tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19725968655113896202024-03-14T03:43:24.085-04:00The Sewing SpotA little spot of fabric and pattern stashing, planning, and sewing.sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.comBlogger141125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-14564040244251627442015-04-14T19:42:00.000-04:002015-04-14T19:42:07.414-04:00Swimsuits<i>After a long hiatus and much thought, I do think I'll continue to blog. I like having a record of my sewing. Real life does get in the way, and I suppose I'll never get over hating working on pictures so I guess that means that I'll never be a super regular blogger. However, so many sewing bloggers have stopped, and I know I really miss reading what they wrote and seeing what they sewed!</i><br />
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<i>I've actually been sewing rather a lot (for me), and had begun a few posts. I think I'll finish those posts and catch up with what I've made this year. </i><br />
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Towards the end of last year (2014), I made more swimsuits for our vacation:<br />
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I promised dd the elder that I would not make her another swimsuits. And I haven't. Instead, I sewed some for the much less cranky and infinitely more compliant and friendly, dd the younger. First, we discussed the fabrics we had available:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o0mTnw-k_P3gUiOG3GmrFTUTh5-UcgFnREl6DMllf_RjYQELGyJbpLs56htrpU5SBGJWSJVfR9HEpRGT4Z8OMAcWKxMZtKF09kG8ugq06e3G9aJ6UaYwwB_ImF_O1h78514T5bzZp0rM/s1600/DSCN0854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o0mTnw-k_P3gUiOG3GmrFTUTh5-UcgFnREl6DMllf_RjYQELGyJbpLs56htrpU5SBGJWSJVfR9HEpRGT4Z8OMAcWKxMZtKF09kG8ugq06e3G9aJ6UaYwwB_ImF_O1h78514T5bzZp0rM/s1600/DSCN0854.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then I printed some croquis from the Threads website for her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoORCLahZXm4E1q9NDsivftTRPyULHODtEk4X9xZX7aZTGt8ROzLRLufl1IfGb93BY4y_FCstdainxteRdwIkRMloAqPHNhqCTB1VRXby3HdX5HsX8gzhvEWbHDRN6hWirSCDIN3kUwig/s1600/IMG_20140805_162637_142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoORCLahZXm4E1q9NDsivftTRPyULHODtEk4X9xZX7aZTGt8ROzLRLufl1IfGb93BY4y_FCstdainxteRdwIkRMloAqPHNhqCTB1VRXby3HdX5HsX8gzhvEWbHDRN6hWirSCDIN3kUwig/s1600/IMG_20140805_162637_142.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She had a very good time illustrating her ideas!</td></tr>
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The croquis was a lot of fun and very useful for me to follow as I sewed. A prototype was in order though because it had been two years since I made a swimsuit pattern, and at her age kids grow fast. There don't seem to be many swimsuit patterns available so I just sort of used my last pattern as a jumping point and kept drawing and changing and comparing sizing until it seemed right. Then I tried it out in bright pink and some really wild stuff--leftovers from previous suits. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-xWiZ_O6eIwZq8Wi5BBW5BRmNUlM96OoMcg6avNKhzi4aA4GdRrj0V0OSCndcij7FAPHAx3-auQmoInSSc6mvBoGlZoghaMf3i-fH3eqS_uanTL5QKxiCo2oWa5gA_8hlgin4l20tJHI/s1600/IMG_20140807_210737_372.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-xWiZ_O6eIwZq8Wi5BBW5BRmNUlM96OoMcg6avNKhzi4aA4GdRrj0V0OSCndcij7FAPHAx3-auQmoInSSc6mvBoGlZoghaMf3i-fH3eqS_uanTL5QKxiCo2oWa5gA_8hlgin4l20tJHI/s1600/IMG_20140807_210737_372.jpg" height="320" width="192" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild prototype at the bottom. The blue pieces are mix and match separates.</td></tr>
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Sadly, I do not have a single picture of these being worn! The blue pieces were a lot of fun--there's a basic tank top with a flounce along the bottom and a halter style top with a solid blue band. One of the bottoms is a plain fitted variety with a solid band at the top while the other bottom is skirted (and her fave!).<br />
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<i>So there you have it! I've done a bit of catching up from last year--only one post left to do and I can see about 2015!</i><br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-53657603956273880782014-08-29T09:43:00.002-04:002014-08-29T09:43:55.316-04:00Maximizing Use of Fabric<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Earlier this summer...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yes, I made another t-shirt! I used the same pattern (of course), and changed the neckline. I rotated the dart to the center front and gathered the fabric. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK1uKy5Mk802QXxKN02Wz3-9x8szIEiwoI3m6rgocOyy83aT3J9LU7kRs3Hm15PbRwgKC8Z9G_6Kkz1Hw6wnJxtHZKYpc7cVe7dz4mb9u0ohmpLAsYc31_eP0E-BZ0ObH1EfcD754dDHU/s1600/IMG_20140410_152707_345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIK1uKy5Mk802QXxKN02Wz3-9x8szIEiwoI3m6rgocOyy83aT3J9LU7kRs3Hm15PbRwgKC8Z9G_6Kkz1Hw6wnJxtHZKYpc7cVe7dz4mb9u0ohmpLAsYc31_eP0E-BZ0ObH1EfcD754dDHU/s1600/IMG_20140410_152707_345.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Short sleeves for the season--perfect! Or so I thought...sigh.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I found this fabric at another shop about an hour or so away. This shop used to have more dressmaking fabrics and has gone quilty. I managed to find this knit--the selvage says it's by Moda--must be ancient! It is very soft and thick. I actually had enough left over to eek out a tank top, too. I had to shorten the bottom in order to squeeze on the pattern, but I don't think it's too short. This will be nice for the beach, and hot summer days working outside.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY2yoVTijPJdnYF6bCHZPX-5BvReQ_0-aySvzF3g0qHnP0HbY0Jf5bJkItpQA2SmgdnLqh71zUCJ2x1blXsOd0f93kO8v_7ReBOfPeqWdS1flVJM4rtgt5rf41IzGKg9Sc8rQ1m1IES1u/s1600/IMG_20140826_095352_386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpY2yoVTijPJdnYF6bCHZPX-5BvReQ_0-aySvzF3g0qHnP0HbY0Jf5bJkItpQA2SmgdnLqh71zUCJ2x1blXsOd0f93kO8v_7ReBOfPeqWdS1flVJM4rtgt5rf41IzGKg9Sc8rQ1m1IES1u/s1600/IMG_20140826_095352_386.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I need to take out the back straps and resew because they don't quite line up with my bra straps. Not sure it's worth doing though.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apologies for the very blurry photos! My photographer wasn't feeling cooperative at all--I guess I wasn't feeling overly cooperative either because of these T's. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am standing on a slight slope, too which has given me bad posture:(</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The best part:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I used nearly every last bit of fabric! yay!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now for the worst part: This fabric has worn horribly. I loved both tops after making them. After wearing the short sleeved t-shirt twice, the third time (which was not a charm) I noticed that the shoulders weren't right. When I made the shirt, they sat perfectly on me. Now they were overhanging just a bit. Being optimistic, I thought washing might help. But no. It's only gotten worse. This was one of the rare times when I decided to not put elastic in the shoulders--big no no. When I took Sarah Veblen's knit class in the fall she had suggested letting knits be knits, and that we don't always need to do extra things to them to make them behave. However, in this case I don't think elastic would've mattered. The tank top is growing sideways...and I've noticed the T is doing the same thing. Really, my midsection is not <i>that</i> big!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Oh well. Work or lounge wear? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway,I have really been enjoying making t-shirts, so now I am always on the lookout for nice knits. One of our ASG chapter members wore a really neat wrap to a recent meeting made from a knit from Nancy's Notions. It was really soft and looked elegant on her. She had embellished hers using a stencil with some fabric paints--I don't think I'll get that wild. However, one of the things I really liked about the wrap was its simplicity and ease of sewing. Since we now have a youth neighborhood group within our guild, I am always looking for projects for them to do in a limited amount of time. So I bought a kit from Nancy's Notions to test the wrap out and see if it will work for the kids to make. That might be a bit of a challenge since it requires buttonholes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anyway, I got wild with my order from them. While I cannot say great things about delivery--what is with mail order delivery these days??? Slower than molasses in January--I can say that my order was delightfully packaged. The fabrics were even identified with their manufacturer's location. Two of my fabrics came from Canada, one from the U.S., and one from China. I don't recollect seeing that on labels at the Joann's stores, but I really liked it, and thought it was interesting. The fabrics in my kit were not labelled, but I would assume that they were from Canada as that's where the other knits from a similar category came from.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">At this point, I haven't gotten into this order or my EmmaOneSock purchase. Instead, I've worked madly on some dresses and swimsuits. And now I've committed to making a 6-PAC. I'm in the process of redrawing my t-shirt pattern yet again. Let's see if I can't get caught up blogging!</span>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-49142874125654746582014-08-01T17:30:00.000-04:002014-08-01T17:30:00.519-04:00A Little Shopping at Emma One Sock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Early this year I was thrilled to receive a gift certificate to Emma One Sock!!! Yay! Then much hand wringing ensued. What to choose??? Things that had looked great earlier in the year weren't there any more. Things that kept appearing as new listings weren't appealing to me. Finally, everything clicked after many browsing sessions--which, after all, were half the fun! Perfect for a gift!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZO1QGL9_ub-dZbErri6_Y69Vn_HBuLhAIq2kbwQAjDCK4Ggu9LI9g5pXYgKaFnJVOodlpYMKprdAp3ZA9rQe61tyluw1sLur_Cg_Y_VSH0tH9_MbiHN4NxV3wr-mYt6Q7ajhQ_gJvZhV/s1600/DSCN2483.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZO1QGL9_ub-dZbErri6_Y69Vn_HBuLhAIq2kbwQAjDCK4Ggu9LI9g5pXYgKaFnJVOodlpYMKprdAp3ZA9rQe61tyluw1sLur_Cg_Y_VSH0tH9_MbiHN4NxV3wr-mYt6Q7ajhQ_gJvZhV/s1600/DSCN2483.JPG" height="320" width="308" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 fabrics.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwjVaI6ni36rLwehECs2f_Af0kHPyNLNj2_zXsSvlhz2Yqc5BFRn99IYSmcFp9FyB43O4wS9JabM1AAddCP4D6mExhMGICQDAJVPVAb4F2yPExIvyl91tJixQ3MYiTPF2HbY6T-AbTyrt/s1600/DSCN2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwjVaI6ni36rLwehECs2f_Af0kHPyNLNj2_zXsSvlhz2Yqc5BFRn99IYSmcFp9FyB43O4wS9JabM1AAddCP4D6mExhMGICQDAJVPVAb4F2yPExIvyl91tJixQ3MYiTPF2HbY6T-AbTyrt/s1600/DSCN2485.JPG" height="252" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 knits destined to be a skirt using the solid as a plain t-shirt and the Sandra Betzina skirt pattern shown below:</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGqXdi-QY1r7JzdZreTjWbbvZYIW7a-2j1sUIhcgBlMiUHTYHNfDRzkR3eUqH0PRYG7yo8b0CvQpyUfJ7rhwW8PbOFP012YO_D62qFeRvbuL8s69WpT9JlQPZpQb-dgaDfb1HYnRZU9NZ/s1600/V1292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGqXdi-QY1r7JzdZreTjWbbvZYIW7a-2j1sUIhcgBlMiUHTYHNfDRzkR3eUqH0PRYG7yo8b0CvQpyUfJ7rhwW8PbOFP012YO_D62qFeRvbuL8s69WpT9JlQPZpQb-dgaDfb1HYnRZU9NZ/s1600/V1292.jpg" height="200" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vogue 1292</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq54xXOixOGhU-YmdQNy-eT7ZWf6_Vu4f083G3DrlJLY0bCJQhZSa3pA903wucVAxAAgkLpIx9P3sHiHx3mhwMA_Zo1bU6te8oyb2lbFHfZO2xWse8Y9aIIcoV3OyLZ2ypQS-gjpW3xtF/s1600/DSCN2490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDq54xXOixOGhU-YmdQNy-eT7ZWf6_Vu4f083G3DrlJLY0bCJQhZSa3pA903wucVAxAAgkLpIx9P3sHiHx3mhwMA_Zo1bU6te8oyb2lbFHfZO2xWse8Y9aIIcoV3OyLZ2ypQS-gjpW3xtF/s1600/DSCN2490.JPG" height="225" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our sewing guild is having a denim challenge this year. Jeans or a dress???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8MxnEWaXcOY_jYzqlzWjD5L0NcUu8v9b7lItgkxfWUZpCLZNpLNCezUsJz9SL11SR_qn8fkXz1rfGbRViThUqJvs9Hnnqn9d3AbN7eD4YBrLbucbd8ol6R6pFxIMqlzVfTRQUowP7hbU/s1600/DSCN2486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp8MxnEWaXcOY_jYzqlzWjD5L0NcUu8v9b7lItgkxfWUZpCLZNpLNCezUsJz9SL11SR_qn8fkXz1rfGbRViThUqJvs9Hnnqn9d3AbN7eD4YBrLbucbd8ol6R6pFxIMqlzVfTRQUowP7hbU/s1600/DSCN2486.JPG" height="109" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some really pretty fabric--radiant orchid--in a rayon/lycra. T-shirt for sure! Can't wait! I don't think the color shows up well here...</td></tr>
