Something for everyone and a tutorial…

The big day came and went.  Peters Valley had its open house yesterday and I proudly showed off the new and improved weaving studio to a steady stream of visitors, and got lots of ohhhhs and ahhhhs. Thanks to everyone who helped make the weaving studio come alive.  And I’m completely embarrassed that I have not one photo of how gorgeous the studio looked with all the yarn on the shelves and my handwoven garments hanging about.  Shame on me.  I’m such a bad blogger…

I took the whole morning off, to just hang outside, basking in the glorious sunshine and breeze.  I spent some time weeding and scrubbing the rug for the sitting area on the deck, the yard that I thought hopeless after the long winter is finally coming to life and maybe it is because of the long gloomy winter, but everything seem so much more colorful and alive.  Probably because everything bloomed at once. I did though, scramble over the last few days, in between appointments and commitments to keep my hands busy and start a couple of projects.

For the weavers: Desperate to weave something I grabbed one of my trusty Inkle Looms, which I always have set up since I need looms in progress for teaching examples.  This is a narrow Paired Pebbles structure, using 12 wt. Egyptian Cotton WonderFil Spagetti.  It is an embroidery thread I picked up at an American Sewing Guild conference a couple years ago.  The pattern is from one of Laverne Waddington’s Andean Pebble Weave books.  I teach an online tutorial on Paired Pebbles on the Inkle Loom at Weavolution.com.  The little motifs weave quite quickly for PickUp.

For the knitters: I purchased a couple of skeins of hand-dyed rayon novelty “Rick Rack” from Interlacements using up my gift certificate award from the Colorado exhibit, and then some…  I wanted to start something fun and summery, so I balled up one of the skeins, this one is Scottish Lichen.  I have a number of C2Knits patterns, I really like the simple shapes that fit me well.  They are mostly knitted top-down, and I’m starting to become a real fan of top-down sweaters.  Especially for something like this.  It is going quickly, just a simple knitted tank, Gypsy.

For the sewers sewists: I always try to have a garment under construction and with my crazy April I failed miserably.  So I grabbed the cotton on the top of the shirting pile, a pretty print I got last year on my NY Fabric buying trip with Peggy Sagers, tossed it in some hot water, and pre-shrunk it.

The layout was pretty straightforward, I’m using Vogue 7903, a Today’s Fit pattern from Vogue (out of print 🙁 ), the short sleeve version.  There are two options for the front, using a front facing/button placket or cutting two fronts and “lining” with the second one, eliminating a lumpy facing.  Not that my facings are lumpy…  But I had the fabric, and thought I’d try this method of shirt construction.  I’ll let you know what I think.

A tutorial:  Today’s Fit patterns use a different sizing system.  According to the chart, I’m actually half way between a B and C in the bust area and a C in the waist and hips.  Should be straightforward right?

The real key to how something will fit is in the built in ease.  Most patterns in the Vogue line have a key to ease written in the description.  This one is semi-fitted.  It helps to have the ease chart describing the fit types.  The bust ease on a semi fitted blouse is anywhere between 4 1/8″ and 5″.  I know how I like my clothing to fit.  I know I’d think this was oversized.

The tendency is to think, well I’ll just cut a smaller size.  That may not work, since it may fit better across the bust, but the shoulders and neck might be too small.  I checked the handy finished garment measurement chart on the bodice front pattern piece.

Based on this, I’m thinking 4 inches of ease in the bust, if I cut the B would be a lot better, still roomy, but better than if I cut half way between the B and C pattern lines.  Likewise with the waist.  So I’m taking a chance by not making up a muslin first, my plan is to baste the garment together to check the fit before I do French Seams.  I’m anxious to get sewing and this is the kind of pattern that can be tweaked in the construction process.

And for those of you curious about the condition of my stupid dog, he is fine.  He will have the stitches out tomorrow, and then maybe I don’t have to watch him 24/7 to make sure he doesn’t rip open his extensive incision.  He is acting normal, body functions normal, though he does stare longingly at the empty basket under the coffee table where all his toys use to be.  No more squeak toys for that bad boy…  Stupid dog…  The final bill ended up $4600, and I’ll probably get charged tomorrow at the vets for removing the stitches.  I’m half tempted to take them out myself.  I am after all, pretty adept at ripping stuff out…

Stay tuned…