tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47360356371033776282024-03-05T07:08:47.084-08:00Hail BritanniaThe journal of an occasional AnglophileAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.comBlogger303125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-68564752428849247982016-09-13T21:32:00.000-07:002016-09-16T10:53:19.289-07:0048 HoursIt has been a long two days. I've been a bit overdue for my annual cancer checkup, which involves some invasive and altogether unpleasant medical procedures, so today was the day. The actual day is not that bad; once I'm at the hospital and hooked up to an IV, the worst is pretty much over. When I awaken, I know I'll be able to eat again, to breathe easier that another year has passed and with luck, put more distance between the time I wasn't so lucky.<br />
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Except that today, the worst wasn't over. When I awoke after the procedure, I was in terrible pain. Awful. And I'm not a wimp about pain so when I say it hurt, it hurt. It took hours for the pain to subside to a point where I wasn't wincing every time I changed position, and even now, over twelve hours later, I get an occasional stab just under my breastbone. My doctor also found a new polyp, this one much higher in my colon, which was removed and will be biopsied. He didn't seem too worried about it; he told me and my husband that it was "tiny," unlike the huge mass he found five years ago. I'll know the results in a couple weeks. I have a lot of work to keep me busy so I plan to distract myself. Another clue that he's not too concerned it'll come back positive is that he's pushing my next checkup to three years instead of one. That's <i>great</i> news!<br />
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The one thing that sucks about cancer is that even with a good outcome, it may be out of your body but it's always there in the back of your mind. My risks for another diagnosis are higher than someone who hasn't had that diagnosis. I do remind myself that my grandmother had colon cancer in her 70s and lived to be 100 and it wasn't cancer that got her, but old age. Every time something goes wrong with my digestive system, I wonder if I've got another tumor growing in there. It's hard to know when to relax or when I should be on it.<br />
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I was feeling too bad afterwards, so my husband brought me home to sleep it off best I could, then we went out later for food. I hadn't eaten in two days, and all I wanted was miso soup and California rolls. We have <a href="http://www.gingerbedford.com/" target="_blank">a fantastic Japanese restaurant</a> in town, so we enjoyed an early dinner then brought take-out home for our son. The food hit the spot, the perfect meeting between what my tastebuds craved and my stomach wanted.<br />
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On the ride home, we were talking about the weather and I mentioned to him how I was looking forward to fall because it was "knitting season." He said, "Sweetie, with you <i>every day</i> is knitting season." Hahahaha! Not quite true -- I prefer sewing more in the summer, but I do always keep something going on my needles year 'round, mostly socks. But for the past week or two, I've found myself trolling Ravelry more. I think I need more shawls. I used to enjoy knitting shawls but felt they didn't mesh well with my style so I stopped. When we were in Germany this summer, though, I got a lot of use out of <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">my Pebble Beach shawl</a> -- I used it to block the sun on my shoulders during a day-long boat trip, as well as a garment to keep me warm at night. So I think I'll focus on making a few new shawls this winter -- they certainly are quite handy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-61423487282473652982016-09-10T08:27:00.003-07:002016-09-10T08:39:44.952-07:00Cranking it outYesterday (Friday) was mostly spent working like a dog on <i>Money Shots</i>: doing some last-minute research at the grocery store (oops, forgot to talk about all those new refrigerated coffees and how you can save $ with them), editing recipes, adding to the text portion of the book, assigning ISBNs through Bowker. I love this stage of book-writing--the end is nigh and the incoherence has been beaten and massaged into words manageable.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I even do my own author photographs, although most people today would call this a "selfie." Pardon the warpaint.</i></td></tr>
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What is really enjoyable is having all my fingers in the pie, not just the writing one. I suspect I'm more of a manager than an artist at heart; maybe a manager with artistic sensibilities. Whenever I take those left brain/right brain quizzes, I fall in the middle somewhere, maybe a little bit more to the left on one day, more to the right on the next. I'm not one of those writers who throws up her hands at the prospect of doing some math, figuring out a bit of geometry, or working on some website coding that's gone wonky.<br />
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Anyway, yesterday was a productive, satisfying day that left me feeling like, "Ok, I've accomplished something here." Writing isn't particularly hard for me as much as it's tedious and slow business. So I'm going to enjoy the weekend and finish my new denim skirt, which only needs to be hemmed. "Only" is misleading here; it's a button-up skirt with a facing and I can't quite figure out from the directions what I'm supposed to do with that flap of fabric, but I'll figure it out after a few more cups of coffee. Then, since it's a bit overcast today, it feels like a good day for a leisurely bike ride, maybe as far as Cambridge with some knitting packed into my bike kit. (It's surprisingly pleasurable to pull over in a scenic spot to work a few rows of garter stitch!) I don't want to save it till tomorrow because we're supposed to get some stormy weather. Maybe dinner out tonight with the husband ... yes, sounds like a good day.<br />
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Speaking of which, here's what a good man I have. Recently, packages have been arriving in the mail addressed to him, which I don't open. That was a cardinal rule in our home growing up, you never open someone else's mail, so I don't do it even if I know what's inside is for the house or something he's ordered for me. So when he comes home, he opens these packages and leaves the contents on my work table. To wit:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Some girls like flowers and jewelry ... I like marking pens and rulers.</i></td></tr>
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This was everything from the last week. He had overheard me mumble something about not having good marking tools for the dark fabric I was using as a mockup, so he took it and ran with it. {{{}}} Of course, we have an unwritten agreement that whenever he needs something sewn, whether it's bathing trunks, a wallet prototype, or a pair of pants that need rehemming, that I'll do the work. But really, I think it's time for me to get going on the tailored dress shirt I promised him for a birthday present something like five years ago. :-/<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-17150532127235526072016-09-09T04:17:00.001-07:002016-09-09T04:17:30.780-07:00Fall is (almost) here!<span style="font-family: inherit;">For once, I'm happy that September has been ushered in the door. Summer here in eastern Massachusetts has been hot and dry; our county is under a severe drought, my vegetable garden didn't survive past the end of the July (the deer also helped), and because I'm a woman of a certain age going through some hormonal changes, the heat makes it hard for me to get comfortable. So autumn, let's get it on!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I can always tell fall is in the air because the knitting projects I mostly ignore during the summer start calling to me from their dusty project bags ... like the wine-colored mohair cardigan I intended to wear for a Christmas 2015 party:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've knitted the back, which you see above, as well as the two sleeves. When I knit sweaters, I always knit the sleeves first just to avoid the whole "Second Sleeve Syndrome" thing that often happens ... you get done with one sleeve and think, "Oh God, another?" then never finish the darn thing. Here, what happened is that I didn't take great notes when I was knitting the back, so when I started to knit the two fronts, instructions like, "decrease on the same row as you did on the back." Had I kept notes, I'd know what that row is. But I didn't, so in a fit of pique I threw the sweater aside and went on to knit something else, probably a hat ... or ten. ;-) And I would rip the back out and start over again -- I'm the kind of knitter who doesn't mind taking something completely apart to get it right, even if it means I "wasted" days knitting it the first time 'round -- but this is silk mohair, and you knitters know it's sheer hell to tink back a row, never mind rip back a whole sweater knit in mohair! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So ... the plan now is to use a measuring tape and measure the best I can where I should start decreasing for the armholes and neck holes. And take good notes so I have them for the other front side of the cardigan. I was being a big baby about it, but it's time to move forward and get this lovely sweater finished. BTW, it's an Erika Knight design -- <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/kelly-cardigan">I knit one in gray a few years ago</a> and it's one of my favorite pieces. I'm going to knit another in an icy blue, maybe with some silver thread shot through the ribbing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've always got a pair of socks going, of course, to get me through appointments, waiting rooms, and sitting in the car waiting for my son to appear. Speaking of my son ... it was his first day of high school this week. Late Monday night when my husband and I were talking in bed, I started to cry because it hit me that in four years he'll be off to college. "He'll be an adult!" I sniffed, and my husband said, "No, he'll be an adult in three years, two months." Geez, honey, thanks! ;-) Anyway, Oliver wasn't too excited starting school again, but he did say he liked his math, history, Latin, and digital art classes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The publishing company we started at the beginning of the year ("we" being my long-time co-author and business partner Linda) is going well, and in October we're releasing another title called </span><i>Money Shots: How to Save Cash on Your Coffee Habit—While Still Feeling Full & Satisfied</i>. Linda did the lion's share of the writing, while I've been handling the recipe development. By tomorrow I should be finished with the last of the recipes. I've been on a perpetual caffeine high for the last six weeks. In some ways it has been good because it has me buzzing around here making lists and plans and actually executing some of those plans! On the other hand, my adrenal system feels shot so I've been taking long walks to calm the jitters.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Research for the next book we're writing.</i></span></td></tr>
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Let's see, what else? I'm planning a short trip to North Carolina next month to meet with Linda. I was hoping to make a stop in NYC to do a little shopping in the Garment District, but the truth is, my fabric stash is overtaking my studio and I have too many sewing projects already in the queue. When I'm faced with too many possibilities, I stall and get nothing done so the smart choice is save NYC for when I really need something. My brother is coming up this weekend to go hiking with my son; it's always nice to spend time with my brothers. :)</div>
<br />Hope you're enjoying the cooler weather wherever you are. :)<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-52337649877932818232016-08-10T06:20:00.000-07:002016-08-10T06:21:37.055-07:00A trip to GermanyWe just got back from a family holiday in Germany, spending time with my husband's family in Munich. We were gone ten days, which was a good length of time, and we were blessed with fabulous weather, good meals, and some precious visits with aunts, uncles, and cousins. My brother Kevin and his wife Jenny joined us for part of their two-week European jaunt, which made our trip extra fun.<br />
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Some highlights:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Visit to Schloss Nymphenburg in Munich</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Oliver at Documentation Center Museum on former Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremburg</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Yarn kiosk at the local grocery store--they even had sock yarn!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Scott and Oliver 2016 at Andechs Monastery</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Compare with visit to Andechs in September 2007. Time flies!</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The whole crew after a delicious lunch at Andechs</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gummy Bear heaven</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Steckerlfisch, a biergarten delight</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It was quiet visit, since we were mostly there to visit family rather than do tourist-y things, although as you can see from the photos, we managed to squeeze in a few museums and castles. I also did a bit of yarn shopping, which I'll talk about in another post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">You'll notice that I made a switch from WordPress to Blogger. I was spending more than I wanted through my hosting company, and when they wouldn't negotiate a lower price with me, I decided to move my sites. Since Hail Britannia is a hobby blog for me, I thought Blogger would be a good platform. I was able to transfer most of my old blog posts over, but it will take some time for me to replace the photos that didn't make the transfer. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-27916189592281799992016-07-05T06:07:00.000-07:002016-08-08T10:13:00.901-07:00Golden Sesame Tofu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Several years ago I posted a recipe I developed for Golden Sesame Tofu, one of my favorite salad bar items from Whole Foods. At $8.99/lb. it's a little pricey, so I went to the kitchen and experimented. Here is the recipe I came up with. The recipe and photo were posted on my old blog, DianaCooks.com, and since it was a super popular post, I decided to repost it here with a watermarked photograph. (I notice the photo gets pinned a lot on Pinterest.)<br />
