Joining with Cathy over at nanacathydotcom, showing off my second crocheted ski cap. Now I’m set for winter!
And here are the directions, in case you’d like to make one yourself… From an ooold post!
friday finish
Tag Archives: hats
another finish!
Now working on another hat, this time not a washable wool, ’cause I couldn’t resist the colour.
Besides, being practically minded, when one’s in the wash the other’ll be used, right? 😉 hehehee!
it’s a wrap . . .
Actually, it’s a finish, but let’s not mince words…
Piccies go from almost done, to finished, and off-camera I’m trialing an add-on for the rest of that large ball of yarn.
silly saturday ~ soft furnishings
A minor achievement this week: 2 small pillows stuffed, sewn up and completed.
Ta-dah ! ! !
These are the fronts.
Love that hat, but ain’t too keen on the corset. But it’s red, so that’s okay.
A bit of searching round t’internet and I found this panel is actually part of an entire quilting series. Hmmm . . . . . 🤔
A bit more thinking about it, as we know we do with something we really want to enjoy to its’ fullest potential . . . . . 🤨
Taking a deep breath, ignoring my fierce promise-to-self not to buy any more fabric, I decided to acquire just a teeny bit more.
But only so’s the whole rest of the original purchase could be used and enjoyed to the full, instead of always regretting I hadn’t used x or y instead — y’know what I mean? 🙄
Next week a small squidgy package is due . . . . .
There’s more to come, Lovelies! 🤣 😆 🤣
macro Monday
. . . so I’ll put it down the bottom of this.
Lots has been happening over here, but not much sewing. With rellies close to some of the California fires (more & more contained every day now), and others receiving Laura’s heavy rains, it’s been eventful.
I shan’t mention what else’s been going on as there’s already too much repetition. Suffice to say just reading headlines is enough to set one back.
How some ever, Helen (of Helen’s Closet Patterns) just put out a free pattern for joining (or rejoining) her mailing list.
It’s the Luna blouse pattern, and is super fast to whip up.
Depending on the size & fabric width, it can take less than a yard of knit fabric, and looks cool and breezy. Perfect for our hot & humid summers (typically well into October).
Received my first issue of Sewn magazine, a U.S. publication (they ship internationally!), and am thoroughly amazed by all it contained.
The cover story is about a pair of independent Black men who make bespoke unisex hats up in Washington, D.C. I want one soooooooooo bad!!!
Lots still to do so this will be short. Hope everyone is perking up a bit – maybe with cooler weather. Sigh… at least we’ve got lower humidity for of couple days.
. . . . . Top’s a photo taken of a NEW box of ice cream just delivered from a local store. . . No, I didn’t eat any. 😱
Happy Mother’s Day
First, hello, Lovely Readers! How’s your week gone? Hope everyone is holding up under whatever rules & regs are in place in your space.
Today is Mother’s Day in the U.S., so Happy Mother’s Day to you all, but let’s extend that to all Mothers in any country.
And let’s extend it to all those Dads who’ve had to be both Mum & Dad.
We’ve been having wonderfully cool weather, and I’m sending a giant THANK YOU to Canada for shipping it down to us. ❤️ 🇨🇦 ❤️
It’s been heavenly — mostly breezy with low humidity and 60’s for highs. As we’ve really had no winter to speak of, the prolongation of moderate temps is MOST appreciated.
[Could we talk about repetitions in June, July, August, September…]
Having recently met folks who had no idea there was such a thing as raw peanut butter, which separates quite naturally if not stirred, I looked it up, and discovered our Northern Neighbours created it! Another reason to be grateful to Canada! 🇨🇦
🐸 Crochet 🐸
Crocheting continued until Thursday, when I thought I had finished the ski hat and could go on to the pompom. Then I tried it on. Oops.
The bulky superwash wool yarn I was using was bulkier and less stretchy than I’d bargained for.
Currently the cap would fit a very short and extra-wide head. Am preparing to rip it, and maybe do a scarf instead. . . .
Friday’s #VirtualTeaParty2020
Still unable to purchase whole wheat flour for my weekly loaf, I started reading about substitutions. Taking my own advice, I did a quick check on the Library of Congress’ website, wondering about flour substitutes. Found a few things that might be doable, if I can get corn meal. Both are circa 1918. You can see them in situ here and here.
If anybody’s missed my Wacky Cake or Boiled Raisin Cake recipes, they’re here and here. And here’s a variation, kindly sent down to me from SDP’s collection.
