Aug 31, 2013
Saying Good-bye to Michael's Mom
Sad news: On Saturday, August 24th, Michael's mother, Dorcas Hanko, died.
Dorcas had been living with lung cancer for more than a year. A diagnosis (Stage 4) that would have devastated most was, for Dorcas, a challenge to be met head on. She fought valiantly and never gave up hope. During her final year she got to do the things she loved best: travel, cook, garden, spend time with her family, and even see Michael perform his show twice. Till this summer, she had more energy than most healthy people.
Aug 28, 2013
Back to the Kimono
There are two kinds of sewing projects, readers: the ones you think will be hard but end up easy, and the ones you think will be easy but end up hard. My kimono is the latter kind.
Labels:
dogs,
works in progress
Aug 27, 2013
NAME THAT PATTERN: End of Summer Edition!
Friends, it's late August and the days are already getting cooler -- and shorter. Before you know it we'll be turning back the clocks and wearing long underwear.
Labels:
Name That Pattern
Aug 26, 2013
1920's Pattern Score -- SWIMWEAR EDITION!
When it comes to the history of women's swimsuits in the Twentieth century, the trend has been toward short...
Labels:
1900's glamour,
patterns,
project planning
Aug 21, 2013
Aug 20, 2013
More Robe Progress + Rethinking My Pajama Fabric
I made some progress on the robe today, though not a great deal. The construction is a bit more complex than it looks: half the sleeve and half the side torso hangs open, so I have to give some thought to how I finish the exposed edges as well the seam allowances. I originally thought I'd want to use the chartreuse sateen on the cuffs and hem as well as around the front, but I kind of like how it looks now.
Labels:
20s glamour,
works in progress
Aug 19, 2013
Getting Started on the Twenties Robe + Monday Garbage Find!
Friends, I thought I'd start today with my latest garbage find, from this afternoon. It's a paper-mâché....actually I'm not quite sure what you'd call it -- topiary? (Didn't Lesley Ann Warren have a few of these in her backyard in Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Cinderella"? Does anybody know what I'm talking about?)
Labels:
20s glamour,
works in progress
Aug 18, 2013
Knits, Pants Fitting, and Food Poisoning
Digging through my fabric stash, I could find only one knit that was appropriate for making a muslin of Simplicity 9993, my vintage men's knit top pattern.
Aug 15, 2013
What's On My Sewing Table
What's on my sewing table? On the treadle table I see piles of bills, videos, books, a serger, shears, headphones...can you make out anything else?
Labels:
fabric,
project planning
Aug 14, 2013
Men's (Fitted) Fall Fashion Post!
Friends, taking advantage of a break between rainstorms yesterday, I managed -- with Michael's help of course -- to photograph my coffee-colored shirt and navy twill pants. Oh, and my silk tie D-ring belt too!
Thanks to the miracle of technology, you can see our photo shoot live today over at the Mood Sewing Network, simply by clicking here.
Aug 13, 2013
My First Men's Accessory: Silk Tie Becomes D-Ring Belt
Friends, remember this vintage Cerruti silk twill tie I bought at the Salvation Army last week to make a belt with? Well I made it!
Labels:
mens fashion,
works in progress
Aug 12, 2013
MPB DAY -- The Musical!
As a much-mocked two-time Oscar winner once gushed, "I can't deny the fact that you like me -- right now, YOU LIKE ME!"
There's so much to tell about MPB 2013, friends. We laughed, we cried, we schvitzed; we shopped till we dropped, then picked ourselves up and shopped some more.
Labels:
MPB Day
Aug 9, 2013
Aug 8, 2013
Back Darts and the Risks of Overfitting
Readers, would you say this man's shirt is too tight or just right? How much room do you think he has to lift his arms without ripping out some seams?
Labels:
men's fit issues,
mens shirt
Aug 7, 2013
Box Pleats, Buttons, and Belts, Oh My!
I decided I wanted two identical box-pleat pockets on the front of my shirt, something a little different (for me).
Labels:
mens shirt,
works in progress
Aug 6, 2013
Butterick 4575 Shirt Update!
Friends, would you say the color of my shirt fabric is café au lait, cappucino, latte, macchiato, or chocolate mocha?
Or tan.
Labels:
mens shirt,
works in progress
Aug 5, 2013
Aug 4, 2013
Trip Highlights + Prepping for the Week Ahead
It is good to be back, readers!
I spent the last three days driving around the suburban subdivisions of Macungie, Pennsylvania -- perhaps you've been there -- where Michael's parents are staying temporarily until they move permanently to another Pennsylvania suburb.
Labels:
my life,
project planning
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