Minoru, Minoru, Minoru

 

Can I tell you how many times I've wanted this finished already, either to wear, or to work on something else?  This is when the crazy happens, and I tend to take short cuts in order to be done that I don't end up appreciating in the long run.  Luckily, it was a busy month, and life itself kept me in check.  And, I got sick. Twice.

I actually started wearing this work on Wednesday, but couldn't get semi-decent pictures until today, as it is dark when I go to work, and dark again on my drive home.  These were taken at about 3:30, and you can see how long my shadow is already...plus, it was 17 degrees outside ( -8 C, if that's your thing) and we decided not to linger over these.

The fabric is something inherited from Grandma's stash. It may be some sort of wool/acrylic/poly-something blend?  I don't know.  I machine washed it, and it came out fine, if not slightly static-y.  The underside is coated with something that makes water bead up, and the top is slightly fuzzy like mohair. I used a double layer of silk organza as a press cloth, and my, but it does press nicely. 60" wide, and I had exactly what the pattern called for, and a little left over.  I can only assume she had planned to use this for a coat as well.  At this point, I realize I could attempt to do a burn test, but my excuse is that I currently have a child with a fear of house fires, and just don't want to send him into therapy. Yet.

mid-construction and hanging threads

Hanging loop and tag

The lining is flannel-backed Kasha satin from Vogue fabrics.  I ordered Ivory, as my fabric is ivory, but wasn't expecting to end up with two completely different shades of ivory.  I ordered ivory zippers as well, and they were the exact right shade.  Hmm.  Personally, I would call this more of a 'blush' color, but it works.  I additionally thought about adding Thinsulate, but decided it would be too bulky.

The zippers were a small problem.  I had to order them, and for the life of me couldn't find a matching pair in both a closed end and a separating zipper.  So I ordered two separating, and tacked the shorter one closed at the end.  Also, the pattern calls for an 18" zipper for the hood, but I'd read a couple people note that their opening was too big for the zipper, so I purchased a 20" zipper, and it worked just fine.

I totally used the sew-along pages when working on this. I even researched pockets for the front, and went back and forth on them.  I downloaded Karen's pockets, played with them, stitched the pleat flat, and gave up.  I actually like the way the plain front looks.  (Although it is tough to break a pocket habit)

On a completely unrelated note: Every time I pressed a seam, I wished I had already made a new ironing board cover.  I also wanted new pajama pants to sew in, but I stayed faithful and didn't commit project adultery.

Pattern: Sewaholic Minoru
Fabric: inherited wool/acrylic/poly? blend; Kasha lining (from Vogue Fabrics)
Notions: 20" and 28" separating zippers--I paid the dollar to have the 28" one shortened to the correct length, and tacked the shorter one shut; 2" wide elastic in cuffs and waist
Time to complete: longer than I'd have liked; I had a birthday in the middle of making this, but I don't think I overly aged in the process
Pattern changes: I lined the hood. And that's it.

This picture cracks me up, mostly because of the ninja window cling I'd forgotten 

was stuck on the edge of the mirror.

Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt

 Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt

Just in case anyone missed it (I can't be the only NPR junkie on the web), this is an interesting and informative piece about the garment industry.  Planet Money used a Kickstarter campaign to fund production of a t-shirt, in order to follow a typical garment from cotton seed through shipping.

GMO cotton seeds are grown in Mississippi, shipped to Indonesia to be spun into yarn and knitted, then to Bangladesh and Cambodia for production, and back to the US for sale.  (These are already sold, but you can buy more here.)

Best quote ever? "I imagine they are fat people, because the shirts that we make are immense."

Did you see this?  What do you think?

Randomness

Good Lord.  It's the end of November, and I've only managed to blog once this month.  I have been sewing, I swear, but this project is taking me forever.  I'd originally thought I'd wear my new coat for a trip to Christmas in the Park on the 14th with E's cub scout troop.  That didn't happen.  Then I thought I'd be able to wear it on vacation to Branson.  Um, that didn't happen either.  Then, I thought, ooh, maybe I'll be able to wear it on the 8th grade field trip to see A Christmas Carol at the Rep.  Nope.  Thanksgiving?  Nope.  So much for self-imposed deadlines and overly-optimistic time constructs.