Friday’s #VirtualTeaParty2020
Please do stop by either Su’s place, on the 14th New Zealand/Southern Hemisphere reckoning, or right here on Friday, the 15th if you’re Northern Hemisphere/East Coast North America, or both.
Come as you are, or in your best bib & tucker. No need to bring anything, but you can if you want. There’s always an interesting assortment of peoples and conversations about food, recipes, coping, whatever. But we keep it civilised. It is a Tea Party. 😉
P.S./ Here’s a closer look at that page with recipes . . .
monday . . ⛈ ⛈ ⛈
Three pieces of tissue viscose/rayon, purchased in 2016, have slowly been rising to the top of the ToDo list.
Thinking to finally get them made up, I decided to drag out a piece of heavier cotton knit to toile a couple of patterns I’ve had since forever.
Yes, I know there’s definite differences between the weights of the two fabrics, but somehow that didn’t seem important.
First up was the cammie version from Lois Hinse’s Tank Dress Group, No. 5305. Just found it on Vogue’s site and still available.
I also cut some shorts from a TNT pattern, Butterick’s B5432. I did a mid-knee version to see if I liked it. The jury’s still out. 🤔
Incidentally, witness2fashion on WordPress did an excellent review of the many trouser names and lengths from the ’70’s. Guess mine are the Bermuda length.
For some reason I put off wear-testing the new duo, but when I did I was surprised by how the top fit.
Look at the neckline in this photo. I hadn’t given it much thought because I’d cut out the tank top pattern, narrowing the shoulder straps.
When I tried it on I realized it wasn’t anything like the photo, even with the narrowed straps. Hm.
See how narrow this neckline is? Compare it to the camisole picture. See a difference?
My opinion is what’s labeled as the camisole pattern has is the same neck and straps as the dress version, but I keep forgetting to get the pattern back out and check.
What do you Lovelies think? Are they different necklines. Suggestions welcomed!
Did I get the wrong pattern pieces? No. There are only four, and the other two are definitely the dress pattern because they’re miles long.
Sure, I could fix it by redrafting the pattern, but I don’t want to. Instead, I’m considering this toile for lounging at home only. And I’m giving more thought to hacking my Hemlock tee from last winter.
But on the other hand, do I want to go to the trouble of hacking the Hemlock?As you can see, heat-induced summer ennui has set in. 🙄
Adding complexity was a recent Love to Sew episode on how to rub off (copy without cutting up) an RTW. If I had a good RTW cammie I might give that a try . . .
Waaaaaaahhhhhhhh! 🤪
Time to switch gears and crochet!
My latest autumnal crochet project’s yarn (Brett’s Marble Chunky – MC07) is still a delight to work with—all that luscious coloured softness running through my fingers is sooo satisfying!
The ski cap is completed, and whilst browsing through early posts of Lucy’s Attic24 I spied an idea for how to use up the large remainder.
Watch this space. 😉
Meanwhile, hope you have lovely things planned for your June. If I can dash out between the raindrops and get to the library, there are several goodies waiting.
Enjoy, Lovelies!
sewing, bread & the creative process
Originally this post was titled “whaddya do when the bread don’t rise” but the writing wasn’t ‘rising’ either, so I put photos and post aside.
Serendipitously, whilst chatting with long distance sewing pal Jen the post came to mind again and she persuaded me to fix and post it. So here it is.
progress in slow sewing process
There’s been a bit of progress – I can share a large unlined bag (below), made from leftover red & white cotton for the knee high shorts that are almost done. Plus the green & gold hat I’ve been crocheting is ready to be stitched up & pompommed.
Yeah! Progress in both the sewing and crocheting processes.
Creating something is a process, and I tend to forget sometimes that sharing the steps of that process in a post can be as interesting as a post written upon completion.
Whether it’s baking bread or sewing, the creator gets to choose what to pay attention to and what to work around and what to ignore. And those can be the interesting and valuable bits of the process, the things to share with others in our wonderful sewing community.
Friend Jen and I made a bargain: I’d revisit my belaboured post and she’d write about the latest bits in her process. (I hope she lists those patterns!)
Which reminds me… over the weekend I finally faced up to a black duster I started last summer. You know, the one that’s been lying on my cutting table for at least 6 weeks. I just don’t like the cotton gauze fabric. There’s not a thing wrong with it, I simply decided at some point that it was not “me.” E-vah!
So I’ve given myself permission to Let It Go. Even though it’s almost done. What a relief ! ! ! And you’ll never guess: Jen knows someone who might like it for a project.
