Namaste, 2012

No longer breathless
Now trying to breathe more deeply
Now breathing more deeply
Weaving my thoughts
Thanks, Jude
Namaste

Breathlessly Continuing HMH

Hand-made Holidays (HMH) continue. One more gift done: PJs for DD.

Despite my enthusiasm for garment sewing, I have rarely succeeded in making satisfactory clothes for DD. Her wedding dress was a happy exception.

Part of my problem is that she is petite and slim. Slim is pretty easy. Petite is not, especially without the benefit of several fitting sessions.

Undaunted I continue trying to sew for DD with these very simple pajamas. McCall's 5992 includes unisex pajama pieces. I made a camp shirt style top and pull-on pants with a combination of elastic and draw-string.

The fabric is a super soft cotton flannel from Tiny Stitches, a local quilt store, in coordinating prints. It was such a pleasure to sew.







The pattern is ho-hum, especially now that I am spoiled by drafting, illustrations, and instructions from Louise Cutting.  I adapted some favorite techniques from her including the addition of a back facing, steps for the collar attachment, and lots of top-stitching.

DD is too slim for my dress form.

I now realize that I should've simply used Louise's version of the camp shirt and her one-seams.

Now if these just fit...

Hand-made Holidays

Here Comes the Sun

Just finished a few more gifts. I've now said good-bye to each.

The first one is a very small piece. It is 5x7, with a cotton twill background, and a paper-pieced quasi-color-wheel made from batik scraps. The face is linen.

I added some rays of light using various embroidery threads. Then I slipped a 5x7 piece of cardboard inside and added a silk dupioni bias binding at the bottom.

It was made as part of an exchange in my fiber art group. I received a lovely snowy mountain scene in the exchange, but need to ask permission before showing it here.

Guitar Quartet

Next up is a small quilt that took f.o.r.e.v.e.r.  Or nearly.

This is from a pattern designed by Robbi Joy Eklow, a phenomenal quilt artist. I added the piano keys but the rest is hers.

I've had this pattern in my stash for a number of years, thinking it would be perfect for DS. He is a former basement, sometime club rock n roll guitar performer, now adult.

Eklow's work is primarily fused but I just cannot warm up to the idea of gluing fabric much. Mine is hand-appliqued.

Wristlet 

As usual, there were learning opportunities. This is code for I-screwed-up.

Last up is the little coin purse made for DGD1. She selected this polyester brocade at a big box store when she and I were out shopping one time. I brought it home wondering what I would ever do with it. It wasn't so bad to sew, not nearly so bad as I imagined it would be.

It is self lined with an inside zipper pocket. The button closure is one of those hair elastics. The chain was left over from my Coco jacket project. And the silk dupioni binding came from stash.

I still  have at least three more hand-made items in the mental queue, but my hand-made-gift ambitions are beginning to cut into my selfish sewing. So we'll see...

Friends I Haven't Met (Yet)

One phenomenon of the Internet is that we sewers get acquainted with like-minded souls, some of whom live thousands of miles away. In fact, if you are reading this, you *might* be one of those friends.

Recently I had a happy experience with just such a friend. I had admired a particular T shirt she made and blogged about here. I just fell head over heels in love with the fabric (and the pattern she chose and the way it looks on her).

So...

She offered to buy some fabric for me since I live about 1000 miles from the store. Seriously, what a friend in need, and friend in deed.

Initially I just could not see taking her up on that kind offer. I called the store where she bought the divine fabric, and encountered customer-no-service. Evidently they specialize in that, as well as divine fabric.

I even tried email to the store, sending them a picture of the needed fabric. Luddites.

So...

I took ArtAttack up on her selfless offer(*). And the fabric arrived recently. I haven't cut into it yet, but I have it out in my sewing studio where it can be properly admired.

Aren't Internet friends just amazing?

* Oh, and I take full responsibility for her additional purchase the day she bought my fabric. She has already made something luscious with it. So now, maybe I need some of that fabric too...

'Tis the Season

It happens every year. Soon after Thanksgiving, I become light-headed and a little too happy.

