One Two Three Four

in no particular order.

quilt top for sampler class.
bottom pieced border needs to be attached.birthday 2009 shorts for nephews.
2 down 2 to go.
three each were started for birthday 2008 and one each was made and given in 2008.knitted sweater started for niece for 2007 xmas.
clearly it's almost done. what's my problem. i hope it still fits.remainder of 2008 xmas quilts.
can't say how many are left to finish.
they've all been tied. just need bindings.
clearly it's more than five.i tend to juggle about four projects at the same time. hoping that one of them will get done. before the magnet pulls me in another direction. it's pretty simple what they would be. presents. deadlines. a really old project that just must get done. or an almost finished random project that i can finish quickly because i am about to replace it with a new project.

none of these will be on my 1234 next month. i promise.

Auntie Karen Is Happy

i am happy to report that my niece really wears these jeans. all the time. mending is love. but sometimes mending is lots of work and little of thanks. finding them in the laundry basket all the time surely confirms a job well done.

i found a few more pics which show some detail on the sewing.i took one step at a time. unpicked the side seams. tore two pieces longer than the length you need. as shown here. this Amy Butler fabric is strong. i would not pick a lightweight fabric as loved jeans get washed & dried so much. i chose a width of 2 in. for extension plus 1 in. for seams. (come back to see example of how i sewed extension seam).these jeans had that very smart buttonhole elastic to accommodate growth. not more difficult. but just one more step to consider. it would have been too easy to cut that out. i would recommend cutting the waistband in a different spot than the side seam. this avoids bulk all coming together at the same spot.the waistband extension was tricky. you always have to unpick enough stitches so that you can open it wide enough to get into with sewing machine. (translation: you always have to unpick more than you want to). i cut it longer than i knew i needed. then stitched one side. ironed it. pretended i was done. then carefully tried to mark how much i needed. then cut it. sewed the other side. ironed & tucked seam under. when satisfied it was the proper amount. sewed the waistband seam to body. for these i had to make sure the elastic went thru as before. & when sewing had to make sure elastic did not get caught in stitching.
do you think my summer pants would be this cute if i added a piece to make them longer. i like these fashionably incorrect pants when it's warm to get air on my ankles. but as soon as the frost comes. they look silly.o.k. you're right. they look silly all the time. but i complete the look with my silly shoes.

& while i'm on the subject. the subject of jeans and cutting them up. i can't wait to see the jean apron tutorial that Des is going to make Karebear put together. see here for those cute aprons i am talking about. & i sure hope that tutorial doesn't have any Mamma Mia music in it. hehe. tutorial posted here.

No Need For Tutorial, She Says

i told my niece that a blog friend wanted to know how i did that to her jeans. & she thinks. & she points. & she's serious. & she says. but. didn't you just take out that seam. & then sew that piece in. & blah blah blah. & isn't that what you did.& i said why yes that is what i did.

book looks like a prop. but i really was reading it when she came home from school. & i hadn't seen her for a long time. & she was wearing those jeans. so i picked her up & tackled her down. of course she was laughing because she could totally have stopped me. & the book just didn't fall off the couch.

Please Try On Dress With New Sleeve!

i left Bruno's house this morning with this note attached to the fridge.yesterday i cut into the beautiful fabric. today i made a new sleeve. (crossing fingers that we're getting close). Sunday i will be sewing in an invisible zipper. it's easier for me to break down these activities. i don't possess any magical powers in dressmaking. or in fitting a garment that lays close to the body. just one step at a time. & try not to panic.

i didn't "show" at my Thimbleberries Club meeting. ya didn't think i was going to finish in time. did ya? i have finished all the short rows going across the quilt. & all the diagonal rows going thru the big blocks. but i still need to finish all the long rows going down the quilt. it should be finished soon as i will be running thru areas that have already been quilted. it's not very big. 45" x 60". if you're familiar with a Bento Box. i did 3 large blocks across & 4 large blocks down. so it's bigger than a wall. but smaller than a lap.

Ugly Duckling

my 1st fitting for the Mom-O-Groom dress went well. i forgot to take a pic of that fitting but i was very happy. inside i was jumping for joy. no major fitting issues. i had found some of my ugliest fabrics & made a muslin pretend dress.this is what i took to my 2nd fitting. it can be just as much work as the real dress. but i just can't cut into the fabric until i have worked out the kinks.

here is the major kink that i knew about when i said yes. the sleeves on the pattern needed to be changed. they were too short. too tight. & too puffy. the 1st sleeve was as per pattern. the 2nd was just longer. this is my 3rd sleeve.i needed to make it a bit longer (i said). i shouldn't have made it that wide (i said). & can we just get rid of the puffs (she said). o.k. i've got some work to do.

say abracadabra. & poof. the puffs are gone. if only it was that easy.

gotta go now. the Big Wedding is just around the corner.


this is for pamela joy - my fav pic of the Little Groom-2-B.

Playing Dress Up

it's 9 p.m. on a Friday night. i haven't made any clothes since for-ever. (flannel p.j.'s don't count). but this afternoon i bought a skirt pattern. picked out some fabric that i thought would go with the only pair of fancy shoes i own. that's right. i'm going to a shower. on Sunday. wish me luck.

hey you! yeah you!
is that a zip-up hoodie top? does that even count as dressing up?

I'm Almost 9 So The Little Girl Apron Doesn't Fit Me

have you ever asked a little girl to model something cute for a picture & then tried to take it away from her. i have. not doing that again. so my big girl niece is modeling my giveaway apron for you.

........michele p......... is most definitely a winner.

her memory was the only comment received but one i very much enjoyed reading. go ahead & email your info so i can get this cutie out to you. the apron. not my niece. she's a keeper. you just can't have her.

a big thank you to everyone else who offline sent kind words of encouragement.

Cute Cute Cute

now that's a post title i could use alot. yesterday i received the Tea Party Apron pattern purchased from Quilt Taffy. cute. oh so cute.

so i decided to make one for a giveaway. i'll be making the young girl size. using fabric bought on Quilt Taffy & still available on sale i might add. i'll be adding some vintage green rick rack i purchased at a thrift shop many years ago. i don't think i will be putting on the big bow. also included in this giveaway will be a package of vintage red rick rack that comes with matching thread. i know. fabulous. just leave comment on this post telling me your apron memory when you were a little girl. i guess you mommies/daddies can share your daughter/son apron memories if you have too.

here's one of my fav photos from a few years back. i always smile when i look at it. i remember that day like it was yesterday. little nieces love to wash dishes. big aunts just don't.


it'll take a couple of days to finish. i can hear my family laughing. haha back. so i'll pick a winner on Wednesday night. good luck.