What about that bread? I kept it. That weird end piece was eaten in bits with bites of cheese. The normal part I sliced, toasted and enjoyed.
Realisation? Most parts of the creative process are useful, but sometimes later rather than sooner. Plus, its’ value can extend beyond just yourself.
What you think isn’t worth writing about might be just the spark a Lovely Reader needs to move their own process forward.
catching up
Summ-ah heat has arrived, and luckily I had a grand solution to hand:
Books.
When the hottest day started I dove into the coolest room ~ luckily, the bedroom ~ and cracked open a new-to-me author. Gerald Durrell.
It’s the only Durrell available from this (insert your invective of choice) county library, and it wasn’t listed the last time I’d looked. Its a Penguin edition, so I was doubly pleased to have it.
What can I say . . . It was the perfect antidote for hot weather. Although A Zoo in My Luggage is about collecting animals in a hot jungle it was delightfully minus the heat and long on charming, light-hearted descriptions of hilarious high-jinks by four- and two-footed creatures.
The perfect opposite to Ann Cleeves’ latest in her Shetland series, Cold Earth. Reading brief descriptions of wet and cold were also a perfect solution for the heat wave.
On Friday I only put one book down long enough to pick up the other with one hand, and a cold glass in the other.
Now I’m attempting to line up more from both authors before the next heat wave hits.
Lest I forget, I read bad news about my much-loved rayon fabrics recently, and thought I’d pass along some things originally from Lizzie Bramlett’s The Vintage Traveler blog. This and this detail the pollution some factories product whilst making rayon. Thank you, Lizzie.
On a brighter note, another favoured blogger, Linda Przybyszewski’s blog, The Lost Art of Dress, included this and this about hats.
Do take a look if you’re at all interested in chapeaux, or women who purchase hat factories. 😉
Now, as The Fon of Bafut might have blogged,
My good friend[s],
… I am glad you have arrived once more to [the end of my post]. I welcome you. When you are calm from your journeys come and see me [again]. p. 64, A Zoo in My Luggage, Gerald Durrell
no, they will never find the microfilm!
And I shall not reveal my secret
even to you,
handsome colonel,
until we are safely
back in the jungle.
Hat and scarf sewn particularly for Pretty Grievance’s Jungle January.
Hat pattern from Folkwear.
framed by sunday sevens #31
Since last week was an assortment of activities, I’m framing it mentally with Natalie’s Sunday Sevens.
Frame. v.t. 1. To fit or prepare and unite several parts in a regular structure or entire thing…
After mooching through my photo mind palace for this week’s WPC (over t’other blog) I decided it was time to iron a skirt & blouse that had hung un-ironed all week.
You know how your mind wanders whilst ironing. As I’d just been thinking “frame,” it got applied to the ironing.
- The yellow blouse had been a charity shop men’s shirt I liberated circa 2013.
- The skirt & capelet fabric was purchased in Chicago and originally made into culottes, but fabric was too stiff for the style and so it didn’t get worn.
- Then it got made into a straight skirt, and worn much more than the culottes.
- The capelet, of leftover fabric from the culottes, was a test.
The shirt’s too long to be worn as styled with the capelet at left (proportions are off), but isn’t quite so off with a solid RTW blouse instead (top, right) Yes, that yellow men’s shirt is still underneath.
not a good combination!
better styling but weird face
💕 clarks shoes
Thanks to J for photos above!
the red fabric on the left is at home at anne’s across the pond now ~
looks straight here but as soon as I walked outside into the humidity it had S-curves all round!
- Plastic & glass bangles thrifted around chicago (2010-13)
- Earrings from california arts fair (ca. 1990’s)
- Sandals by Clarks
- Hat still in use!
And an extra photo just because I’m chuffed to have done some crocheting in colour.
Time for Sunday Sevens again, as dreamed up by Natalie of Threads and Bobbins. Why not join in? Guidelines are extremely flexible. 😉
Submitted for the WordPress Photo Challenge.
sunday seven #25 & 26
A collection of photos from the past couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy them & will click a pic to see the captions!
If you’d like to share what you’ve been up to that might not rate a full blog post, just click over to Natalie’s Sunday Sevens page.
Edited 27 July: You can also hover over each photo to view the caption, but if you’re not seeing all the words, just click a pic to go to the full screen view, then push Escape to return to this view. The glorious red zinnia dahlia (it’s a dahlia, dah-ling ~ what can I say?) in the BBC Women’s Hour photo is from Bestie Samantha’s garden several years ago & set as my screen photo each summer.
Curls n Skirls 
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