Sis's birthday celebration

I (Annie) was going to take Sis out for her birthday, but when I arrived in Seattle I discovered I hadn't brought my card case.  Sis generously offered to buy lunch, so now I owe her.  Here she is modelling the ring I gave for her.

We had lunch on the terrace at Maximilien's; it was loads of fun!

And when I got home, my new machine had arrived!

I can hardly wait to get started on it, but I've read enough around the web to know that I need to watch the video before I start, so I'm off to do that.

Window Pane blouse finished!

Having re-grown my thumb, I finished the Window Pane blouse yesterday!  It's so beautiful, I swoon every time I look at it.  I think, however, that the next time I make this blouse I will come down a size or two.

Here is Dahlia modeling the Window Pane by the rose garden (with David's handmade fence in the background).

Now it's on to Vogue 8813.

PS  Happy Birthday, Sis!

Drat!

Am I the only person who has to keep bandaids in the sewing room?  I was working on the Window Pane blouse this afternoon, and instead of snipping off a thread I snipped off the end of my thumb.  It hurts, it's messy and I did a lot of whining, but at least I have the Kitty for comfort.  I shall sew no more today.

Summer sewing

The last sewing I did was working on a pegged skirt. Then I got distracted, and suddenly it was summer! Or what passes for summer around here. Anyway, I just had to start making summer clothes, and last week I had a cutting out marathon.  I cut out three projects in a row and was so tired I had to take to my comfy chair and play Skyrim.  Anyway, here they are:

Subtle Twist

The first is a blouse, using Louise Cutting's Subtle Twist and a beautiful fabric (silk/cotton?) which I bought years ago from Emma One Sock.

As you can see the fabric has extra folds of fabric woven in to it to make heavy stripes. Heavy raw edged stripes, on what I assume is the intended right side. Now, and I know this is going to offend a lot of people, but I don't think it is "creative" to leave hems raw and raggedy, or stick your serged seams on the outside, or wear your underwear on top of your clothes. Don't agree? Bite my garters, it just looks lazy. Whew, sorry, I got a bit carried away there. At any rate, I am going to use the smooth and possibly wrong side -- it is so lustrous and beautiful.  The picture doesn't do just to the color which is "natural" with a beautiful golden cast to it.

Vogue 8813

Next I cut out this Marcy Tilton dress (Vogue 8813), using a piece of polyester (!) fabric from Nancy's in Seattle. I haven't sewn with polyester since some time well back in the last century, but this is so lovely. It's a light, floaty piece of cloth with a pleasing crinkly texture.

The problem with the fabric is that at some point (before it reached Nancy's) someone cut the selvedges off.  This meant I had to establish the grain using the torn end, since I knew that to be true.  Not a big deal, just kind of a stretch.

Vogue 1234

The final piece is Sandra Betzina's intriguing dress.

I am using a gorgeous German rayon knit I bought from Emma One Sock.  After consulting with Sis I decided to cut the center panel from a black knit -- the black and white on its own would be overwhelming.

Well, there it is.  If any of them fails, you will never see or hear of it again.

Guanyin spotted!

My friend Steve was at the Point Defiance Zoo recently and spotted my "icon!"

Easy Ageless Cool

I just realized that I have not posted a picture of Louise Cutting's Easy Ageless Cool campshirt that I finished earlier in the spring.  Sadly it's not easy to photograph without being modelled, but here it is flat on the cutting table.  The fabric is a quilting cotton with kind of a retro mottled print. It was easy to sew, though I think next time I'lI use a different method to miter the corners. I thought LC's instructions were a little confusing. On the other hand the mitering on the vents came out pretty well, though I don't think I'd let LC inspect them.  Also next time I'll make it an inch or two longer. Why didn't I do that this time? It's a standard alteration for me. I did remember to lengthen the sleeves by two inches to accomodate my ape-arms.

I also really like Louise's unique one piece collar construction. It makes everything lie nice and flat with minimal bulk.

A tiny bit of sewing

Just a little bit of sewings accomplished lately -  a silk charmeuse tankety-thing to wear under over-thingies.  Why did I not realize until I was trying this on that the design forms horizontal stripes?  Hmmm..I think it's neutral enough that my own horizontality will not be emphasized.  I didn't use a pattern, just measured off an Eileen Fisher tank that I like a lot and experimented from there.  You can't see it in the photo, but I cut the neckline a little too wide.  I added a little gathering in the front to pull it in a little. I'm pretty happy with it!

An orange tanky-thingie is in process. It's being made from a beautiful orange silk and cotton voile from Mill End in Portland.  It's mostly done, but I'm still fussing with fit, length and bindings. Final photos to follow!

Also, a couple Hattie pictures. She's lately become interested in carbonation and loves to ponder the chemical wonder of it all: