The bridesmaid dress is finished and the wedding is in 3 days! We are all so excited! I'll be back next time with pictures of Ellen wearing her new dress.
Happy Sewing,
Ruth
Happy Sewing,
Ruth
(Flickr pictures)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Why Wrist Warmers?
A reader asked this question:
"I hope this doesn't seem like a weird question but why wrist warmers? Don't your fingers get cold? I like them but I'm not sure when to use them."
I used to wonder the same thing..."why wrist warmers?" until one day when I was playing my oboe and my hands and fingers were cold. It was one of those aha moments and I decided to make some fingerless gloves, aka wrist warmers. That was several years ago, but I never made any until this month.
Yes, my fingers still get cold, but not my whole hand. You'd be surprised how warm fingerless gloves actually are--I was. When your hand is warm, your fingers don't feel quite so cold.
Basically, fingerless gloves cover the wrist and hand but yet allow the fingers to have ease of movement for playing a musical instrument, sewing, crafting, typing at the computer....things you cannot do with gloves or mittens.
So, there you have it. Wrist warmers are great!
My 18 year old son bought me some Tofutsies yarn (I love this yarn!) for Christmas...and I've been knitting. Right now I have 2 pairs of socks on the needles that I hope to show you soon. I decided I need to finish a few UFO (unfinished objects) knitting projects before starting the Tofutsie socks.
On the sewing front, I've been hemming 2 bridesmaid dresses. Two of my daughters are bridesmaids in two different weddings in two different states on the same day. One dress from David's Bridal has over 6 yards of chiffon at the hem....let me tell you, chiffon is ten times worse to sew than satin! Somebody, please tell me, just what is the best way to hem yards and yards of chiffon fabric?
While I'm on the topic, how do you suggest hemming a satin dress that is knee-length? I had thought about doing a narrow machine-stitched rolled hem, but now I'm having second thoughts. I have no experience sewing formal garments.... Seriously, I hope somebody can help me decide what is best.
Ruth
"I hope this doesn't seem like a weird question but why wrist warmers? Don't your fingers get cold? I like them but I'm not sure when to use them."
I used to wonder the same thing..."why wrist warmers?" until one day when I was playing my oboe and my hands and fingers were cold. It was one of those aha moments and I decided to make some fingerless gloves, aka wrist warmers. That was several years ago, but I never made any until this month.
Yes, my fingers still get cold, but not my whole hand. You'd be surprised how warm fingerless gloves actually are--I was. When your hand is warm, your fingers don't feel quite so cold.
Basically, fingerless gloves cover the wrist and hand but yet allow the fingers to have ease of movement for playing a musical instrument, sewing, crafting, typing at the computer....things you cannot do with gloves or mittens.
So, there you have it. Wrist warmers are great!
My 18 year old son bought me some Tofutsies yarn (I love this yarn!) for Christmas...and I've been knitting. Right now I have 2 pairs of socks on the needles that I hope to show you soon. I decided I need to finish a few UFO (unfinished objects) knitting projects before starting the Tofutsie socks.
On the sewing front, I've been hemming 2 bridesmaid dresses. Two of my daughters are bridesmaids in two different weddings in two different states on the same day. One dress from David's Bridal has over 6 yards of chiffon at the hem....let me tell you, chiffon is ten times worse to sew than satin! Somebody, please tell me, just what is the best way to hem yards and yards of chiffon fabric?
While I'm on the topic, how do you suggest hemming a satin dress that is knee-length? I had thought about doing a narrow machine-stitched rolled hem, but now I'm having second thoughts. I have no experience sewing formal garments.... Seriously, I hope somebody can help me decide what is best.
Ruth
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
Been Knitting
Been knitting.... thought I'd share a few pics of the wrist warmers I made for Jessica and then for myself. (I liked hers so much that I decided to knit another pair for me!) These things are great--never thought I'd like "gloves" without the fingers, but these really are warm while allowing fingers to be free. :-)
The pattern: Hand/Wrist Warmers from the book Last-Minute Knitted Books that I checked out from the library
Yarn: Lion-Brand Wool Ease for the red pair and Stitch Nation Full 'O Sheep for the black pair
Needles: size 5 double pointed needles
The pics: Ellen took one picture and then another and another and another...with little regard to my protests. Goofy girl...we had fun...she's a sweet, fun-loving, soon-to-be-fifteen (sixteen days!!), loving daughter.
