Return to Sister-Enhanced Sewing

Oooo! Are you there, Sis? I've got the "invalid" fed and he seems comfortable, so it's time to return to sewing. Here are a couple of pictures of the state of my current project, Silver Moon.

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Annie - So pretty! I particularly like the pocket flaps and the seaming in the back. That fabric is so unusual. It looks as though it should be stiff, but I know how soft it is. You will look fabulous in this.

My goal for the day is to get three little buttonholes done. How hard could that be...?

xo, Sis

Thanks, Sis!  But if you get three little buttonholes done, you will probably have done more than me.  I'm returning to nursing for the moment.  And I think I'll go kill something in Skyrim.

oxox Annie

Long distance sewing

Dear Annie -

So I finished the Pamela's pencil skirt! Of course it's the easiest kind of skirt to sew, so no triumph of stitching skills there, but I think the success of this kind of skirt is in the fit and in the choice of fabric. Score and score. And talk about nearly instant gratification. I ordered the pattern last Friday, got it on Tuesday. Saw the fabric on EmmaOneSock on Tuesday, got it on Friday. Outfit ready for work on Monday

.

I'm wearing it with the Loes Hinse Criss Cross top in a peculiar green cotton knit. For some reason, this weird green that should go with nothing, goes with everything. Purple? But of course. Blue? Naturally. I wish I had more of it.

Over the criss cross top is Marcy Tilton's Vogue 8559, made with black cotton knit and black mesh knits, bought at her booth at Sewing Expo in Puyallup last year. I have high hopes for stocking up on fabric again this year at her booth.

An easy day of sewing produces great satisfaction! Would that it were always so painless.

xoxo, Sis

p.s. O dear, I just looked at the photos and realized I'm standing so that the LH top is twisted. I'm not really that hunchy. One should never look at photos of oneself

PPS.  Sis's husband liked the outfit so much he made a reservation for tonight at Ivar's Salmon House so she can debut it. -- xoxo, Annie (who will get canned soup and a Hostess cupcake for dinner)

Annie weasels out!

Let's see. Last time we did a distance sew, I got a migraine. This time my excuse is having spent half the night in the Emergency Room with a sick husband. All is well now, but if I had to sew right now I'd probably sew my thumbs together.

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Oh no, poor youse guys! I hope all is well or at least well drugged..ahahahaha

In your honor I am bravely continuing on alone with Solo Sister Sewing Day. Skirt is cut out and the side seams and darts basted and ready to fit. I like this pattern because she has pushed the front and back waist darts closer to the side seams, thereby minimizing any possible stomach pooch that might occur (had one a poochy stomach), and making it easier to fit. I stupidly cut it a little short so it will have a skimpy hem, but I think it will be fine. The fabric is very pleasant to sew. It's soft and has a tiny bit of surface texture. It shall be worn with black boots and tights.

I'm pausing now for lunch: a latte and potstickers. So global!

xoxo, Sis

Long Distance Sister-Enhanced Day of Much Sewing Productivity number 2!

Actually two days of Long Distance Sister-Enhanced Sewing, on Sunday and Monday. Sis lives in north Seattle and Annie lives in south Tacoma (worst luck), so sewing in the same room doesn't happen very often. But that doesn't mean they can't sew together anyway. I wonder what they will create.

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Annie -
It's snowing like crazy here! I'm in the midst of Saturday chores, but here is what I'm planning to work on tomorrow:

It's a pencil skirt from Pamela's Patterns; I've used her tshirt pattern before and been really happy with it, so I'm excited to try the skirt.

The fabric is a great black and white knit from EmmaOneSock. Once the skirt is fitted it will be an easy sew. Ummmm...I know I said I wasn't buying anymore fabric til Sewing Expo in Puyallup but who could resist this tres mod stylized houndstooth?

Sister Pledge Make-up Day Sewing

So yesterday I replenished my stock of silk organza. Now I'm ready for my makeup day. See you later!

11:30:
I've accomplished 2 hours worth of sewing. Now I'm off to the Tacoma Art Museum for lunch. Later!

11:52:
Okay, but I expect you to be thinking about sewing the whole time you're having your delicious lunch, of which I will get none, thankyouverymuch. -- Sis

3:00:
Actually I didn't give sewing a thought while I had my very very delicious lunch, thankyouverymuch. And then I came home and sewed for another hour and a half. So there! What's left: collar and band, buttons and buttonholes, handwork. It would be more fun without being distantly supervised. Still, the mountains are high and the emperor is far away.

3:50
O the rebellion! The emperor isn't THAT far away. And she would like to see some photos of this alleged sewing progress! Hah! --Sis

Post Pledge Day Post

Annie,
Thanks for helping to motivate sewing yesterday! I finished the Marcy Tilton Vogue 8559 cardigan and I'm pretty happy with it. Although M did ask if it was supposed to be a serape ?!? I think he was a little confounded by the draped front. All is well now - it was explained.