Yes, I find myself thinking, this year I will make my gifts.

For a week or two I am oh so perky about it all. I make a gift or two and I'm pleased.

Beware. I'm in that stage right now.

I just finished a jewelry bag for DDIL. After a recent trip, I heard her say to DS, "I really need a jewelry bag." So I mouthed to my son I'LL MAKE IT. He nodded and filed it away.

Well, here it is. And I like it. I hope she does too.

The process was fun too. It reminded me of a programming exercise I used to assign so students could learn a bit about recursion. I had to back into it. I pictured it from the outside in, but had to construct it from the inside out.

I might post the dimensions and/or the directions in case anyone is interested, or maybe just for me. Next time I'll have to reinvent it, otherwise.

It has some cool features like little linen tubes that earrings can easily pierce, and the straps also allow her to secure a necklace by weaving it through the linen tubes. The two zippered end pockets allow her to see what's inside.

The only challenge was to avoid over-stitching and then causing the perforated plastic to separate. I think it's OK.

If I make it again, I might make it larger.

AIM - vesty

with TSW trio Tee

When Cutting Line Design's Artist In Motion (AIM) arrived, I thought I would start with the tunic. I'm still intrigued with shirts and I'm still taking Pam Howard's online course over on Craftsy.

But the vesty just kept rising to the top of the sewing queue, along with this Japanese cotton I purchased from Louise Cutting at an ASG event (Augusta, maybe?).

Plus, after reading through the directions, I thought this might be almost instant gratification. It wasn't instant but it was very gratifying.

It seems that I always purchase too little fabric, especially when it comes to something special. So I found that using the purchased 1 and 1/3 yard of 45 inch fabric required special maneuvers. The pattern envelope calls for 2 yards of 45 inch fabric.

I do love this kind of challenge. I'm thinking that's why I buy too little. Maybe. And I'm cheap.

with CLD's TBP

I was about to give up on this fabric for the vest when I remembered that Japanese designers sometimes place the selvage so that it shows. It is a kind-of designer's signature (chop), I think. And this is a pretty selvage.

So I cut the back as two pieces, each with the center on the selvage, overlapped the two selvages and stitched together. Since this is not a wash-and-wear item, I don't think the selvage will cause any drape issues. At the end, I added a little sashiko and some French knots to the back to highlight this.

I used radiance as the interlining and love it. It may become my go-to lining. So user-friendly with its blend of cotton and silk. It's a little pricey for lining though, so it probably won't become my lining go-to.

The binding is bias silk dupioni, always a favorite fabric for binding.

The vesty goes with several items I already have, including CLD's blouse perfected and TSW trio Tee. Now I'm ready to make the tunic, I think, in a light-weight coordinating corduroy.

But first a muslin of the tunic so that I can tweak the fit a bit. BTW, this vest is one-size-fits-most. How fun is that?

Artist In Motion arrival

My *named* Cutting Line Designs pattern arrived today.

I have been anxiously awaiting its arrival. I always anxiously await the arrival of new CLD patterns, now that I am on auto-ship and follow Louise over on Artisan's Square.

But this is different. I got to name the pattern and supply some details for the lovely little story that always accompanies one of Louise's patterns:

Sightseeing in her relaxed tunic, Martha was keen to experience the Shinkansen Bullet Train from Tokyo to Kyoto. Weather permitting, they would have a splendid view of Mt. Fuji en route. After lunch at the Miyako Hotel, Julie knew her tunic and softly draped over-vest were perfect for biking in Kyoto, with visits to the Sanjusangendo Hall and Kiyomizu Buddhist temple.

The back story: over on Artisan's Square, Louise asked if we wanted to help her name future patterns. And, of course, we did! There were lots of cool names so a vote was cast and my name came in second.

L to R: striped linen, Japanese cotton, radiance lining, burnt orange corduroy, AIM

Now I have the fun of making these two clever pieces.

And I think I have just the right fabric. I have this light-weight burnt orange corduroy. I'm thinking it would be perfect for the over-vest. Or maybe combine it with some of Louise's Japanese cotton that I have been hoarding for a while has been aging nicely in my stash.