Sorbetto Top

I haven't sewed in a long time. I haven't made clothes in a really long time. Actually, other than some attempts that were complete bombs, the only clothes I've successfully made were 18th century reenacting costumes. For my large family. So why can't I make clothes that don't look frumpy and homemade? 

Well, I think part of it is that patterns are made for a type of figure and maybe mine is different. 

As part of my continuing M. A. P. plans (Mothers As Persons), I decided to try adjusting a pattern to fit my body. I started with a free online pattern, the Sorbetto by Collete Patterns, and did a Full Bust Adjustment to fit it to me. It was really an easy pattern and I learned a lot making the FBA. The biggest issue was trying to make binding with my binding foot. Fail!

Here's the finished shirt before I put the binding on. I'm pretty happy with it. It is fitted and I think I'd give it a little more fullness next time and try some pintucks down the front. 

Speaking of pin-tucks...here's attempt #2 at clothing for me, Simplicity 2365. It's a flowy lawn type fabric and I haven't hemmed it yet. Hard to decide that in pjs.  I want to make this in white linen and I'm obsessed with pin-tucks. I made this on the size according to my measurements on the envelope and it was huge. My hubs had to help me take it in all over. Live and learn. I am excited to keep trying some indie pdf patterns, I will wear both of these and I really want to get some linen. As my girl says, it's hard to make linen look bad. 

February Hike

As much as I dearly love our books, some days it's just as educative to ditch them and go outside. Like February days when it's 57 degrees. And it's going to be 12 in the upcoming weekend. 

These snails were making good use of the warm weather, too. ;) The boys said, "Mom!, give them some privacy!" 

These two trees were fused together. I've never seen that. I wonder if they will grow together over the years like an old married couple.  I will watch as long as I can and see. 

We hiked four miles. My repeated ankle injuries have really messed up my hiking. It's been depressing. Before the second sprain? break? I was hiking 8m day hikes twice a week. I hiked once in December. Once in January. This was my first February hike and 4m maxes me out. I'm having weird pain still in my ankle and also my hips. But I'm determined.

 My first sprain was in October and on my driveway. I was hiking 9 days later. But that second one in November did me in. I'm too stubborn to go to the doctor so I'm trying not to complain. And it is getting better. It's just taking SO long. But it is healing. I'll get my groove back. The stubbornness is good for that. 

Lamp Shade Redo

Ugg, these lamps! They are mounted on each side of our fireplace where we have our wood stove. Don't judge. Keeping it real. All that grime is from burning wood. It's so messy! I bought new lamp shades at Lowes  but the only ones that fit are so bland. So here's my answer to that. 

Before, grime and all. 

I wrapped paper around the shade and taped additional paper on to get the right shape, slipped it of, cut it so it would flat and voila, a pattern. Then I just craft glued it on. I'm not sure how long it will last but the cute fabric was only a couple bucks. 

Done!