Saturday, July 16, 2016

Fabric Soduku

There is a wide variety of color and pattern in this quilt, so the only goal here is to make it look random.

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I like it in miniature.

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I almost want to change the layout and place the large blocks on one side, and the smaller on the other.

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Since it doesn't remotely resemble the first quilt I made using the same pattern. Quite a difference. The one above is urban jungle, and the one below is country sweet.



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 This is a good pattern for someone who is a beginning quilter.  The instructions are well written, the only drawback is that it creates a fair bit of waste.

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You will trim each block twice, once to create the block, and once to true the block up to the final dimensions,  so make sure those rotary blades are sharp.

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Thursday, July 14, 2016

The Graduate's Quilt....

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It could have been completed 2 years ago, when she was learning how to drive and we set off to the streets to get lost and laugh.  There would be stops at consignment stores, a favorite dessert place for Gato Gordo (Affogato) and a quilt store.  There she picked out the fabrics she wanted added to the quilt.  Paris' Eiffel tower, city street scene,  picnic cloth with ants (to remind her of her "aunt"), safari print, Singer sewing machines, and the sushi scene, with a side of french fries (to remind her of meeting with friends). 

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 Two years is such a long time in the life of a teenager, it's difficult to believe she's off to college.  I just hope that the themes will remind her of everyone who loves her, and the happy times that launch her towards her new future.  I need good thoughts from everyone as I forge ahead with my makeshift quilt wall to finish before she starts in the fall.

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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

More scraps, more panties, but not for Sunday...

As promised I would use the 1" elastic lace on another pair of panties.  A really good idea.

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And then I saw these on Net a porter..



and made these...

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My most favorite yet, are the top pair, which resemble a pair that died a few years ago, will have to get more wide elastic to make more.

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I had fun with the lace

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So that's 2 from yesterday, and 4 today, a total of 6, which means none for Sunday..... why?


From "When Harry met Sally"

HARRY: So how come you broke up with Sheldon?
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SALLY: Well, if you must know, it’s because he was very jealous and I had these days of the week underpants.
HARRY: [Makes buzzer sound]. I’m sorry. I need a judge’s ruling on this. Days of the week underpants?
SALLY: Yes. They had the days of the week on them and I thought they were sort of funny. And then one day Sheldon says to me, “You never wear Sunday.” He’s all suspicious, “Where was Sunday? Where had I left Sunday?” And I told him and he didn’t believe me.
HARRY: What?
SALLY: They don’t make Sunday.
HARRY: Why not?
SALLY: Because of God.


Monday, July 11, 2016

Scraps from projects...can be panties.... Rosy Ladyshorts muslin Cloth Habit.

There is a bra and panty box with all manner of elastics, stretch lace, super mesh, straps, everything you need to put together a lingerie wardrobe.  Of course, I don't have what I need for the Rosy Ladyshorts pattern from Cloth Habit.  Allover stretch lace is missing from the box, but we forge ahead because I may soon be in a city where I can pick some up, so excited!!  We start with the muslin pattern in cotton jersey.

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 I had read that some found the crotch to be very long, I suspected this might be a problem for me as well, because I have a not so full bottom, so using a pair of panties that were very similar, I compared my panties to the pattern.  

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The crotch would be about 2" too long, so I trimmed that away, and kept the rest as is. 
Then I made another pattern based on my existing pair, which I was taking in anyway, because I've lost weight, and I don't like things to go to waste. I know, who does that?

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Now I have two patterns, one with just a shorter crotch, and the other with a higher front leg.


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I followed the construction instructions, and on the website there's a lot of useful information on how to select your fabrics as well as good information on the stretch factor in knits.  I really like using the 1" stretch lace across the waist and will try it on other TNT panty patterns.  I took some liberties with the crotch instructions but this works.

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 They both fit, the test will be if they stay up with wear, as they are super comfortable, but time will tell...  So far I recommend the pattern, the style is comfortable, and they are easy to make, the tutorials on the website are very informative.

It's a free pattern from Cloth Habit, here, and if I were a smaller size, I would buy their Watson bra it is exactly what I've been looking for :(


Sunday, July 10, 2016

Housekeeping and Getting the plastic bag population under control...

I need lots of bags.  I have a cat, which means, there is a litter box that needs tending. Martha Stewart, has a cute tutorial for a "Pretty Plastic Bag Organizer".  She uses a dish towel, which speeds the process along because all of the edges are finished.  I used an Ikea canvas that was purchased for a skirt that never materialized.  The fabric could be used for home dec, but this is not my color palette, however, it is an excellent Pretty Plastic Bag Organizer....and now I have two.  I should have done this ages ago.


Martha's tutorial here.

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Here is another addition to the closet, a new white linen skirt.

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This had been my mother's, it was long, with a small waist, and a slit up the front.
 I cut 6" off the length, and hemmed.  It is perfect for summer, fully lined and a good length now.


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After I cut the waistband off, I serged the edge, and applied a petersham ribbon.  I've always wanted to try that technique, hope it launders well.


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Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Botanical Seamwork Lisbon gown



This is the Lisbon gown from the Seamwork line.

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This will be the first time since I was very small that I have a matching gown and robe.  My mother always managed to have a coordinated set.

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I went my own way in construction around the neckline and straps.  I could not find a 1 1/4" elastic lace to match my fabric.  There was an option of picking white and dyeing the elastic but decided to go with the same bias fold tape to coordinate with the robe.  This meant I needed to gather at the armhole to give the garment the shape the elastic would have given it.  

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 The modesty panel included in the pattern was shaped on the body and pinned, then trimmed and sewn in place.

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 A nice alternative to the knit T's I've been wearing as late and it's very cool...


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Saturday, July 2, 2016

No, really, this is the Mandy Boat tee and a repurposed pair of wide leg trousers

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Changes to the pattern include, taking in the width an inch on the front and back body, and widening both the sleeve and armhole opening another inch.  Since this pattern is a one size fits all, the sleeve is the only potential problem area.  My arms are not large, and as drafted, it did not work for me.  Another factor is the stretch in your fabric.  A stable knit may give you too little ease, whereas a stretchy fabric like ITY knit, or gauzey knit may provide the stretch you need without further modification. 

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It looks much better on the body.


  It is made in a tissue weight modal rib fabric, that is so light and sheer it will need a camisole when worn outside, but so soft it could double as a pajama top in a pinch, which will be convenient for an upcoming trip.


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The fabric has been in the stash a long time.

The Mandy Boat Tee will be paired with a pair of newly repurposed linen palazzo pants that are now culotte length.  

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 This alteration was very easy, since the pants were already very wide, it was a matter of hemming the linen and lining.  I cut off  9" from the length, from these very wide pants, and hemmed, and voila, another addition to the closet that I will wear with all of those new t-shirts :)

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It's going to be a wrinkled summer.

Friday, July 1, 2016

The simple Kimono tee pattern....and variations

Once you find a TNT pattern, there's a tendency to want to make them over and over again, as the case with the kimono tee.  The trick is in varying the pattern once you've spent all that time getting the fit perfect.  Shopping on the web, these are variations of the same basic pattern.

Pick a print instead of a solid, change the neckline to rounded, and add a neckline binding.

Change the fiber to linen, neckline to a wider crewneck and add cuffs to the sleeves.


Make the neckline a V, add shaping to the hem.


All of these can be adapted from any TNT kimono pattern you have, a change in fabric, neckline, neckline treatment, hem treatment and you have a new wardrobe for summer in no time.

Images courtesy of Net a porter.