Black Friday!

I was so stressed about Black Friday that I could barely sleep last night! Instead I got up and cleaned my sewing room so that I could welcome all the beautiful new fabrics into a clean room! An outline of my day is over at Martha Saves, so I won't repeat it here. It was awesome! So worth my time, and only took 2 hours total to get everything I needed. Next year I'll be back for sure and probably get there about 15 minutes earlier! Here is my haul from JoAnns and Target combined.

Oscar de la Renta Suit Jacket - FINISHED!

Here is the suit jacket finished! The skirt is cut out, but I haven't sewn anything past the waist darts. Soon enough!

Colder Weather = Baking Time

I think my body is subconsciously trying to put on weight. I've been cooking and baking like crazy the past few weeks, which Andy loves. I tried "flooding" cookies as a frosting method, and the results were great. I'll definitely be repeating this when it's time for Christmas cookies!

Then I tried a homemade chicken pot pie with homemade pie crust. I just used Betty Crocker's crust recipe, which I've used before, but I wasn't thrilled with the results. It tasted fine, but it didn't look quite right to me. It got glossy like it was supposed to, but I don't know about all the puckers on the surface. I expected smooth and shiny. Also, I probably overfilled the shell a smidge. Oh well, Andy loved it so much that it didn't last long!

Two nights ago I made homemade oreos from the Smitten Kitchen. I didn't take a picture, but they looked exactly like the pictures on her blog. As she suggested, I reduced the sugar, and in the future, I'll use less filling. These babies are sa-weeeet.

http://smittenkitchen.com/2007/05/my-kingdom-for-a-glass-of-milk/

Garden Clean Up

I decided awhile ago that this fall, I would have to tear everything out of the garden and start over fresh. New soil, plant food, and some crucial plant dividing and re-arrangement.

I divided my daylilies and irises, which took a bit of work. I moved the peonies into the sun, the hydrangea out of the sun, rhubarb into the sun, and daylilies out of the sun because, let's be honest - who cares if they even bloom? Not me! They aren't my favorite among the flower species that make their home in my yard.

(L-R): lilac in the back, daylilies in front, tons (!!!) of irises, balloon flower, more daylilies, and an azalea that isn't in the picture.

Rhubarb on top and daylilies in front, along with my random little "tomato that could." I just couldn't rip him out yet.

(L-R): daylilies, hydrangea, rose, irises (100?!?!), rose, peonies, lilies of the valley, and lilac.

This all took me about 8 hours. I can't move my body.



How to Sew From a Pattern

I've had a friend repeatedly ask: How do you SEW something? How do you even know what to do? As a result, here are some general steps that I follow, much abbreviated, for Kathy.

Step 1: Select your pattern and fabric.

Step 2: Pre-shrink your fabric. This means that you put it in your washing machine on the final "rinse" cycle, so you get it wet and then also rung out. Then dry it in the dryer. Unless it's formalwear fabric, silk, or some other dryclean only creation. This dress is cotton, so we'll proceed. This step will make my garment washable, so it won't shrink wierdly after it is assembled.

Step 3: While your fabric is pre-shrinking, determine which pattern pieces you'll need, and cut them from the pattern tissue. Take note of how many you'll need of each piece.

Step 4: Lay out your dry fabric, and figure out the best way to lay out the pattern pieces. This may or may not be the way the pattern directions tell you to do it. I usually review their suggestion and then do my own thing. Now that you're sure you'll have enough fabric to cut out all of your pieces, just cut them out, following the shape of the pattern.

Step 5: Read the directions start to finish. Go over each pattern piece and mark them as noted. In this project I'm using hot pink thread to mark my pattern, since it contrasts well with turquoise and is easy to find. Then go back to step one of the directions and begin sewing. As you go, be sure to iron every seam so that your finished garment looks crisp and tidy.

Step 6: Continue sewing as the directions state, or sometimes I decide that I know a better way and use that instead. Make sure to use enough pins so your fabric doesn't slide as it enters the machine. A person should really remove their pins as they sew, I'm bad about this. Once you've sewn a seam, press it. Periodically, try your garment on your mannequin (and yourself) so that you can ensure that each side is even and that everything is fitting correctly. I ended up taking this bodice apart and taking the sides in so that it fit better. It's easier to fix while you go along than when you're finished.

Step 7: Continue all steps until the garment is finished. Try it on to make sure it zips!