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I trimmed the first part of the post off because it was irrelevant to the recipe. Enjoy the trip on the wayback machine. ;-)<br />
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OK, recipes. I said I'd start posting them, and here's something you soy-eating vegetarians will like. Last year, I became addicted to the golden sesame tofu in Whole Foods' prepared foods case. These rectangular slices of tofu are fried until they're golden, then covered in toasted sesame seeds and glazed with a slightly sweet/salty sauce with just a hint of heat from hot red pepper flakes. They're also kind of expensive -- something like $7.99 a pound (ETA: now $8.99). Since tofu's cheap--and so am I--I decided to replicate the recipe at home. It took a few tries, but I think I've nailed it.<br />
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I'm pretty sure the Whole Foods' folks fry their tofu in lots of oil, because all six sides are crisp/chewy. I just use a little oil and fry on two sides. I've also used a silcone basting brush to lightly coat each side of the tofu with oil, then cooked them on a grill pan. Yum, but it doesn't give the tofu that chewy coating I like. If you're watching your fat intake, you can skip the cornstarch dusting and bake the tofu in a 350 degree F oven for 20 to 25 minutes with the sauce, turning the tofu every 10 minutes or so, checking that the sauce isn't burning (add water if it's getting too dark). The tofu will have no chew at all, and the sauce will get thick and sticky, but it's still yum.<br />
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Instead of stuffing these slices of tofu in my mouth like I do when I'm at Whole Foods, I pack them in a plastic container and store them in my fridge for lunches. I cut them up into tiny cubes to add flavor interest to salads -- when I put them on top of a potluck salad at Easter, tasters asked me about the delicious croutons ... umm, I didn't have the heart to tell them. This wasn't a tofu-loving crowd. They also make great sandwich stuffers.<br />
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<strong>Golden Sesame Tofu</strong><br />
Yield: 4 servings<br />
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<em>The Whole Foods version has scallions in it. I'm not a huge fan of scallions, so I skip them. The secret here is the cornstarch ... it gives the tofu its chewy coating, but you have to sprinkle it over the tofu evenly and with a light hand; otherwise it'll get gloppy. Since I make this recipe a lot, I put cornstarch in a fine-mesh shaker; it gives me excellent control when I'm coating the tofu. You'll find toasted sesame oil and mirin in the Asian sections of well-stocked supermarkets.</em><br />
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1/4 cup raw sesame seeds<br />
14-oz. extra firm tofu<br />
1/4 cup cornstarch<br />
Canola or peanut oil, for frying<br />
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<em>For sauce:</em><br />
2 tbsp. agave nectar (for vegans) or honey<br />
3 tbsp. soy sauce<br />
2 tsp. minced fresh ginger root<br />
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil<br />
2 tbsp. mirin (Japanese sweet cooking wine)<br />
2 garlic cloves, minced<br />
Dusting of crushed red chili flakes, to taste<br />
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Heat a fry pan over medium-high heat. Add sesame seeds and toast until golden and fragrant, stirring frequently. Remove pan from heat and place sesame seeds in small bowl to cool.<br />
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Remove tofu from package and drain. Press the tofu gently between the palms of your hands to squeeze out water, then wrap the tofu in paper towels, place it on a plate, then put a another plate on top of it. Place a 28-oz. can of tomatoes or a cast iron fry pan on the plate. This will press out any remaining water from the tofu. Let sit for 20 minutes or so.<br />
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Unwrap the tofu and slice into eight rectangular slices. To make even slices, I slice the block of tofu in half, then half each half, and then half each quarter. Make sense? Then dust the slices with tofu evenly with cornstarch on all sides.<br />
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Heat about 2 tbsp. of oil in your fry pan over medium high heat. Add the tofu slices, but don't crowd the pan. You might have to fry in batches. Fry until the tofu is a light golden color, approximately 2 minutes, then turn the tofu over to cook another 2 minutes on the other side. Remove to drain on paper towels. If frying in batches, add more oil to the pan. Note: it is normal for the tofu to splatter, so wear an apron if you don't want to ruin your clothes.<br />
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While the tofu is frying, stir together the agave nectar/honey, soy sauce, gingerroot, sesame oil, mirin and garlic together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until slightly syrupy, about 5 minutes or so. Remove from heat and set aside.<br />
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Place tofu in glass container to hold. Pour sauce over tofu and turn to coat. Dust tofu with toasted sesame seeds and turn again to coat. Season with crushed red chili flakes. Can be served warm or chilled. Will keep for about 5 days refrigerated.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-83261324242407470782016-06-24T15:34:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:32:27.153-07:00Adventures in HemstitchingLike a lot of people around the world, I woke up this morning and was pretty surprised to see that citizens of the UK voted to leave the EU. All I can say is that the people have spoken and I hope this ends up turning out well for all.<br/><br/>On to less political/hot topics ... hemstitching! A few years ago, I purchased <em><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fine-Machine-Sewing-Revised-Embellishing/dp/1561585866/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1466821365&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=fine+machine+sewing">Fine Machine Sewing</a></em> by Carol Ahles at a local sewing shop. To be honest, I bought it because of the pictures, not because I had a burning interest in heirloom sewing, which I associate with christening outfits and dresses for young girls.<br/><br/>But lately I've been thinking about how to give my sewing projects a little more oomph. I briefly investigated an embroidery machine, but I think if I were to embroider it would be in small doses i.e. by hand and very discreet. Plus, it's another machine that requires specialty threads and stabilizers, meaning a whole new line item of cost.<br/><br/>I started researching embellishment techniques I could do by hand or with one of my sewing machines, everything from smocking to sashiko. And then I remembered Ahles book in my sewing library...et voila!<br/><br/>As I reintroduced myself to the text and pictures, I noticed many of the photos were of store-bought plain linen blouses that had been embellished by the author. I enjoy making blouses, but did I want to practice machine hemstitching on something I'd spent hours creating, only to ruin it with a poorly executed pivot? After all, hemstitching creates holes in a garment, holes you cannot hide or fix. The holes are created with a specialty needle called a wing needle, which has "wings" on either side of the tip that push fibers to the side and create a very visible opening. I decided the best course of action was to do a bit of practice on some linen in my stash and then follow-up with some practice on a store-bought garment.<br/><br/>I scored this week at our (semi) local Savers: an ecru Liz Claiborne linen blouse, size medium.<br/><br/><a title="2016-06-24_03-57-06" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27847898976/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/8/7095/27847898976_78d501ef8d_z.jpg" alt="2016-06-24_03-57-06" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>My original plan was to dye the blouse navy blue as there's a grease stain on the back shirt-tail and I thought the ecru color would wash me out, but I guess ecru is one of my "colors" -- it really flattered my complexion more than I thought it would. So plan B was to keep it undyed and remove the stain with my Dawn dish detergent and a sturdy brush, which never lets me down. If Dawn can take crude oil off sea birds, it can handle oil on clothing, I say. The other benefit to plan B was that mistakes would be harder to see on an ecru blouse hemstitched with white thread than a navy blue blouse stitched in white.<br/><br/>I decided to use a Parisian hemstitch, which is commonly used on linen napkins and table cloths, as well as clothing. It's elegant and subdued, and it was easier getting a good result pivoting around the very visible collar point. I did quite a bit of practice on scrap linen before I attempted the cuffs:<br/><br/><a title="2016-06-24_03-55-40" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27604386020/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7396/27604386020_b90a71281f_z.jpg" alt="2016-06-24_03-55-40" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>I would have liked to stitch around the whole cuff but I would have cut into the buttonholes. I noticed halfway through the first cuff that I'd inadvertently reset the stitch length and width I planned to use to the machine's preset stitch length/widths. Grr. But I was committed at this juncture, so I carried on.<br/><br/>Next, the collar:<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160624_155246" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27847890126/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7252/27847890126_9d80aece8a_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160624_155246" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>Here, I noticed that the holes were less pronounced and the thread was thicker on the inside row of stitching than they were on the cuffs. It was okay though; I liked the result and I managed to pivot around those collar points like a pro. ;-)<br/><br/>Emboldened by my success with the collar, I decided to add hemstitching down the sides of the front plackets:<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160624_155314" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27270302644/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7358/27270302644_a59f7ba0fc_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160624_155314" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>I was very happy with how this turned out. The holes were visible and the thread wasn't bunched up as much as it was on the collar and cuffs. It looked like true hemstitching.<br/><br/>Here's a picture of the "refashioned" blouse:<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160624_155230" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27847889916/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7421/27847889916_5253c6fbef_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160624_155230" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>(You'll have to click on the photo to zoom it; the stitching isn't very visible at this resolution.)<br/><br/>I'm very happy with how this turned out. I don't think anyone will walk up to me and say, "Wow, what fantastic hemstitching! Where did you get that blouse?" but it really gives a very simple blouse a much more elegant look that *I* will appreciate.<br/><br/>My plan now is to continue sleuthing thrift shops for linen blouses that I can play with before I attempt sewing my dream blouse: white linen hemstitched in delft blue thread. I would also like a French blue blouse hemstitched in white ... and gray one, too.<br/><br/>I also scored in a different area at Saver's this week ... I found a copy of Connie Long's <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LFAQGMK/">Easy Guide to Sewing Linings</a>, which is out of print and can be expensive on Amazon. I got it for $2.99. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-64855723352674771662016-06-07T09:43:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:32:27.105-07:00McCalls M6885 Shirtdress<a title="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27455059421/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7447/27455059421_241ca3d835.jpg" alt="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" width="375" height="500" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26918939363/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7428/26918939363_c5a0d8a851.jpg" alt="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" width="375" height="500" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26918936643/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7448/26918936643_986e0e0748.jpg" alt="McCalls M6885 Shirtdress" width="375" height="500" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls M6885 shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27250647780/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7338/27250647780_97a06a1266.jpg" alt="McCalls M6885 shirtdress" width="375" height="500" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls 6885 Shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27250647830/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7404/27250647830_2d60afe0b7.jpg" alt="McCalls 6885 Shirtdress" width="500" height="375" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="M6885 McCalls Shirtdress" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27492838686/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7056/27492838686_32340958dc.jpg" alt="M6885 McCalls Shirtdress" width="375" height="500" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>Over the past few months I've been buying an awful lot of shirtdress patterns, so when <a href="http://blog.mccall.com/2016/04/28/new-the-mccall-pattern-company-shirtdress-sew-along/" target="_blank">McCall's put the word out they were doing a sewalong this spring</a>, I was all in. I don't wear a lot of dresses in general, but shirtdresses are a different matter. I like their tailored look and they're an empty canvas to dress up or down. On top of this, I love sewing tailored shirts so it was the perfect project for me to fill in a hole in my wardrobe.