Getting Started on the "Crosswords Are Easy" Shirt + New Pattern Book (and Hat)

Today I started my crossword puzzle shirt project, aka "Crosswords Are Easy."

Are crosswords easy?  For Michael, The Crossword Puzzle Whiz, I'd say yes.  For me, it depends.  (Not as easy as word-search puzzles.)

Anyway, since the fabric is so...crossword-puzzle-y, I'm trying to break it up a bit by using solid black shirting for contrast where I can: the inside cuffs, the inside button plackets, and the inside yoke.  I'll probably make the inside collar stand black too.







With any luck he'll be able to model it this weekend.

In other news, as of a few hours ago, there's a new bowler in my life!



Actually, it's an old bowler, a Stetson.  This hat is so old, in fact, that it was manufactured with tiny perforations in the crown, which were found in hats intended for summer.  Can you imagine: a summer bowler!   I won it on eBay.  It was marginally more expensive than the Made in China hat I returned, but much less than even the cheapest bowler at J.J. Hat Center.  Hopefully it fits!

Finally, I received a new book my friend Johanna recommended to me, Flatness Folded by Miranda Tsui.  It's a book of 23 contemporary designs based on traditional Chinese garments.  You have to make the patterns yourself, based on small diagrams in the book that include measurements.  Most of the designs look very elegant and they're all non-gendered.  I hope to make at least one of these next month for my Mood project.





















And that's it.  I'm happy about my new hat, pleased with my new book, and looking forward to completing Michael's new shirt tomorrow.  No complaints.

Have a great day, everybody!