Make-a-Sunday-Sevens-List Monday ;)

Tags

cats, Chiawana Park, clothing, Make-A-List Monday, Pasco, quilting, sewing, Sunday Sevens

Look!  New green grass!

I actually took a few pictures this week–I tell ya, my life is a lot more photogenic when it’s not the middle of winter–so I thought I’d do sort of a mash-up, a Frankenpost.

I used to be MUCH better at coloring within the lines, so to speak, but I seem to have less and less inclination to do so the older I get.

So, how did I do this week?  My single goal was to

•   Finish the jacket.

Nope, but I didn’t really expect to; I just set a high goal to get myself moving.  And I’m really happy with the progress I made on it–many dragons were slain this week!  The pocket bags are on (which was a lot more complicated than it sounds, as I drafted new pieces and attached them in a different way than the pattern specifies), the back pocket is constructed and pinned in place, and the lining pieces have been overlocked and assembled.  More importantly, I worked out a plan for putting the lining in with a minimum of hand-sewing.  The problem I’ve had with lining this thing is that it’s not the kind of jacket that’s normally lined, so the SOPs for jacket-lining don’t really apply.  I’m having to come up with my own method, and I hope it works!

The goals for the coming week:

• Finish the jacket.  I had my honey try it on this evening and he said he’s very happy with the way it’s coming together.  What’s left to do?  Sew on the back pocket, put in the lining, add elastic to the hem and sleeve hems, and do some topstitching.
•  Rejoice in my victory.
•  Resolve to never sew another thing that doesn’t say “quick and easy” on the pattern.  The pattern that I WILL FOLLOW EXACTLY.
•  Cut out my Kaffee Fassett dress.

On to the fun stuff I did this week, when I wasn’t slaying things.

We had some nice days–sunny and 50s!–so I took a walk on Friday.  These pics are from Chiawana Park, like last time, but walking the other direction, away from the part of the park with the big, old trees.

Lots of brand new grass, as well of clumps of this interesting-looking orange-y stuff.

I took this photo especially for my non-desert-dwelling readers.  It’s pretty windy here in the desert of eastern Washington, and when the wind blows, chain link fences become giant tumbleweed collectors.  That’s a couple of big piles of tumbleweeds stacked up against the fence behind that McMansion.

I wonder what these folks think about having a flock of geese in their backyard.

Because I am obviously a not-at-all-sensible person, I started a new project, just because I wanted to work with some bright, springy colors.  These are the first two blocks from The Splendid Sampler BOM.   I don’t know how many of the 100(!) blocks I’m going to make, or what they’ll eventually become, but I’m liking doing this just for fun in between working on the rather taxing jacket.

Shelby’s discovery that she can get into my scrap bins happened around the same time she decided that putting toys in her water fountain is the MOST FUN GAME EVAR.  This is what I found when I emptied it to change the water (there was actually one more scrap that went straight into the trash).

And another pizza this week!  This is my current favorite combination:  a bit of oil, herbs, spicy Italian sausage, whatever veg we have, marinated artichokes, mozzarella, and a little sprinkle of feta and parmesan.

Have a great week, everybody, and I hope there’s something adding a little bit of color to your life.

STH

 

Make-a-List Monday 02-15-16

Tags

#2016FAL, 2016 FAL, Butterick 6247, clothing, Columbia Park, Ellensburg, Kennewick, Make-A-List Monday, Seattle, sewing, travel, Washington

You want to watch where you step in eastern Washington (taken at a rest stop between Yakima and Ellensburg).

Well, I didn’t really intend to, but I managed to let two weeks go between posts.  I’m still here, though, and still sewing, so let’s see how I did on my last list.

 

• Finish the purple top.

Done!

This project made me a little nervous–I was worried the fabric was going to be a nightmare to work with, I didn’t know if the style would work on me, I was unsure about the sizing, etc.  I cut a large, which was a bit of a risk, but the pattern has 5 1/2 inches of ease, so I figured that was plenty; I’m really glad I didn’t just go by my measurements, or this would have been MAMMOTH on me.  And I wasn’t sure what finished length I’d want on this style, so I didn’t shorten the pattern, as I do with pretty much everything.  I wound up cutting off 4 inches at the hem, and it’s still fairly long and drapey.

Oy, I took a record number of bad photos recently.  Blech.

