Seals of Approval

Okay, so I think this weekend's sewing project snags the title of the oddest thing I've sewn in my adult life.

Now, when I was a kid I used to take my Grandmother's sewing scraps and use Scotch tape to make outfits for a stuffed bear at her house, but I never imagined that my supervisor at work would ask that I would make a seal bikini, but he did and here we are.

The swimsuited seal and her bowtied beau are the unofficial mascots for my company. The "Seals of Approval" if you will. You can't say we're without a sense of humor.

It all started with this photo of the view out of one of our office windows (not mine unfortunately), that I doctored up as joke

and it led to this:

So, what's the oddest thing you've ever sewed??

OOTD: Making it Work for Me

Remember a few weeks back when I said this sweater wasn't my favorite, but that I'd probably wear it a ton anyway? While I still think it isn't the most "me" thing I've ever made, I have been wearing it a lot, and as the frustration of making it has worn off, I've grown to really like it. It's cozy and very versatile.

In this outfit, I paired it with another "out of my comfort zone" piece, the very red Red-Fox dress.

I fell in love with the dress, and bought it even though as a red-head (ish- auburn really) I've always avoided red. My last attempt at styling this dress I shared didn't quite work for me, the red/black was just too harsh methinks, but this "southwestern" take is a much better fit. The turquoise necklace hints at it, but if I had cowboy boots, it would be really southwestern.

Necklace: from my Mom

Cardigan: made by me

Dress: Red Fox by Shabby Apple

Belt: from my Mom

Shoes: Bass Outlet

When you end up with items that aren't in your usual style, how do you make it work for you??

Sorbetto and Soft Serve

Mags and I got together for some sewing fun on Saturday and had a surprising role-reversal, in which she worked on a detailed wrap-dress and I whipped out two shirts (and a muslin for some pants, which need a lot of work), one of which ended up as a pajama top because the fabric was crummy, and then there's this one:

The Little Folks voile was the perfect weight and drape for this top. The pattern is the Colette patterns freebie, Sorbetto, which has been making the sewing blog rounds for good reason, as it's quick, easy, and flattering.

A few pattern notes:

• With some careful cutting, I got this out of less than a yard of 54" fabric near the top end of the size range.
• I added about 2 inches to the hem when I cut it out
• Like others have mentioned, the bust dart could probably be 1/2 inch lower.

I think this pattern would look great in a silky solid too. Pretty much anything drapey will work well.

In other ice-cream related news that I'm mostly posting about for my brother, at Maggie's instistance I grabbed a Blizzard at the local Dairy Queen (DQ) this weekend (and supported a local dog rescue).

For the first time in 15 years.

I've avoided DQ's for the the past decade and half due to a overload on an extended roadtrip through the heartlands with my Grandparents at age 12.

So how was the break fast Blizzard? Not bad.  Not great. But not bad.

Just don't make me get the "Hot Eats" ;)

Off to the Races

I've been reading the Sew Weekly for a few months now (even won a pincushion!), but as we know, I am far from the fastest sewer ever, so I've yet to participate in one of the challenges, until today.

This week's theme was "At the Races" and was to be a garment inspired by the Ascot scene in My Fair Lady.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYMSvyqHHwA]

I had already planned on making this tie-neck blouse, but I made one small change to fit the challenge. When I think of the Ascot Scene, I think of how Eliza looks all lady-like and demure, before busting out "C'mon Dover, move your bloomin' arse!" So I took this demure blouse and added a little secret.

Very bright pink buttons that you only catch glimpse of beneath the tie. Buttons, that depending on the light, look either magenta or the hottest of hot pinks.

Oh and we're supposed to wear a hat, so here's the cloche again.

The Facts

Fabric: About $3-4 worth from Denver Fabrics Pattern: Burdastyle Ute - Variation B Year: modern Notions: 5 pink buttons Time to complete: two days First worn: June 2011 Wear again: Yes!

Total Cost: $8-10

I like this pattern a lot, but if you're not familiar with shirt construction, the directions are a bit vague, particularly when it comes to attaching the tie collar (the best part). I'd also recommend using more smaller buttons, than the fie large ones the pattern recommends.  There appears to be some pulling at the buttons in the photos, which would largely go away if there were less space between the buttons (though I'd probably sew this with a tad more ease a second time around too).

I like that this shirt is both dressy and cool, and I'm going to get a lot of wear with it this summer.

Reveal # 1

So here's the first of those projects I teased in the last post. As Leigh guessed, I was crocheting in raffia - specifically, the leftovers from the Carmel Clutch.

I've been toying with the idea of crocheting a a straw hat for a while and  it really kicked in when I discovered this hat on Ravelry. I decided I really needed a straw cloche.

Crochet isn't particularly my strong suit, but the whole thing came together in about a week, and I only had to redo the brim three times!! (For construction details, see my Ravelry project page.)

I finished it off with a wide striped grosgrain ribbon and a whip-stitched brim.

Now if it would only get sunny enough to require a sun hat!!

Sneak Peaks

It was cold and rainy all weekend, which meant I didn't get to go hiking like I wanted to, but it did mean I got a lot of indoor crafting done. I'm soooooo close to finishing up two projects (including my first sew weekly challenge!) and hopefully I'll tie up the loose ends and get them both posted this week. In the meantime, here's some sneak peaks!

