on request

I was requested to make a short sleeve workshirt.  Actually, workshirts.  So I went into my stash and saw what I could see.  This is what I came up with.  The black cotton is fairly heavy and the contrast was just some cool orange flowers I had.

It reminds me of Halloween which pleases me.  I am ready for autumn.  It does not help that the dress I am wearing is a chocolate brown linen.  I am ready for cooler and dryer.  The humidity has gotten to me.

I am thinking about going back into my stash this weekend and seeing if I can put another shirt together.  It uses what I already have.  That pleases me.  I am also hoping to rest this weekend, which means that if it comes from my stash I do not have to leave the house.  There are always the libraries though . . .

little black linen dress

I have been working on a quilt for the Tall Short person.  Yes, I know the last quilt I have been working on is not finished.  But  I have this habit of always working on nine squares while I am making a quilt.  When I was putting together the last top, I started in on these squares.  There are spider webs, forest insects, skulls, bright colours, dark colours.  Pink, purple, and black are predominant.  The back is going to be pieced as well with an ocean theme and a hug in the middle.

But after the quilt top was done, I was figuring out the back.  I put together a little black linen dress while I made more nine squares and thought.  I love this dress even though it is a tad short because that was the fabric I had.  It also seems to collect every thread and fuzzy within a five mile radius.  And if I do not wear apron, the flour!  The flour is everywhere!  But that is just normal.

But it is comfy.  And it is black.  And it is linen and it is the time of year where the temperature sits around 100 degrees Fahrenheit most afternoons.  It felt too hot to breathe outside today so I was a bit of a slug.  Lots of water and stitching but no walking.  I walked a little bit earlier and it was still hot.  Tomorrow may be better and it may not but I may try harder.

disaster

I was watching Mind of a Chef with Gabrielle Hamilton and I fell in love with her apron.  Me.  PBS cooking shows.  Why am I not surprised?  I got on pinterest.  I tried to find a dress or apron that was similar.  From years ago yes but not recently.  Then Simplicity came out with an apron dress just a few weeks ago.  Now, I do not usually buy Simplicity patterns because most of the time I am not very happy with them.  But I figured why not.

I cut the pattern out in the size I normally wear with Simplicty.  I find most of the time the size I wear in sewing patterns is at least four sizes bigger then I wear off the rack, if not more.  I had a piece of black linen that really did not have a "name" put on it.  I have been mostly drawn to solid dark colours recently.  That does not mean for quilts but for clothes.  Even though I do have some plaids for soft weekend dresses in my stash.

Even when I was cutting this pattern out I was thinking the pattern pieces were a bit of an odd shape.  Especially through the hips.  I felt like the hips were shelves.  I have just sewn so much to know what seems right or not.

I sewed it all together and put it on.

I changed the bodice a bit so there were no gathers.  But even with that alteration I should have probably increased the pattern size choice by another four sizes.  The sleeves were just not me.  I do not puff.  There was something very wonky about the skirt.  It might have been the size but I do not think so.

The dress was a disaster.  But it was really not my style so I am okay with that.  I will get a set of sleeves out of it for the black linen sheath dress I will make with what is left.  I will say that I learned a lot about how an apron dress goes together.  Which means that Gabrielle Hamilton's apron is quite feasible.  

Actually, I am sitting here in the finished product.  I will blog about it before the week is done.  Though I do think I should dye it soon.  White and me and the kitchen.  Not so good.  There is not enough soda ash and bleach in the world for that!

hibiscus ribbons

Now that I made silk ribbons, I wanted to try dyeing them.  I pulled out some hibiscus we have for tea and put it to boil with a bit of water, salt, and vinegar.

I then let the ribbons simmer for about 15 minutes when the mixture came to a boil.  I wanted colour but not too much colour.  Pale.

Pulling the ribbons out of the dye bath I thought they might be too dark but knew I needed to wait until they dried.

They turned out this antique type pink.  There is a bit of marble going on.  I learned the hard way they are not color fast for a bit of steam and green comes up but I do like them.  Next time I may try for a paler, paler pink.  There will be a next time.

I pulled out a bit of cotton batiste that I have had in my stash for much too long.  And the extra bits of lace from the lace chemise got cut up and added.  I have a hard time wasting any bits of lace.

It is not the most finished chemise to ever be made.  But I used what I had and had a blast.  It was fairly successful which I definitely needed.  Too many unsuccessful projects recently.  I will say that I am now thinking about crocheting my own lace.  Like I need another craft.

The mountain awaits next week so I will not be in this space for awhile.  I am coming back with a Koda Bear and I am very pleased.  I just wish to take too many projects with me!  When I come back, the Teahouse may be transformed into a dye studio.  I have already been told some of what I am "cooking" does not smell very good and then if ribbons need to soak for 24 hours!  Comments are made.

Maybe I will come back with a finished project.  Like a sweater!  Or yarn spun!

pretties

I would not say this was the best day.  I seem to have a bit of an ear infection.  Is it traveling?  Allergies?  I do not know but I do know it hurts and is slowing me down.  All my projects are currently very time consuming, which actually is not very surprising or new but my fingers are not as working as fast and I seem to need more sleep.

While I was working on a quilt back on Sunday, I decided to play with some fabric I was gifted with at Christmas.  One of those stacks of fabrics that you do not want to touch because they are so pretty.  But I cut one of the moths prints and one of the bird prints.  As I was working on the quilt back, I put the bag together.  I noticed in my travels that if I had had a lighter packable bag with me it would have been helpful.

I centered a group of moths on one pocket and birds on another.  I even put a square bottom on it to make it easier for groceries.  

I am pleased.  I am going to have to shorten the strap just a bit for me but that is an easy fix.  I am just waiting until my bobbin thread is gone to change out colors.  Still working on that quilt back!

I am hoping to feel better tomorrow.  Work feels a bit futile so I am not sure.  But spinning during meetings where I am listening on the phone seems to help my mood.  Maybe because it feels more like real work instead of made up work.

I will feel better tomorrow, yes?  And make new nine squares with the prints from both fabrics while I work on the quilt back.