<br/><br/>Here are the details:<br/><br/><strong>Pattern:</strong> <a href="https://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6885" target="_blank">McCall's M6885</a>, a semi-fitted, pullover shirtdress with a pointed collar, collar/front bands, button-up placket, front pleat and narrow hem. I sewed view D with patch pockets, tie ends, long sleeves with button tab, and a shaped hemline.<br/><br/><strong>Size:</strong> I cut a 14 at the bust and graded out to a 16 at the waist and hips.<br/><br/><strong>Fabric:</strong> A blue chambray-like cotton fabric from my stash. It may be a blend of cotton and linen. Nice and lightweight, perfect for summer. Washes and presses beautifully. Where did I buy this? No idea, but my guess is That $1.99 Fabric Store in Auburn, MA. In the pictures above, the blue IRL is more of the darker blue than the lighter blue in some of the shots.<br/><br/><strong>Notions:</strong> Gutermann thread, <a href="https://www.fashionsewingsupply.com/product_info.php?products_id=29" target="_blank">Pro-Weft Supreme Light fusible interfacing from Fashion Sewing Supply</a>, metal buttons from Joann Fabrics.<br/><br/><strong>Sewing Details:</strong> I created my own order of construction with this project. I wrote out every step and broke the project down over five days, starting with cutting out the pattern and washing my fabric and ending with sewing on the last button. I made a few changes to the suggested order of construction that the pattern sheet provided; for instance, I worked on all the smallest pieces first, like the sleeve tabs, pockets, and collars. Having my own order of construction really helped keep me focused and kept me from making dumb mistakes because when I was done with that day's tasks, I was DONE. No late night sewing mishaps for me!<br/><br/>The one thing that I didn't catch until the very end was how McCall's wants you to sew the sleeve tab button until the very end of the project. It would have been easier to do this when the sleeve tab was being sewed on the flat sleeve, especially if you use a sewing machine to sew on buttons, as I do. Also sewing the buttonhole at the bottom of the front placket was difficult with all the fabric bunching up at the bottom. If I make this pattern a second time, I'll take my chances by sewing buttonholes on the placket earlier in the process.<br/><br/>Meg Carter at McCall's had <a href="http://blog.mccall.com/2016/05/24/tutorial-sewing-the-placket-on-mccalls-m6885-shirtdress/" target="_blank">a great tutorial that helped me a lot with constructing the front placket</a>.<br/><br/>My goal was to create a garment with a very clean finish on the inside. Shoulder seams are French seamed, then topstitched from the outside ... I guess sort of mock felled seam? The seams down the side are also French seamed. For the armhole seams, I trimmed and overcast them with my sewing machine; I had already clipped into the seam allowance, making a felled seam a little more difficult, so I took a bit of a shortcut here. The dress was finished with a narrow hem.<br/><br/>One major thing I changed was eliminating the side ties. I wanted to have the option of using my own belts, so instead I made thread chains by zig-zagging over pearl cotton from my embroidery box, then sewed the thread chains into the side seams. These loops will keep looser belts from falling down my waist. Over the next couple weeks I'm going to make a few fabric belts in different colors.<br/><br/>So, what about fit? The shoulder/bust fit was perfect. I wish it were a little looser around my bottom, but I am losing weight so by the time we leave for vacation in August, I think it'll fit perfectly down there. The problem is in the arms. I should have done a muslin because then I could have done a bicep adjustment; the fit is just a little too slim-fitting for my tastes. Lesson learned. I think I would also like the dress about 2" longer as the side reveals a bit more leg than I'm used to.<br/><br/>Another lesson learned: do not assume white tailors chalk disappears. It didn't on this dress. I had used wax-based chalk to mark the wrong side of the fabric and was horrified when, after sewing on the pockets, I noticed a big greasy looking "x" on each of them. I was able to get most of stain out with Dawn Dish Liquid and a toothbrush, but I can still see a faint "x" on both of them. I guess no one will notice except me, or anyone who finds my boobs especially noteworthy.<br/><br/>At any rate, it was a satisfying project and I know I'll get lots of wear out of it later this summer during our trip to Europe. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-62284489524553525142016-05-30T10:52:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:32:27.094-07:00Sewing projects for MayI completed two sewing projects this month, not bad in that it was a super busy month around here.<br/><br/>First up is <a href="https://mccallpattern.mccall.com/m6886" target="_blank">McCalls 6886</a>, which has been a popular pattern with sewing bloggers over the last few months. It was a fairly straightforward project with the only challenge being keeping those stripes lined up at the seams, which I managed to do fairly well. The only thing I changed about the pattern was binding the neckline with a strip of fabric cut on the cross-grain. I left one shoulder unsewn before I did the binding so I could seam everything up neatly once the binding was attached. I adore hot pink and bright orange together. When I spotted this fabric in the bargain bin at my local Joann's, I bought all they had left. I still have enough left over for a t-shirt.<br/><br/>This is a size 14 at the shoulders/bust, and I graded out to a 16 at the waist and hips. This would have been fine in a heavier ponte knit, but I used a thin pique knit that shows every lump and bump underneath. That said, I'm planning to bring this dress on our trip to Europe later this summer when I'll be at my slimmest/fittest, so I'm not too worried about it. Also: Spanx. ;-)<br/><br/><a title="McCalls 6886" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27323793246/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c7.staticflickr.com/8/7325/27323793246_f0c1b15436_z.jpg" alt="McCalls 6886" width="417" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/> <br/><br/> <br/><br/><a title="2016-05-30_03-27-27" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27357295965/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7411/27357295965_de9708016d_z.jpg" alt="2016-05-30_03-27-27" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>Next up for your viewing pleasure is yet another tailored shirt, this one made out of some of-so-soft fine-wale cotton corduroy I had in my stash. The pattern is also <a href="http://sewing.patternreview.com/Patterns/56689" target="_blank">McCalls (M6649</a>, a Laura Ashley design now OOP) that was part of the Craftsy class called <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/one-pattern-many-looks-blouses/4720" target="_blank">One Pattern, Many Looks</a>. Again, I cut out a size 14 for the shoulders/bust and graded out to a 16 around the waist/hips. This pattern includes separate pieces for B/C/D cup sizes, so I chose the C cup. <br/><br/>The pattern directions were not the best on this pattern, but it really wasn't an issue for me because I've developed my own "order of construction" based on <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/the-classic-tailored-shirt/132" target="_blank">Pam Howard's excellent Craftsy class on sewing tailored shirts</a>. I also recently purchased <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/shirtmaking-details-beyond-the-basics/5224" target="_blank">David P. Coffin's class on shirtmaking details</a> and picked up a couple neat tricks for turning collars and cuffs.<br/><br/>I had always wondered how my grandmother's hemostats (she was an RN) ended up in the sewing box I inherited from her. Then I saw Coffin's trick of using them to fold and hold the seam allowances while turning a collar or cuffs. Absolutely brilliant! I've never had sharper points on my collars and cuffs until now. I wonder if this was a trick my grandmother knew, although she was more of a knitter than a sewist.<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160526_114725" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27002558700/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7003/27002558700_94a3165c93_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160526_114725" width="640" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>I'm pretty happy with the shirt. The darts in the front and the back flatter my figure, and the fit in the shoulders is spot-on. The only thing that was surprising was seeing how the C-cup barely contained my bust. The buttons aren't straining or anything like that, but the fabric is a bit too form-fitting for my tastes. Next time I'll use the D-cup piece to give myself more room in this area.<br/><br/>Speaking of buttons, I chose snaps for this garment. I wanted a more casual look with this garment, and I think the pearl snaps help.<br/><br/>I'll probably pack this shirt away for the fall.<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls 6649" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27323830756/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7584/27323830756_bf2db0b6be_z.jpg" alt="McCalls 6649" width="474" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="McCalls 6649" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/27286720561/in/datetaken/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7362/27286720561_b56da559af_z.jpg" alt="McCalls 6649" width="474" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>I picked up my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/kelly-cardigan-2" target="_blank">2nd Kelly sweater</a> after a long hiatus and it's coming along nicely. I'm still surprised how much I enjoy knitting with two strands of mohair and silk! You'd think it would be fussy and a pain, but it's actually not much of a bother at all. Plus all the fluff hides wonky stitches and it looks beautiful on the needles. I've finished the sleeves (I always knit sleeves first) and am nearly done with armhole shaping on the back piece. Then all that's left are the front pieces plus the finishing details ... I'm hoping to have this done by July. I started this sweater around the same time last year, planning to have it finished for Christmas 2015. So it goes.<br/><br/>Blogging has definitely taken a back seat lately. Our trip to Europe this summer is taking a lot of coordination as we'll be traveling with my brother and his wife and visiting with my husband's family in various locales. Then my husband is starting a new job in Boston in a couple weeks. Last week we were out to dinner and he mentioned he was thinking about getting some shirts custom made. "I hope you're thinking made by your wife," I said. So yeah, that's on the plate now, along with the sun-blocking drapes I need to make for our bedroom and the clothes I want to make for our travels this summer. My son is now as tall as I am and eats constantly; there are days where I feel like I'm a short-order cook at Denny's flipping burgers, pouring waffle batter, or kneading bread dough. (Wait, I don't think they knead dough at Denny's, but never mind.)<br/><br/>I've been hearing a lot of "blogging is dead." I have to admit, I think about shutting Hail Britannia down, but something stops me. I guess it's that I've been doing this since 2008 and that I do it for my own amusement ... there's no rule that says I have to blog every day or every week. It's okay if I take a break. Still, these days I'm much more apt to post something on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dmburrell/">Instagram</a> because I can do it in a minute versus this. THIS, what I just wrote, took me over an hour because my computer is crap and it struggles with cutting and pasting links to my Flickr photos. I feel like I have to carve out an hour or two from my schedule to blog, whereas Instagram takes me seconds.<br/><br/>I don't know ... guess I'm rambling here. At any rate, I'm still here and have plans to write more about what I'm making and doing. I hope you'll still be around too. But if you want more frequent updates, or are curious whether or not I'm still living and breathing, Instagram is probably the best place to check. :)<br/><br/>Hope you're enjoying this glorious spring!<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-90654104796567458462016-04-21T05:37:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:32:27.083-07:00Kwik Sew K4032 fleece jacket<a href="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/26521590536_97e66ce1fb_z.jpg"><img class="alignleft" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1676/26521590536_97e66ce1fb_z.jpg" alt="" width="425" height="566" /></a><br/><br/><a href="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1709/26274719710_76e3511a2e_z.jpg"><img class="alignleft" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1709/26274719710_76e3511a2e_z.jpg" alt="" width="425" height="566" /></a><br/><br/><a href="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1648/26521590506_16b4cee807_z.jpg"><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1648/26521590506_16b4cee807_z.jpg" alt="" width="425" height="566" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><p style="text-align: left;">First, a very happy 90th birthday to HM The Queen. I love the portraits that Annie Leibowitz captured of her with her family, especially <a href="http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2016/news/160502/queen-portrait-3-800.jpg" target="_blank">the one with Princess Anne</a>. Just lovely!