sewing on vacation
01 Dec 2009 Leave a Comment
While we were at Three Valley Gap museum, I found a couple of neat sewing related items.
The first was a story quilt, this one is based on the Atlantic provinces but what intrigued me the most was the style of the quilt.
My grandma made a similar quilt for me, the pictures were drawn on the quilt top and were then coloured with crayons. 
After my mom would wash the quilt, the colours would have faded and we got to colour it again.
The next couple of neat things were a ribbon cabinet, I thought of several of my friends with large ribbon collections. The ribbons were wrapped around large wooden spools and kept behind glass doors.
I have never seen a skirt rack like this, it is from 1800′s and is called a Buckingham skirt rack.
Notions and Knitting
28 Feb 2009 2 Comments
in knitting, project spectrum4 north, sewing
After decades of sewing, I finally have my first narrow hemming foot. (3mm) I think I just used to avoid the whole issue of narrow hems, my clothes were much to practical. But I have a few light weight fabrics in the stash and I had left a blouse abandoned for several months. My attempts at a hand sewing edge were terrible, so I am in practice mode. I also picked up the ruffled organza elastic trim, it was a lot cheaper than the two hanks that I bought in France. The big buckle, I am always collecting purse findings, I have visions of making my own leather purse one of these days. I have saved my green leather coat and a black leather coat of my father’s in hopes that I’ll make a couple of fabulous purses.
The noro striped scarf is nearly done I am nearing the 6 foot mark. The socks are coming along as well and really don’t have too much to knit to complete the first one.
Finally a little sewing
14 Dec 2008 1 Comment
in sewing
This is the pattern I used and the jacket I started when on the road trip in the last post. It is a lot closer fitting than the hoodies of old and I like the princess lines better as well. The view, I used, called for fabric strips to be attached to the front, back and sleeves and I will blame the lack of a decent table and poor lighting in the motel, to the poor job I made of attaching them. This is really an at home garment. I had originally cut it longer but while up at the motel, I decided to cut it off at the line suggested for the view I was using. A few minutes later I discovered that the hem was left raw! The yoga pants are not done yet.
My first online purchase with my new account. Lots of detail in this book on ties and totally different than how the big4 pattern companies put them together. My tie making will take place after Christmas. David Coffin covers custom length, details all the different ways of constructing the perfect point and lining. I pawed through all the old ties I had collected and to my delight even found some of the interfacing from inside. Unfortunately the ties were skinny in those days, so I can’t really use them. I did wash them just in case. I may have to order some interfacing from California. The tie fabrics don’t photograph all that well, the one on the left is great in real life. They are from Fabricmart.
road trip
01 Dec 2008 Leave a Comment
We drove up to Williams Lake this weekend, a seven and a half hour trip. A much better drive coming home as the road was dry but there was still a fair bit of fog. Fog, rain, slush on the road going up made us glad we had 4wheel drive. This was a fair size group of Mountain sheep at the side of the road, about 16 animals, I didn’t count.
I have never been in the Cariboo when there was snow, just a skiff on the ground but living on the coast I have never seen sage brush, and golden grasses in the snow before. I was quite taken with a different colour scheme.
While my husband was out lecturing, I stayed in the hotel and sewed a jacket. It was just a track jacket made of sweatpant fabric but there was a few things new to me and I still have the zipper to put in.
I met up with my cousin for a chat and on the way home stopped for a bite to eat at Bridal Falls and a nursing buddy was in the next booth. It was great to catch up with her as well.
Decluttered space and a restless mind
09 Oct 2008 1 Comment
About every 2 months I start a journal entry with I must get organized. I usually have this revelation when I can’t settle on any one craft or any one project. The house is now decluttered but now I am scared to start anything, in case I make a mess.
Our home for 28 years is up for sale and we have bought a townhouse. We are very excited about the whole thing. More details to come later.
So my craft area in the rec room is unrecognizable and my sewing room has never looked so spacious, we didn’t go in for the whole styling of the place but a few pieces of furniture were moved into storage along with many boxes.
I have one banker box with some sock yarn and the Briggs and Little aran cream yarn and I have a fairly complicated sweater pattern that I am working on, I don’t think I have done six inches yet but when the back is done I’ll take pictures and post.