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As always, I am verrrry slow about getting things sewn up. But knits are so easy that I think this won't wait too long! And this year I am determined to work on making at least 2 pairs of jeans for the fall/winter.sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-34144235865612538372014-07-29T18:52:00.001-04:002014-07-29T19:02:32.552-04:00Another McCall 5615 and Simplicity 8550As I mentioned in a previous<a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2014/06/mccall-5615-and-simplicity-8550.html" target="_blank"> post</a>, I had another version of these patterns I wanted to make for dd. This outfit will be the last from these patterns at least for this year. How many matching capri outfits does a girl need for one summer?<br />
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I used fabrics purchased from <a href="http://www.sewitup.com/" target="_blank">Sew It Up</a>. They have really cute kits on their website, so I ordered this from them, minus the pattern because I had similar ones already. At this point I cannot remember what patterns they suggested?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl3yOee4rA4T2cp92O0TP8b_wcBEJuj5UUII-eGikX7v9QfgXw8LZAYfBUbeAW1GnC1G0PskenOShc4tDOhSXq2uq059G1M9qJyBZqmtY2NDdGFivrpyO5UO__nlObsnKBSIUNe3bZj3W/s1600/IMG_20140610_173345_544-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisl3yOee4rA4T2cp92O0TP8b_wcBEJuj5UUII-eGikX7v9QfgXw8LZAYfBUbeAW1GnC1G0PskenOShc4tDOhSXq2uq059G1M9qJyBZqmtY2NDdGFivrpyO5UO__nlObsnKBSIUNe3bZj3W/s1600/IMG_20140610_173345_544-1.jpg" height="400" width="163" /></a></div>
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The top is a straightforward sew, but I still dislike the floppy waist. On this version I ran 3 columns of stitching down it to hold the gathers in place. The seersucker, if it was a plain cotton or a poly/cotton blend, would've behaved nicely. As it was the seersucker was a cotton/lycra blend so it had a little "sproing" about it. The gathers aren't as nice as I might have wished, but they aren't terrible either (unless I point them out to you!).<br />
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The bubble fabric in contrast to the seersucker is an ultra crispy densely woven 100% cotton--rather nice. Both fabrics are something I never would've found around here. It was a case where it was really nice to have bought a kit. I had plenty of fabric to work with or around since I did line the upper bodice with some plain white batiste. The kit should've been made up a few years ago...in which case the slight fabric improvisation would not have been necessary. On the other hand, the bubbles might've shown through so I probably would've done the same thing.<br />
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Here are some pictures of the outfit in action during our sewing guild's first ever sewing camp!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3LRxPUdobRHjZKYaZamklBqVrSbb6lF9jHRAblFQ02cbK7WJeg4exEqeXB_YZTr0MuFEk4HhfP5s6is-bnqOcd5gPjXP74G7AF9J_nTFI6sL2O9XhG3pFe1gugdni5855YpymGlibq1R/s1600/10350407_482940658475779_1607978882520937993_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3LRxPUdobRHjZKYaZamklBqVrSbb6lF9jHRAblFQ02cbK7WJeg4exEqeXB_YZTr0MuFEk4HhfP5s6is-bnqOcd5gPjXP74G7AF9J_nTFI6sL2O9XhG3pFe1gugdni5855YpymGlibq1R/s1600/10350407_482940658475779_1607978882520937993_n.jpg" height="320" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on lounge pants.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5w-ISilKB6PCqRnIM0Hi3jxr_uLo_fR8MgPVGQiPKnQ5kUwWk-nSw7fG6KSHzjnAr_-TYpxYDmx09Q6PzleVuNC3mNAakToiEt5Pqu7YtQp6QVe_0uowML1bD9tyaIOckoFYehbz5Q0C/s1600/10478154_482940528475792_1532315353575659948_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5w-ISilKB6PCqRnIM0Hi3jxr_uLo_fR8MgPVGQiPKnQ5kUwWk-nSw7fG6KSHzjnAr_-TYpxYDmx09Q6PzleVuNC3mNAakToiEt5Pqu7YtQp6QVe_0uowML1bD9tyaIOckoFYehbz5Q0C/s1600/10478154_482940528475792_1532315353575659948_n.jpg" height="320" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrible posture...but the back does hang very nicely. </td></tr>
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To accurately place the second row of elastic, I cheated and ironed on some lightweight fusible interfacing from <a href="http://www.emmaseabrooke.com/" target="_blank">SewKeysE</a>. It was a quick and easy way to align the bias tape on the back to hold the elastic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsg5M8zkyZpSk9NZHcuo4rNBfj3wcU1BktbzzvH8LRFVlALUxZUGiq3tx0kP2SNG1I7xPmQtBgZiiQ-OtFthgO9GPy2OanHdjfqACHVMN1HT3a19_GReKPm3a7RgGahP1Vu7pfc4frdkG/s1600/IMG_20140605_113042_866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsg5M8zkyZpSk9NZHcuo4rNBfj3wcU1BktbzzvH8LRFVlALUxZUGiq3tx0kP2SNG1I7xPmQtBgZiiQ-OtFthgO9GPy2OanHdjfqACHVMN1HT3a19_GReKPm3a7RgGahP1Vu7pfc4frdkG/s1600/IMG_20140605_113042_866.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<i>Edited to add a photo with her standing up straight for a back view!</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfBXyEV_7ZMtZIIMzwN37Fggz02GD4BVArhc1WVKzr7NfzM-JlAhSqSrTSDHbmBts6va197VOLDwSEzmQBV-JlMpqK0y_-7953ioRD4q7aKQ9dfzj9Bh9pG6dqSZq7VuIIDU3sclan8Ga/s1600/DSCN2299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfBXyEV_7ZMtZIIMzwN37Fggz02GD4BVArhc1WVKzr7NfzM-JlAhSqSrTSDHbmBts6va197VOLDwSEzmQBV-JlMpqK0y_-7953ioRD4q7aKQ9dfzj9Bh9pG6dqSZq7VuIIDU3sclan8Ga/s1600/DSCN2299.JPG" height="320" width="111" /></a></div>
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After I made the lavender set, I noticed that dd's could use some adjustments. My other dd never needed any adjustments, and I suppose since it's been awhile since I've sewed for this dd I just didn't think about it. For the pants, I had to scoop out the back then add the same to the crotch seam. I also added some height to the top of the back pants--she has a huge problem with pants/jeans sliding down when she bends or sits. Rather frustrating for us both. This adjustment (which I should've photographed) seems to have worked really well for her.<br />
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The rest of this summer has largely been spent sewing for me! Yay! More later.<br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-13235889916477301022014-06-12T17:30:00.000-04:002014-06-12T17:30:00.227-04:00A Little Shopping: Chadwick's HeirloomsOn a recent trip to Richmond, I had the opportunity to visit a couple of fabric stores. Unfortunately, one of them seemed to keep casual hours so I didn't get to shop. Oh well.<br />
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However, I thoroughly enjoyed my excursion to <a href="http://www.chadwickheirlooms.com/" target="_blank">Chadwick's Heirlooms</a>! They are on the west side of Richmond in a large building that's sharing space with an antique store. They carry a huge supply of fabrics, patterns, laces, and everything heirloom sewing--plus a great selection of quilting cotton. However, they also had some other things like twills and beautiful floral cotton lawns like Liberty prints and others. Those florals were a huge temptation, but since I didn't have anything in particular in mind for them I didn't buy any.<br />
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I did buy a navy twill (shorts/pants), a bunch of Imperial batiste in white (just to have on hand), 2 patterns (<a href="http://www.chadwickheirlooms.com/products/trisha" target="_blank">Trisha by Maja's Heirlooms</a> and the <a href="http://oliverands.com/oliver-and-s-patterns/OLV-OS039PW.html" target="_blank">Pinwheel Tunic & Slip Dress </a>by Oliver + S), and a pincushion. Not much to say about anything but the pincushion. It's not like I needed another one, but this one is a wrist one and it fits! Its armband is leather and very soft. My wrists are pretty small so finding something comfortable and that fits can be challenging. It's my first one ever for my wrist, and I think I will really like it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1HkfNyAM8sE9wHNXcSaIqqRbgT2PNbZFWi0_PaT4n74XavtGy1an6bik5482JDZXdVhfyi0Z-OoviMjSbdtu9tHfGxeuUmVey29uHNnGEwz9dj7Mffs45iPD1b3zlw5V8ySZqp82MLyg/s1600/Pincushion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1HkfNyAM8sE9wHNXcSaIqqRbgT2PNbZFWi0_PaT4n74XavtGy1an6bik5482JDZXdVhfyi0Z-OoviMjSbdtu9tHfGxeuUmVey29uHNnGEwz9dj7Mffs45iPD1b3zlw5V8ySZqp82MLyg/s1600/Pincushion.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pincushion by <a href="http://www.considinecreations.com/pincushions.htm" target="_blank">Considine Creations</a></td></tr>
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I think Chadwick's has such an extensive selection of fabrics, that even if you are not an heirloom sewer you will find something to love! <br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-47097252800492707982014-06-10T07:30:00.000-04:002014-06-10T07:30:00.266-04:00Sweet ZipsIn my last post I mentioned alternating something easy with something hard. After making the lavender outfit for dd, I decided to make some small zippered bags that the ASG youth will be sewing later this year. It helps me as the organizer to see how difficult/easy a project will be. The <a href="http://www.quiltingconnect.com/" target="_blank">store</a>, Creative Quilting Connection, where the youth meet have kits made up with all the supplies needed including instructions and 1 zipper (you have to buy 2 more because the kits will make 3 of the bags).<br />
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I made 2 Sweet Zips. You can find a link <a href="http://www.atkinsondesigns.com/atkinson-designs-free-pattens.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> and another <a href="http://terryatkinson.typepad.com/atkinsondesigns/2010/10/tgif.html" target="_blank">here</a> with downloadable instructions. It is an easy sewing project, and the pattern is meticulous about making sure the insides are all finished.<br />
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They are super cute and super small! I think this will be a good way to get over fear of zipper insertions for the kids, too.<br />