</p><br/>Yet another sewing project, <a href="https://kwiksew.mccall.com/k4032" target="_blank">Kwik Sew 4032</a>, view B. I'm not sure what possessed me to attempt sewing a zippered fleece jacket as good quality ones are fairly priced around here. I think it had something to do with making my son a blanket out of the gray fleece, which was surprisingly good quality--despite it coming from Joann Fabrics of all places--and wondering how it would look with my favorite spring green color. Thus, a fleece jacket was born.<br/><br/>I had nothing but trouble with this project from the beginning, mostly operator error, although for the first time I was baffled by Kwik Sew's instructions i.e. why was I instructed to cut out three pockets instead of the two I needed? and some confusing graphics. The parts I thought would be bearish -- the collar, zipper, and topstitching -- ended up turning out okay, while other parts -- those darn zippered pockets! the hems! -- had me with a seam ripper in hand for hours. Do I need to point out how difficult it is to rip out stitches in fleece, especially stretch/zig-zag?<br/><br/>Despite all the challenges I had here, it turned out well enough to wear on a brisk hike or an early morning bike ride. It is cozy warm and I like how it can be zippered up around my neck to block out wind. My husband gave me the highest compliment by saying it looked store-bought. Before he could ask me to make him one, I said I was retiring from the fleece garment making business. If I sew fleece again, it will be to make blankets, or maybe a simple ski hat or mittens.<br/><br/>Another caution: this is a unisex pattern but duh! I forgot and cut out a size medium. It is HUGE on me. I shortened the sleeve by a good inch on the pattern but still had to take another couple inches off while sewing. I don't mind the extra room around the shoulders and middle as I like room to layer ... just a word of warning if you're looking for a snugger fit.<br/><br/>We're off to Connecticut today to spend some time with my family. Have a good weekend!<br/><br/> <br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-52916991976045900752016-04-20T11:22:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:32:27.048-07:00Sewaholic Granville<a title="Sewaholic Granville" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26455259072/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1631/26455259072_2512d1c443_z.jpg" alt="Sewaholic Granville" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160420_165244" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26521594216/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1521/26521594216_4d707e4062_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160420_165244" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160420_165308" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26481529281/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1465/26481529281_ea1728d9c5_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160420_165308" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160420_165355" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26481533951/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1443/26481533951_f1af64ef80_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160420_165355" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20160420_165412" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26481533741/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1500/26481533741_b781316d03_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20160420_165412" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>So! It's finally spring in these parts, but I'm still obsessed with sewing blouses. I mixed things up by using a new (to me) pattern, the <a href="http://www.sewaholicpatterns.com/granville-shirt/" target="_blank">Sewaholic Granville</a>. What appeals to me about Sewaholic patterns is they're designed for women who are pear-shaped ... smaller on top, curvier on the bottom. I wouldn't say I'm small on top because I'm full-busted and frequently have to make full bust adjustments on my patterns, but I do have narrow shoulders so to get a good fit with blouses and dresses, I often have to buy a very small size to get the shoulder fit right, then adjust for my fuller bust and hips. My <a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/04/07/spring-has-sprung/" target="_blank">KwikSew blouses</a> fit me well on top, but I've noticed there's a extra fabric pooling at the small of my back and the hem could be looser around the hips. My hope was that the Granville would fit me better straight out of the "envelope."<br/><br/>I put "envelope" in quotes because this was a pdf pattern. I'm just going to say it. I hate PDF patterns. I know some dressmakers love them (instant gratification) but I've recently made a resolution to not use them anymore because printing, taping, cutting, tracing ... yuck, no thanks. That said, putting the Sewaholic pattern together went as well as it could despite my cat "hell-ping" me on the sewing table.<br/><br/>I made a size 12 with no modifications. I measured some key points on the flat pattern, figured the 12 would work, and started cutting. The fabric? Ok, confession. It's quilting cotton. I stopped making clothes out of quilting cotton years ago, but when I saw this print while shopping with my mom this winter, I couldn't resist. Pink and orange (my favorite color combo), and it reminded me of a Liberty print. It was also kind of loud. And my mother hated it. But it was $2.99 and had a nice hand, so all wins for me! (Yes, that my mother hates something usually makes me want it more. We have totally dissimilar tastes.)<br/><br/>I skimmed the directions, which were fine, but I mostly did my own thing based on what I learned in watching <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/the-classic-tailored-shirt/" target="_blank">Pam Howard's Craftsy class on shirtmaking</a>. However, I did not flat-fell the seams ... instead, I overlocked the seam allowance, then caught them with topstitching on the other side. Not the finest shirtmaking technique, but I figured if I sewed the pattern again, I'd do it with a higher quality fabric and do it right.<br/><br/>I was mostly happy with the results. The sleeve needs more ease, so I made a new pattern piece that includes a full-bicep adjustment, which should give me some extra wiggle room without changing anything else about the fit, which was perfect. I plan to make a couple more Granvilles with this adjusted sleeve. Stay tuned. Some other areas I need to work on include smoothing out the join of the collar band to the shirt and taking more care with the tower placket on the cuff. This was my first tower placket, and because the fabric wasn't that tightly woven -- quilting cotton, remember? -- it didn't come out that hot. <br/><br/>I finished another sewing project last night, which I'll post about later this week or next. My next sewing adventure is something easy ... a pink and orange striped knit dress with the super-popular McCall's M6886 pattern. This I plan to wear during our trip to Germany this summer. :)<br/><br/><a title="Summer sewing with McCalls m6886" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/26521592226/in/datetaken-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1524/26521592226_f9baed154b_z.jpg" alt="Summer sewing with McCalls m6886" width="640" height="480" /></a><br/><br/>In other news ... I've been working flat-out on our start-up business, <a href="http://renegadewriterpress.com" target="_blank">Renegade Writer Press</a>. Earlier this week, we released our first official title. More on this later, but reviews are coming in and they're great. My business partner (and friend, let's be honest) did a fantastic job getting this book done in record time. <br/><br/>I hope you're having a wonderful spring, too!<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-52580557225556600172016-03-14T08:46:00.000-07:002016-08-08T10:19:39.985-07:00Well hello there!<br />
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It has been awhile, hasn't it? I've been wanting to post again, but then when I think about how to start, it fills me with this vague anxiousness. So I'm just gonna jump back in and start talking. :)<br />
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A lot going on in my corner of the world right now. Some of it isn't great--my mother is ill so I've been spending two days a week down in CT caring for her--but most of it's pretty good and holding steady. The highlights:<br />
<ul><br />
<li>My long-time writing partner and I started a publishing company on January 1, which is keeping me (us) super busy. I enjoy using the left side of my brain to run the business instead of focusing strictly on writing, which I don't particularly enjoy on its own.</li>
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<li>Since my work hours are more regular, I use the weekends to work on my sewing. I really enjoy sewing blouses, and <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/project/view/my-best-shirt-yet/341613" target="_blank">that blue one above</a> is the best I've made so far.</li>
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<li>Knitting I mostly do at night while watching my TV programs or during a lunch break, which means I'm not knitting as much as I used to. The hat above is one of my favorite knits of the winter, the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/mortice-lock-hat" target="_blank">Mortice Lock Hat</a>. I've also been working on a Isabell Kraemer cardigan ("<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dexter-3" target="_blank">Dexter</a>"), which is coming along nicely but slowly. I'm using some Drops alpaca in a silvery gray...it's going to look great against the blue of my new blouse! More on this knit later. I'm also trying to catch up on gift knitting...a few babies born this winter are in need of my craft. ;-)</li>
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<li>I completed the Whole 30 diet in January, which is why I included that slice of pizza above. I don't think I lost weight, but one thing I did learn the hard way is that my body does not like wheat. I've suspected this for awhile, but it is good to know for sure that wheat causes me such problems. I was also able to kick my sugar habit, woo hoo!</li>
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<li>My son is heading to high school this fall, which has sent me into a tizzy because I swear, he just graduated from kindergarten. This week was spent choosing classes, and I'm pleased he'll be taking Latin as his foreign language (he has taken Spanish since grade school). I met with one of the Latin teachers a few weeks ago, and she seemed really passionate about her class...my fingers are crossed she'll be his teacher!</li>
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<li>And the big news is that we're heading to Europe this summer for two weeks! I'm very excited about this because we'll be spending time with my husband's family in Munich, as well as traveling to Berlin with my brother and his wife. I've never been to Berlin and am looking forward to exploring the museums and historical sites.</li>
</ul>
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Spring seems to have arrived early here in Massachusetts. Bulbs started popping up through the earth mid-February, and today it was in the low 70s! The rest of the week will be cooler, but definitely spring-y.<br />
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I'm glad to be back and will post more detail about some of the projects I've been working on. What are you up to?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-62761358704065850252015-10-23T09:19:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.338-07:00Rrrrrrrrrip ... done!<a title="2015-10-23_04-02-15" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/21796160423/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/716/21796160423_861a8f5082_z.jpg" alt="2015-10-23_04-02-15" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>That's my <a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/10/22/rrrrrrrrrrrip/">Garland Yoke sweater</a>. It took me a little over an hour to rip it out and re-ball the yarn, which I did while watching Project Runway. Enough time had passed between my finishing knitting the sweater and deciding that I'd never wear it so that ripping it out wasn't painful -- in fact, it was very satisfying. Perhaps it's because I enjoy the act of knitting more than the creation of something knitted, if that makes sense.<br/><br/>I added an afternoon walk yesterday to my daily list of mood boosters and even though it was gray and stodgy outside, the fresh air helped and I was less moody by the end of the evening. Last night I slept well and deeply, so I'm going to take another walk in a few minutes. Today it's crisp and bright outside.<br/><br/>I was going to post a photo of how Winston greeted us when O and I arrived home this afternoon, but on second thought, the photo may be disturbing to some. He had caught a mouse in the bathroom and couldn't seem to understand why it wasn't playing with him anymore. We called my husband downstairs to show him the great job Winston had done -- Mr. Hail Britannia is not a big fan of cats, but he does respect a good mouser. Our previous cats have all been pacifists, much to his dismay. Winston is slowly earning his respect.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-37804093402576703082015-10-22T07:46:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.296-07:00Rrrrrrrrrrrip!!! <br/><br/> <br/><br/><a title="2015-10-22_02-29-49" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/22203062110/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/765/22203062110_b0ec1aa171_z.jpg" alt="2015-10-22_02-29-49" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="2015-10-22_02-31-20" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/22204251449/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5629/22204251449_6930dc0ed4_z.jpg" alt="2015-10-22_02-31-20" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>The dark mornings of autumn get to me. I was hoping to escape the doldrums this year, but no such luck. I've dragged my full-spectrum lightbox out of a corner, increased my Vitamin D and fish oil intake, and am doing everything I can to stay cheerful. That includes upping my knitting. Any other tips for beating the autumn blues?<br/><br/>I finished my Garland Yoke sweater a month ago. And I knew within a moment of pulling it over my head I'd never wear it. First, it's much too heavy (worsted-weight wool). It's also huge on me, and the neckline does my narrow shoulders no favors. So I put it aside and am waiting until I feel good enough to start frogging it. Tonight may be the night.