SSS, the final outfits

With only a few days left, while there are more dresses, and even one suit, so I could be fully self-stitched for you, I wanted to show off some more favorites while I still had time.

Tues, Sept 28, still channeling To Wong Foo...(Oh, Bobby Ray, Bobby Ray, Bobby Ray, Bobby Ray...) in one of my favorite skirts. I've made this pattern a couple other times, and still want more. NL6569, view B, still in print (I know, shocking). The blouse is on loan from Twin2's girlfriend, also the necklace and earrings, which she made herself.

A little note on the fabric: this is where the difference between the $9/yd (quilt shop) fabric I used for my absolute favorite skirt from day 14, differs from the $4/yd (JoAnn) fabric used here. Still a really cute print, but, this one? Has to be ironed. Every time. I'm thinking the extra $$$ might be worth it.

Wed, Sept 29, another skirt, another favorite. (I'm not naked under the cardi...just wearing a flesh-tone top.)The pattern envelope for this one shows the skirt in casual fabrics, one in particular in a light-weight denim with calico applique flowers on it, 70's style:

Which I must say, I'm still tempted to duplicate.

I didn't immediately see that the back of the skirt dips lower; a feature that would have sold me on this right away, had I known. I used a bare minimum of pricey fabric making this. Couldn't resist.

Changed for the evening to go to a movie with the kids. We saw Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Bizarre movie. I predict it will produce the same effect on Netflix that Napoleon Dynamite has: whether you like the movie or not, their software has no way to reliably predict other movies you might enjoy, based on that preference. Bizarre, folks. But fun.
And totally worth the $1.50 at the Movies 8.
Top is knit, made from B5553, back in the 90's. I sewed a lot in the 90's. Good pattern, though. Nice fit.

And....are you ready for it? For the last day of SSS, I present to you....

My new sweater! I finished it just last night, right before we walked out the door for the movie. I'm just so excited to show this one off, I bet I'd even wear it if it was the middle of summer. (If you know me at all, you'll know that's saying a lot!) I have long arms, and I wanted to be sure my sleeves weren't too short, so I kept knitting beyond their recommended length. I overshot it by about 1"-1 1/2", so I have to fold the cuff back.

Check out the fringe! and look! I used the smaller version of the same button from the 26th, so I'm wearing the same earrings.

I want more of these earring kits. See how cool they are? The shanks on these buttons were kinda tight, so now I can't get the converter out of them to slip into another set. So I kinda need more converters, really.

Oh, and the skirt, made from Vogue 1038 (still in print!), is made in an impossibly loud stretch twill. That sort of limits how often (and where) I'll wear this. Can't sneak up on anyone wearing this skirt. You can hear me all the way down the hall. Also, I guess I have more waist-definition than the average gal, so the yoke of this could fit better. It's in one piece, no side seams (the yoke, that is), so I'd have had to alter the pattern. Or succumb to darts in my yoke.
Also made the white T you see under the cardi. Simplicity 9610, early 90's. It was a So Easy pattern, with a cute dress/jumper, the kind with the tied shoulder straps. Very popular style in it's day. I made the dress, too (the longer version, in a similar fabric to the model, smaller floral), and about wore it to death. Can't locate it now, but I suspect I'd finished with it and passed it on to DI.

Tonight, I plan to take a picture of the rest of the clothes, those not worn this month, so you can see just how ridiculous my wardrobe is. There are a few items I think I'm done with, that didn't look that great to begin with. Those I'll send along to DI, or offer to family/friends.
My whole wardrobe needs a good purge. Anyone want to come help me out? You can have your pick of whatever I'm tossing. (See, what you do is, you tell me it looks awful on me, and then, I'll give it to you. Because I know you wouldn't lie to me just to get a cute skirt, right?)

Huzzah! buttons!

Picasso's Pence Jug

Pence Jug pattern was really straightforward.
I managed to knit an extra round of *yo k2tog* as I neared the bottom, but that's my own fault. I noticed it about halfway through the extra round, but wasn't in the mood to tink, so I let it go.

One of these days I'm going to learn my lesson, and try using something a little more plain when I knit something like this. Cream or white would have been perfect.

Plus, in a shade of white, I could have added it to my creamer collection.

I stuffed all my available coins into this when I was done, and still had plenty of room.

Yarn: Serenity Sock Weight in Picasso Marble

the continuing saga of "x"

After 2 or 3 failed attempts to buy more yarn, I was getting super frustrated. This is just a toy, folks, and hardly worth the extra effort and hours I was putting in. But the "unfinished" haunts me, so I was determined to either find more yarn, or figure out something else.