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Here are mine:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38qzmW8z7OMOVnk-GWv1FOVAnZV8jMTqIyD4fjXlnAQdHsGtr4K4YOL_accWNiomMAKIpKUpkhxQzoF1uY2iN-0CbW37PEUDFrkYyCOUWhRb6bCVsYtcNd6jkdbn07MkohMwBIx21QrX9/s1600/IMG_20140605_101036_407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38qzmW8z7OMOVnk-GWv1FOVAnZV8jMTqIyD4fjXlnAQdHsGtr4K4YOL_accWNiomMAKIpKUpkhxQzoF1uY2iN-0CbW37PEUDFrkYyCOUWhRb6bCVsYtcNd6jkdbn07MkohMwBIx21QrX9/s1600/IMG_20140605_101036_407.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they tiny?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dieofXfLc22Nlt3MRl6ykh2huBFymhDBXevSt_G2FU5afRFbbpgcBnZRK5-47PGPlJA3UH6HnTjFmxib7OS0azNAM6uZUu4RoDv36PfRbsGe_Liqaqhd_95YGzLtFNUU0Lrc41bPPSA4/s1600/IMG_20140605_101055_776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dieofXfLc22Nlt3MRl6ykh2huBFymhDBXevSt_G2FU5afRFbbpgcBnZRK5-47PGPlJA3UH6HnTjFmxib7OS0azNAM6uZUu4RoDv36PfRbsGe_Liqaqhd_95YGzLtFNUU0Lrc41bPPSA4/s1600/IMG_20140605_101055_776.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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I still have 2 more of each kind to make. The fabric is already quilted and ready to go, but I needed to buy more zippers.<br />
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Here is an inside view:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW2bARdf6gdZ8zDDw5C8apbM9Lo4fvVluzZusSy8o0zaQS-O9Op8AeyialMGhiwAm1ej4QUqCRNqY-rLKyiV3i0b7RGz_7rVmj1JdN72GjbtUfXvu2lEl_7EUarOWLsF8U22DBv2tWUB1/s1600/IMG_20140605_101008_035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKW2bARdf6gdZ8zDDw5C8apbM9Lo4fvVluzZusSy8o0zaQS-O9Op8AeyialMGhiwAm1ej4QUqCRNqY-rLKyiV3i0b7RGz_7rVmj1JdN72GjbtUfXvu2lEl_7EUarOWLsF8U22DBv2tWUB1/s1600/IMG_20140605_101008_035.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Makes them look mangled!</td></tr>
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-9969640526910057172014-06-05T12:49:00.001-04:002014-06-05T12:49:35.202-04:00McCall 5615 and Simplicity 8550<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Lately, I've been sewing more. A lot more. Combining an easy sew followed by something more time consuming makes me feel like a lot has been accomplished. </span></div>
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Anyway, this is a more involved sew for youngest dd. This fabric was selected by and purchased for her older sister to get an outfit which never happened. I had bought some lavender raw silk and a printed quilting cotton intending to make Simplicity 8550 princess seam top and cropped pants. The raw silk was a bargain price because there was a fade mark down the middle of the 1 yard piece. I think I had planned to use the cotton for the pants and the silk for the top.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfoASjAH1fV93-0mzqQZfUEhLisSH_TpYdJerjM6k9fTe3J09iYE-1FGpgMg7o9MWdFRmKfYnnJzAXIuscx5Gd1kgUvmN57IB0s1fm0P40WQW3xuWDbBwBFY-abvDR3RIPebCghiKTSxs/s1600/IMG_20140601_141206_960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyfoASjAH1fV93-0mzqQZfUEhLisSH_TpYdJerjM6k9fTe3J09iYE-1FGpgMg7o9MWdFRmKfYnnJzAXIuscx5Gd1kgUvmN57IB0s1fm0P40WQW3xuWDbBwBFY-abvDR3RIPebCghiKTSxs/s1600/IMG_20140601_141206_960.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
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Youngest dd liked a different top pattern--McCall 5615 View A--so we went with that instead. Still did the Simplicity pants though because they were much narrower. The ones from McCall were quite roomy looking.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdEAPZPlnT0VqVXRNk5QulnBL5n_9LQV6CVI9eNGP6urgOKNwsm4npU-k-4CAaACwpA7ZbNrqTVMu0L4_8kv610ZTTO-Sy4aB0Ee_CVFtHoYiYnTiyzqj5FPRMJnfJ__XH-xy0kHJNTMt/s1600/IMG_20140601_141213_062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdEAPZPlnT0VqVXRNk5QulnBL5n_9LQV6CVI9eNGP6urgOKNwsm4npU-k-4CAaACwpA7ZbNrqTVMu0L4_8kv610ZTTO-Sy4aB0Ee_CVFtHoYiYnTiyzqj5FPRMJnfJ__XH-xy0kHJNTMt/s1600/IMG_20140601_141213_062.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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Because of the change in patterns, I opted to combine the cotton with the silk in the top. I used the printed cotton for the straps and the gathered mid-section and the raw silk for the rest of the top. The pants are made using the quilting cotton:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiltsBituUeB-uXbhdgjWIaOA6dGjnlI6EzeEAKfwWpdnoRmPV5JGCbA8soVkXLDMb60KsjYmE8vvHQzOoLDysYh5fzPWJC5lK3MrECqMJ1CrREc3TzOLHcj06_Vqkaw-VltFDtS0RexB/s1600/IMG_20140508_174756_923-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiltsBituUeB-uXbhdgjWIaOA6dGjnlI6EzeEAKfwWpdnoRmPV5JGCbA8soVkXLDMb60KsjYmE8vvHQzOoLDysYh5fzPWJC5lK3MrECqMJ1CrREc3TzOLHcj06_Vqkaw-VltFDtS0RexB/s1600/IMG_20140508_174756_923-1.jpg" height="400" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She does like posing! And it's really hard to see the fabrics on all of my pics:(</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslyOxwcBQA-X-9rLFpdRi64E6ZtqrK-RE0uJ_o9zLJT2lxFAZsl9-UzPM1E_pl1nu4H55xrPGVFL1lbXcoRe4YV9mTzBCIX0-t-TpP5M9BRlbGfebcl8sTWF1FiGYodn_GySemL5kVVGL/s1600/IMG_20140508_174929_043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslyOxwcBQA-X-9rLFpdRi64E6ZtqrK-RE0uJ_o9zLJT2lxFAZsl9-UzPM1E_pl1nu4H55xrPGVFL1lbXcoRe4YV9mTzBCIX0-t-TpP5M9BRlbGfebcl8sTWF1FiGYodn_GySemL5kVVGL/s1600/IMG_20140508_174929_043.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked the detail here.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8Y5oqdLrSfQFC75YAg84jg7hM1L4iPaGkpDZ8SCn0q5y4HMQgdHVSxFF2g_3iOOOFEQnOkRNuX_MezQWF5U0bMEVUnVg4i-REcZg0Ww-Pv95_z3JZWvyGqdxwOOxj3UtJEF_s4OCKyQ1/s1600/IMG_20140508_174846_694-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8Y5oqdLrSfQFC75YAg84jg7hM1L4iPaGkpDZ8SCn0q5y4HMQgdHVSxFF2g_3iOOOFEQnOkRNuX_MezQWF5U0bMEVUnVg4i-REcZg0Ww-Pv95_z3JZWvyGqdxwOOxj3UtJEF_s4OCKyQ1/s1600/IMG_20140508_174846_694-1.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loves to accessorize...</td></tr>
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I really disliked the floppiness of the gathered mid-section of the top. There was nothing to secure it so it would always look nicely gathered after washing and during wearing. In a fit of inspiration, I decided to sew beads randomly on it to hold those gathers in place.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMDAfDDm56qfAAcc35z5EU9gCyy7IGjkc20vaWczA1r0MUh0KNHk5L-a_To8eOc4W08nQTycDqzDGB_JwN4Gfaj67ob2fKC40DPNktIgL2QD4yhCPpC9lSgKFmrYQT8vMy1lkuLZAx5ze/s1600/IMG_20140604_132712_547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMDAfDDm56qfAAcc35z5EU9gCyy7IGjkc20vaWczA1r0MUh0KNHk5L-a_To8eOc4W08nQTycDqzDGB_JwN4Gfaj67ob2fKC40DPNktIgL2QD4yhCPpC9lSgKFmrYQT8vMy1lkuLZAx5ze/s1600/IMG_20140604_132712_547.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the glittering seed beads? This is more like the real color.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRM8fRORTp14X6l1fMhf4ex5Rm98-piVV2QpDBWfG6NQ-rXHjTqzLu1xGVuD3NDCzyjoWBr0i-5orU2ukh5QKyRsxZ-yHL4yBO8I51fm1qynGWGz_GkDECvL4L3ghdJ0ggyamz3zYCM4M/s1600/IMG_20140604_132729_616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRM8fRORTp14X6l1fMhf4ex5Rm98-piVV2QpDBWfG6NQ-rXHjTqzLu1xGVuD3NDCzyjoWBr0i-5orU2ukh5QKyRsxZ-yHL4yBO8I51fm1qynGWGz_GkDECvL4L3ghdJ0ggyamz3zYCM4M/s1600/IMG_20140604_132729_616.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The beads add some interest and detail. While I'm not sure it was worth all the extra work after catching dd stuffing it through the regular wash and dry cycle, it will make a nice spring and summer outfit--if it survives!</div>
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I have some other fabrics to make another outfit just like this one, and already have it started. The straps on both have given me fits!</div>
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sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-35144134338433010832014-05-22T12:00:00.000-04:002014-05-22T12:00:02.261-04:00T-Shirts<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is my last catch up post from last year. Happily, some of the items I made this year, so I guess that makes me current! Yes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the fall of 2013, Sarah Veblen was here teaching a knits and t-shirt class. We spent a large portion of time discussing knits, sewing techniques, playing with samples--really a great exploration of knits. The rest of the class we worked on muslins. Sarah helped each of us fit our muslins that we'd brought to class, and then transfer those changes to our patterns. Rather a lot of work, but well worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After making a couple of them, I realized that I wear a lot of knits so I should make more. Lots more so that I can become more proficient (speed!). Knits have the potential to be rather challenging because each one is so very different--experience helps a lot with that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is my delightful muslin in an inexpensive knit from Joann's:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkYmSw1IMrE3QrytR-OminyI2ExSl7Jf1HgthUKB2aqIuNU3oJU_b9gSYO6VfNu_uCXXhjkG24Qwk9IFgcuibQV3bewC93ZNcwPmDPiyfo7p11icACATkOVdRTWELd_xXjSPE3sTlz56O/s1600/knit+shirt+muslin--back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkYmSw1IMrE3QrytR-OminyI2ExSl7Jf1HgthUKB2aqIuNU3oJU_b9gSYO6VfNu_uCXXhjkG24Qwk9IFgcuibQV3bewC93ZNcwPmDPiyfo7p11icACATkOVdRTWELd_xXjSPE3sTlz56O/s1600/knit+shirt+muslin--back.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbS8pa8PvaKHKk_glEb7qaDGzTbxFMhVkbUPqjlIBHkNh6u5JFv7Bdm40ahMQiBFZUmJSFz14FWTREHEogrSvqYUFzr-4Ekw1v0vnWYSdaCwkFJeSTSBrmWw3UKSYnqEmGDTe6JQzD4bqR/s1600/knit+shirt+muslin--front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbS8pa8PvaKHKk_glEb7qaDGzTbxFMhVkbUPqjlIBHkNh6u5JFv7Bdm40ahMQiBFZUmJSFz14FWTREHEogrSvqYUFzr-4Ekw1v0vnWYSdaCwkFJeSTSBrmWw3UKSYnqEmGDTe6JQzD4bqR/s1600/knit+shirt+muslin--front.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really there is no need to delve into the nitty gritty--this has orange Sharpie marker all over it, and one sleeve! Something out of an horror movie, yes? The biggest changes to my initial pattern were the bust dart, adding a center back seam, and adjusting the sleeve. My initial attempt was constructed using Pamela's Patterns The Perfect T-Shirt. I really do like her patterns!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is a wearable t-shirt. It's my first attempt at one after class. I scooped out the neckline and modified it to be a sweetheart neckline. Threads magazine had a recent article on adjusting a neckline--most fortuitous! I used the same cheap knit fabric from Joann's. Unfortunately, this fabric is not holding up well at all. I use a hand wash cycle on my front loading washer, and hang to dry. The fabric has pilled rather substantially. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkYsG4C6mmgv4VtBVtI6K4EDcDPf1pirpeTfKuwQ1r0BPQIlH2Pu9hH1UAslXDs1NPlBzvf3fIvVJDZotK-oQUJXsaCbSq2Ui92q2EkmlMKmc64LmjOG3jIcsi-5bzAfURrxG4dyWbX7Q/s1600/blue+knit+shirt+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkYsG4C6mmgv4VtBVtI6K4EDcDPf1pirpeTfKuwQ1r0BPQIlH2Pu9hH1UAslXDs1NPlBzvf3fIvVJDZotK-oQUJXsaCbSq2Ui92q2EkmlMKmc64LmjOG3jIcsi-5bzAfURrxG4dyWbX7Q/s1600/blue+knit+shirt+front.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I had some trouble with the heart portion of the neckline sticking out a bit, but it isn't nearly as bad when worn.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0GooCe3bk-RalLfgAx7oI8fhpK1IZsindMLt2tx2NMOMSJYF33t5YVFl0U4ybdeB7hEA5L5xlL-eT1yC4LNcwbjcNzQx1MM963AfZSnWO13eFD6ngEaXZHq0z3kD2-s1504rOIWGzFLF/s1600/blue+knit+shirt+sleeve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0GooCe3bk-RalLfgAx7oI8fhpK1IZsindMLt2tx2NMOMSJYF33t5YVFl0U4ybdeB7hEA5L5xlL-eT1yC4LNcwbjcNzQx1MM963AfZSnWO13eFD6ngEaXZHq0z3kD2-s1504rOIWGzFLF/s1600/blue+knit+shirt+sleeve.