In the meantime, I haven’t been happy with the buttons on Hey Teach. So I searched out Fabricland and Wallmart today with no luck. I searched for plain plastic rings to make Dorset buttons, no luck there either. I have now decided to stitch the button hole closed a wee bit, that will work.
My coat for the GreatCoat Sewalong, has been packed up as well. I have managed some of the thread basting but I hope it is not in hiatus too long.
Challenging Magazines.
24 May 2008 1 Comment
One of the things that I wanted to purchase in Europe, besides a piece of fabric from each country I visited, was a sewing magazine. I have had experience witah Burda patterns which is now available in English. Lots of patterns each month, with the patterns printed out roadmap style on the insert. One needs to add seam allowances and hems.
I was successful, I was delighted with my haul.
Patrones and di milleidee UOMO have the easiest pattern sheets to trace out and idees Couture is a real mish- mash of lines to manouver.
I can generally figure out the yardage and maybe a few other words. The italian magazines have some pictures of construction, as does the French magazine.
Cidell today has posted a link on her blog to translate Spanish for sewing.
2 BWOF tops.
05 Apr 2008 2 Comments
I’m a Burda World of Fashion sewer once again. It has been a decade since I attempted the process of tracing out a pattern, although I have quite a few magazines. My excuse was not knowing what size I required. I made the beige sweater knit too large and then just tried to make it work. I cut off all the seams and unpicked the neckline. Then laid a couple of pattern pieces over what I had done and changed the armseye and fixed the shoulders. I didn’t want to lose all the shirring that I had done but as a result it is pulled up rather high but the neckline before was too low. I took in the side seams as well and then sewed the sleeves back in place.
This top I am happier with #123 from Feb. 08, the collar is actually 4 inches in depth and can be rolled slightly or draped more like a cowl neck. The model in the photo had her shoulder stuck out thru the neckline, looks kinda stupid that way on me. I made the hem band a few inches longer to go around my middle and I like the fit and fabric of this piece.
Both will be going on vacation and I hope to make a beige cardigan that can be worn with both tops, I am just still pondering how I will do the neckline.
Something Special
29 Mar 2008 1 Comment
in knitting, project spectrum 3, sewing
The scarf is blocked, it is 52 by6 inches. Swoon, easy Drop scarf in Pink Champagne.
The bag is from Sew ? Magazine, I tried to find a link, but can’t so I must have the name wrong, it is 3 inches smaller. The pattern called for 22 inch square, I had some lining which was 19 inches square so I went with that. I didn’t like the closure so took it off, but I will think of something.
Inside, silk charmuse lining and filled with the various knitting accessories. Silk brocade on the outside, interlined with felt. That has made it quite stiff.
Spring tidy up.
03 Mar 2008 1 Comment
It’s 5 degrees, rainy and threatening snow. He has 10 hours of work in front of him. The garden already looks better.
Today, I am going to tackle some drapery panals, which I bought at Fabricland yesterday. They are meant to gather on rods but I have a house with valences in the living room and dining room. I am going to attempt to add a hook tape and I think the valence will cover up everything. I’ll have to get the iron primed and ready to go. There is quite a bit of pressing involved.
Mail call
01 Feb 2008 Leave a Comment
I have been working on a pair of socks and hope to finish them tonight. It is the first time that I worked toe up socks and with cotton and wool combined. The length is good and the fit is good. They are tough to get up over the heel but I’ve had socks that weren’t perfect before, so I think it is always live and learn.
I have also been sewing with fabric from Toronto, a great knit, love the colour. I am using a dress 
pattern but have changed it into a top and skirt. I think I will get more wear out of it that way, I have enough for at least one more top. I can also wear the tops with an white eyelet skirt and I have a white dotted swiss coat that I can wear with it as well. It will work well on my vacation.
My fabric from Fabric Mart came, I am very excited. The pima cotton is wonderful, it’s white and I use it for dolls, some great interfacing and a white canvas with a price I couldn’t resist. The silk jacquard came, $2 a yard and I have 6 as it is a bit narrow, it is for coat lining.
I am ready to start new socks, up next is Jitterbuy in the Sahara colourway.
