Let's Do this Again

Simplicity 1419 again, that is.

Last time I mentioned I thought the neckline was too high; this time, I fixed it.

'Cause I can.

And I added stitching at the neckline...

'cause I can.

And in linen (wrinkly linen at that)...

'cause I can.

That it all.

Radio Silence

Holy cow!  School started about a month ago, and believe me when I say this is my first gasp at a full breath in about five weeks.  It's pretty usual for the start of a new school year to be pretty helter skelter, but this year in particular feels like I'm only holding on for dear life!  I'm not going into details here, mainly because a) that'd be like reliving all over again, b) that would take a whole 'nother bottle of wine, and c)  no one wants to read about someone complaining about work.  Isn't that why we read blogs?  So we don't have to think about work?

Since I was last here, this child, this one right up there, started preschool.  

How is that even possible?! 

This one is back for second grade.

(Sorry for the grainy phone pic, but that is seriously the best smile I've gotten photographic evidence of for quite some time...)

And me?  Perpetual 7th grade.

I'd apologize for the post-work, post-dinner, post-homework, the-sun-will-set-in-20-minute photos, but you know what they say, 

"You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit." 

Also? 

Life's too short.

The Details

Fabric: something cotton canvas-y I purchased at Hancock's about 8 years ago, tried to make into a failed skirt, and recently resurected. It may, honestly, be light home dec.

Pattern: Simplicity 1419, but just the skirt part. 

 I'd say I drafted a waistband, but really, I just cut a really big rectangle.

Notions: interfacing, a zip from the inherited stash

Notes:

Because of limited fabric, I knew I wouldn't be able to match across seamlines.  I didn't care so much about the sides, but thought it might be too much craziness across my butt.  I decided to cut the back pattern piece on the fold, and added an exposed zipper into a slot, basically following this tutorial.  

They had me at "The Full Monty".

Also, can I say I'm impressed I had a zipper that exactly matched that blue in my inherited stash?

(The zipper may look/feel/actually be 175% labratory created, but hey, it's basically a free skirt.)

The sweater is also a perfect match, but I can't claim that.  

I can claim, however, being asked by a student if I'd put it on backward.

Hmm.  

Kid must be working with my husband.

In other news, I've been working on a new coat for the last I don't know how long.

It's hot pink Sangria wool, not nearly as eye-blindingly bright as pictured below.

I'm including this "proof-of-life" photo in order to help motivate finishing.

 If you don't hear from me in a while, it's because I decided to try bound button holes, and haven't yet worked out if I should finish bagging the lining and THEN hand finish the button holes, or if I should attach at least 1/2 the 16 buttons before finishing the lining and buttonholes, or if I should finish the top stitching along the front, then cut buttonholes, and then finish the lining.  Feel free to weigh in. 

Also? I don't intend there to be nearly as many Legos on the floor 

when I finally get to wear it out of the house. 

Pineapple Yaletown Express and The Lost Art of Dress

First off, I don't generally gravitate toward floral prints; I think I was drawn by the name of this one, "Wild Beauty Pineapple".  It's okay, I fully admit to being drawn in by great packaging and clever product names.  (I may also judge books by the covers.)

The Details:

Pattern: Sewaholic Yaletown Blouse/Dress

Fabric: Art Gallery cotton voile 

Notions: lightweight sheer interfacing, thread, 1/4" elastic

Notes:

Construction was pretty straightforward, although I did get a bit confused about the directions for the elastic waist casing, so I just did it how I thought it should be done.  It works.  No biggie.

I'll definitely make this again, but next time, though, I might make the belt a little longer.  I wouldn't mind if it draped just a little longer when tied in a bow.  I also might cut the elastic a little longer, as I really don't need it to fit so closely at the waist. I would rather this sit a little lower than my natural waist, and tighter elastic wants to roll up to my smallest spot. Someone (who shall remain nameless) clearly has gone a long time without entertaining the idea of sit-ups and core strengthening.

Size-wise, I graded from a 10 at shoulders and bust to an 8 at the waist/hips, and I honestly think this may be the way to fix my Alma problems from earlier this year. (Plus leaving out the front darts.)  

Back to the Yaletown, these sleeves are my favorite yet!  They are very loosely gathered at the top, but cut to swing out at the hem--great range of motion and pretty, too.

Here's the belt un-bow tied, where I think I'd like it slightly longer. 

On a completely unrelated note, I am very distracted by those two yellow flowers front and center, but thankfully it's not so obvious on.  And lord knows, I could have done much worse on print placement. (!!!)

 Bow-tied belt.  Cute, but short.

Back view with blousing.

I also recently finished reading The Lost Art of Dress by Linda Przybyszewski. (I'm linking to Good Reads, there).  It was a really interesting non-fiction novel about the history of Home Economics both academically and professionally.  

The book is structured chronologically, beginning with its inception as part of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), outlines the rise of colleges of Home Economics as safe-havens for female scientists, and ending with its downfall during the 60's as a result of the Women's Movement.  (Why couldn't female chemists work in the chemistry department?)  

The author focuses on the women who addressed clothing design, primarily in the 40's-60's.  What I found most interesting was the theory that following the youthquake movement, there was more of a cultural focus on youth and appearing younger, and that fashion became more simple and youth-oriented.  'Sophisticated' styles lost ground, but also the cultural desire to be sophisticated lost out.  This is particularly interesting if you've ever gone shopping, and found yourself without a clothing section--or what I like to call the "I'm not 13, but I'm also not a grandma" section.  

It was a good, quick read, and I think relatable.  It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that no 13 and 37 year old females ever want to be caught in the same outfit at school.

State Fair Belcarra

Remember when you were a kid, and you were so excited for new school clothes, but you didn't actually wear them, because you were, like, saving them up for when school actually started?  

Maybe the excitement of new clothes outweighs the sadness of the end of summer?

Okay, I may be weird. 

(I have also recently told my own children not to wear their new school shoes out to play in the mud. That's not weird, though.  That's just being a mom.)  

This is all just a long way of saying that I have a lot of things finished, but not blogged, for the main reason that I haven't actually worn them.  Yet.

But today, I broke loose, and wore this one to the Missouri State Fair.

Sorry for the cloudy iphone pics.  The ferris wheel was a macaroni and cheese wheel, and each of the buckets were single-serve Easy Mac bowls.  See that macaroni smile in the middle? 

Part of the reason I broke this out today is that I'm unsure of it.

I liked the fabric when I bought it.

I liked the fabric when I was sewing it.

And when it was done, I thought, maybe-kinda, does that look like hospital wallpaper?

Hmm.

And that's all it took, one teeny-tiny question, to have me casting it the side-eye, trying to come up with some other mental image for this shirt.

Does that look like hospital wallpaper?

Sleeve tucks

Print-matching on the pocket like a boss. (or middle manager)

I'm not sure if it's a better mental image now to associate it with the smell of livestock, corn dogs, and lemonade, but at least we've broken through that initial wear.

The Details:

Pattern: Sewaholic Belcarra

Fabric: Art Gallery voile "Mojave Illuminated"

Notions: just thread

Time to complete: an evening, but only because this was my third version of this shirt

And since I've really got nothing new to add on construction, and because I'm in denial about going back to work on Wednesday, here are some more pictures of the fair.