<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-10911511563461887822015-09-09T11:04:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.264-07:00Kwik Sew 3614 shorts ... and September!<img class="alignnone" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5824/21092103798_4224209319_z.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/702/21288091431_cd4e0dcaf1_z.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5690/21253715956_48c7c5e682_z.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/590/21093062379_be1747bab2_z.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" /><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5743/20579200718_35f1b11f23_z.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><br/><img class="alignnone" src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/643/21254761446_8635014150_z.jpg" alt="" width="480" height="640" /><br/>Way back in July I noticed a dearth of shorts in my wardrobe. I'm not a big fan of shorts ... specifically, I'm not a big fan of how shorts look on me. Mostly because I don't tan at all and my white legs scare people, but also because I don't like wearing anything higher than just above my knee. Since I have a spiffy new sewing machine, I decided to make some shorts that met my requirements and I feel comfortable wearing on the hotter days of summer.<br/><br/>Enter <a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/07/17/one-more-day/" target="_blank">Kwik Sew 3614</a>, a pattern I first read about on <a href="http://www.sewnblog.com/pattern-review-kwik-sew-3614-the-fly-zip-shorts/" target="_blank">Sewn</a>. Elizabeth had mentioned how members of Pattern Review raved about the fly construction instruction on these shorts, and after making a couple pairs, I have to agree -- fly fronts can be tricky, but it's smooth sailing with this pattern.<br/><br/>My first pair was constructed out of lavender-colored cotton twill I purchased a few years ago from Fabric Place. I traced and cut a size L and followed the directions for view A (the longest version) exactly, making no modifications. The shorts came out well and I've worn them a lot this summer. My only dislikes were having hook and eye closures on the closure tab. I decided with my next pair I'd use a button and buttonhole.<br/><br/>My second pair are the ones I'm wearing in the photos above. I can't remember where I got the fabric, a navy blue cotton twill ... either Joann's or Sewfisticated Fabrics in Framingham. The button/buttonhole closure works much better. For future shorts I plan to use a contrasting facing on the waistband, as well as softer pocket fabric. I used matching twill to make pockets for both pairs of shorts. They're fine, but maybe a little bulkier than I'd like.<br/><br/>This is a great pattern and I will definitely get my money's worth from it as I have plans for olive, white, and red shorts for next summer.<br/><br/>Since I took a bit of a blog break for the last six weeks, here's what else is going on. My mother and I took a week-long trip to central Maine in August and had a wonderful time. I didn't take any pictures (bah!) except for a shot of my yarn haul from Halcyon Yarn in Bath. I'll do a run down of what I purchased in a separate post.<br/><br/>I've been a bit down because my father and stepmother are going through a painful divorce. It's not a bitter one, just very sad because of the circumstances. I'm hoping that once the smoke clears, things will get better.<br/><br/>Then my husband's car died. We were down to one car for the last few years, so it has been necessary to do some car shopping. It looks like I'll be getting a new VW Jetta by the end of the week. It's funny because VW was not on my "car-buying radar" until I rented one a couple weeks ago and fell in love. Even better, my son loves it and my husband, while not a fan of practical four-door sedans, admits that it's a smooth, responsive ride.<br/><br/>And oh, that cat you see above? That's Winston. I'l write more about him in another post, but we decided after a year of having no cats it was time to welcome a new cat into our home ... and hearts. We adore Winston ... he is a sweet, lovable, friendly guy. And even better, he doesn't chase my yarn.<br/><br/>What have you been up to this summer? Are you glad it's September?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-65126386954573400102015-07-31T12:04:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.226-07:00Pebble Beach Shawl<a title="IMG_20150731_182510" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/20173840692/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/528/20173840692_e3ab0caf7d_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150731_182510" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="IMG_20150731_182516" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/20187611481/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/308/20187611481_62b5be3e57_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150731_182516" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150731_182536" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/20182012735/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/473/20182012735_3182b14e12_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150731_182536" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>I decided to heck with it, I'll photograph <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/pebble-beach-shawl">my Pebble Beach Shawl</a> on a wooden hanger, heat be damned!<br/><br/>I'm very happy with how this turned out. The pattern shows off the gradient wool to its fullest, and its airy design complements the colors, which make me think of a tropical sea against a white, sandy beach. It'll be a perfect shawl to wear next spring. :)<br/><br/>The <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">pattern</a> is brilliant ... I usually gravitate toward charted lace patterns, but Helen Stewart does her patterns in spreadsheet form, which works for my left-brain. I wouldn't call it an "easy" pattern, but a careful beginner would have no trouble following along and obtaining a beautiful result.<br/><br/>My only frustration was with my initial choice of knitting needles. I was using one of my generic Chinese circulars, and the metal was far too slippery for the wool so I went out and splurged on an Addi Lace Turbo ... ahh. I find the Addi Lace needles have the perfect amount of grippiness for lace knitting.<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-88676963753248378052015-07-31T04:35:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.201-07:00Close to natureWhere do I begin? I suppose where I left off. Camp pickup two weekends ago was uneventful. I was one of the first parents there, and O was standing at the door of his cabin waiting for me. :) Hugs all around. He had a great time and really liked his counselors; his only complaint was "too much swimming." My boy is not fond of being in water, never has been. Most of his local friends were on vacation by the time he returned home, which actually worked out as it gave him some time to decompress from camp. Most of them are coming home this weekend, so this week Mom's Taxi Service will be at full gear until O leaves for Texas next week.<br/><br/>Summer has been pretty quiet, which I like. Lots of slow, hot days filled with nothing but time. O thinks it's going by too quickly, and now that I look at the calendar and realize that August is this weekend, I suppose he's right.<br/><br/>OK, so moving on to the exciting bits. This week I went to make muffins and when I pulled the tin out of stove drawer, I noticed mouse droppings. Ewwww. Before you think I'm a terrible housekeeper, please note that our house is older and has lots of nooks, crannies, and holes that critters just love. I'm not frightened of mice--they're kind of cute, actually--but I don't want them around my food, so I had to put out a trap. The next morning, I found the little guy behind the stove. No more have been caught so I'm hoping we had one errant mouse in the house. The rest of the week I spent decontaminating our stove and the areas around it.<br/><br/>Then late last night I was sitting on the sofa when I noticed a noise coming from the living room coat closet. The door was cracked, and boom -- out flew a BAT!!!! I feel much differently about bats than I do mice ... you should have seen me bolt upstairs, screaming for my husband who was already in bed. Poor guy was sound asleep, but he knows how freaked out I am around bats due to some unfortunate childhood bat experiences while living in an old house in Vermont. He and O did some research on the computers upstairs to figure out the best way to get the bat outside, then they ventured downstairs to find the unwanted guest lurking behind the living room drapes. When they tried to scoop the bat into a box, he flew across the room and landed at the top of a bookshelf. By then the bat (and the boys) was tired enough that the second scoop went more smoothly and the errant visitor was released into the night. Shudder. We've had a long-standing wildlife removal appointment scheduled for this Tuesday, and I cannot WAIT to have these bats gone from our attic. And while last night's bat visitation terrified me, I'm glad I saw from where it emerged because now we know where we have an exit hole <em>into</em> the house.<br/><br/>Yes, I'm a total wimp when it comes to certain species of wildlife <em>in</em> my house. I own my wimpiness. ;-)<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>Lots of sewing going on this summer in my studio. I now feel very comfortable with my new sewing machine, the Baby Lock Melody. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a flat felling presser foot for it through my local dealer and just about keeled over when I got the bill for it, almost $25. Ouch! So I decided to order one of those <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KXTJUMW">32-piece presser foot collections</a> from Amazon, along with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004Q6I5BA">a ruffler attachment</a>. I paid a little over what I paid for the one foot through my dealer, so I figured if a few of the presser feet worked, I'd be ahead of the game, esp. the ruffler, which is pricey.<br/><br/>We have Amazon Prime, so everything got here quickly. The ruffler was easy to install and worked beautifully. The 32 presser feet came in a sturdy cardboard box and every foot was labeled on the front so I knew what each one would do. The feet are all metal with a few understandable exceptions, such as the teflon foot for sewing leather and vinyl. Last night I used the piping/welting foot to install piping around a mixer stand cover I made for out kitchen:<br/><br/><a title="KitchenAid mixer cover" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/20173313815/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/311/20173313815_1389eec852_z.jpg" alt="KitchenAid mixer cover" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="KitchenAid mixer cover, close up" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19552349323/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/19552349323_145071c55f_z.jpg" alt="KitchenAid mixer cover, close up" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/>I was very happy with how the piping came out especially as it was my first try. I used instructions from <a href="http://sewing.about.com/od/homedecprojects/ss/Free-Pattern-And-Directions-To-Sew-Your-Own-Stand-Mixer-Or-Blender-Cover.htm">About.com</a> to put this together, but ended up using my own measurements for the pattern. I added an outer pocket (which I tried to pattern match and you can see in the bottom photo) to hold the flat beater attachments, and created a lining with fabric from an old cotton Jacquard drape. All in all, I'm quite happy with it although I may make another just to improve on my design. :)<br/><br/>I finished the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl">Pebble Beach shawl</a>, which is blocked and ready to go. It has been so hot, though, that the thought of posing with a merino wool shawl draped over my shoulders ... ugh. I'll do a separate post on the shawl when it cools off.<br/><br/>What are you working on this summer?<br/><br/> <br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-70977186992517698282015-07-17T04:54:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.184-07:00One more day<a title="Hawk on walk" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19154358953/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/470/19154358953_dc3a43f594_z.jpg" alt="Hawk on walk" width="561" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>Yesterday during our walk to pick up the car at the repair garage, I spotted this hawk fluttering around the ground. We couldn't figure out if it was injured or hunting ... we could also hear some angry birdsong coming from the firs. I wanted to get a little closer, but those talons!<br/><br/>So yes, one more day! Tomorrow I'm picking O up from camp. I miss him so much and can't wait to hear of his experiences. I did get a letter from him on Wednesday, and I was surprised by how long it was. It looks like he kept adding to it each day. He's a very good and entertaining writer. It sounds like he's had a good time, except for the swimming. Although the weather has been warm here in New England, lakes and ocean water really don't get warm until August ... and even then, I wouldn't call them "warm" ... more like comfortable. Plus, O is not the most enthusiastic swimmer. He said the two weeks at camp would have been the best two weeks of his year ... except for the twice daily swims, which he says ruin everything for him.<br/><br/>I would feel sorry for him, but I took swimming lessons as a child in the cold Atlantic Ocean. No pity party here. ;-)<br/><br/>Camp pickup is between 9 and 11, so I'll leave Boston around 6ish, which should give me time for some coffee and exercise breaks (need to stretch out my back frequently). I'll be giving O's local friend a ride home, too, so we'll make a brief stop at my father's house on the lake to say hi and pick up Aunt Pam's yarn :-), then be back on our way home.