Waltz in Grey

It seems like the sweaters I dislike knitting the most, end up being the sweaters I wear the most. Case in point, That D@#n Sweater, which I wear ALL the time.

This sweater falls into the same category. The pattern is Pas de Valse by Marnie MacLean. The pattern itself is fine, but I really lost my knitting mojo working on this thing. I blame too much stockinette stitch on size 6 needles. I knit the size closest to my actual bust size, with about 1 inch of ease. I wish I had gone one size up, but I thought it would grow much much more than it did when blocking (the yarn is alpaca/nylon sock blend from Snowshoe Farms that I picked up at Rhinebeck). I did end up going up a size on the sleeves, which I'm awfully glad I did.

The finished product is very wearable - I think I've worn it three times this week already, but in the end, it's just not my favorite. I didn't care for knitting it and I think the style of the finished object, though lovely, just isn't me. I'm not really a drapey-style gal. Of course, I say this, but because the color really fills a need in my wardrobe, I will still wear it a lot.

I guess I'll just need to get in touch with my inner Eileen Fisher when I do. :)

Maine Fiber Frolic 2011

It's been two years since my last visit to Fiber Frolic. I've been spinning for nearly two years! I fell for needlefelting! Both of which open my Fiber Frolicking world!

While there were tons of beautiful yarns I didn't pick any up this year (though it was all I could do not to buy this Sweet Bunting Cardigan kit on display at Dirty Water Dyeworks, but since I don't know any babies or soon to arrive babies to knit for I held off).

similarly, I think it was all Aimee could do to not walk off with this 4 week old lamb.

After having been to a number of fiber festivals, it was nice to see some great stuff from vendors I hadn't seen before,like this roving from Purple Fleece, which I didn't pick up and this menrino/tencel braid from  Highland Handmades that I did.

I must have been in a whimsical mood on Saturday, because my other two purchases where these charming needlefelting kits Off the Beaded Path (I've already started one) and the frog and bead stitch markers from Enchanted Knoll Farms

Fortunately I still  had some funds left over for the superb fair food (gyros and sweet potatoes fries - yes please!!)

After lunch there were more friends and fleeces to snorgle

And look who we found in the rabbit barns!!

Can I say for the record, these fleeces were lovely and make me want to move up to a wheel so I could justify the poundage?? Fiber frolic is such an enabling event, for reals. Good thing I have Tour de Fleece coming up soon, so I can get back into some serious spinning!!

(PS -for another take on this trip, in which my right shoulder makes a cameo- visit Aimee at 52 weeks, 52 hats)

Watercolor Memories

I know I said my next sewing project would be a blouse, but I got distracted and had to make this dress first instead. I feel that the finished project is very Anthropologie-looking, so I tried to do my best Anthro-model impression above.

I've been loving watercolor florals for some time now, and when I saw this silky print at JoAnn's on my last visit I had to pick it up. I combined the fabric with Butterick 5028, a pattern that's been languishing in my stash for at least four years, waiting for the right 6o-inch fabric.

The pattern is all of three pieces, but I made a few mods, including lengthening the hem by about 1.5" and changing the neckline to a scoop neck. Later when I remembered I don't like scoop necks on me, I added the fabric loops to the front straps to change it up just enough to my liking. I still need to tack the loops down so they don't slide up, but I'm very happy with the finished project.

The fabric is nice and drapey, and despite being polyester (lined with yellow gingham in the bodice) it's very breezy and comfortable. I will say that my last two experiences with poly (this and my Lady Grey lining) have not been the best for my machine. They're so tightly woven that a very sharp needle is necessary. Lesson learned: universals no, sharps yes.

I also did my first attempt at a lapped side zipper using the instructions that came with the zipper, which I found very clear. My zipper's a bit wonky at the top, but that's because I didn't line it up the best and this fabric didn't deal well with seam ripping. I'd definitely do it again on another project.

I definitely loved this pattern, and I think if I could find the right white 60-inch eyelet fabric I'd make another in a heartbeat, probably with the original v-neck front and sash.

Another note, I like the drapy-ness of the back bodice on this one, but if you were concerned about bra straps showing, you could tack it together at the cross over point for something more stable. The back hem looks a little weird in this photo, I think because the weight of the fabric isn't enough to counteract the pull of bodice or it's static-y  or I could be standing funny- I'm not sure.

Dress: Me-made

Butterfly-Wing Necklace: Birthday gift

Belt: from shirt I no longer have

Sandals: Born Concept

Long Weekend

Thanks to taking a few much-needed days off from work and a national holiday, I just wrapped up a 5-day weekend, which was absolutely lovely.

It didn't hurt that after weeks of rain, we finally had a string of sunny and warm days.

Somethings I did

• Slept in everyday
• Drove to MA/NH border and bought a great new dining room table and chairs that surprisingly fit in the back of my Matrix.
• Ate almost every meal outside
• Spent hours knitting in the backyard
• Finished sewing a dress
• Went to an indoor picnic (on the one cold day of my weekend)
• Put the new grill to use
• Tried to ID our backyard birds
• Went to the local Memorial Day parade.
• Went to the drive-in restaurant

All in all, I feel totally refreshed - exactly what you want from a long weekend.