Call me Eeyore

I didn't post yesterday because I was in an uncharacteristic gray mood. I had the day off and time to do whatever I pleased, but somehow, nothing would do.

Phin wasn't feeling well, so I went to the Craft Lounge. But sewing was not going well. The shirt I am making for Phineas is snug, with no room to let it out. I spent half an hour trying to find a hook and eye closure to finish my summer top, but never found my stash. And the muslin draft that I am making from my pants sloper made by Connie Crawford is enormous. I suppose that everyone goes thru a phase where they feel like they can't do anything right and that they will never be able to make beautiful pants for themselves. But yesterday, these setbacks seemed more like catastrophes to me.

Too. Damn. Big.

When I tried on the pants draft, it was so large that I pinned in 7 1/2 inches at the waist and thru the hip and thigh. And once I began pinning, it just made the pants look distorted. How on earth could a pants pattern made to my measurements be that off? So, out came the measuring tape. It turns out that this is a lesson in why you should be measured in your underwear or very light clothing. Essentially, the pants I made could fit over the jeans I was wearing the day I was measured. My hip measurement was 2 inches smaller and the crotch length 4 inches shorter than what I wrote down at the class.

Yesterday, I viewed this as a major setback - I was in that kind of mood. But after a tripto the gym and a very good chat with MarMar, which helped remind me of the truly important things in life, I was able to view it as an opportunity to fly solo and create my own sloper - slowly and carefully - from better measurements. Perhaps this really is a one-step-forward-two-steps-back process, but I am going to start again and stick with it.

Summer Reading: Jane Austen Meets Shaun of the Dead

Last summer, I went thru a Jane Austen phase, reading Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Sense and Sensibility in a short span. Then I went through a vampire and other ghoulish creatures phase. So, with summer approaching, a mini-revival of the two, albeit a silly one, is in order.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies follows the plot of the classic romance, but with the English countryside beset by legions of the undead. You will be pleased to know that the Bennett girls are master zombie slayers, famed for their "Pentagram of Death" fighting formation as well as for their beauty. I am only a few chapters into the book but I'm hooked. If you love P&P and laughed at Shaun of the Dead, this should be right up your alley, too.

Happy Friday!

Mini Menagerie

Spoiler Alert: This post contains info on and photos of baby gifts that I am making. So, if you are currently pregnant, either stop reading now or start practicing your surprized face. (Up to you which route to go.)

My sister, sister-in-law, and very excellent friend, Mar Mar, are all pregnant and due in the Fall. I am thrilled! Not only am I looking forward to having three more little ones in my life (I love being an aunt!), but the crafting possibilities are virtually endless!

One of the many reasons I decided to learn to embroider is that there are loads of cute things you can make for babies. So, a few weeks ago, I ordered some embroidery designs from Urban Threads and a package of onesies to test the patterns on.

I used iron on, tear-away stabilizer so that the onesies won't stretch while I embroider. Also, I learned my lesson and this time used transfer paper (like carbon paper) rather than an iron transfer. It is water soluble, so should not leave any kind of marks behind. Oh, and the designs are reusable.

I am still getting the hang of embroidering, and doing it on stretchy fabric definitely adds a challenge, even with the stabilizer. Here is my mini menagerie in progress...

Mr Giraffe, my first test.

Mr Elephant, where I think I am hitting my stride

Sayonara, Carbonara

I added peas to our Spaghetti alla Carbonara last night and served it with a side of broccoli rabe, which was sauteed with olive oil, garlic and crushed red pepper. There were no leftovers.

While we ate, Phineas and I talked about what winter recipes would be shelved for the summer (stew, chili, most pastas, soups, casseroles). Summer cooking revolves around the grill and the farmers market. I can't wait for the fresh corn, tomatoes, basil, cucumber, zucchini and squash to come in!

Recipe note: I ended up using only 1 oz (half a cup grated) of parmesan cheese, not 2 oz. This was plenty.

Cogito, ergo sum

I normally don't put blogthings on my blog, but I really like this one. It may not sum up exactly what I am, but hits the nail on the head with what I strive to be.

Your Word is "Think"

You see life as an amazing mix of possibilities, ideas, and fascinations. And sometimes you feel like you don't have enough time to take it all in. You love learning. Whether you're in school or not, you're probably immersed in several subjects right now. When you're not learning, you're busy reflecting. You think a lot about the people you know and the things you've experienced.

What's Your Word?

Back to the Blue Plate

As the weather turns warm and we do more of our cooking on the grill, Phineas and I like to eat the staple dishes that carried us through the colder months one last time before the summer heat sets in. So, for this week's Blue Plate, I am making one of our weeknight staples: Spaghetti alla Carbonara.

The recipe I use is based mostly on a Mario Batali recipe, but without some of the flourishes. It relies on a few simple, but good quality, ingredients. Here goes:

1/2 lb spaghetti, linguine or any long pasta
1/4 lb (4 oz) pancetta, or use guanciale or good ole bacon
2 oz parmesan cheese (1/2 cup grated)
2 eggs
olive oil
salt & black pepper

While you bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the spaghetti, do all of the following: Cut your pancetta into small strips and brown it in a pan with a little olive oil. Drain, reserving the drippings. Grate the cheese. Beat the eggs in a large bowl, add the parmesan and a generous amount of black pepper. When the pasta is just al dente, drain and quickly add it to the bowl with the egg and cheese mixture. Use tongs to toss the pasta around, coating it with the sauce. Add the pancetta and continue to toss until the sauce thickens a bit. If it is not smooth or saucy enough you can add some of the pan drippings, olive oil or a little bit of the pasta cooking liquid.

Additions/Variations: Saute onion or garlic in the pancetta pan and add that in. If you want to make it vegetarian, omit the meat and add frozen peas (cook along with the pasta or saute with onion/garlic) or another veggie. Parsley - or any other chopped fresh herb - would also not be out of place in this dish.

Wow, I am getting hungry just thinking about this.

On egg safety: Adding piping hot pasta to the egg mixture cooks the eggs. But if you are not convinced or excessively worried about undercooked eggs, you could always use pasteurized eggs or an egg substitute product.

Phineas' Shirt: Shear Taboo

One of the first things that you learn as a sewist is to never ever, under any circumstances, ever cut paper with your dress shears. Cutting paper and cloth with the same scissors is the great taboo of sewing, which will lead to your ruin. Ok, maybe not your ruin, but it is generally viewed as a big no-no because it will dull your shears.

One of the shocking things that Connie Crawford said in her Sew Like a Pro talk was, in the fashion industry, everyone cuts fabric with paper. They pin uncut fabric to a layer of paper to stabilize it, pin the pattern on top and then cut thru all layers. Scandalous! She explained that doing this prevents the fabric from pulling, shifting or distorting while you cut it.

I've always felt that I was not particularly good at cutting - ragged and uneven ends, notches that don't line up perfectly, etc. So, this weekend - after checking over my shoulder for the sewing police - I cut out Phin's shirt using this method. Success! It went so smoothly, and cut so easily/evenly/exactly, that I will never ever cut without paper again. Giddy with my triumph, I quickly moved on to cutting out the muslin for my pants sloper. Again, success!

Neatly cut shirt pieces.

And then I looked down at my shears. Hmmm. So be it. Shears are a means to an end. Let them get dull. Their purpose is to enable my sewing. If I have to replace them in half the time, at least I will have beautiful projects to show for it, which - after all - is the point!

PS- I didn't make much progress on my own top. I am currently seeking treatment for zipperphobia.