While in Park City over the weekend (have I mentioned that enough? that I got to run away again and stay at Zermatt, again, and use their Steam Room, Sauna, Pool, Relaxation Room, etc? No? Well, I did.), we were running around to various stores near the outlets (as well as the outlets...I mentioned I went outlet shopping, too, right?), headed for World Market (love that place), which, as it happens, was situated next to a Michael's. I wasn't prepared for more yarn searching, so I didn't have the label with me, but, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to drop in just to see. And they had the yarn. But it looked odd, not the right color. I fished out a skein from the back, which looked a tad more like the color I'd used.

And, because I am just lucky like that, it was the same dye lot.

Soon, very soon, we will have a finished "x", and a group shot of the first 1/2 of the Year of Ami!

Indian Corn

Simple pattern, but, oh, so hard to choose yarns. I'm working on another, plan to make a few more, but I need to finish up something else right now, so I'll have to come back to it.

When working the husk, I got a little confused as to what she meant by "always sl st in first ch". I figured it out as I worked, but I felt lost for a minute.

In case you were lost, too, here's my take on it:

On the first ch w/sl st, you come back to the first stitch, and ch again from there for the next husk. As you come back from that 2nd husk, sl st in the first ch from the first husk and then start the 3rd. Come back to that first ch every time.

When you're done, it should look like this:

with all the chain segments meeting in that one ch in the center. Hope that clarifies it, if you were lost, too.

Yarns: Homespun in Earth, Wool-Ease in Ranch Red, Wool-Ease Sport in Wheat, Vanna in Beige

SSS outfits from week 4

From Thurs, Sept 23: I love this little wrap-around skirt. I've never actually sewn the buttons on, I just pin through the shank of the big wooden button that shows, and pin the underside. Made this during my short time working for Mini World, a children's clothing company. They bought this fabric as a sample cut, so they sold it off cheap when they decided not to use it. Skirt: M6528 (from the 90's). Top: can't recall. Necklace & earrings: Lia Sophia. Black stone ring: Charlotte Russe. Beaded watch: made for me by a fellow Bookette. Shoes: Metro7, (Target?). Overgrown containers on my porch that I water every morning and evening: planted by me, with plants from Cooks Greenhouse in Lindon.

 Fri, Sept 24, away from the office for a firm retreat. We got to go to Zermatt Resort in Midway, UT. The braids...I'd recently watched To Wong Foo again, so I was doing sort of a "Say Something Hat day" and channeling Noxema Jackson at the same time. (Do you like my nails?) I was worried I'd be the only one there in a skirt, it being a casual thing, but one other gal wore one, so I wasn't the odd one out. Skirt is same pattern as denim skirt from 11th/12th. The blouse is the one shown started here, and finally finished Thursday night. (Yes, indeed, that is the self-same big floppy hat my friend borrowed that night.) I want to do self-bias for the sleeve ties, but I couldn't find the leftovers, so I went with ribbon for now. You can't tell here, but the blouse fits really well, looks very shapely. Crocheted the mini-shawl a couple years ago. Also wearing bracelets made for me by a friend.

Later that evening, settling in for the night up at Zermatt. Yo, these are my fav pj's!

Also spent a fair amount of time in my bathing suit, which I did not make.

Sat, Sept 25, off for a day of shopping and eating and whatever in Midway, Heber, and Park City. I can highly recommend the Sidetrack Cafe in Heber. Also the Dairy Keen in Heber, where we ate the night before. This wild paisley knit top needs to be taken in a mile or so...(I've got it knotted in back just for the photo)
Incidentally, speaking of To Wong Foo, we passed by Snyderville on our way to Park City. We took the old road, which winds over the mountain (and takes much longer), and from there, from the residential area of Park City, the road leads you past Snyderville. (Hey, mommies, I got us a ride into Spiderville.)

Sun, Sept 26, wearing the dress and earrings I made for my sister's wedding back in January. The earrings are easy: they make a kit. It's a wire form that slides into the shank of a button, and that's it, instant earrings! I need to find a couple more of these kits, so I don't have to wrestle my buttons on and off just to wear a different set. (I've not seen any for years, so maybe they don't make them anymore?)

After church, I changed into jeans and a self-stitched plaid top, and went over to mom's to help B* get started knitting a hat for Ms P. It was late when I got back home, so no picture. (I will add one if/when I have one.) (Took a picture when I wore it again 10/1 - so here you have it.)

Mon, Sept 27, in one of my old favorites. I made this back when I first started back to work after the Twins. The pattern also had a full-skirted version, which I considered making. Might be why I can't locate the pattern.

Only a few more days to go!

Year of Ami, week 36, J is for Jug!

Why a jug? Just because.