<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>I finished sewing a pair of shorts yesterday, waa-hoo. They came out great! When my head photographer returns home, I'll get some good photos for my review. I am not a big shorts-wearer, but on especially warm days they're necessary. I love these shorts because they completely cover my thighs but don't make my legs look like sausages. Flush with success, I dug out some olive green twill from my stash for a second pair. But first, I want to finish a gift project (silk pillowcases). This is a wedding gift for a friend who is now pregnant, which gives you an idea how behind I am in sewing!<br/><br/>Knitting ... not much to report here. I spent a couple hours yesterday tinking three rows (over 400 stitches each row) of my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">Pebble Beach shawl</a> as I had two extra stitches. The problem was a wrong increase stitch. Sigh. When will I learn? Anyway, all is well, though I will probably not finish the shawl this weekend.<br/><br/>I discovered a new-blog-for-me this week, <a href="http://www.ikatbag.com" target="_blank">Ikatbag</a>. This mother of three has craft skills that are a-m-a-z-i-n-g -- she's a whiz with cardboard and all sorts of crafts, but also sews without commercial patterns. In fact, she has never used a commercial pattern to draft her clothing! Oh, and she studied physics in college and does all sorts of cool science projects with her kids and creates the most stupendous birthday parties for her daughters ... seriously, I would get palpitations doing half as much as she does in a day!<br/><br/>I'll leave you with a video of me trying to get a hawk's attention by talking to it as I would a cat. D'oh.<br/><br/><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>[embed]https://flic.kr/p/w7Q1Xb[/embed]Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-64067365314567792982015-07-14T03:42:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.151-07:00Hydrangea season<a title="IMG_20150709_091057" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19681229622/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/374/19681229622_8dde472a5a_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150709_091057" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="IMG_20150711_131427" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19692867701/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/306/19692867701_2d507502a8_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150711_131427" width="480" height="640" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>I told my dentist last week that I see hearts everywhere. :)<br/><br/>The hydrangeas in the front of the house are spectacular this year, such a vibrant blue. Two years ago I had cut them back too severely so that last summer we only got a couple blooms.<br/><br/>I have not heard a peep (i.e. received any mail) from O since we dropped him off at camp. He had told me not to expect anything because he doesn't like handwriting letters (the camp doesn't allow computers/e-mail), but his counselor assured me I'd get a couple letters anyway. I'm trying not to get antsy about it ... as long as he's having a good time, that's all that really matters. Plus the camp does a great job updating their blog every night to let parents know what's going on. I can tell from the activities they describe that O is most definitely enjoying himself. He's not super athletic but he's "sporty" and loves to run around and participate in physical activities/games. They had a "marathon" the other night where kids could run a course through the woods, and I can guarantee he was ALL over that.<br/><br/>I'm picking him up this Saturday. I can't wait to see him and hear all about his adventures!<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/><a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/06/22/meet-melody/">Melody</a> and I are becoming fast friends, maybe even BFFs! Last week I took one of those "get to know your new sewing machine" classes at the dealership where I bought her. A lot of the class was fairly basic--how to thread the machine, how to wind a bobbin, etc.--but I did learn a few tricks and became comfortable with some of the advanced functions on the machine. Like buttonholes...as I said to my husband last night, I will never get sick of watching Melody sew a buttonhole!!! What used to be an exercise in frustration is now a matter of letting her do 90% of the job...my only task is to move the fabric around and press buttons. It couldn't be easier.<br/><br/><a title="Kwik Sew 3421" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19502767789/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/493/19502767789_70a4c69da2_z.jpg" alt="Kwik Sew 3421" width="640" height="480" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><a title="Kwik Sew 3421" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19693976861/in/dateposted-public/" data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/446/19693976861_8e547c37c5_z.jpg" alt="Kwik Sew 3421" width="640" height="480" /></a><script src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" async="" charset="utf-8"></script><br/><br/>This week I finished the Roman shade for the dormer window in our bedroom and a pair of swimming trunks (<a href="http://kwiksew.mccall.com/k3421-products-20002.php?page_id=3346" target="_blank">Kwik Sew 3421)</a> for my husband. I'll talk about the Roman shades in my next post as I need to take photos. Both were straightforward projects, except for sewing the power mesh lining on the trunks. So slippery and fiddly and tricky to work with, especially when joining elastic around the leg holes. Luckily that part of the suit isn't public. I used a medium-weight cotton twill I bought on sale at JoAnn's for the outer fabric; my husband does not like synthetics, so cotton it is. Today's job is to purchase a navy cotton drawstring to finish them off. The pattern, like all Kwik Sew patterns, is easy to follow. The only thing I would do differently is use my own way of inserting elastic in the waistband casing (sewing up the casing except for a 2" gap, threading the elastic through as one long piece, sewing the ends, then sewing up the gap). The KS way is to sew the elastic into a circle then wrap the casing around it to sew it into place. Too fiddly for me!<br/><br/>Now it's time for some selfish sewing. Today's project is preparing fabric (lavender twill) for a my own pair of shorts.<br/><br/>I'm just over 80% done on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">Pebble Beach shawl</a>, which should be finished over the weekend at the rate I'm going. Each row is over 400 stitches long, and there's a picot bind-off.<br/><br/>At last week's knitting group I got my yarn to knit a 12" x 12" block for a blanket we're making for an ailing group member. We get our choice of stitch patterns and I'm pretty happy with the one I chose. As soon as the block looks like a block, I'll snap a photo. My goal is to have the block complete by next Thursday's meeting.<br/><br/><em>Sequence Knitting</em> got <a href="http://www.knittersreview.com/article_book.asp?article=/review/reading/150709_a.asp">an excellent review at Knitter's Review</a>. Now I am tempted by <a href="https://pubslush.com/project/7016" target="_blank">Susan Crawford's vintage Shetland knitting project/book</a>, which is being crowdfunded. She has reached her goal, but is still accepting funding. I could have the book in my hands before the holidays, but honestly, will I really get around to knitting Fair Isle before then? I don't think so.<br/><br/>I missed our Forrest family reunion and my Aunt Pam's interment up in Vermont this weekend--my back was giving me trouble, then the car started making funny noises--but I did get to talk to my cousin Sherry at some length Saturday night. She said she sent an enormous amount of Aunt Pam's yarn home with my father for me to have. Wow, I was so touched! I'll probably pick it up on Saturday when I get O from camp...she says there's a lot of it, so maybe I'll have to make two trips. My Aunt Pam was a spectacular craftswoman; not only a first-rate knitter, but she painted, did cross-stitch and crewel embroidery, and quilted ... and other crafts/art endeavors, I'm sure! At some point I will show you some of the projects she did. They are truly beautiful.<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-66748845909808091662015-07-06T04:54:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.106-07:00Away at camp<a title="2015-07-06_11-19-59 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19281095650"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/257/19281095650_075c4f3f8a_z.jpg" alt="2015-07-06_11-19-59" width="640" height="480" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/>O was safely delivered to camp on Sunday. My father had a clever idea. When I asked if we could borrow his SUV to bring O's trunk to camp, my father said, "Why not let him take the boat over?" (The camp is on the same lake my parents' house is on.) O loved the idea, so he piloted us over there. His arrival definitely attracted attention on shore. The only trouble was, the dock's gate was locked, so one of the parents had to find the camp director so we could get in. She's known my dad for years, so I don't think she was too annoyed. ;-) The only thing my father asked of O was that he ask the camp director, "Permission to come ashore, ma'am." It was pretty clear she knew this was one of my father's antics. ;-)<br/><br/>I brought O to his cabin, met his counselor, then helped him get settled. I didn't want to hang out and embarrass him, so I said, "I think I'll get going back to the boat now," and the boys in the cabin perked up. One said, "Hey, you're the ones that came on the boat? Cool!" I guess he made a memorable entrance. O's cabin is visible from the water, so my father and stepmother will know where to look for him when they boat over at night. (They like to come over and see if they can see him...<em>grandparents</em>!!!)<br/><br/>The night before my father took us out on the lake and we watched fireworks. July 4th during the day had been drizzly, but by nightfall, the skies were clear, the air was cool, and was the perfect evening for fireworks. Once they were over, we sat offshore and listened to the Grateful Dead's "Franklin's Tower" play at a house party. The perfect tune for Independence Day! (BTW, it was also my father's 76th birthday. I can hardly believe he's that old. He was complaining about a pulled muscle he'd gotten from, get this, running laps around the track! He's a former marathoner, still in great shape.)<br/><br/>Today (Monday) the house feels empty. I already missed O on the drive home, but I know he'll be having fun these next two weeks.<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>Not much knitting got done since I last posted, though I did work a couple of rows of Pebble Beach last night before bed. Each row is now over 300 stitches and I'm not even halfway through the pattern.<br/><br/>On the way back home from CT I stopped at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/199-fabric-store/115123095220836" target="_blank">That $2.99 Fabric Store in Auburn</a>. They had some great denim there, but I have plenty of denim in my stash so I controlled myself. I bought a couple of yards of midnight blue lace to use as an inset on a dress I want to make and two yards of cream-colored polyester charmeuse for slips/bodice lining.<br/><br/>It looks like this week's sewing project will be creating a Roman shade for one of our bedroom windows. Since I finished the drapes for our northern-facing window, my husband has become quite spoiled and wants the eastern-facing window to have a similar covering. I can't blame him--the light shines right in his eyes at dawn.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-43696175843476224272015-07-03T09:48:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.042-07:00The Yowza Weigh-it Shawl<a title="IMG_20150703_155228 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19200790300"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3720/19200790300_e8a2de3f3d_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150703_155228" width="465" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150703_155309 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/18767734983"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/561/18767734983_0c472b335f_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150703_155309" width="532" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150703_155343 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19388348035"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/498/19388348035_a55d646ebc_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150703_155343" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150703_155421 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19200750638"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/368/19200750638_1878d83e04_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150703_155421" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150703_155536 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19362252286"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/394/19362252286_204ca351d5_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150703_155536" width="640" height="514" /></a><br/><br/> <br/><br/>I finished knitting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/yowza-weigh-it-shawl-4" target="_blank">this beautiful shawl by Susan B. Anderson</a> last month during a week where it was cold and rainy and I'd already shut off the heat for the season. It was a pure delight to knit--it wasn't completely mindless because every couple seconds there was a new color change to ooo and ahh over. While knitting, I listened to the <a href="http://serialpodcast.org/" target="_blank">Serial podcast put out by PBS</a>. Can't wait for the next "season" to begin!<br/><br/>I'm a huge fan of Susan B. Anderson's blog (and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/SusanBAnderson/featured" target="_blank">vlog</a>, too!), and when <a href="http://susanbanderson.blogspot.com/2015/05/yowza-weigh-it-shawl-4-is-now-available.html" target="_blank">she introduced this pattern in May</a>, I dropped what I was doing, ordered the pattern, and promptly broke my yarn diet by ordering the exact color yarn she'd used in her sample (<a href="http://www.missbabs.com/collections/hand-dyed-yarns/products/yowza-perfectlywreckless" target="_blank">Miss Babs Yowza! Whatta Skein! in the colorway "Perfectly Wreckless</a>.") I made a mistake and ordered the colorway "Berlin" (which is very pretty, too), but the people at Miss Babs were nice enough to correct my order ... that's what I get for ordering yarn late at night.