I'm still plugging away, but getting ever closer.  In lieu of having a finished project to show--as it may yet be a while--here's a random list of good things over the past month.

• Light keeper Pro--it may actually involve magic.  I don't know how it works, but it does.  And you get to shoot your offending lights.

• Girl, Stolen--my students encouraged me to read this, so I'm doing our assigned project over it. Yes, I read young-adult fiction.  Yes, I actually do the projects I assign, too.  Is that weird? 

• The Way Way Back--my  husband picked this up from the Redbox last night, and it was freakin' hilarious.  Cringe-worthy, relatable, and laugh-out-loud funny.

• These patterns, which I picked up for 50 cents each.  Don't know when/if I'll actually get around to making them.  Maybe if I ever finish this coat, and about 50 other projects.  That wrap dress is sheer perversity.

• This post, I Want to Be What She's Wearing, from author Jenny Crusie, on characters and clothing. Yes, that's from Call the Midwife. I really wanted a picture from the final scene of season 2, episode 8, where Jenny climbs on the back of the scooter in a great blue skirt, but gave up looking for it.

So, that's been November.  I'm thankful for so many things, not the least of which includes family and friends, and the ability to do so much, and I know December is going to pass equally fast.  Hope everyone else is enjoying the season as much as we will.  : )

The Everyday Skirt that Lives up to its Name

The Details: 

Pattern: Liesl + Co Everyday Skirt

Fabric: single weave wool, inherited from Grandma's stash

Notions: interfacing, 1/2" elastic, top-stitching thread

This was, quite possibly, the easiest skirt I've ever made. If I cursed once, it was a top-stitching thread curse, not at all related to the pattern.  Even piecing together the downloaded pattern was easy...unlike Burda patterns that get taped together in one gigantic 5 sheet by 6 sheet poster, these are taped together just into individual pattern pieces, AND they're printed with 1" grid lines so they're easy to line up.  I did have a slight head scratching moment though, before I realized I needed to cut one of my printed pieces in half in order to align the two slivers to the main piece.  Love.  Easy-peasey, and paper-saving, too.

 

The only downside I can come up with is the sizing; which really isn't a downside.  I originally cut a medium, as that's where I fit on the size chart, but went with a small in this one.  I am never a small in anything, seriously.  Ever.  In any case, if you're at the upper ranges on the size chart, you might be okay; there is ease built in, and you don't actually fit it to yourself until you insert the elastic in the back waistband. Going with a smaller size also cut down on the poofiness of the skirt around my butt, which can only be considered a good thing.

Gathered front with waistband

It was really hard to get good photos of the color of this fabric--the top picture is probably the closest to the actual color; it's kind of a green-gold, not really mustard, but more of an 'antique gold' color.  I'll be honest, I've struggled with this fabric since I first brought it home from my grandma's house--it's not chartruese, which I would have liked, and it's not khaki, which would be easy...and I'm still not sure I particularly like it, but it is growing on me.

In any case.  I had no hope of matching thread to it, so I went with gold topstitching thread, and just tried to make it look like an intentional 'design feature'.

Also, regular thread just got lost in the weave.

Side view of pocket + elastic back waistband

I also wasn't 100% sure I liked the idea of a elastic-waisted skirt.  I KNOW how I feel about elastic-waist pants, but I did that vehemence transfer to skirts?  I don't know.  In any case, this is okay.  I left my sweater untucked so it didn't show, but I could also wear this with a cardi and be covered just as well.

closer view of waistband

How I will most likely wear this

This really is an every-day skirt.  It was dead comfortable today, and I went through a whole day of teaching essay format, reviewing verbals, and ending with a curriculum meeting without a hitch. 

The elastic was comfy, but those pockets were divine.

Have you ever gotten home, and realized how much stuff you actually had in your pockets that you'd completely forgotten about?

At some point, I realized that in addition to my car keys, I had a jumbo pencil, pink pearl eraser, my name badge, and a dry-erase marker in one pocket, and my phone (and full disclosure: a candy wrapper) in the other.  

Clearly, I need more of these.