I used a lightweight black wool doubleknit for the back, to give it some stability. The draped fronts and the sleeves are a black striped mesh knit from Marcy's website; the neck, front and bottom bands are a dotted mesh knit. The stripe is very stretchy and wiggly, not the easiest thing to sew, so I cut my bands a few inches longer than the pattern, to make sure they'd fit if the neckline or front had stretched too much. I also cut them wider than called for, but that was a design decision - I wanted more dots to show! Oh, and I lengthened it by 5 inches. I'm tall! The pattern is very simple and everything fits together nicely. It will be a perfect summer cover-up to keep the icy air conditioning at work off my delicate self.

Because it's so drapy, it's hard to get a good photo of it. I think we'll need to ask Dahlia to model it for us at some point. In the meantime I'll go home and get a mediocre picture to post tomorrow.

OH - thanks for putting up the picture of Special-K. He was so handsome!

xoxox, Sis

Sister Memorial Day Sewing Pledge

Sis's pledge: I pledge to do my best to finish super secret black mystery garment and to get one more item at least cut out. Apres of course delicious breakfast somewhere swell.

Annie's pledge: I pledge to get as much of new project, Afternoon Stroll, done as possible.

Afternoon Stroll from Emma One Sock

Will they keep their pledges?

10:30:
Oh no! Annie throws in the towel! I have a migraine and I'm out of silk organza which I need for interfacing. And even without a headache, there's no way I'm going to find silk organza in Tacoma. Wah!

Let's wait and see how Sis is doing.

2:30:
While Annie is languishing in headache-land Sis is having a productive day. She says "We can sew vicariously. We are working on Vogue 8559! I am using a black wool double knit for the back and some black sheers for the fronts, sleeves and trim. I'll send some pictures of the fabrics later in the afternoon. I have the body and sleeves done, I'm just pondering my trim fabrics and deciding how I want to use them. I don't think I can get a good picture of it...I might have to come drape it on Dahlia to get a shot. I am trying to practice slow sewing and get everything sewn and trimmed just right. Louise would be proud - my sleeve stripes match.

5:05:

Sis says: Neck/front band back on and looking nice. I've basted the bottom band on using the large polkadot mesh that I used for the neckband. Hmmm...not sure I like it. Maybe it's a little bit circus?

Meanwhile, Annie, in her disappointment over the day, is looking forward to bed time.

Sister Sewing Follow-up

Ooooo I love your formerly secret projects! The color of the sheer rayon/lycra knit is really lovely. If the little snip bothers you I guess you could lower the neckline a bit? I have two recently-made tshirts that have tiny snips at the cuff, but I'm pretending I don't notice. We will soon need to have Close Proximity Day of Sisterly New Outfit Promenade!

The Bristol Blouse is almost done, it just lacks hems, buttons and buttonholes, which will have to wait for the weekend, I'm afraid. I'm pretty happy with it though I remember now what I don't like about this pattern. The collar requires VERY precise stitching and there is NO room for error. I need a large boulevard of error-room, so the collar isn't quite perfect, but I can live with it. No one but you and I will know. Unless Louise Cutting or Loes Hinse invades my personal space. I'll post pictures on Saturday or Sunday.

Long Distance Sister-Enhanced Day of Much Sewing Productivity was very fun and useful - it helped keep me on track and not be distracted by the lure of my book. Currently reading: Eric Larsen's In the Garden of Beasts It's kind of clumsily written - lots of foreshadowing and intimations of doom to come, but the story is so interesting I'm willing to forgive him.

Let's sew "together" again soon!

xoxoxo, Sis

Long Distance Sister-Enhanced Day of Much Sewing Productivity

Today Sis and I are sewing together long distance.  We live 30 or 40 miles apart so getting together to sew isn't practical, but that doesn't mean we can't sew together anyway!  Sis says:  Here is the plan: although LC Camp Shirt is cut out and ready to go I will put it aside for a bit to trace the Loes Hinse Bristol shirt pattern and get it cut out and prepped. I shall then reward myself with lunch and pick up again in the afternoon by starting Camp Shirt. Tea break in the late afternoon will be accompanied by a slice of delightfully pink charlotte framboise.

Louise Cutting camp shirt

Bristol blouse

Totally cool pink dessert Annie isn't going to get any of

This is Annie's commitment for the day:  finish (formerly) secret project number one, which has already been cut out.  The fabric is a semi-sheer rayon/lycra which I bought recently at Nancy's Sewing Basket, and I've cut it out extra large so I can wear it over other tees.

And prep the pattern for (formerly) secret protect number two.  This fabric (also from Nancy's) is a very crisp cotton.

So later in the day.  Here's what Annie has done:

It's nearly done, but I want to find some thread that matches better before I do any stitching that will show.  This fabric is really a pain to work with.  It keeps wanting to curl and has to be tamed with many pins.  Also I managed to snip a tiny hole just below the neck edge in the center front.

Latest word from Sis:  Bristol Blouse has been traced, cut out, marked and prepped. [no pictures yet]