the seams are all a modified flat-felled seam, so that they are strong and lay flat. I also like top stitching (have I mentioned that?), so everything is top stitched to hold it all in place - You know, just in case he's attacked by Ninjas. Hey - it could happen, couldn't it?

Now to do Youngest's robe...

Happy stitching,

Lisa

the Hanten jacket

I've not run across a better book on Japanese clothing than this one :
Make your Own Japanese Clothes by John Marshall . If you're interested in drafting your own kimonos, yakata, japanese style socks or how to tie an obi, this is the book for you. It has information on how to care for Japanese textiles (such as how to properly fold a Kimono), and many, many ideas of how to modify and modernize the clothes.

Oldest would like a hanten-style jacket that we'll modify a little (okay, a lot). Traditionally, hanten jackets are worn over kimono, are padded, worn without belts, and about 3/4 length. They can be worn both formally and by craftsmen with their family or company emblem on the collar and centre back.

Our hanten's intended use is as a robe, will be unlined and worn with a belt. It will longer, too...

We've measured Oldest and the fabric is in the dryer...I can't wait to get into making this. Oldest can't wait either...

:)
L

A better picture...

I promised...

A better picture of my skirt, taken by my Oldest.

Happy Monday,
Lisa

some sewing

With the final sales of shop fabric being done and the last of the website removed from the internet, I've finally gotten around to starting some of the projects I've been putting off.

On Friday last week I got going on a wrap A-line skirt, drafted and made following Bitter Betty's tutorial, found here.

I've been in love with these Jane Sassaman prints for some time and thought they'd make a great, summery reversible wrap skirt...

I followed Bethany's drafting instructions, but did a little improvising on the construction. *note* Bethany's instructions are GREAT!

Once the whole thing was turned right side out, lined up well and ironed, I topstitched all my edges (except the waistband). I like my fabrics to stay put, darn it!


I made my waistband a little narrower, and only used two widths of fabric for the waistband/ties which I made all in one piece, not in three as Bethany did. I liked her effect, but didn't have much time so did my usual trick of making it up as I went along...not always time saving, but in this case, the winds were blowing in my favour!

And here I am with my finished skirt. (Sorry about the dark, blurry photo...I'll try to get a better one at some point)


This may well become my favorite summer skirt.





Off to draft a pattern for Oldest's robe...he wants a traditional Japanese Hanten jacket...I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one!

:)

Lisa

Finished Rogue sweater!

I woke up this morning to this:

He asked to be the first to wear the sweater once it was done. Sweet, eh?

He took this photo of me a little later in the morning:






Happy stitching,
Lisa

Slow progress

I'd have posted some pics sooner, but Sally Stitch has been at school wearing vests for the Afghanistan project. I've got her back over spring break and was hoping to take advantage of the time and get my Rogue sweater together. Sadly, I've got most of one sleeve yet to do and don't know if I'll get it done before we go to Abbotsford later in the week.

I've been really happy with how it's going together, and love the fit! The only thing that I'm thinking I'll change is the hem. I did it differently than the pattern, and now am regretting not putting a turning ridge on it. I'll cut it and re-knit it once the whole works is done, I think. I put a turning ridge on the sleeves and the hems there behave much better.

This pattern is wonderfully written. The shaping is incorporated into the cabling at the sides beautifully. The main modifications I have made are in length...I wanted the body to be longer than the pattern, and my arms are much longer than the ones designed for the smallest size.

I haven't done a whole lot else these days aside from being sick, helping the boys while they were sick, and schoolwork for my new class. I submitted my first assignment last week - and will get it back tomorrow - I'm nailbiting a bit! It's been a really, really long time since last time I was graded on anything like this. Got my fingers crossed.

Hope all is well with you!

Happy St. Patrick's day,

Lisa

Okay, for you fellow cat lovers out there...

This is Bishop. She's a venerable 12 years old, soon to be 13. She's a sweetheart with me, but despises our other 2 cats (who are almost 3 years old, birthday on Hallowe'en.)

She's a good ol' girl and she (along with one of the black cats) keeps me company during the day, always curled up nearby. The reason I posted the photo yesterday is because I was absolutely shocked to see her up on my desk! This is a cat that has trouble with anything higher than a stair riser...partly due (we think) to arthritis, but mostly due to her Rubenesque physique.

I'm not usually someone to post pictures of my pets, but now I've done it twice in two days!


And just so y'all don't think I've abandoned my crafty ways, here's a picture of what I did on Sunday...Burda 8407. Not the greatest picture, but it gives you the idea. Yes, it still needs a good pressing.

With moving on the horizon I've been going through all my old boxes of art, craft and sewing supplies in an effort to pare down. If I haven't used something in the time we've been in this house, why do I still have it? Rather than have a garage sale, I've been selling most of my old (but good) yarn and fabric stash on eBay, or giving it to local charity.

While going through my boxes of fabric I ran across this gray wool suiting, a piece of fabric that I bought about 15 years ago, when I lived in Vancouver (Oh! Vancouver! Land of inexpensive and plentiful fabric!).

Last weekend on my way back from Rossland I bought this sweet skirt pattern, and - voila! A skirt!

Back to quilting,
Lisa