and of course, a quilt top

While I did all my holiday sewing and during my refurbishing, I finished putting together a quilt top.  I still have the back to put together.  As I change some other works in progress that will never be finished to other projects that will be finished, I have also put the nine squares for another quilt top together.  I will have another top to lay out soon.  

I took a slip at the ice rink.  A bit of soreness is going on that may get in the way of basting and stitching a quilt.  It is a bit of a sigh but it does help the slowing down process that I am not always the best at!  I was looking forward to the meditative process of basting and quilting but it may be a few weeks off.

a bit of sewing

I sewed for the holidays.  I sew for peace of mind which means that after the holidays I may actually have been busier at my sewing machine then durning.  I actually have two more pairs of pants to start and finish.  Cargo pajama pants for my Beloved and Small Mister.  But I decided to do some more sewing for myself.

I spend a little time on Pinterest but not a lot.  I actually follow a lot of people who post outdoor pictures.  I would rather be in the mountains.  But I realized when I pinned a dress to consider something about it, it is usually French or Japanese.  It is usually short.  And it is usually a-line or a smock dress of some type.  I like long but right now it is really not fitting my lifestyle.  I made this dress out of my stash and it just worked.

I then added a pinnie!  I modified my measurements and this actually fits better.

Then I started looking at my closet.  I must of pulled out a dozen things and I am considering a half a dozen more.  I pulled four dress, two with holes and two that I just do not wear.  They are too heavy and too warm for this town most of the time.

I was able to make three dresses.  They are a lot like the little plaid dress but the black one has a different neckline.  Great for bicycling, skateboarding, rowing, gardening, a bit of yoga, or running around with the Small Mister.  I feel like you should be able to do everything in your life in a dress, and if you cannot, you need to change the design of the dress.

A skirt that I did not wear at all became a pinnie with a few extra bits of fabric.  

I still have a few more things to make. Mostly from unfinished projects in my stash or other bits I have taken apart.  I am going to cut a few things out of fabric I already have.  The only thing I am buying right now is thread, and not much of that.  I am bizarre and think it is a lot of fun to refurbish my wardrobe from what I already have.  It does explain why I fell over yesterday in sleep after work though.  Up right was not working very well.

pinnie

I was reading blogs last week and came across the site Rough Linen as I was reading a gardening blog.  They were actually talking about the best way to make a bed.  I am not really sure why a gardening blog had an entry about making beds on it but I can handle the strangeness.  I would love to have sheets from Rough Linen now.  I think I will save pennies.  But what struck my eye was the pinafore.  

I need knew aprons.  They are horrible looking.  That is how much I have used them.  Stains do not come out of them no matter how they are washed at home.  But each of those takes about four and a half yards of fabric.  Making a new one is just an ouch.  The pinafore looked like it would cover enough and be completely functional.  I also just liked the look.  A bit simpler.  Linen.  Yes, I am strange.  I would wear aprons to work if it felt right and these might just end up there.

I got out my notebook.  Wrote down measurements as I used my trusty "tape measure."  All my tape measures actually seem to have legs, especially the newest one that is  a duck.  I am at the point of finding some cotton yard that has no stretch and a yard stick.  It is actually a carpenter's two yard stick.  I have two of those that do not wander far from my work table.  They have Grandma's name on them.  The measurements became the framework for the pinnie.

I had a piece of linen and time with the sewing machine.

I have a pinnie!

Looking at these pictures and comparing them with Rough Linen's, I may have made my pinafore a bit big.  I figure I can always adjust if I wish or keep it big.  Or change one of the ones to come.  But it is quite comfortable.  I actually put together an a-line dress that I have been wearing with it.  So comfortable.

I see more of these in my future.  I would love to have one from Rough Linen because their linens look so pretty but this is not bad at all!

sewing pajamas creates pillowcases

The white elephant gift was a hint.  I was sitting with some co-workers asking if it would be bad form to pick my own gift.  One of them said yes since she wanted it.  That is what I get for blogging about it.  She stole it from someone else.  I stole a Bailey's Irish Cream gift set.  I will admit that I did it because I really liked the glasses in it.  I know I have seen some recipes for Bailey's Irish Cream in cakes so that may be where the liqueur goes.  Or over ice cream?  I am experimenting with frozen yogurt but I just do not see that.  Liqueur over yogurt in any form.  Nope.

This year, the extra fabric from pajama bottoms is going into pillowcases.  Our flannel ones look so bad and really are not soft anymore.  They have been washed too many times.  Also, when you live with a bladesmith, there is always a bit of dirt and dust everywhere, even when he has scrubbed well.  As one knife maker said, anything that is not knife is dirt.  Such a true statement.  

This is the first pillowcase from pajama fabric.  I will get two more out of the process and I am excited.

being more then slightly absurd

The making of pajama bottoms for stockings and package has started.  I cut out three pairs tonight and have two more pairs to start.  I cut out the adults but not Small Mister's.  He picked his fabric.  

I decided to make a small bag for the white elephant present because I really hate throw away wrapping.  I made a bag.  A flannel bag.  Flannel is a theme.  It is absurd to make a bag when I am should be making pajamas.

As I was putting a pair of pajamas together, I put the bag together.

I really like this gift.  It has been suggested maybe I should miss the lunch to keep my gift.  

Mmmm.....  I did take a lovely walk today.  Maybe the weather will be as lovely tomorrow.