Sewing on Sunday

After reading several tutorials online over the past few weeks, I decided to sit down and create my very own shirred top with some bargain fabric I bought for $1. I would have loved to make a dress, but I didn't have enough fabric and bargain hunters can't be too choosey.

Instructions and me don't really get along - cooking, sewing, knitting are always partly freeform for me. I always change something or don't look as closely to directions as I should. Or take proper measuremements, as was the case with this top. I measured 40 inches across and cut. Then I sewed the edges and the gathers - using the winding elastic thread onto the bobbin method - and realised I'd way underestimated the width I'd need. Luckily there was enough leftover fabric to cut a 15 inch panel to use for the back of the top, which worked out perfectly!

I kept thinking about straps - should I make them? Should I just use a ribbon? How about a simple halter-style tie? In the end, I kept it strapless. I don't mind the look of black bra straps acting as top straps, plus I can wear a strappy tank underneath or a cardigan overtop when the weather gets cooler.

I loved making this top so much, and it was incredibly easy, despite having to fix my negligent mistakes. It is very comfortable, and I plan to make more!

fabric detail:


top: (I took about 40 shots, and I only got 1 usable photo!)

Hiking in our own urban backyard

This Victoria Day long weekend kinda caught us by surprise. Queen Victoria was born on May 24, and the holiday is unofficially referred to here in Canada as "The May Two-Four", as in the large case of beer. This year, however, the weekend started on the 19th and felt way too early for May 2-4, so we didn't think to make plans. Sometimes, being able to wake up on Saturday morning and ask yourself "What do I want to do today?" is exactly what you need.

This weekend has been a mix of extreme sadness and much needed quiet. The sadness came in the form of the death of a great friend's mother. That's all I will mention about it here. The rest of the weekend was a mix of activities that got our minds off the bustle of last week.

Saturday, we had a nice brunch at a Tex-Mex restaurant down the road, where we fed sparrows some chips and bread on the back patio. After brunch, we walked towards Castle Frank Road, entered an urban park system and hiked for a few hours. I'd never been through these parks before, and was really surprised at how far removed from the city they felt, though they were just tucked in behind some of the city's busiest roads. You can see on the map below the green space where we walked – we walked the ravine to the west, came back and went slightly north to the Don Valley Brick Works, and back south to Bloor-Danforth.


And of course we brought our cameras!

Blossoms in the sun



Dandelion, close up. I've always loved dandelions and never understood what people had against them.



Some huge mushrooms growing on a tree stump



Happy hikers!



Don Valley Brick Works

On Sunday, it was a day of spring cleaning – laundry, sweeping, washing, cleaning. We removed the slip cover from the damaged couch (which I complained about here) and beat the cushions to release the settled dust. After taking a good long look at the couch sans cover, we made a decision to leave the cover off and temporarily cover up the arms. I ripped apart the small side cushions that came with the couch (which we never use) and figured out a way to attach the fabric to the arms. But, needing a curved sewing needle, I had to pop out to Fabricland to find a needle and some fabric to make new side cushions that we'll actually use. A little digging in the remnants bin produced not only some beautiful silver-grey fabric for cushions, but 2 rolls of dark blue fabric that matched the colour of the couch perfectly and that was longer and wider than the repurposed fabric I'd ripped apart earlier! For less than $10!

The fabric covered beautifully (it looks less lumpy in person than it does in this photo). So far, we've only completed 1 arm, but I plan to do the next one some time this week.

Today, we had a great lazy day, watching Of Mice and Men, doing a little clothes shopping at the Eaton Centre, filling our tummies with Indian Food, and some more movie-watching. I expect even more lazing about, ending with the season finale of 24!

Bloomers!

A few weeks ago I pulled out my sewing machine. I'd been thinking about trying to sew something for weeks, and, after finding some abandoned and very clean sheets in the "treasure room" of my building, I took the plunge. At first, I had planned on using the sheets to make something but then I decided to make a skirt out of some extra large t-shirts. It turned out very well, but I just realised that I have no photos yet. I'll post one when I shoot it!

I was on a roll! But then I got sick for a couple of weeks and spent much time couching.

But I got back to it this weekend. I made a pair of bloomers! During my trip to Portland to visit Michelle last fall, I bought the awesomest pair of green bloomers and I thought it would be fun to make my own. The sheet I found had a decent blossomy pattern, and I decided to use it.

I used a pattern for a pair of drawstring pants, but made them knee length. Then, I added a ruffle. Easy, right? You would think. After cutting out the paper pattern, then the fabric, then getting confused (I cockily neglected to read the directions thoroughly) and having to rip out my stitches twice, finishing the pants took almost 7 hours. I expect that next time will be much faster. And there will be a next time as I want bloomers in several colours!

The plan was to make 3 ruffles on each leg, but I messed up and only made one.

I love how this shot makes my legs look sooo looooong....!

Tetley freaks me out.