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This pic isn't great, but I figured if I had a sweetheart neckline, then the sleeve really ought to have one as well since I made them 3/4 length. Used a rather deep facing on this which has worked fine.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I liked my first one, so I rapidly made a second one. I changed the sweetheart neckline so it wasn't quite as curved, and made long sleeves with a plain hem. This fabric is a cotton/lycra from a store about an hour from me. I love this fabric!!! It's held up quite well to regular wear, and is quite soft.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY8Nea8ZIof36iFbrnZtHpNB_qfQd2NivDwVP8fkeBVGxn5mJb1C3-MGPvNg2SPftnu0JssSwtToW6lFGQ9DQEnDNVRgZNaTA7PjYOmWMEDpw48JFKkW7QxaB6WXtBjJrhFAKciedNQ1W/s1600/purple+knit+shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvY8Nea8ZIof36iFbrnZtHpNB_qfQd2NivDwVP8fkeBVGxn5mJb1C3-MGPvNg2SPftnu0JssSwtToW6lFGQ9DQEnDNVRgZNaTA7PjYOmWMEDpw48JFKkW7QxaB6WXtBjJrhFAKciedNQ1W/s1600/purple+knit+shirt.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bad photography! Or photographer:( And looks wrinkled...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, I have yet another one in the works! I've gotten interrupted by finishing that dreadful travel set, and by heading up our sewing guild's new youth neighborhood group. Not bad things!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is what the youth will be sewing later this year in response to our guild's denim challenge:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbfz27G3zskZRAgvkgmOcdB5hIENbnjH2cKfcOcxaYJkAt5-NQwmlOew6pj1bxNHoIFYrNVsbM8GkqiD5f8yafZioPFIwZEOo9D9u9NHOmt4KlUozTOxVjkafou9l0dDKbotqBrpo82kp/s1600/Denim+skirt+recycle+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzbfz27G3zskZRAgvkgmOcdB5hIENbnjH2cKfcOcxaYJkAt5-NQwmlOew6pj1bxNHoIFYrNVsbM8GkqiD5f8yafZioPFIwZEOo9D9u9NHOmt4KlUozTOxVjkafou9l0dDKbotqBrpo82kp/s1600/Denim+skirt+recycle+front.jpg" height="297" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeans cut off and attached to gathered fabric to make a skirt.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have really enjoyed playing around with the necklines on the knit tops. It's a lot of fun to do, and makes each one look a bit different from the last one.</span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-56616130052794921192014-05-08T06:00:00.000-04:002014-05-08T06:00:08.043-04:00Garment Bag, Tote & Lingerie Bag 2013 & 2014After being inspired by Mary Ray's presentation and workshop, it was obviously time for me to begin a project. While it wasn't a skirt per Mary's class, it was nice to work on a stash item. So I started on a pattern and pre-quilted fabric that I'd bought at the 2010 ASG conference. Let me just say that this pattern was not great--I found the instructions rather confusing. I started on it last year, got as far as zipper installation on the garment bag and stopped. Since I don't have grand things to say about the pattern, I think I will skip posting information about it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFa0i0wKMJtx0lkDKiRyNlgbyELhllrOZuROhsgZ_u_H88Syj1M9Jn2IPzwgqETjsmcvDLpFxMgKpGrVPlfszO2O7XHwZohUsxAJr3ebarmpVXDChgZEYNz4_953v6ZDj6EDtktE0K8MP/s1600/garment+bag+sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFa0i0wKMJtx0lkDKiRyNlgbyELhllrOZuROhsgZ_u_H88Syj1M9Jn2IPzwgqETjsmcvDLpFxMgKpGrVPlfszO2O7XHwZohUsxAJr3ebarmpVXDChgZEYNz4_953v6ZDj6EDtktE0K8MP/s1600/garment+bag+sewing.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I modified the handles significantly. I cut them in half and installed at each end instead of having them placed in the middle. Hopefully, this will allow less garment wrinkling.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQbWhh2T0orzRzEtfH1RqzORoKQcfRnI-JbJshKFCcMEUTbVxCwx40RYwf8MYZt1ClyXc1IkEm7uiIUV0YFngR81vSme9pSE_sqEw0CoRamsijFu5ZKtpvH7uaQgPVMG8aUcSNbKglqBc/s1600/Garment+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQbWhh2T0orzRzEtfH1RqzORoKQcfRnI-JbJshKFCcMEUTbVxCwx40RYwf8MYZt1ClyXc1IkEm7uiIUV0YFngR81vSme9pSE_sqEw0CoRamsijFu5ZKtpvH7uaQgPVMG8aUcSNbKglqBc/s1600/Garment+bag.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNq9xQxejy7-H4BtbsIcVwq0-hm6nNZ0FzjrhTRZ54CAh8ebKbmAuV4qjyYnEZgQx-926nz6NjtsQjWyabQ5xxfsXeYU8RU3zdBYLv2X5NeoPubYP7fLiJho0cVWVugkpjXFE0eMTw2xI/s1600/Garment+bag+inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbNq9xQxejy7-H4BtbsIcVwq0-hm6nNZ0FzjrhTRZ54CAh8ebKbmAuV4qjyYnEZgQx-926nz6NjtsQjWyabQ5xxfsXeYU8RU3zdBYLv2X5NeoPubYP7fLiJho0cVWVugkpjXFE0eMTw2xI/s1600/Garment+bag+inside.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkT5zvhpESXhPS4wnp9cpB19i4N4LrqzN-bZUOGvCrE55Pa-YElOIz7VZ7ub52wtF5XSsFSqK6ZoPB2oIUTP0qFUvqqilGFiqF1ry0X4WrcfOKEu7sEiPr6NbYOnb6THmOttORRpNK961/s1600/Travel+set--small+bags.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVkT5zvhpESXhPS4wnp9cpB19i4N4LrqzN-bZUOGvCrE55Pa-YElOIz7VZ7ub52wtF5XSsFSqK6ZoPB2oIUTP0qFUvqqilGFiqF1ry0X4WrcfOKEu7sEiPr6NbYOnb6THmOttORRpNK961/s1600/Travel+set--small+bags.jpg" height="223" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tote bag, lingerie bag--both need buttons! Top right is a snappy bag which wasn't part of the pattern set, but something I learned to make through my local sewing guild. I can drive people up the wall rather quickly snapping my bag--fun!</td></tr>
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All in all, the set turned out nicely and I think I will enjoy using it--if I ever get to travel!<br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-66856698231250829172014-04-25T08:00:00.000-04:002014-04-25T08:00:13.072-04:00The Perfect Tank TopAt the 2013 American Sewing Guild conference, I took Pamela Leggett's Perfect Tank Top class. Great class--nearly finished the tank. Great pattern, too. Unfortunately, I shortened my straps a bit too much so the darts aren't positioned properly but that's easily fixed in subsequent versions. <br />
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Another thing that I did that I should not have done was used one of those Frixion pens for drawing on where the topstitching needed to be--I think it would look very poor if it wasn't exact since it must arc and curve upwards at the front straps. The idea of marking the stitching line was appropriate, but my choice of tools was not. I did not test it first since I'd used it before without a problem. What I found here was that on a darker fabric, it left a shadow almost like a white line after I ironed it. <br />
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Due to both mistakes, I think I will just consider this a muslin! Too much work to redo the straps AND figure out how to cover up those markings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDQT5UGx2KCu429q-w23w-NHjggMCZ8kARn3hfIBTwZFNge-3xBy23RK5ezaJWEUfQ23Ku_cYOyz2a5YdCb5K16qt5W4fDovFSSIhr6RZetzuaqedWEmSpwLuo395WoNiULwuk0WCFOZv/s1600/tank+top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDQT5UGx2KCu429q-w23w-NHjggMCZ8kARn3hfIBTwZFNge-3xBy23RK5ezaJWEUfQ23Ku_cYOyz2a5YdCb5K16qt5W4fDovFSSIhr6RZetzuaqedWEmSpwLuo395WoNiULwuk0WCFOZv/s1600/tank+top.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really like the front v-neck. Sorry for the poor picture!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb4AdGeWlqciTHAu3P1LQjfExVping_je9BsdncrmhvR-njrA9AjmvI56cP51q7sem5j9gKBaVropFjRJG0LT7n5QEwkzqRjDUuUnfKdbXG19bQrXm45cBAUD36MDUdjwouOj_QDxgBZy/s1600/tank+top+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHb4AdGeWlqciTHAu3P1LQjfExVping_je9BsdncrmhvR-njrA9AjmvI56cP51q7sem5j9gKBaVropFjRJG0LT7n5QEwkzqRjDUuUnfKdbXG19bQrXm45cBAUD36MDUdjwouOj_QDxgBZy/s1600/tank+top+back.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
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I have a current version of this tank that is almost ready to go. It's one of those optimal sewing moments when you use virtually every last scrap of your fabric! Isn't that always a terrific feeling?<br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-13678719171952068302014-04-10T13:00:00.003-04:002014-04-10T13:00:45.168-04:00Mary Ray Skirt Class 2013<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In June last year, our guild hosted Mary Ray as our evening program speaker, and as a teacher for a day long skirt class. DD the youngest and I attended both events--super wonderful! While I haven't achieved a skirt using Mary's technique, dd has! I helped her a bit, since she'd never done French seams, hand basting (which she declared she loved!), waistbands or elastic. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlXDpEZMqAHvFlKaLvmY3O21WVeJsEX-TbDsfYArnFtwlx8WRtW9o3wlkHh-tMgSIZjPttPYS3PDEmbgvr9fhJMMdtyPKz8n9lvA-ptaqMPzVe5hBz2-3cHCZzEm4lHLpThcn5McipTfZ/s640/IMG_20131007_101334_558.jpg" height="180" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Basting.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHlXDpEZMqAHvFlKaLvmY3O21WVeJsEX-TbDsfYArnFtwlx8WRtW9o3wlkHh-tMgSIZjPttPYS3PDEmbgvr9fhJMMdtyPKz8n9lvA-ptaqMPzVe5hBz2-3cHCZzEm4lHLpThcn5McipTfZ/s1600/IMG_20131007_101334_558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am playing catch up here so I can document and see what we've made. Apologies for tardiness and out of season! I also hate, hate, hate the whole photo thing--taking them, editing, storage...pretty much all of it. I hated it before the world of digital, too! In all fairness, we/I didn't sew that much last year either so there wasn't much to post:(</span></div>
sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-35048463967126433502014-04-06T13:05:00.001-04:002014-04-06T13:05:50.893-04:00BloglovinAh, the joys of working on a much neglected blog!<br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/5071883/?claim=zujg9j8ffpd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-17439297407465729252013-11-05T12:00:00.000-05:002013-11-05T12:00:07.131-05:00Sew Ready: A Review<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In our quest for sewing education, I had dd the youngest watch the <a href="http://craftsy.com/">craftsy.com</a> class, Sew Ready: Machine Basics. I figured that while she isn't a novice, she isn't overly experienced either, so she would get something out of it. Besides, the class is free, and there are only 5 mini-episodes (it's really pushing it to call it 5 since the first one is a hi how are you and here's how to use Craftsy).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">DD said that while she didn't learn a lot, she did learn about cleaning her sewing machine. (Oops, must've missed that one in our sewing education here!) Additionally, she <i>loved</i> episode 3 on feet. Because the instructor had both vintage and modern feet, dd became interested in the vintage ones. I am fortunate enough to have my grandmother's sewing machine, so we opened the drawers and explored its feet. We agreed that there were quite a lot of them, they're very interesting, and fun to look over, but we weren't ready to transfer over to using the ol' Singer! One day maybe?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought it was interesting to hear what an elementary aged blooming sewist had to say about a class geared towards novices. I guess we've done an okay job with instruction, minus the cleaning your machine part! The class was free, the sessions were short, and it was a fun thing to watch while we ate lunch this summer! I think we'll need to do some feet exploration soon!</span>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-29452950101925202192013-11-02T11:00:00.000-04:002013-11-02T11:00:03.365-04:00Swimsuits from 2012<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I thought I'd go ahead and post the last projects that I made last year so I have a reference to them. Can't remember any construction details or adjustments, although I do remember that dd the eldest was very picky...imagine that.</span><div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fit on the bottoms is much better than it appears! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The little person swimsuit is Kwik Sew 2883 (oop), and the big person suit is McCall 3566 (oop). I got the Kwik Sew pattern, and the totally wild, but much loved fabric at an ASG meeting.</span></div>