Everything went well until it came time to sew the hems.  The bottom layer was hard enough, but I used my machine’s stretch stitch and rolled hem foot to get it done.  The top layer was a major hassle, though; I made this hem narrower and, for some reason, the sewing machine just didn’t want to move the fabric along, and the stitches wound up tiny.  Partway through, I decided to go to a regular straight stitch, as this part of the shirt really doesn’t need to stretch, anyway.  So I’m a little embarrassed by the way the hem looks, but there’s no way I could rip it out without destroying the fabric.

I’m still loving this top, though.  It’s so soft and cuddly and purple!  I’ve seen so many cheap and nasty jerseys, but this fabric is just lovely, and I love the swingy drape of the style.  And it’s purple!

(Mark your scorecards, everybody–this is my finish #2 for the 2016 Q1 Finish-Along.)

• Cut out the lining for the jacket.

Done!

• Finish the jacket.

Um, nope.  I actually spent the last week making these:

My partner and I had a table at the Bike Swap in Seattle last weekend, and I decided to make some little zipper bags to sell along with all the bike gear.  Sold a few, gave one to my honey, and the rest will probably go to SCRAP to be sold there.

So, next week’s list:

• Finish the jacket.

That’s it.  I’m tired of it and I want it finished so I can move on.  I’ve been nervous about it, so I’ve been busily procrastinating away with other projects, but I need to just stop thinking about it and DO IT.  I’ve decided that my reward for finishing it is going to be making my lovely Kaffe Fassett dress.

And I’ll leave you with some recent photos from my travels.

Yep, eastern Washington in February, complete with tumbleweed.  This is a wheat field on a hill above Kennewick; partner and I were scouting possible bike routes.

Interesting tree bark with moss from a walk with my mother near the fishing pond in Columbia Park.

Snowy hills outside Ellensburg on our way to Seattle.

Obligatory tourist shot, taken on a very soggy, gray Seattle day.

Needed to get a little color in there!  This is the Experience Music Project, which was very busy, despite the weather.

Have a great week everybody, and I hope you’re feeling bright and sunny, even if the weather is gray where you are.  Only two more weeks of February!

STH

 

Make-a-List Monday-ish 02-02-16

Tags

cats, Chiawana Park, clothing, Make-A-List Monday, Pasco, quilting, SCRAP Tri-Cities, sewing

Taken on my walk in Chiawana Park yesterday.

Yeah, Monday, Tuesday–whatever, it’s close enough, right?  🙂

A somewhat better week this time, and I did make some progress on my goals.

 

• Complete my self-care checklist every single day.

Done!  Well, not perfect, but much better than before.  And not demanding perfection of yourself is most definitely part of self-care, so I’m calling it a win.

•   Check the fit on the wool jacket and cut out the lining.

I did check the fit, but I haven’t cut the lining out yet.  Was going to do it yesterday, but decided on a walk instead because the sun was out.  Definitely the right choice.  🙂

•   Cut out the purple knit top. 

Done!  Not only did I cut it out–using my new pattern weights!–but I’m almost finished sewing it.  I just need to do some hemming and it will be done.

And OMG you guys–wearing this thing is like wearing a FLUFFY PURPLE CLOUD.  New life goal:  never sew any clothing that isn’t Secret Pajamas.  Seriously.

• Put the binding on the new mug rug I made for my desk last night. 

Done!  And Shelby will now demonstrate the correct use of a quilted mug rug:

(Sorry about the glare from the window–I considered getting up and lowering the blinds, but then I would have lost the shot, and she’s such a cutie.)

Okay, list for next week:

• Finish the purple top.
• Cut out the lining for the jacket.
• Finish the jacket.   Yes, really.  I want this DONE.

If I can get that done, that’ll be two more finishes for the FAL.

AND!

I also wanted to share a little fabric PR0N with you guys–guess who got a HUGE box of free fabric from Freecycle the other day?  I could barely lift it!

Here it is all washed and folded.  There are some smaller pieces here, but also fabric cuts up to 4 yards long.

Some of it was a little bit iffy, like these psychedelic zombie teddy bears.

And this stuff, which is JUST SO VERY ME.

But there was also this:

And this!

And this!  (Do they still show this special at Christmastime?  I am getting all the nostalgia feels from this!)

I dunno, some of this may turn into things for my niece’s new baby, or I may just shamelessly hoard it all.  There are a few pieces that can become summer tops, some that will be useful for making muslins (read:  HIDEOUS), and lots of scraps for quilting.  I also put together three grocery bags of fabric for SCRAP, including that shiny snakeskin plastic stuff (can’t believe I let that go).

Have a great week, everybody, and get sewing!

STH