<br/><br/>Speaking of nice...that's one of the main reasons why I love Anderson's blog and vlog. She seems so darn nice, not to mention talented. While I don't mind reading snark, I can only take it in small doses. I much prefer blogs, podcasts, and vlogs where the hosts leave me feeling a little happier after having read or watched them. Anderson's blog is definitely a cheerer-upper for me. :)<br/><br/>OK, back to the shawl. Yes, the colors are as vibrant IRL as they are on your screen. The shawl appears to have a woven appearance because of the garter stitch, yet it's soft and squishy around my neck. I was going to wash it and pack it away for the summer, but discovered last week that it was perfect to wrap around my shoulders on a cold and rainy day ... plus, those lively colors cheered me up. I even got a couple compliments on it when I wore it out shopping at Whole Foods. The reason why it's called "the Weigh It Shawl" is because rather than count rows, you weigh your yarn as you go along and start wrapping things up when you are down to a certain number of grams. I still had quite a bit of yarn left over, but that's okay because I like having odd balls for my blanket knitting.<br/><br/>Ravelry details <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/yowza-weigh-it-shawl-4" target="_blank">here</a>.<br/><br/>I'm off for the holiday weekend. Happy July 4th to my American blog readers, and to everyone else, have a wonderful weekend. :)<br/><br/>p.s. Forgot to mention, but I also made the pink cotton lawn blouse underneath the shawl. It's a bit wrinkly as it had been freshly washed but not ironed. I thought the shawl would look better styled with a blouse.<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-44603160809203707242015-07-02T04:59:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.021-07:00Stormy weatherRolling thunder woke me up Wednesday a.m. Welcome July!<br/><br/>My sugar fast continues and I'm feeling well, a little better each day. I didn't need a nap on Tuesday, and on top of this, two nights in a row I stayed up long past my regular bedtime of 11 to read. I do still have sugar cravings in the early evenings, but nothing like the ones I had the first day.<br/><br/>We continue to get O ready for camp ... yesterday he got his hair cut and today his camp sheets should be arriving, which will need to be washed and folded for his trunk. This morning I woke up and realized how much I'm going to miss him while he's away. This will be the longest O's ever been away from me, and there's no phone calls, no e-mailing allowed ... handwritten letters only. Which I don't mind--being the loving mom, I will write every day!--but I'm not so sure I'll hear anything from a 13-year-old boy in return.<br/><br/>Was sad to read that the rumors of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's divorce were true. They seemed like a nice couple, very family oriented. Marriage is tough business, for sure, especially it seems in Hollywood.<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>Lessons learned while working on <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">the Pebble Beach shawl</a>:<br/><ul><br/> <li>A lifeline is a must once I get past 100 row stitches of lace.</li><br/> <li>Save lace knitting for the mornings when my mind is fresh.</li><br/> <li>Point protectors are my friends.</li><br/></ul><br/>I spent an hour+ on Tuesday night tinking back two rows (250+ stitches per row) to fix a massive mistake. Then I carelessly left my knitting on the couch, and when I came back found that some stitches had slipped off the needles and created a mess I couldn't figure out without ripping back. Another hour later all was fixed but I made zero progress on the shawl as a result. On Wednesday, I put in a dental floss lifeline ... took me all of five minutes.<br/><br/>I cut out the contrast fabrics for O's board shorts on Tuesday night and then cut out the main fabric on Wednesday a.m. I'm normally not a big fan of using rotary cutters and weights to cut out pattern pieces, but because the microfiber was unstable, the rotary cutter made short work of the job. Later that night I got the fronts and backs of the shorts sewn up. I'm not completely happy with my topstitching, but I doubt any of the boys at camp will be scrutinizing it.<br/><br/>When I was catching up on my blog reading Tuesday night, I noticed that Ann at Gorgeous Fabrics gave <a href="http://blog.gorgeousfabrics.com/2015/06/30/pattern-review-sewaholic-thurlow/" target="_blank">a terrific review of Sewaholic's Thurlow shorts/pants</a>. As she said, "...the Thurlow’s welt pocket instructions and draft take something that other pattern companies butcher, and make it crystal clear." I am in desperate need of some nice trousers, as well as shorts, so I promptly <a href="http://www.sewaholicpatterns.com/thurlow-trousers-pdf-sewing-pattern/" target="_blank">ordered the pattern</a>, esp. since I'm pear-shaped and Sewaholic patterns are built for my shape. (Bonus: there was a Canada Day sale going on and I got a discount!) The shorts look a little too short for me, but I suppose I can lengthen them a bit. Once I finish O's camp sewing, I'll give the Thurlows a go.<br/><br/>By the way, <a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/06/22/meet-melody/" target="_blank">I'm getting more and more comfortable with Melody</a> the more time I spend with her. She is so <em>quiet</em>! And little things like speed control, automatic threading/thread cutting, needle down, and the knee life make my sewing so much more accurate and enjoyable. Every time I finish up a sewing session, I tell my husband, "I have to say it again ... I LOVE MELODY." (Half of his office in my sewing studio. Lucky him!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-28245828821411738872015-06-30T04:52:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:34.004-07:00Sugar bluesO's face looks completely normal now, not even a rash. The only itchy bits are on his arms and legs. We're hoping everything will be healed up by the time he leaves for camp on Sunday.<br/><br/>Yesterday we went out to Target and bought what he needed to get him through two weeks at camp -- mostly underwear and socks. We figure he can double up a couple days on stuff like shorts and sweatshirts, but not so much on underwear and socks. I also found some swimming trunks in his size for $6.50, so into the basket they went ... saves me some time at the sewing machine this week. He was rather grumpy during our shopping expedition, as was I (sugar withdrawal), and we forgot to buy a couple extra beach towels. Otherwise we're all set to pack him up ... except for the stuff I have to sew. Oh, and he needs a haircut. Hopefully we can squeeze in an appointment before the end of the week.<br/><br/>I survived Monday without eating any sugar. My sugar cravings hit mostly in the evening, so the last couple hours before bedtime were misery. As I was driving past Bedford Farms on the way back from the gym, it took every ounce of self control not to drive in there and order a cup of Muddy River ice cream ... I would have dived in with gusto! I stuck with it, though, bypassing my evening cup of warm chocolate malt Ovaltine with more than a little regret. My thinking was definitely foggier yesterday ... I'm hoping after a few days, I'll be able to think a little more clearly. Just happy I'm not teaching this week; I'm not sure my students would appreciate my incoherent thinking!<br/><br/>A couple days ago when I was waiting for a prescription to be filled at the grocery store, I spent some time looking through the paperback books and actually bought one. I usually take books like this out of the library or buy them used, but I was so in the mood for a summer read. It's a James Patterson bio/thriller called <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zoo-James-Patterson/dp/1455525154" target="_blank">Zoo</a></em>, and as usual with his novels, it's fast paced and just what i need intellectually right now ... meaning I don't have to think too hard as I read a couple chapters before bed each night. The only problem is, I've been having disturbing dreams. The other night I dreamed a rabid bat attacked me, so I fed it to a flying skunk. (Yes, you read that right.) And last night marauding bears and tigers made their appearances ... so I'm not sure this is the best reading before bed. Maybe I'll have to finish it up by reading in the morning. (Just learned this book as been made into a tv miniseries, which I think I'll skip.)<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>Not much to report on the sewing front. Taped the pdf pattern for O's board shorts together. Today I'll be cutting out the fabric. I also signed up for a free sewing class in early July at my local dealer. She told me I probably won't learn that much, but I figure if I learn a couple tips or two, it'll be worth my time.<br/><br/><a title="Pebble Beach shawl by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19302563071"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/560/19302563071_b3575c758c_z.jpg" alt="Pebble Beach shawl" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>Because of my sugar withdrawal yesterday, I had to rip back on my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">Pebble Beach shawl</a> a couple times. (Missed a couple yarnovers, grrr.) It stinks when I have to rip back a row because now each row is over 200 stitches. Yes, I know I should use a lifeline, but weirdly enough I don't mind tinking, especially when the yarn is easy to work with as this yarn is. It's hard to see but the color of the yarn is starting to change from cream to pale mint. Lace is so not pretty before it has been blocked. ;-)<br/><br/>One of the pattern books I ordered off eBay showed up yesterday. It's from the 1960s, a collection of cabled cardigans put out by Reynolds yarn under the name "Mary of Holland." I did a bit of poking around to find out who, exactly, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/designers/mary-of-holland" target="_blank">Mary of Holland</a> is, since the pattern book doesn't say. The only thing Dutch about these sweaters are their names: Rotterdam, Utrecht, Dordrecht, even The Hague.<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150630_112338~2 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19302552611"><img src="https://c4.staticflickr.com/4/3673/19302552611_c9a36cb3fe_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150630_112338~2" width="564" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150630_112351 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19298598925"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/357/19298598925_22b2b04dfd_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150630_112351" width="640" height="480" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150630_112428 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19302274251"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/465/19302274251_f3f35c294b_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150630_112428" width="480" height="640" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150630_112415 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19298341725"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/431/19298341725_c171f98e49_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150630_112415" width="640" height="480" /></a><br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150630_112403 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19298341705"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/307/19298341705_9987213c90_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150630_112403" width="640" height="480" /></a><br/><br/>The model on the cover looks a lot like my college friend Staycee. :)<br/><br/>I thought the cabled designs were really pretty. I'm sure my brother will deem them "Denchy." ;-)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-10813292579017884082015-06-28T17:04:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:33.954-07:00Weekend updateWhen I write that, I think of "Saturday Night Live." ;-)<br/><br/>We ended up getting an emergency pediatrician appointment for O on Friday. When he woke up that morning, his face was so swollen with the poison ivy, he was almost unrecognizable. The doctor was baffled because <a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/06/26/i-wear-the-crown/" target="_blank">O said he was only walking through the woods</a>, which would have kept the plant oils near his lower extremities yet he was covered with the stuff.<br/><br/>O mentioned later on that the friend he was with also had to go to the doctor, so at that point I said, "I'm going to call his mom." I noticed that O got a little quiet when I announced that. Hmm.<br/><br/>I finally got M's mom on the phone the next morning. Come to find out, her son told her they'd cleared some ground in the woods and built a campfire. A-ha! That explained it. I was pretty annoyed to hear this because O should have given his doctor this bit of information. When I confronted him with what I'd learned, O was like, "Oh yeah, we were." First, I was mad he was making campfires, but even more mad that he didn't tell the whole story. Breathing in urushriol (the allergenic substance in poison ivy) via smoke can actually kill! At least it explained the systemic reaction he experienced.<br/><br/>The doctor prescribed five days of steroid pills. We noticed a huge improvement on the first day. It is now the third day and O's face looks completely normal. We told him he'd be getting punished as a result, but after talking it over with my husband, we decided the agony of the rash was almost punishment enough. (We also made him research the penalties for starting campfires on conservation land.) His rash should be cleared up by the time he leaves for camp next weekend.