J Stern Tee Take 2

 

Brown print tee

     Last summer I made a t-shirt after taking a class at the ASG Conference.  It fit okay but I felt the shoulders were too narrow and the neck just a touch too high. To see that tee click here.

Shoulder detail

     After emailing with Jennifer, I widened the front shoulder piece and also added the same to the back shoulder.  I also scooped out the neck in the front about an inch.  After making those alterations to my paper pattern, I cut out the fabric that I had bought at the 2022 ASG Conference from Nancy Nix-Rice.  I added a binding to the neck as I wanted a little nicer finish.  It fits so much better.  I have worn it a couple of times already and I can see how it can go with so many pieces in my closet.

First one made

Second one made

     You can see in these photos how much nicer the sleeve hangs.  This is a great pattern for a 'basic' t-shirt that is slightly more elevated.  

Pattern used

     If you ever have the chance to take a fitting class with Jennifer Stern-Haseman, do it.  You will not be disappointed.

Breensgiving 2023

 

Table setting

     This past Sunday was our Breensgiving, Thanksgiving with the Breen side of our family.  This year was a bit bittersweet as my mom passed away just last Sunday.  We had the wake and funeral during the week and decided to still get together for Breeensgiving.  Also our son, daughter-in-law and grandson did not come in as she is expecting baby #2 any day now.  Our son did come in for his grandma's funeral but had to get home again.

Breensgiving table

     This past year I bought new fall leaves glasses and also some napkin rings.  I was tired of tying the ribbons from before.  The main course was beef.  I made sweet potatoes in the crockpot but left off the pecans as some in the family have nut allergies.  I also made spaghetti squash because I was telling the grandkids how the squash looks like spaghetti and they were fascinated by the idea.  I also tried a punch

this year and people could add ginger ale or liquor to it.  I did mine with Fireball and it was quite yummy.  I also made a cranberry dip that everyone likes.  The other guests brought salad, rolls, desserts and other appetizers.

Cranberry dip

Thanksgiving cocktail

Spaghetti squash

Sweet potatoes

     My daughter and granddaughter made a wonderful cornucopia of desserts.  It was so festive. 

Cornucopia of desserts

     Despite the somewhat sad undertone to the day, everyone had a good time.  I was glad I chose to go ahead with it.

Fun time with grandpa

Zippy Bag for my Daughter

 

Front of the purse

     My daughter works as a kindergarten teacher.  She likes to keep her phone on her plus a couple of other things but doesn't always have pockets.  I have made her a couple of small purses in the past to carry these items but the last one just wore out again.

Back of the purse

     I decided to make something a little more substantial this time.  While going to my retreat in October, I stopped in at Blue Bar Quilts.  My first time there.  I found a pattern for a zippered crossbody bag with multiple pockets.  I bought some fun bright pencils fabric.  They also had all the hardware and zippers that were needed to make the bag.  

Pattern

     The directions were very good.  I cut and labeled the pieces as they suggested and then just followed the steps one by one.  The only thing I did wrong was not having the zippers opening in the same direction.  If I make this bag again I will have to watch that more closely.  

Purse hardware

     It might be fun to add some batting and embroidery to the outside pieces.  I think I will make another one just to play around with it some.

Strap slide

Miss M's Halloween Costume, A Pretty Witch

 

Miss M as a pretty witch

     When my daughter asked if I would make a witch costume for my granddaughter I said yes.  I thought a black dress and maybe a cape.  Instead she dropped off black velour fabric with silver moons all over it and some purply mesh fabric with sparkly spiderwebs.

Pattern

     I measured my granddaughter and figured out what size to make.  Then I started with the cutting.

Cutting the mesh fabric

     Cutting the mesh fabric left sparkles all over the table and me.  Cutting the velour left black fuzzies everywhere.  I cleaned the table and me multiple times.  The mesh fabric and the velour didn't like to play well, I had to use LOTS of pins.  The mesh was also difficult to hem.  I probably could have just left a raw edge as it was not going to fray.

Finished costume

     The construction took a bit of time as I had to pin everything to keep it together.  The first sleeve I had to redo because the mesh kept moving.  I basted the two parts of the sleeve together twice to make sure it didn't move.  

Sleeve detail

     The belt of the costume had an attached skirt of mesh.  My daughter didn't buy boning for it and I didn't have any in my stash.  I knew it needed something otherwise the belt would collapse.  I cut short pieces of shade rib and sewed them in in place of the boning.  I did find silver eyelets in my stash so I was able to use those instead of having to make a bunch of buttonholes.  I did smash one because I forgot to use the second part of the tool to hammer it in place.

Belt detail

     When I cut the belt pieces I did make sure to center a row of the moons.  This was a challenging costume only because of the fabric.  At least I had a pattern and didn't have to make it up like some of the costumes in the past.