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--1--
On the sewing machine this week: I had a near-total sewing fail with the Butterick B5209 this week. I spent four hours cutting it out, and the another six on the bodice. Then I thought I should try on the bodice before attaching the skirt. Not only did the bodice have major fit issues, I couldn't get it off! And had to cut myself out of it. All that work, gone, poof. So sad. On the bright side, I learned a ton of new techniques while putting the bodice together, and also decided that the fabric was not a good print to have near my face. So I turned the skirt of the dress into a regular skirt and conquered French seams in the process. I think the skirt is more of a wearable muslin, but it was still a good process.
--2--
On the needles: still working on the cardigan. I was just getting ready to shape the arm hole on the front, when I checked the pattern and realized I had missed a crucial step on the body of the piece that was going to adversely affect the button placket. So I had to frog 7 inches of knitting back to the ribbing and redo it. Oh the pain!! So I'm mostly just back to where I was--with about an inch to knit to start shaping. It's been that kind of week. But! I do have my next knitting project in mind, so that is a good thing! I want to make a vintage pullover like this one, but with a different stitch pattern and in sport weight instead of fingering (mostly because I don't want to be knitting the same thing all winter long!)
--3--
On my nightstand: still reading Vintage Home Ec (which is starting to strike me as equal parts useful and hilarious. To wit: pick up the clutter in your house because some people have a bad habit of falling over) and The English Girl. We still had stomach flu this week, with lots of misery to go around, so there just wasn't much time to read. I did buy the Collette Sewing Handbook, though, which has a ton of great tips and even includes two full patterns. Not bad for an $18 book!
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--4--
Three favorites this week: (1) My new rotary cutter. It has made cutting fabric so much easier and faster! If you do any sewing at all, get one! You won't regret it. (2) Classic Specs. I need new glasses, and I found this place in Brooklyn that has a great price, and lets you try on glasses via mail order, Netflix style. These are my two contenders at the moment:
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| This one also comes in "blond" a kind of golden tan--would that be better? |
(The first one would be in tortiseshell, not black). I've been wearing bifocals since age seven, and wouldn't be wearing these all the time, but my old glasses just aren't doing it anymore.
(3) This picture:
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| October 2003 |
10 years ago this week, this guy with a funny Greek name messaged me, and thus began the journey of a thousand miles. I mentioned the date to my husband last night, and leaned in to me with a sort of half-leer and said, "Hey baby, want to have four wild and crazy kids with me?" Well, when you put it that way...
--5--
In the stereo/on the screen: Music Machine (for the kids), and I've been listening to the Thomas Tallis station on Pandora while sewing or knitting in the evenings. Also watching Luther on Netflix--Idris Elba is just.so.darn.good. (Especially after watching him in The Wire). Oh, oh, oh!!! Outlander casting news!! Frank Randall/Captain Jack Randall has been cast!! Tobias Menzies will take on the role, and I think he will be superb!! I'm also looking forward to watching The White Queen when it hits Netflix. I'm such a costume drama junkie.
--6--
On the pen: nothing on the Iron Mountain Baby story this week, but I'm thinking about another story, based on another song (Prairie Wedding by Mark Knopfler). Oh, and I posted a little bit about my vintage adventures over at the other blog. Check it out for lots of embarrassing (postpartum) outfit photos of me from last week. You'll probably feel better about yourself afterward.
--7--
On the stove: I made this recipe from Real Simple last night, and goodness sakes, it was good. Make it tonight! Mine pretty much looked like the picture. No really!
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| Photo from Real Simple. |
Right, that's all for me. Go see Jen and the other quick takers this week!
Your husband's proposition was hilarious! "Well, when you put it that way..." Can you imagine??!!
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