Simplicity 2497

I threw this together in one afternoon. Literally, just buzzed it together on my serger! It was my first jersey knit garment, and I learned a few things. Since the fabric is stretchy, I should have started with a smaller waistband. When the dress ended up being a foot (literally) too big through the waist, I should have taken apart the waistband and shortened it, then regathered and reattached the top and bottom. Instead, I just took it in on both sides, which made the top and skirt much less full than they are supposed to be. Thankfully, it still fits and still lays right on my body. This dress feels like wearing pajamas!

Simplicity 2359

I finished this dress awhile ago, during a full day Harry Potter marathon on ABC Family. It was great, 12 hours of HP, 12 hours of sewing (though not all on this dress)! Here is the result:

It fits well, it went together well, and I love this summer sundress!

Fall Garden Plan

We have big garden plans. I'm hoping to complete some of them before the end of September. Here is what I want to do:

This will involve a day in which we take everything out of the garden, split and divide as necessary, till the soil, add new soil, compost, plant food, and then rearrange everything into their new homes. My peonies need more sun, my hydrangea needs less sun, I don't care if the day lillies get enough sun, and so everything will be moving. We're hoping to re-edge the garden and straighten it which will give me more planting space, and also a higher edge so that it can be a little more raised than it is. Hopfully this will allow the soil to hold more water and nutrients and less run off into the lawn.

In front we'll eventually have retaining wall, but for now we'll raise the bed that sits under our crab apple and move some irises and day lillies there. I hope they get enough sun to not die, although I don't care too much if they actually bloom there or not. Anything will look better than a dried out pile of mulch, yuck!

Sigh, I can't wait for next spring to see how my re-arranged plants do in their shiny new flower beds!

Blooms!

I figured this spring that if even one of my flowers started from seed actually bloomed, I will have had a successful summer. Although my garden still needs a major overhaul this fall, I did actually get some things to bloom!

And finally, my little garden friend the squirrel. I'd like to break off the base since I'm not 90 years old, and just have the squirrel.



Bernina Update

My Bernina is half dead. Let's observe a moment of silence.












From here on out, it will only make a straight stitch, no zig zags, no blind stitching, etc. It's only going to limp me along until I save money, turn 30 and invest in this:

From the same time period, Bernina's 830 model is a few steps up from where I was. This machine has all metal gears, more power, and a few more stitch options. I'll have to treat myself this winter when I hit the big 3-0. This machine will surely take away a bit of the sting of old age...

Pattern Addiction

So, I may have a pattern problem. A full blown addiction? Maybe. Here are today's finds:

The first one is a skirt (McCalls M5591) that I already have fabric for, its to knock off Kate Spade's $325 Lilith skirt:

The next is McCalls M5525, to copy a coat that I found on Pinterest. It says it's from H & M, but I don't like the fabric on their version. I want it warmer, so I'll make my own.

Next is Simplicity 2273, some bibs for a friend's baby:

And then there's the pattern I've been sale-hunting for all summer, finally found at Hancock Fabrics, Simplicity 2178:

And one that I've been unsure of for awhile, so I just went for it before it goes out of print, Simplicity 2497:

Last is Simplicity 2053, I just love the long sleeves and the side rouching. I'm planning to make the view on the top right. I think this will make a great winter dress!

Sewing Hiatus

My beloved Bernina is on the fritz. The other day as I was sewing, it decided to start making a horrid, angry grinding noise. I've tried oiling it, to no avail. I'm taking it to the Bernina doctor tomorrow, hopefully it's an inexpensive diagnosis!

Pattern Extravaganza!

JoAnn's had a great pattern sale a few weeks back, and I stocked up! Here's what's in my sewing bin, waiting to be made:

McCalls 5433, I want to make the long view out of white eyelet, as soon as I can find a "grown up" eyelet.

McCalls 6361, I have some navy twill for these, and I'll line the pockets and waistband out of multi-print cotton.

McCalls 6309, This will be for my friend Nicole's baby, as soon as we figure out if he's a boy or girl (I'm guessing boy).

McCalls 6173, I made these in black, and now I want to make navy with hot pink zippers on the outside!

Vogue 1030, I have been drooling over this pattern for at LEAST 3 years. I don't know where I'll wear it but I had to snap it up incase it goes out of print.

Vogue 2979, Kate Middleton inspired. I'd like this in black, and tea length with a fab crinoline. Maybe for Andy's cousin's wedding this fall!

 Vogue 8633, I want to make the full skirt, short sleeved version for my brother's wedding.