To knit, from Knitty, Pence Jug

To crochet, Milk Jug (rav link - go sign up already!) which is meant to go with a certain tea set in Amigurumi Two!

*pics of my own creations added after-the-fact*

Itsy Glitsy Spider

Isn't she adorable? I want at least 3 of these, in different colors. With different eyes, maybe.

Pattern was so very easy to do.

Except for sticking the pipe cleaners in the legs. That was hard.

I had to get out my Turn-It-All tool

(love that thing - couldn't do bias tubing, or straps, or little arms and legs without it), and force the smallest tube into the i-cord, which wasn't so easy, either. But it worked.

Here's how, in case you're having the same trouble:

locate your bound-off end of the i-cord

work the tube into the end 

and all the way through (this may take some time - but it can be done) 

insert the pipe cleaner into the tube 

and pull the tube out the other end

 make sure to hold onto the pipe cleaner so it doesn't get pulled out, too

 fold over one end and tuck it into the i-cord 

flip around, figure out how long you need it, and scrunch the i-cord away from the end while you cut and fold it over 

tuck in pipe cleaner, and weave in yarn ends

 and you're done!

Yarns: Moda Dea Gleam in Amethyst and Blue Topaz

if it's a Liz, it's a classic

While working on my new blouse, I reached the point where I needed to do buttonholes, which means switching feet, changing the stitch length, etc. I almost walked right back out of the sewing room, because making buttonholes just isn't my favorite thing to do. But, no, I made myself sit back down, and started to get out my buttonhole foot.
Then, I paused. I looked up at this shirt, this shirt that only needs the hem, and buttons and buttonholes. This shirt that has been hanging in my sewing room, almost finished, for about 20 years.

No kidding. I was making it for a class in college. (Did I mention? I majored in Clothing & Textiles.) It's a lovely blouse, very nice fabric (well, it probably didn't cost me much, but it looks nice), good pattern. And I've let it sit there, part of my sewing room landscape, unfinished, for a couple of decades.

I did french seams on that shirt.

So, instead of changing feet, I pulled the shirt off the hanger and did the hem. Not over-proud of how that looks, but this is meant to be tucked in, so whatever. After 20 years, I was suddenly in a hurry to get-her-done.

Then, I marked the buttonholes. This blouse has french cuffs, so each cuff has four buttonholes, but no buttons. I'll need cuff links. (I have some, from another blouse.) I do my usual, start at the bottom and work my way up, in case my first (couple of) buttonholes are less-than-perfect. Which they are. For some reason, I chose not to use interfacing in the placket. No idea why. So it puckers. It doesn't pucker on the cuffs or the collar. There are two buttons on the neckband (it's a two-piece collar).

When was the last time you bought a shirt, or even saw one, with two buttons right up on the tippy-top? (Or such crooked buttonholes? Whatever. Like you'd notice.)

I don't have the buttons. I need 12 little 3/8" plain shirt buttons, and I only have two.

So the real finish will have to wait until I've been to the fabric store. But we're close.

I stare at the pattern, thinking how very classic this blouse is, how timeless. How small (it's a size 12, which in patterns fits someone with a 34" bust, a measurement I left behind about 8" ago).

And then I see it, down in the lower left,

Liz Claiborne

Well, that explains it, then. I've never met a Liz I didn't like.

back in the sewing room

A while ago, I decided it was time to finish up some projects. More precisely, to sew something. Or finish sewing something. But, what?
I was sitting in my sewing room, trying to make myself sit down and start something, when one of my fellow Bookettes calls me. Can she come return one of my books, and also, could she borrow my big floppy hat? Then she asks "Are you knitting right now?" and I say, "no, I'm trying to make myself sew something." She laughs, and asks why I'd be "making" myself sew?

Good question.

Partly, it's to do with that need to "be creative" and "express myself". Also, keeping my talents in good form. Because if you neglect or ignore your talent, it can and will deteriorate. (case in point: I was in A Capella in HS. I can still carry a tune, I sing in church every Sunday. But singing in a choir? I don't think so. I thought my range was limited then, but now? I have to practically make up my own notes. It's sad.)

More to the point, I have tons of once-begun-is-half-done projects clogging up the sewing room (and hiding behind the knitting chair, and lurking in various boxes) that I should finish. That "should" kinda hangs over me, weighs on me.

(I find it hard to walk away from something "unfinished", even if I've lost interest in it. I feel the need to discipline myself, finish what I started. I feel more...responsible that way.)

I have lots of those kinds of projects. The kind that say to me "you liked me when you started, so what's the problem?"

And that's just hard.

Hence, the need to "make" myself sit down and sew.

Because I'll feel better if I can just FINISH something.