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sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-15608337994773768112013-10-31T09:00:00.000-04:002013-10-31T09:00:01.901-04:00When I'm not sewing...<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Again, I wrote this last year but never published it! I thought I'd share it with you because it's been a LOT of fun, and a very interesting experience.</i></span><br />
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You know, I actually work really hard at sewing although you'd never realize it based on my blog posts. As I busily lined up another American Sewing Guild program recently, I realized that I've never talked about hobnobbing with the famous in the sewing world. I've gotten to do that this year <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(2012)</i></span>, largely due to LUCK. The right call at the right time. (yes, me! I was really suffering on what to do for programs there for awhile so this was a HUGE blessing. Rejection becomes very discouraging rather quickly.)<br />
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My local sewing guild has monthly meetings (except December) and has a program at EACH AND EVERY monthly meeting. Guess who is in charge of lining up programs???? Yeah....<br />
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And, I'm well into my 3rd year of doing this (and agreed to a 4th and final year next year....<span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>which is now so I am almost DONE!!!</i></span>)</span>. I think I've done okay with it. We are really blessed to have some *terrific* local talent. But, you do feel guilty hitting people up within the guild. After awhile you begin to feel that they see you coming, and that they want to go run and hide because they know that you are going to ask them to do a program presentation. <br />
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We have several local quilt stores and a few far-flung general fabric stores, and I think all the store owners would like to go hide behind the counter when they see me coming....just in case I ask them to do a program. I have tried to be thoughtful, and only ask our newsletter advertisers (aka the store owners) to do a program about every 2 years or so. And that does seem like a lot--I really, really understand that by the end of the day they probably would much, much rather go home rather than go out to do a presentation. It's a long day. I appreciate that. We suffer from the same things here at The Sewing Spot. The flip side to this is that our guild is generally very supportive of our advertisers. However, you can never really predict (and I'm too much of a lady to ask) how supportive (dollars!!!) the guild is. I *think* that our store owners have benefited through sales either at their store and/or at our meetings because of the programs they've given.<br />
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See? There's a trend here. I am either the most loved member of our sewing guild (because of the GREAT programs I bring in) or the most feared (because I will ask YOU to do one!). Really, I am laughing at myself here although it is true, I do believe!<br />
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So, the point is, you ask? This year <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(2012!!!)</i></span> has been an ultra busy year for me with sewing largely because of the sewing programs I've arranged this year. We've had presentations about:<br />
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<li>sewing blogs (I wonder where that idea came from???)</li>
<li>PaintStiks (compliments of one of our wonderful advertisers!)</li>
<li>Velomuffs (by one of our ASG members with the coolest business!)</li>
<li>Fabric Origami (a nifty accessory for home dec :)</li>
<li>The Lifecycle of a Custom Gown (the gown samples were a big WOW! and the topic super interesting--thanks to another ASG member)</li>
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See? Don't we have some terrific local talents??!<br />
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Plus, this year <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(actually in 2012) </i></span>I was so blessed to be hooked up with <a href="http://www.raecumbie.com/" target="_blank">Rae Cumbie</a>, <a href="http://www.sarahveblen.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Veblen</a>, <a href="http://www.maryraydesigns.com/" target="_blank">Mary Ray</a>, <a href="http://www.pamelaptak.com/" target="_blank">Pamela Ptak</a>, and <a href="http://www.lindastewartcouturedesigns.com/" target="_blank">Linda Stewart</a>!!!! If your brain needs a nudge, they've all been in <a href="http://www.threadsmagazine.com/" target="_blank">Threads</a> magazine, written books, published patterns and/or teach. They also taught classes here via <a href="http://artisansewingclasses.com/" target="_blank">Artisan Sewing Classes</a>. I couldn't take them all, but did enjoy Sarah's class. More on that in another post! Time to play catch up on the blog...Anyway--<br />
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And next year <a href="http://www.susankhalje.com/" target="_blank">Susan Khalje</a> will be one of our program speakers! How cool is that????? <span style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>She was here earlier this year in April. I didn't get to take her French jacket class, but did enjoy her one day handsewing class!</i></span><br />
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It has been so wonderful to have had talent from outside our area come here and speak to the guild. I'm sure it's been a relief to our members and advertisers, too. (Because I didn't have to ask many of them to give a program at a meeting this year....but NEXT year is a different story!) Now you know where all my sewing time goes--lining up sewing speakers for our guild programs! hahaha I wonder what excuse I'll have to offer in the future since my time is up serving as programs chair???<br />
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<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-17156509044429994152013-10-30T18:00:00.000-04:002013-10-30T18:00:04.468-04:00(Another) Bra<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I made this last year (May 2012) and wrote the post then. While I love making bras and undies, I definitely need to work out a solution to the pointy look...Any others with experience on this, please share! </i></span><br />
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I have been sewing...just a little. I completed a bra. The only thing worth noting about this was the fabric was a cotton knit. It changed construction a bit since you need to layer it with the power net fabric to make a stable band. <br />
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And it matches <a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2010/08/kwik-sew-2100-or-unmentionables.html" target="_blank">my undies</a> that I sewed two years ago...and that I saved to wear until the matching bra was done! Slow!sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-31452165562800511882013-10-30T10:11:00.000-04:002013-10-30T10:11:34.794-04:00Long Time<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After more than a year without posting, it's hard to know how to begin! I wrote 2 posts, and saved them as drafts but somehow life got in the way of actually posting them. Additionally, I didn't sew ONE SINGLE THING from August of last year until about June of this year (unless you count a trio of humbug bags as a Christmas gift?). To make things even worse, I didn't even read any sewing blogs, and I love reading everyone's accounts of their sewing adventures! Now, blogger has changed some stuff, and I guess I'll have to figure it out--or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One thing that I like a lot about blogging is being able to go back and look at what I've sewn. And when I made it. So let's see if I can't get this restarted at least for those purposes!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a brief summary and reminder to self, since my last post I made: a bra, matching swimsuits for the girls, garment bag/tote/lingerie bag (still in progress...), a tank top, lots of t-shirt mock ups, and a real t-shirt that works! Plus I have taken two classes with <a href="http://www.sarahveblen.com/" target="_blank">Sarah Veblen</a>, one last year working on muslins for a skirt and a princess seam blouse and one this year working on t-shirts. I also attended the <a href="http://www.asg.org/" target="_blank">American Sewing Guild</a>'s annual conference in August this year. Not too bad considering I didn't really sew anything for such a long time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think my new smartphone will help with keeping up with posting and photos (although I confess I HATE working with pictures--saving, cropping, getting nice clear ones, etc).</span>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-44463634872427690142012-06-13T08:00:00.000-04:002012-06-13T08:00:18.746-04:00Simplicity 2516 or The Flatlock Seam SkirtOur sewing guild's Fashion Designers neighborhood group met at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alpine-Sewing-Machine-Co/254070746897" target="_blank">our local Bernina dealer</a> for a demo on exposed zippers. That was neat, but I really loved this skirt that was made using a flatlock seam. So, using Simplicity 2516 <a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2011/09/simplicity-2516-skirt-complete.html" target="_blank">which I made last year</a>, I attempted to make my own. <br />
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This is my first try--the only modification is changing the waist from a zipper to elastic. I adjusted mine a bit much so the skirt is a little on the big side...but I still love it! This fabric has been moldering in my stash for <em>years</em> so I figured I didn't have anything to lose (and I still have quite a bit left). <br />
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The hardest part when serging a flatlock seam is to remember to pin your fabric WRONG sides together...</div>
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I tested and tested on my serger prior to serging the real fabric. I guess there's such a thing as over testing, since I had a real problem with my second skirt seam. Oops. It all turned out fine though. Whew.</div>
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Skirt all serged and ready to hem.</div>
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Ta Da! Doesn't it flair nicely along the hem?</div>
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Close up shot of the flatlock seam--I used a flatlock 3 thread with YLI brand Pearl Rayon Crown thread in the lower looper. It's a bit heavy perhaps for this lightweight cotton skirt, but I also think that the flatlock stitch is supposed to stand out on a project like this.</div>
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Hem: I serged an overlock 3 thread making this one of the easiest and quickest skirts ever.</div>
