Friday Saturday Sunday

Amelia is now under the impression I make all of her clothes. While this is widely inaccurate, I hope no one corrects her. Friday I finished the Oliver + S Sailboat Top with fabric from my Gramma's stash. This top was my first time making button holes. Not perfect, but not terrible. Attaching the inside hem piece stumped me for ages. I read, reread, read again. And then finally it makes perfect sense and you feel mighty dumb. The arms seem long and wide at the wrists, so I rolled them for the photo. This is when it would be handy to have the niece living locally, so I could figure out if things fit or not.

This I finished awhile ago, intending to add sleeves. Which I did. But they restricted movement so off they came. I'll make adjustments and try sleeves again another time. It was also crammed in my dresser drawer, excuse the wrinkles. This top sews up so beautifully.

To briefly recap the weekend... Friday morning at Local 61 with Renee. Brainstorming and taking a few photos for an upcoming project. Very excited. Saturday Rire and I headed to Dumbo, lunch at Superfine and then walking around the waterfront. And the photo I have to show for it?  My bag on a bench. I also managed to sew a second Tova, photos coming.

This morning uptown, celebrating Charlotte's 4th birthday. Now home, wondering if Sandy will pack the punch the news promising.

big love sewing

Switching gears and back to sewing something for myself.  While watching Big Love. They go surprisingly well together. I'm on season 1. Only 6 years late.

So, the Wiksten tank. This was the first pattern I tackled after taking my brand new sewing machine out of the box. 2 pieces (plus binding) and beautiful French Seams that have forever ruined me because pinked or zig zagged edges now look messy. I raised the neckline slightly for this one, I don't like wearing tank tops under tank tops and the first two flash more bra than I generally like to show anyone that's not my husband.

It's current state is hemmed with a finished neckline. This capped sleeve version has been on my mind since the first time I Google image searched the tank top and I love it...so I'm going to roll the dice and attempt sleeves without a pattern. This could go either way. It's also why I yanked the bolt off the rack and clutched it tightly at P&S Fabrics last weekend.  Plaid!

On a side note, I talked Rire into going to a Relaxation & Meditation yoga class last night. We walked in and someone was already standing on their head. What I had I gotten us into? The instructor glided (seriously, he didn't walk, he glided) over to us and asked in a whisper chant if he had been before? 
No.
But you have yoga experience? 
No.
Just watch closely, only one part moves swiftly, watch me and others around you.
OK.  (Copy off the people next to me? Done.)

It was all going fine, but every time he reminded us to have "no thoughts" I realized my teeth were clenched and I had so many thoughts ping ponging around I didn't know which one to clear first. I don't think that is how it is supposed to work... 

After all that wholesome yoga we got takeout and poured ourselves some wine - to clear our heads.

so, sewing

People sew in my family.  My Grandma was a quilter and my mom made us clothing.  Bravely letting Amy and I pick any fabric we wanted at Joann's for our stirrup pants and jams.  I can only hope I'm as open minded someday.  The 80's were not kind to apparel fabric.

I came to sewing late, but I have not been deterred.  First up.  The internet famous Wiksten Tank for myself and the Emerson Tunic Dress for Amelia.  At this stage in the game it's safe to say I do more things wrong than right.  Like running out of scotch tape and switching to a decorative blue.

And using every trick in the box to try and center the pleat.

Box pleat!  I have no idea what the proper way to go about this was.  But the pins helped me.

(Fabric from my Grandma's legendary stash.)

I may have sewn the entire thing only to decide it wasn't quite right.  I may have ripped out every stitch and started over.  And because I can't leave well enough alone.  Let's appliqué a bird on it.

The Wiksten came together beautifully - curved hem, French Seams and all.  French seams!

Pictures of the actual finished pieces coming up next...