ANYTHING

Especially if it's something that's been staring at me forever, begging me to like it again, or at least endure it long enough to finish it, so it can go on to have a life, even if it's not with me.

After she left, I sat myself down, pulled out my interfacing (shoot, I'm almost out of the stuff), cut out my pieces (I should really really really do the interfacing parts right when I cut out the rest...), ironed them on, and plunged in with both feet.

I did the darts (front and back), and sewed up the shoulder and side seams before the bobbin ran out. (That's always a good place to stop for the night, ladies. Fill the bobbin again before you shut down the operation, but give yourself permission to stop sewing.)

Not bad for an evening.

*I'm making the one shown in yellow on the pattern, with the cute little bows on the sleeves. At least, I hope that's the one I'm making. I didn't cut out the bias to make the little bows, apparently, so now I've got to locate the leftovers.*

(Please ignore the orange flame print in the lower right corner. That's just a possible "something else" sitting on my workspace, along with all the rest of the stuff you can see behind and around the beginnings of my new blouse. If I had to clean this place up before I could snap a picture of my WIP, you'd never get to see any pictures. Seriously.)

From Charlotte Russe Shoes, to Walt Disney Zebras...

You never know what you'll find at Deseret Industries.

(anyone else remember those ads?)

SSS Outfits, Week 3

Wed, 15th, wearing my "tablecloth" skirt. It's got pockets! I didn't make it from a tablecloth, it just looks kind of like one to me. Made this so many years ago, the only reason it fits now is the elastic waist in back.

I made these earrings, too. They're paper! They were just plain white paper, and they've yellowed and crinkled some over the years. I have a whole book on how to make paper jewelry.

Thu, 16th, wearing my much-worn basic black pants. The only work-worthy pants I've made that aren't part of a suit. They have a high waist, and a hidden zip up the center back. I was making them to wear to a party, and I ran short of time, so I used double-stick tape to do the hems. They stayed that way for years, through many washings, before I finally stitched the hems. Love these pants.

Friday, 17th, in one of my most fab outfits ever. This one happened because of a shopping trip to Sears. There was this evening ensemble consisting of a floor-length black dress, slit up to the thigh, with a green jacket over it. It looked great, but where would I wear it? Mom and I headed for the fabric store, and found the perfect pattern, and the perfect green fabric for the jacket. I used my skills to make bound buttonholes on the jacket. (McCalls 8547, oop) All-in-all, this outfit was even better than the one from Sears, and I could wear it to work.

Saturday, 18th, on my way to a brunch Pie Party with my family. I made the cute stripey overalls, the yellow top (repeat from last Saturday), the pie basket, and the Bad Baby Pie. Bought the striped fabric because it reminded me of the apron my dad always wore to make breakfast. Not sure if the apron is still in service, but dad still makes pancakes most Saturday mornings. (come on over, there's plenty!)
Also made the necklace, which almost deserves it's own post. We went up to Blackhawk to watch a meteor shower, and found tons of seed beads spilled under the picnic table. Not only that, there were lengths of fishing line to string them on. We were groveling in the dirt under the table when the campground host came around to collect the fees. I'm sure he thought we were crazy. We went home with the coolest souvenirs ever!

Sunday, 19th. This dress makes me feel young, no idea why. I made it in polished cotton, which I've found doesn't require an iron, on the whole, which means I love it beyond reason. (Also wearing one of my scrabble tile slides.)

Monday, 20th, in my slinky knit dress. I expect to make more in this pattern, or at least make the top. I figured I'd need an undershirt for this, that the neckline would plunge too low, so I spent weeks searching for that just-right grey/blue color to go under this. Turns out, I didn't need it.
It was windy that morning, hence the flippy bangs. Also, this was the first time I'd encountered anyone else outside while I posed for my daily photo, so I was feeling a bit awkward.

Tues, 21st, wearing one of my very favorites. There was barely enough fabric to make this linen dress, after I pieced it for the back. The jacket was made from a remnant of pique, again, not enough, and I had to use a plain white for the undercollar, and also shorten the length, just to get the jacket. Bought the shoes years later, at Charlotte Russe. Before that, I wore this with red shoes, which worked unless I wanted to take the jacket off, and then it just looked odd. Wish you could see the earrings. They're daisies, about 3/4" diameter, and fairly realistic. From an antique shop. Wish I had a ring to match.

Wed, 22nd. I wore this suit when I interviewed, where I still work today, over 15 years ago. It was new then, but it's held up pretty well over the years. Never needs an iron! M7823 (from the 90's).
Incidentally, this could be the last time this month you see me in pants on a workday. I hesitate to repeat anything, and this is my last pants-suit. Getting real tired of shaving my legs every day, but most of what I have left is skirts. Might need to spend some time in the sewing room soon.