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See the cat? Annoying critter (I knew my kids would like that comment!!!)</div>
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I have plans to serge one more skirt in a linen/cotton blend fabric that I got from Les Fabriques this year. Since I didn't line this skirt and don't plan to line the next one, I'm going to serge a slip using cotton batiste and the 3 thread overlock in regular serger thread to wear with them. Easy summer sewing and wearing!</div>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-86595072320926001652012-06-09T07:00:00.000-04:002012-06-09T07:00:04.275-04:00Scarf Project: Les FabriquesI told you that I've been going monthly to Charlottesville with a group from our area to participate in their <a href="http://lesfabriquesinc.com/" target="_blank">Club meetings</a>. April's project was stenciling on silk using PaintStiks. Our instructor had a different way of approaching the paint and stencil that left the fabric feeling soft and natural and <em>un</em>painted which I loved. Rather than directly applying the paintstik to the fabric, you draw a line or several using the PaintStik ONTO your plastic stencil. Then, using one of those stiff stencil brushes you brush or move the paint from the stencil onto the fabric. I hope that makes sense...I didn't take any pictures of that process and since I don't own any PaintStiks it's not likely to be photographed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The color didn't come through well on this. Sorry. Anyway, we stenciled on the narrow, lighter piece of fabric. Mine is silk shantung. I bought the darker piece to make the scarf. Here, I was testing beads (stealing beads without permission) from my dear daughter's stash for her birthday present--the scarf! teehee<br />
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The finished scarf all folded up and with its real color showing up. Isn't it pretty??<br />
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The finished scarf all stretched out. Isn't it pretty???<br />
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Detail of the beads on the little doodads I put on the ends. Talk about tedious handwork--what was I thinking? But, isn't it pretty????!</div>
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Obviously, I <em>loved</em> this project! I am surprised that more of our guild members don't go to Charlottesville to participate in Club meetings. It's $10, plus $5 for supplies. I spent a bit more on this project because I needed to buy the dark lavendar silk shantung to make this scarf. However, I could've made something else, but I'm glad I didn't! BTW, dd loved her scarf!!!<br />
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At April's ASG meeting, I won the name tag drawing and got this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG7xt4oRg1CuibjHL3PDXqpP_pdhWshplBr15U7mUoxm4puZMovG1bbrQ0uStgEM4aLvKm9cWz9ll7W_7-sk_7Ni3WzmR5DUD0vRQhsFNeWgTbTiIU5R1sGId0089ibuGT95XQ1mz776_/s1600/DSCN2054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeG7xt4oRg1CuibjHL3PDXqpP_pdhWshplBr15U7mUoxm4puZMovG1bbrQ0uStgEM4aLvKm9cWz9ll7W_7-sk_7Ni3WzmR5DUD0vRQhsFNeWgTbTiIU5R1sGId0089ibuGT95XQ1mz776_/s320/DSCN2054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I really look forward to trying it! New sewing gadgets are always fun :) Don't I have the best ASG chapter???<br />
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</tbody></table>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-79985995425644159072012-06-02T10:00:00.000-04:002012-06-02T10:00:00.048-04:00McCall 6469 and a Cork Question<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>About my </em></span><a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2012/01/sewing-room-organization-and-mini-tour.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>corking-the-wall</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em> post, Anonymous asked, "I wonder, does this improve the acoustics in the room ?? I am planning doing the
same in order to have good acoustic... anyone knows that ? Thanks."</em></span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks very much for the question and I hope you'll be able to find my answer to you since I didn't have an email address to reply directly. Anyway, I don't really know if the corks on the wall have improved the acoustics in my sewing room. For starters, I don't think we have enough area completed. The walls we've been doing are in the basement and the ceiling there is lower so the acoustics are already pretty good (i.e. we don't get echoes like you would in a large, empty room). I hope that helps...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SO! I have finally sewn something and completed it! I started this project in January and it was literally work on one very small thing a day, with many days that I didn't have time or energy to work. It was rather depressing. Equally depressing, I finished this in April and have not had a chance to BLOG!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">McCall 6469</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I made View D, the top left corner pic.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoeQk_iR5If6NWFcSSc8NOMzTDSE9grZaGrWwnmy7yEePQgSiGqhTJBxhNw4RMt_N7fnhX8AfeVz_i9Peg40PdH3WSIhX_5SoWvRIgoGPBuVopJTbrN8LKhjJ2ZCbGs7wJQf2AYuxZuZ-/s1600/DSCN1883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoeQk_iR5If6NWFcSSc8NOMzTDSE9grZaGrWwnmy7yEePQgSiGqhTJBxhNw4RMt_N7fnhX8AfeVz_i9Peg40PdH3WSIhX_5SoWvRIgoGPBuVopJTbrN8LKhjJ2ZCbGs7wJQf2AYuxZuZ-/s320/DSCN1883.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My fabric--a polyester sheer with gold metallic from Joann's. It's NOT as bright as this pic...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess most people post something about construction and I intended to but these pictures just leave a lot to be desired. The fabric was really difficult to photograph (and work with...if I'm going to invest that much time and energy in a project, that fabric had best be SILK!!!). I'll add a bit about the neckline elastic that creates the gathers in the front upper bodice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The top went together pretty easily, but I didn't like the instructions for the elastic on either side of the neckline. Rather than struggle through their finnicky method, I developed my own (also finnicky) method. This would not have been nearly so difficult if I could've marked the fabric easily and well. Between it being a very dark and a very busy print (and polyester), nothing I tried worked well in the marking department--various types of white/gray pencils, chalks, thread basting (the fabric kept moving...)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what I did was to stitch the elastic where it needed to go when I stitched the neckline seam. I made sure to put a small safety pin at the other end of the elastic so I could work it through the casing later. I had not stitched the two rows to form the casing at that point. Next, I turned and pressed the entire upper bodice and stitched 1 row of the casing. A little lumpy with the safety pin.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, I stitched the 2nd row of the casing and eased the elastic through, securing it in the armhole seam. Nothing too exciting and I'm not sure that the pattern directions would not have been better...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt3rp3vBmo2jvTIt6zW70O1rMEWNSu5sM9psUiCjJJ1w9uI5Wt6dzgRdx5hgZqN0fcJFh_G5PZx76X6VMuuCmP29mvufJK_GRKXE2ERgE_omnJHAlX76vasaHEkPa149SGB7l_AGLbe8o/s1600/DSCN2033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXt3rp3vBmo2jvTIt6zW70O1rMEWNSu5sM9psUiCjJJ1w9uI5Wt6dzgRdx5hgZqN0fcJFh_G5PZx76X6VMuuCmP29mvufJK_GRKXE2ERgE_omnJHAlX76vasaHEkPa149SGB7l_AGLbe8o/s400/DSCN2033.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Work on the casing beside the neckline.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4CkMHklh8eo7QfkoFwgqleiNBof4drg9SRckgaEaBUcIEUAavIqYx_4ooStd5W3g_DboL-MgogQ6OLaTvUZTNczX2mSvXdCGQOPQhmqLXlousaewd1We2QvBogz1NvrAYGSSMI0NUWjR/s1600/DSCN2038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw4CkMHklh8eo7QfkoFwgqleiNBof4drg9SRckgaEaBUcIEUAavIqYx_4ooStd5W3g_DboL-MgogQ6OLaTvUZTNczX2mSvXdCGQOPQhmqLXlousaewd1We2QvBogz1NvrAYGSSMI0NUWjR/s320/DSCN2038.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The upper bodice with one side of the elastic all completed and the other side pinned and in progress... And, this is the color of the fabric in real life, busy but not as bright as the other photos.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IY0OKWomUZsRtsks-fotxAZq2e75c32QftZEceEFkglCB8zR0U17DRYMsyk06gZjBNelsA-XC-_QeBBy-5FMPVSSCijZNby4COnYyHb9DKYNBeKRUJU3BVgjuHj9EUfxrzL7GFjkXpRG/s1600/DSCN2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IY0OKWomUZsRtsks-fotxAZq2e75c32QftZEceEFkglCB8zR0U17DRYMsyk06gZjBNelsA-XC-_QeBBy-5FMPVSSCijZNby4COnYyHb9DKYNBeKRUJU3BVgjuHj9EUfxrzL7GFjkXpRG/s320/DSCN2040.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wiggling the elastic through. I don't know why, but when I went to buy elastic they didn't have any black. This would've looked much better with black!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0s9v5KDIq94gJP2GAUvGKje-Ct2SHwgiWGUORNbDzuB2652PpaHKNmB0mps1RJNN1J9eJgOImI7Br4EviwASVkFcpicmHlPx2AucErZEEdPyHjn3ItbZWAvE6LnqMQpQ2-DK7TU_3AY2/s1600/McCalls+6469+in+progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0s9v5KDIq94gJP2GAUvGKje-Ct2SHwgiWGUORNbDzuB2652PpaHKNmB0mps1RJNN1J9eJgOImI7Br4EviwASVkFcpicmHlPx2AucErZEEdPyHjn3ItbZWAvE6LnqMQpQ2-DK7TU_3AY2/s320/McCalls+6469+in+progress.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I raised the neckline by a good 1.5" and it still wasn't enough. I need to shop for a cami to wear underneath it. Additionally, the shoulder seam pulls forward quite a bit (is that why the model on the pattern has her shoulder positioned oddly?). The front of the bodice needs to be longer to adjust this--wish I had been able to catch this sooner, but despite trying on during the process it was difficult to notice that it would be a problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">No pictures on me because it just wasn't happenin'!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmMCw_31tbPq0lNEEZNpe5fJEbNu46fYOG2mwtDj-EoqB5VUJ4cpiVL6Pl2ysuzFdDA3utDRkX3bftaqc1Kd2LDhHZ_4oL0o2CVOXKfA8gq8U7wu55iO5uiRBI8hiniaqoZ68Qi-Apcfv/s1600/DSCN2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmMCw_31tbPq0lNEEZNpe5fJEbNu46fYOG2mwtDj-EoqB5VUJ4cpiVL6Pl2ysuzFdDA3utDRkX3bftaqc1Kd2LDhHZ_4oL0o2CVOXKfA8gq8U7wu55iO5uiRBI8hiniaqoZ68Qi-Apcfv/s320/DSCN2115.JPG" width="273" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The back is longer than the front--should've taken a side view, too. It's pretty neat.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">And now that it's done, the weather is too warm for it! Ha haha! I'm not sure that I like it because of the sleeves and the volume of fabric. I did want something different and floaty and this meets those requirements but...I'm still not sure it's "me". That's okay, it was an interesting and engaging project and I know that I will wear it some when the weather cools down much later this year :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">More later--I have been sewing quite a bit, just not posting at all!