<br/><br/>That has been the other big part of our weekend: getting camp ready. He's going to be away for two weeks, so we spent part of today doing an inventory of his clothes and toiletries. Tomorrow we'll be heading out to buy some more t-shirts, underwear, and socks. I also ordered a camp sheet set and started work on the board shorts he'll be using for swimming. When we checked the packing list the camp sent us, I noticed they wanted boys to bring two pairs of swim trunks, so it looks like I'll be sewing two pairs this week.<br/><br/>My weight loss has stalled. I noticed I'm eating much more sugar than I should, so this week I'm going sugar free to see if this helps get the scale moving again. Even fruit is off the list.<br/><br/>Very happy the escaped NY convicts are accounted for. Just heard they got the second guy alive. Maybe we'll get some more details how they pulled off that somewhat impressive escape!<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/><a href="http://hailbritannia.com/2015/06/22/meet-melody/" target="_blank">Melody and I</a> are finally getting to know each other a little better. I sat down Friday night and hemmed/repaired a pair of my husband's chinos. Then I re-hemmed the sleeves on his favorite shirt (they were raveling), removed a frayed collar, and used the darning foot to fill in some holes. I don't know how my husband gets so many holes in his clothes, it's crazy! Then today I repaired another pair of chinos -- more frayed hems -- and then sewed up a huge hole in the pocket of his favorite pair of shorts using the overcast stitch/foot. Everything was very easy and came out looking great. I think even my husband can see how much better Melody does with his mending. ;-)<br/><br/>This week's big sewing project will be <a href="http://www.jalie.com/board-shorts-pattern.html" target="_blank">the board shorts</a> I talked about earlier. I'm a little nervous about them because I'm sewing on microfiber, which can be a little tricky.<br/><br/>Did a fair bit of knitting this weekend. I started by <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">Pebble Beach shawl</a> on Thursday night and just passed the 15% mark. It's a very enjoyable knit. The pattern provides a nice chart that lets you check off each row and tells you when you've hit 5%, 10%, etc. I went up to Hub Mills in Billerica yesterday to buy a new #6 Addi Lace needle. The needle I had was way too slippery for the laceweight merino I'm using, and Addi Lace needles, although metal, are somewhat grippy (maybe because of the coating?). The new needle is making the project even more enjoyable so it was worth the capital investment.<br/><br/>I'll take a picture tomorrow. I'm using <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/apple-tree-knits-pure-lace" target="_blank">a gradient yarn</a> and the cream color is about to switch over to a pale mint.<br/><br/>Kristie, I love love love <a href="http://journeynorthof49.blogspot.com/2015/06/about-blanket.html" target="_blank">your Hudson Bay baby blanket</a>. I read your blog via Feedly so I missed the photo in your blog header and am glad you wrote about it. Now I'm eager to knit one!!<br/><br/> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-31764039281258927852015-06-25T17:30:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:33.890-07:00I wear the crownI now wear a shiny, new off-white crown. I'll do you a favor and not show it to you. You know that urban legend that <span class="hiddenSpellError">redheads</span> need more anesthesia than normal because they have more nerve endings? It's true ... not for every redhead, but certainly true in my case. Two injections of <span class="hiddenSpellError">novocaine</span> and I was still feeling the pain. My mouth never got that numb, either. My dentist (who is great, I love her!) can't get over how much I need. Enough to knock out an elephant ...<br/><br/>Anyway, I have a working tooth, and that's great. I rewarded myself with a quick stop at the bead shop down the street before I picked up O from his friend's house. (See more about beads below.)<br/><br/>O's poison ivy is getting a little worse. Today we tried aloe vera and cucumbers, as well as the OTC products I bought yesterday. The cucumber seems to help with itching the best, especially when we <span class="hiddenSpellError">pureed</span> it in the <span class="hiddenSpellError">Vitamix</span>, spread <span class="hiddenGrammarError">out out</span> over his arms, and let it sit <span class="hiddenGrammarError">for awhile</span>. Hey, gotta love a 59 cent treatment!<br/><br/>My brother called this evening and we had a nice chat. He's out in Oregon as a "Hot Shot" firefighter, putting out blazes caused by lightning strikes and drought. After <span class="hiddenGrammarError">a couple weeks</span> of fires (which translates into $$$ for him), he's off to the coast for a few days for some R&R. I'm looking forward to him returning to the east coast this fall -- we talked about doing an overnight hike up in the White Mountains, so I'm going to look into an AMC membership. (He wants to stay in one of the AMC huts.) I will definitely be staying away from <a title="This sock climbed Mt. Washington" href="http://hailbritannia.com/2014/09/23/this-sock-climbed-mt-washington/" target="_blank">Mt. Washington</a> this time. ;-)<br/><br/>Mr. Raccoon was back last night, trying to knock over our garbage bins. I know raccoons can be pests, but he's just the cutest guy. Tried to get pictures for O, but when he heard me at the window, he took off.<br/><br/><strong>Crafting</strong><br/><br/>I've done some more "research" on <a href="http://www.sequenceknitting.com/" target="_blank">Cecelia <span class="hiddenSpellError">Campochiaro</span></a>'s new knitting book, <em>Sequence Knitting</em>. <span class="hiddenSpellError">Ravelry</span> has a page for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/sequence-knitting-simple-methods-for-creating-complex-reversible-fabrics/patterns" target="_blank">patterns contained in the book</a>, which gives one a good idea of the types of fabrics that can be created, as well as photos of simple patterns for accessories. The hats excited me because some of my favorite winter caps are ones where the fabric seems textured. Example: Anne Hanson's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Mom2O/fartlek" target="_blank"><span class="hiddenSpellError">Fartlek</span></a>.<br/><br/>I forgot to mention the other reason why this book appeals to me and that's because <span class="hiddenSpellError">Campochiaro</span> works in the computer/tech field in Silicon Valley. She started playing around with binary sequences in her knitting and discovered that certain sequences produced interesting textures and fabrics. I'm somewhat left-brained and like math, so this concept *really* tickles that side of my brain.<br/><br/><span class="hiddenSpellError">Craftsy</span> sent me an e-mail today that some classes in my wish list were priced at $19.99 or less until the weekend. One of them was Betz White's bag making class, so I signed up for it. I have some drapery fabric remnants in my stash that would make fantastic, hard-wearing bags. Tracy, <a href="http://musingsofacraftenthusiast.com/2015/06/13/craftsy-class-the-weekend-duffle/" target="_blank">your excellent results</a> spurred me to sign up, so thank you!<br/><br/><a title="IMG_20150625_145036 by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19157420581"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/273/19157420581_d81e9ebc5d_z.jpg" alt="IMG_20150625_145036" width="554" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>Another <span class="hiddenSpellError">Craftsy</span> class I'm taking is Laura <span class="hiddenSpellError">Nelkin's</span> <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/class/Knitting-With-Beads" target="_blank">Knitting With Beads</a>, thus why I stopped at the bead shop this a.m. (<span class="hiddenSpellError">Nelkin</span> is a dead-ringer for Annabella <span class="hiddenSpellError">Sciorra</span> ... she even sounds like her!) When I was at Stitches East last fall, I bought a skein of cream and turquoise gradient <span class="hiddenSpellError">laceweight</span>, and I'm thinking it would look lovely as a beaded shawl. I also got the idea in my head to do another mohair cardigan, but this one with slip-stitch beading around the cuffs, neckband, and lower edge/hem.<br/><br/>ETA: Started knitting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pebble-beach-shawl" target="_blank">Helen Stewart's Pebble Beach Shawl</a> tonight with my gradient lace-weight. So far, enjoying the pattern!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736035637103377628.post-76261003536210443612015-06-24T15:19:00.000-07:002016-08-08T08:42:33.872-07:00Oh my aching toothI decided last night that I'm going to post more regularly, if only to keep a record of my days, so fair warning!<br/><br/>This morning O woke up with his face red and swelled up. A closer inspection showed tiny blisters all over his face, arms, legs, neck, back, etc. so the culprit was determined to be poison ivy. He and his friends spend a lot of time in the woods climbing trees and building forts, so it was only a matter of time before he ran into problems with this noxious plant. (We since found out the friend he was with actually had to go to the doctor today as his poison ivy was even worse.) Poor O was in misery, so I gave him some allergy medication, then headed off to CVS downtown and dropped $40 on assorted creams, sprays, and washes. Once he applied them he felt much better, and after <span class="hiddenGrammarError">a couple hours</span>, the swelling and redness had been reduced significantly. In the meantime, I stripped his bed of sheets, blankets and pillowcases and gave them a good long wash in hot water, and also did the same with the clothes he was wearing while he was in the woods. Although the oils in poison ivy don't seem to bother my skin, I know repeated exposure can cause a reaction, so I made sure to use rubber gloves. That's all I need, a new medical condition!<br/><br/>So ... we had to cancel O's hair appointment this afternoon, and instead he headed off to a friend's house for a sleepover. I guess he was feeling well enough to go see Jurassic World with him tonight.<br/><br/>Tomorrow I have an appointment to get a new crown on one of my back teeth. My dentist told me the old one needed to be replaced, even though it wasn't bothering me. I grit my teeth (no pun), shelled out the $1200, and last week went in to get a temporary crown put on ... and darn, wouldn't you know it, but I've had a toothache almost every day since then. I'm hoping when the new crown goes on tomorrow that the pain will go away. Tooth pain makes me exceedingly cranky.<br/><br/>We're planning a family reunion for July 11 up in Vermont that I'm very much looking forward to, along with a memorial service for my Aunt Pam, who passed away in January. I started a private Facebook group to keep everyone posted about times and gathering places, and wow ... almost 40 family members have joined! I often hear people complain about family reunions, but I love them. Part of it is I like knowing that I belong to a tribe, but it also makes me feel connected to family who have passed away and who I loved very much. Those memories are precious, and I think it's important to keep memories and stories alive, <span class="hiddenSpellError">moreso</span> as I age.<br/><br/><b>Crafting</b><br/><br/>I finished knitting <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/feather--fan-baby-bonnet" target="_blank">a feather and fan baby bonnet</a> last night/early this a.m. (I couldn't sleep because of said tooth) and plan to give it to my knitting group friend K for <a href="https://refugeeknit.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">her daughter's Girl Scout project</a> (sending knit caps and mittens to Syrian refugees). I knit <span class="hiddenSpellError">one</span> <span class="hiddenGrammarError">a couple weeks</span> ago with a pink ribbon, so this one I'll festoon with a blue.<br/><br/><a title="Feather and fan bonnet by Diana Burrell, on Flickr" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/67046874@N02/19137181701"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/388/19137181701_b77c0a08fa_z.jpg" alt="Feather and fan bonnet" width="640" height="640" /></a><br/><br/>I'm between knitting projects, except for a pair of "vanilla" socks, and am itching to cast on for a sweater. I did some <span class="hiddenSpellError">swatching</span> last week for an Amy Herzog/Custom Fit sweater ("<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/charlies-cardigan" target="_blank">Charlie's Cardigan</a>"), but haven't yet mustered the energy to do all my measurements. Plus, I'm still waiting to see if anyone from my Thursday a.m. knitting group wants to knit along with me. Now I'm toying with the idea of knitting Meg <span class="hiddenSpellError">Swansen's</span> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/garland-necklace-yoke" target="_blank">Garland Necklace Yoke </a>sweater. I have a bunch of cream Paton's wool, and was thinking a <span class="hiddenSpellError">delft</span> blue wool would look nice as a contrast.<br/><br/>Last night during my late owl web surfing on eBay, I ordered two vintage 1960s Reynolds knitting pattern books I've had my eye on for some time. When they come in, I'll do a review.<br/><br/>As for sewing, there's nothing to report. Still giving Melody a wide berth. My husband left a pair of <span class="hiddenSpellError">chinos</span> and two shirts for mending on the back of my chair. (I love to mend/fix/repair stuff ... it's in my frugal Yankee nature.) These tasks don't seem so daunting so I'll get on them after my dentist appointment tomorrow.<br/><br/>Speaking of mending ... I noticed that <a href="http://jeanmiles.blogspot.com/2015/06/qgfv454-initial-remark-is-from-perdita.html" target="_blank">Jean Miles</a> had ordered a new book called <a href="http://www.schoolhousepress.com/sequence-knitting.html" target="_blank"><em>Sequence Knitting</em></a>, which sounded interesting. About five minutes later, I stumbled upon a comprehensive interview with the author, Cecelia <span class="hiddenSpellError">Campochiaro</span>, on <a href="http://tomofholland.com/2015/06/24/sequence-knitting/" target="_blank">Tom of Holland's mending blog</a>. I think this is the Universe telling me I need this book. <span class="hiddenGrammarError">Sixty dollars is</span> a lot but I like how the author put her book together, with a lot of care and detail.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13061191277162046916noreply@blogger.com0