Happy sewing (and knitting),
Ruth
The pattern: Hand/Wrist Warmers from the book Last-Minute Knitted Books that I checked out from the library
Yarn: Lion-Brand Wool Ease for the red pair and Stitch Nation Full 'O Sheep for the black pair
Needles: size 5 double pointed needles
The pics: Ellen took one picture and then another and another and another...with little regard to my protests. Goofy girl...we had fun...she's a sweet, fun-loving, soon-to-be-fifteen (sixteen days!!), loving daughter.
Happy sewing (and knitting),
Ruth
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Lazy Days
The bridesmaid dress is approximately 80% finished. All to be done is attaching the skirt lining and hemming both dress and lining. This picture was taken before I put in the side zipper (yes, I sewed my first-ever side zipper!) and before I made a few minor fitting alterations to the bodice. More pictures to come after the dress is completed.
I've been knitting a bit lately although I really do feel like sewing. Before Christmas, my husband commented that he needed a hat that covered his ears when he takes walks in the cold. So shortly before Christmas I knit him a hat with ear flaps. I think he likes it! :-)
I've also been knitting wrist-warmers...a quick, last minute gift for Jessica (can't find the pictures I took of them), and now I've started a pair for myself. These last few days have been lazy days for me...just sitting around knitting, reading, and listening to my iPod. Lazy days, but so relaxing.
Ruth
I've been knitting a bit lately although I really do feel like sewing. Before Christmas, my husband commented that he needed a hat that covered his ears when he takes walks in the cold. So shortly before Christmas I knit him a hat with ear flaps. I think he likes it! :-)
I've also been knitting wrist-warmers...a quick, last minute gift for Jessica (can't find the pictures I took of them), and now I've started a pair for myself. These last few days have been lazy days for me...just sitting around knitting, reading, and listening to my iPod. Lazy days, but so relaxing.
Ruth
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas from my house to yours!
Our table centerpiece this year is this yum-delicious gingerbread house made by Ellen. She spent a lot of time baking and decorating the house, and I just love it!
Blessings for a wonderful Christmas,
Ruth
Blessings for a wonderful Christmas,
Ruth
Sunday, December 12, 2010
A Bonnie Skirt
I should be sewing the bridesmaid dress, but I haven't dared cut into the satin fabric yet. Instead, I decided to make a quick and easy skirt for myself. Quick and easy, ha---not. Who in their right mind can call working with plaid fabric quick or easy? So, I spent way too much time sewing this skirt and I've postponed the bridesmaid dress until another day. (Hopefully not the day before the wedding, right?)
But the skirt is finished, and I must say, I love it! I love the purple plaid fabric, and I love the style of the skirt. Here's a brief run-down of the skirt...you can read more details on Pattern Review if you're into that kind of thing (like me).
Pattern:
Ottobre Woman 5/2010, design #9, the "Bonnie" skirt
Sizes included:
34-52 (I made the size 36.)
Design details:
curved waistband
front zipper and fly shield
pockets
belt loops
inverted pleats
topstitching
Okay, my next post should be about the bridesmaid dress. :-)
Happy sewing,
Ruth
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Tools of the Trade
Thank you for all the comments on my last post about whether to use a side zipper or back zipper in the bridesmaid dress I'm making. I am still undecided, ha ha. And I'm afraid, really afraid, to cut into the satin fabric. I guess I just need to go at it. I got sidetracked yesterday and sewed a winter skirt for myself instead---just need to hem it and then I'll post pictures. So anyway, wish me luck in overcoming my fear of satin and cutting out the bridesmaid dress. By the way, what is the best type of hem to use on a tea-length satin dress?
Because I can't seem to post without including a picture, here's one for you. Last month I made over 30 sets of pattern weights for a group of ladies in one of the sewing co-ops I belong to. Today I received an email stating that one of my pattern weight listings from Etsy was featured in an Etsy treasury. I found the collection of photos of "Tools of the Trade" to be delightful, so I'm posting it here. :-)
Happy sewing,
Ruth
Because I can't seem to post without including a picture, here's one for you. Last month I made over 30 sets of pattern weights for a group of ladies in one of the sewing co-ops I belong to. Today I received an email stating that one of my pattern weight listings from Etsy was featured in an Etsy treasury. I found the collection of photos of "Tools of the Trade" to be delightful, so I'm posting it here. :-)
Happy sewing,
Ruth
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