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-77458957957589318732012-05-09T13:11:00.002-04:002012-05-09T13:13:10.580-04:00Win! Sew Chic Clara Bow Apron<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was never more pleased than when I won the Clara Bow Apron drawing last month by the blog, </span><a href="http://www.sewchicpatterns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's Sew Chic</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">! Unfortunately, I am very slow about posting about it. That doesn't diminish my excitement, gratification or enthusiasm for winning though! It's a super cute pattern, which I look forward to trying. Fall seems like an ideal time to sew this one up--1 for me and 1 to donate to our Sewing Guild silent auction.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is the link to the pattern on the website: </span><a href="http://www.sewchicpatterns.com/clara_bow.html"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.sewchicpatterns.com/clara_bow.html</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. There are some really cute variations shown there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am sorry to be so slow in blogging about this--I feel like I should've posted something as soon as I received the pattern in the mail--Laura was super fast at shipping it to me. My apologies to her! And many thanks for the wonderful pattern. I can't wait to try it out!</span></div>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-7336617010188948372012-04-01T14:36:00.000-04:002012-04-01T14:36:28.419-04:00Corks and Couching<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ever since I posted about corking my </span><a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2012/01/sewing-room-organization-and-mini-tour.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">sewing room walls</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, my dh has been <em>diligently</em> working on them! (Perhaps I should post about honey do's more often?) It takes a lot of time, effort and energy as well as assistance from the youngsters to get the placement worked out. Anyway, here's the progress! Gotta love it (and him!)!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oR8EQePXzLu7qE57xxiVk9BikiZYq6mdR0NpsVyH-s32xxSLbgiFv4iKvQ3lFlimP3hO3OFZ0rj2EXJeHJ9gIDeDX5ySH9jY-J9f0H05G8fGnMvIBcgpEJ7Cj__r2zlk3P0trFVvZGzQ/s1600/DSCN2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oR8EQePXzLu7qE57xxiVk9BikiZYq6mdR0NpsVyH-s32xxSLbgiFv4iKvQ3lFlimP3hO3OFZ0rj2EXJeHJ9gIDeDX5ySH9jY-J9f0H05G8fGnMvIBcgpEJ7Cj__r2zlk3P0trFVvZGzQ/s640/DSCN2042.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The corks go down to the top of the lowest shelf. My thread rack has been taken down to work on the wall.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here it is a couple of weeks ago. The corks weren't even to the top of the upper shelf yet. The thread rack is covered with paper to protect it.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTYeiNem3QcHcm6OU_l5pqO1b3ichYNK7UwtmkoL5aMsLi-AzLjNUzMvBuqIGrtqIjveHaVmbCdYY9sWhFPtzCYfWCE0t0wvO9jQLPDeHoScVxOePVRonDS3KyCTAZeIANxPduDorkOkM/s1600/DSCN1928+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTYeiNem3QcHcm6OU_l5pqO1b3ichYNK7UwtmkoL5aMsLi-AzLjNUzMvBuqIGrtqIjveHaVmbCdYY9sWhFPtzCYfWCE0t0wvO9jQLPDeHoScVxOePVRonDS3KyCTAZeIANxPduDorkOkM/s320/DSCN1928+(2).JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before this wall was begun! Quite a difference.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I have finished </span><a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2012/03/les-fabriques-in-charlottesville-va.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couching my silk dupionni from my class</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> at Les Fabriques. What will it (eventually) become? It really needs some coordinating fabrics so I won't know until I find those :( But I really love this little panel a lot. I particularly loved using the vintage pearls on it. As a side note, this little piece of fabric is now very heavy for its size!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the oldest dd commented that she thought it was lovely so it must be!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWtCtgoW867yq_se3UzweDjVkIjxnmnWoM9bkeOyZOeRBK4DVZajyvIG0LGXQaZHqSIfCikBus63E9m3VE4PoK3eWkCkPkHIxNQdhk3km39QCD54Revhwlc_BfHlNW0e_VccAy0v1pKPH/s1600/DSCN2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWtCtgoW867yq_se3UzweDjVkIjxnmnWoM9bkeOyZOeRBK4DVZajyvIG0LGXQaZHqSIfCikBus63E9m3VE4PoK3eWkCkPkHIxNQdhk3km39QCD54Revhwlc_BfHlNW0e_VccAy0v1pKPH/s640/DSCN2047.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finished! Don't know what it will be...yet.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdPiXQvshZZF3QskZ9xRobMMu6rY4VvVBwbeIQ0VZzdjtuGw8S4umtdiDRwJzpDv2kgcl3zb0HNcLFc7VhXYam6K3QzGn6VLGQ0IuXMJun3C0bExcvJAav1PqiyI-RwFG175lT5dsnP04/s1600/Silk+Ribbon+Couching+w+pearls+on+silk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTdPiXQvshZZF3QskZ9xRobMMu6rY4VvVBwbeIQ0VZzdjtuGw8S4umtdiDRwJzpDv2kgcl3zb0HNcLFc7VhXYam6K3QzGn6VLGQ0IuXMJun3C0bExcvJAav1PqiyI-RwFG175lT5dsnP04/s320/Silk+Ribbon+Couching+w+pearls+on+silk.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">About half done.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And I've managed to accomplish my Friday and Saturday to do list: skipped school, sewed some, planted, hiked (and had a snake adventure...), ate fabulous grilled pizza, and watched a movie. Today, we've already been to early church, had delicious Panera pastries, took a nap (equally delicious in the late morning) and now a little blogging while the guys work on our dinner tonight--starting and ending with green--homemade guacamole for snack, Indonesian Pork Satay with Peanut Sauce, Thai-style Cucumber Relish, kimchee, rice, Crispy Asian Broccoli with black beans, and Key Lime Pie.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What did you do to enjoy this pretty weekend? I'm off to the sewing room to work on that dratted top some more...</span><br />
<br />sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-43008345471413176572012-03-30T12:30:00.000-04:002012-03-30T12:30:00.708-04:00Sew Biz in Radford, VA<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, it's another fabric store review. It's been a very busy and stressful couple of weeks and I figured that I needed (and deserved) the break! Apparently, I felt like I needed (?) and deserved (?) more fabric, too. Three pieces came home with me on this trip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some members of our local guild will be making a trip to </span><a href="http://www.sewbiz.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sew Biz</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> next month, but since I can't and I had to be down that way anyway (sort of), I figured I'd head over and check it out. It's probably been 12 years, more or less, since I've been here. It's changed some in that time, adding more quilting fabrics and carrying much less dress and heirloom fabrics. Still, it's jam packed with fabric, really interesting patterns for small projects, notions, some very interesting threads including silk thread, and other assorted paraphernalia. I enjoyed browsing and here's what I bought:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWjOB8DVBLdxeUnpdBqU_N-HWjZSYuNdJZQywCfe_3eBvKum2h_hacZ972lg4r3-LypD6jljOOb_Jbf4dtm7eHOax-_BxVZYDBo5-8N933Hw_pL21VKwhN-eOY-J8_8es5BxbPtWgz4cB/s1600/Aqua+Knit+and+beads+SewBiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIWjOB8DVBLdxeUnpdBqU_N-HWjZSYuNdJZQywCfe_3eBvKum2h_hacZ972lg4r3-LypD6jljOOb_Jbf4dtm7eHOax-_BxVZYDBo5-8N933Hw_pL21VKwhN-eOY-J8_8es5BxbPtWgz4cB/s320/Aqua+Knit+and+beads+SewBiz.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cotton knit. It's teal and aqua. While it was being cut, I looked up and saw the beads hanging on the wall behind the cutting table and thought aha! They match! Must have! I'm hoping for a quick and easy top embellished with time consuming beading so I can be slow making this....</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't know why one of my spots decided to do this when I photographed these, but she did. I've been taking fabric pictures on the living room floor lately and she's never bothered them. But, this time, she thought she needed to. Between that and lots of licking of my face, it was rather difficult to take pics!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ0tBYfH8c3qT3cTMHzyShbD2Vps65K9GzwlJvTiP2e6t12WGIPiYbJjyB2M8I4ok_WDEFjixp06zB4ELPzDcacEfzHRycHOsDqeVz99vDiyDkOWd2qnM2o4IhGfD93rt68Eg5e3TKSoO/s1600/Zuzu+helping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ0tBYfH8c3qT3cTMHzyShbD2Vps65K9GzwlJvTiP2e6t12WGIPiYbJjyB2M8I4ok_WDEFjixp06zB4ELPzDcacEfzHRycHOsDqeVz99vDiyDkOWd2qnM2o4IhGfD93rt68Eg5e3TKSoO/s200/Zuzu+helping.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zuzu helping with photographs. Standing on the fabric is always useful and helpful.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRN-JA4P59KSEAjBqCTXLKGThBCi4zelkdTnyuejnJvR0Z4pgyFZ5BmI6Zo870gcZq-58axJI5Tva4UAUZtF2k-xa6mAEapGaTk0OUEwW4i3KDys-1q5tbF9f-nuvTFhpSIW9HQ0Syxjm/s1600/Zuzu+helping+again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRN-JA4P59KSEAjBqCTXLKGThBCi4zelkdTnyuejnJvR0Z4pgyFZ5BmI6Zo870gcZq-58axJI5Tva4UAUZtF2k-xa6mAEapGaTk0OUEwW4i3KDys-1q5tbF9f-nuvTFhpSIW9HQ0Syxjm/s200/Zuzu+helping+again.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zuzu wears a harness rather than a collar because she had to have a biopsy on her neck earlier this year. Thankfully, it was nothing serious! And, it turned out we liked the harness for her. Who knew?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, here are better photos of the fabrics. These are rayon batiks. Again. I bought one when I was at </span><a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2012/03/ragtime-fabrics-in-harrisonburg-va.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ragtime Fabrics</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. I liked the color selection at Sew Biz a lot better, so I bought two because I really, really need new summer tops! Sewing </span><a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2010/08/american-sewing-guild-conference-day-4.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bias tops</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> doesn't take much time at all--it's practically instant gratification except for hemming since it has to hang to do its bias stretch thing. The prices at Sew Biz were pretty similar to Ragtime Fabrics, a little more for one piece and the same for the other.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlIM8u6XdkWUEPRKpqHYzesyeEzPRpMBgabP4Dt_8KTZf1PvX1OR19FkS6E_cWwHN1771sGMZ9vM_YTMeqOGs3bIq4Ujph2zUSmT8-TXPJCkm8wppAlEmvSDvV_zCp0_pEl1kRvz4sWtK/s1600/Blue+rayon+batik+SewBiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlIM8u6XdkWUEPRKpqHYzesyeEzPRpMBgabP4Dt_8KTZf1PvX1OR19FkS6E_cWwHN1771sGMZ9vM_YTMeqOGs3bIq4Ujph2zUSmT8-TXPJCkm8wppAlEmvSDvV_zCp0_pEl1kRvz4sWtK/s320/Blue+rayon+batik+SewBiz.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blue rayon batik. There's not a lot of pattern going on here, but I liked that. Variety is good.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBEudeNfjsCu0oW7SmAATz-BNqAPBlBir1J6MwNoYEX0sQ6gtoj-D0w8Ez5XwgIEwQxWf8_Porn5UhNhEn1vUkrjkhd8uFPNjQyz6XCh9PxAIoUzUVtrsjgOjWbPFYEhcnTvVeS-ASx1w/s1600/Green+rayon+batik+SewBiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxBEudeNfjsCu0oW7SmAATz-BNqAPBlBir1J6MwNoYEX0sQ6gtoj-D0w8Ez5XwgIEwQxWf8_Porn5UhNhEn1vUkrjkhd8uFPNjQyz6XCh9PxAIoUzUVtrsjgOjWbPFYEhcnTvVeS-ASx1w/s320/Green+rayon+batik+SewBiz.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Greeny/blue rayon batik.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoMkhJns9ZIaMiLWaUMQVfp2D7c8Y8c2fDajniH7IwP0eNJblLaDG695cxa8y0rvQZxDAFhaMnHjB6rcOhahBnbfhyphenhyphenAT_Lws33KbSRs3YRUq8YgYsPh2576r_pkzsGnxUIqtsw8LrwR8s/s1600/Both+Rayon+batiks+SewBiz.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOoMkhJns9ZIaMiLWaUMQVfp2D7c8Y8c2fDajniH7IwP0eNJblLaDG695cxa8y0rvQZxDAFhaMnHjB6rcOhahBnbfhyphenhyphenAT_Lws33KbSRs3YRUq8YgYsPh2576r_pkzsGnxUIqtsw8LrwR8s/s320/Both+Rayon+batiks+SewBiz.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And weird of weird, while I was driving home I glanced down and realized the background on the greeny one matches the blue one. It's hard to tell that in the picture. So perhaps this will become a casual outfit rather than 2 tops? Time will tell.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In conclusion, Sew Biz was fun to browse because it has lots of things to see even though it's mostly quilting. It has an upstairs which is where I found the rayon batiks. That's also where they have a small selection of heirloom and smocking supplies which was very nice to see. They offer a lot of classes (they gave me a schedule) which looked pretty good--I think it's on their web site, too. It reminded me a lot of Ragtime Fabrics but with more quilting and no home dec. Really, I think the little stretch of Virginia where I live does have some very nice fabric stores! All the ones I've been to lately and posted about have been delightful to visit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Anyhow...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So today and tomorrow, as a sigh of relief that the last two weeks are over, I plan to skip school (one of the beauties of homeschooling!), sew, plant, hike, and eat pizza and watch a movie. Ever tried </span><a href="http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/grilled-pizza-roasted-red-pepper-garlic-mozarella.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grilled pizza</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">? It's good weather for it, so we might have that tonight! We mostly always make our own and the only hard part about grilled pizzas are that you have to move fast on the grilling! Thankfully, I don't do that part! haha!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<em>If you are interested in our methods for grilling pizza, we don't really follow the sauce or topping suggestions at <u>Fine Cooking</u>. Instead, we do our own and use the dough recipe (adding some whole wheat flour to the recipe) and the technique described in Issue #66. Another tip, less is more on a grilled pizza! Otherwise, you might have grilling issues. Certainly, the flavor is more delicious with less on each pizza, too. Obviously, I cook way more than I sew!</em>)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKxCEcHOxrvByV2CKmlDh16gt3mmj4Ih9zvCUnPGabv6daJhkwimhtHt3ln3_rYwniD-bJBCW-Z6Eh0S4I2t7lCkIpVfjDxLSj6FYP7xtubUlxQKf0ijWPRtWVU7o34I6S6aNcQHLR0-k/s1600/Phlox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKxCEcHOxrvByV2CKmlDh16gt3mmj4Ih9zvCUnPGabv6daJhkwimhtHt3ln3_rYwniD-bJBCW-Z6Eh0S4I2t7lCkIpVfjDxLSj6FYP7xtubUlxQKf0ijWPRtWVU7o34I6S6aNcQHLR0-k/s320/Phlox.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The plants! Some phlox for the deer to eat...or hopefully not. They are deer resistant, so I really hope they pass these by. They just seem to eat everything around here, even things they aren't supposed to like :(</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZCTSPZbv6-H9p4wOp-VFoP3nnbjeIUfIiD0fRQ7uNNAQgoNt7PL99agOYTM2w71t5jIfDtux9jCHEDQ7i0LjJIfs1xSXsdIL-CoH38nc8OARqaplv3TyjrSXz-ScAlI37lpuLYOihUNn/s1600/McCalls+6469+in+progress.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ZCTSPZbv6-H9p4wOp-VFoP3nnbjeIUfIiD0fRQ7uNNAQgoNt7PL99agOYTM2w71t5jIfDtux9jCHEDQ7i0LjJIfs1xSXsdIL-CoH38nc8OARqaplv3TyjrSXz-ScAlI37lpuLYOihUNn/s320/McCalls+6469+in+progress.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My current sewing project. It's McCall's 6469 and it's slow going with the elastic just below the shoulder seams, the floppy fabric, and the dark color--really hard to mark it so I can see so I've used painter's tape and thread markings, but that doesn't take care of everything :(</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There we are! If the above shirt pattern gives me too much more grief, I think I will set it aside and work on either my rayon or knit tops. I need those whereas the McCall's pattern is long sleeved and in this weather, it's not something I need right now.</span></div>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-58301427086158810002012-03-28T13:09:00.000-04:002012-03-28T13:09:00.324-04:00Les Fabriques in Charlottesville, VA<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Okay, so even though it doesn't seem like I'm sewing at least I'm visiting fabric stores. I think you can find everything in the world on the internet, but I truly think it's really, really hard to find fabric stores???? I don't know why? Lately, when we travel, I've tried to find fabric stores to shop and it's hard to find them. Hence the reviews here. Maybe they will help someone. Anyway, our local ASG chapter makes a monthly trip to </span><a href="http://lesfabriquesinc.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Les Fabriques</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Charlottesville, VA. If you're in the area, I encourage you to check out their store and their class offerings. Wonderful for all of it! So, here's what we did and what I bought while there!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Les Fabriques offers a monthly hands-on class for us, which anyone can attend. They cost $10 and are worth every penny! Plus, you get 10% off any purchases while you're there (except clearance stuff which is fair). This month, we couched silk ribbon onto silk dupioni fabric. We had small rectangles of pre-embroidered silk dupioni--I have to say that I would never have thought about using pre-embroidered fabric to put yet more embroidery on, but it totally rocks! Our supplies included rayon thread for the couching, needles, and pearls--some were vintage and cut from necklaces!--and small gold beads. Our instructor had taken her finished panel and created the most lovely, unique purse with it. I wish I had taken a picture of it....! Boo that I didn't because it was stunning. I would love to try and recreate it with my panel when it's done and I've found some coordinating silk dupioni for the bag.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN19SPc1i4uezJ4881NnED9WMJRhjpamWckkcaHYqKrnCx6XRGQrfw94C8oye5EUgK8FlKJgeOXXBoXRyMtpQlNj_h01aWawmWp5OWtJmRSuuDJ5WKMSIiatweO5tGiB6_bm71LnEnlMU/s1600/Silk+Ribbon+Couching+w+pearls+on+silk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWN19SPc1i4uezJ4881NnED9WMJRhjpamWckkcaHYqKrnCx6XRGQrfw94C8oye5EUgK8FlKJgeOXXBoXRyMtpQlNj_h01aWawmWp5OWtJmRSuuDJ5WKMSIiatweO5tGiB6_bm71LnEnlMU/s320/Silk+Ribbon+Couching+w+pearls+on+silk.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not done yet, but I think it will be pretty!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After our class, we browsed the store. I found 2 pieces of fabric, which doesn't really satisfy my mantra: Do not add to stash! However, it is really hard to hold to that when you are with sewing buddies and your creative juices are flowing! </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BGPt0QJTIGK0aq30i_bDfUBhiMmTmz6nwzfllmRjAGWmjJnihZ2LXHtSnJjBXig4KrG45j3nKjVvaeyMeKHwFEldx5YO9NlRxQeZFaztwNhiYz_hpbR712EfcyXF6vHeL-RuGZj80m2c/s1600/Cotton+Lycra+knit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BGPt0QJTIGK0aq30i_bDfUBhiMmTmz6nwzfllmRjAGWmjJnihZ2LXHtSnJjBXig4KrG45j3nKjVvaeyMeKHwFEldx5YO9NlRxQeZFaztwNhiYz_hpbR712EfcyXF6vHeL-RuGZj80m2c/s320/Cotton+Lycra+knit.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blue cotton/lycra for a quick summer top for me!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNMiE5qg0wxFN_bOVDNh546uyPIk35iaDTnZXgPErCMvU-MC3rhJj7rLoDjC-oJ3VriFvwwcYGiiugxPcZG43US0XB3iHIME-5TpmkrIl0DIzh1y7W_P-toJEWQmh08vn4Bt6p2_AgKK_/s1600/Silk+seafoam+green.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNMiE5qg0wxFN_bOVDNh546uyPIk35iaDTnZXgPErCMvU-MC3rhJj7rLoDjC-oJ3VriFvwwcYGiiugxPcZG43US0XB3iHIME-5TpmkrIl0DIzh1y7W_P-toJEWQmh08vn4Bt6p2_AgKK_/s320/Silk+seafoam+green.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Light blue silk because it was in the bargain bin at $4.99 per yard. Nearly 2 yards here, so it was hard to resist this! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love going to Les Fabriques. They carry upscale fabrics and notions, have beautiful displays, lots of good lighting, and a big, open store. They even have some vintage items interspersed with the fabrics, which are fun to browse. Who can resist thumbing through vintage sewing patterns?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While I haven't posted about my sewing recently, I have made an effort to sew almost daily. Some days I just get a seam pinned and some days I get 2 whole seams sewn! Slow, like a turtle, but steady. Eventually, I will have something to show you!!</span></div>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1972596865511389620.post-72371785504193852332012-03-25T12:22:00.002-04:002012-03-25T12:37:29.906-04:00Ragtime Fabrics in Harrisonburg, VA<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<u>A Review of <a href="http://www.ragtimefabrics.com/" target="_blank">Ragtime Fabrics</a>:</u></h2>
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I think you have to be a certain personality to enjoy shopping here. Don't get me wrong; there's a great assortment of fabric and trims, but this store is seriously cluttered. I wish I'd taken a picture of it--lots of fabric in a space not quite big enough to comfortably hold it all! </div>
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Now, the flip side to the large quantity of fabric is that there's plenty to see and choose! They have everything: home dec, quilting cottons, silks, denim, wools, and rayon batiks! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rayon batiks are hard to find around here, so despite trying not to add to my stash I really wanted at least one of these to make another <a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2010/08/american-sewing-guild-conference-day-4.html" target="_blank">Bias Top</a>. Quick, easy, and great to wear for summer so it's hard to go wrong with it!</td></tr>
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Plus they have lots of the usual polyester stuff you might find at a chain store. As I was leaving, I noticed some fabulous looking trims, but just didn't have the mental energy to look more at them--it's just hard to notice everything here. </div>
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Another downside to Ragtime Fabrics--some of the fabrics don't have their content listed so sometimes it's a guess. On the other hand, their prices are pretty good. My batik was about 20% to 30% less than I can find other places. I also considered an interesting reversible denim piece but couldn't think of what I'd make so you'd see both sides. They had several wools that I thought about for my <a href="http://thesewingspot.blogspot.com/2012/03/craftsy-class.html" target="_blank">Couture Dress</a>, but in the interest of stash control I didn't buy them since I already have a silk in stash for it. </div>
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So, is it worth the trip? Most definitely! Just allow plenty of time to browse with maybe a break so you can absorb everything. It looks like this month they have an anniversary sale so it's a good time to visit!</div>sewing spotshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07532791199723063051noreply@blogger.com2