SOS: Save the Thimble!

Ladies and gentlemen, the humble sewing thimble is under attack!

OK, OK, not really. I'm referring to the thimble Monopoly token. Hasbro has decided that it's time to modernize Monopoly by giving one of the old tokens the axe and adding a new one. (See here.) It's like when Crayola decided to "pink slip" Raw Umber from the 64 crayon box. Or when M&M  replaced the light brown M&M with blue. Am I being sentimental? I'm usually such a modernist.

Let's save the thimble - it's a symbol of the craft that we all love. Some (non-sewists) might think it is quaint and old fashioned, but those of us who do any hand sewing know better. Facebook and Twitter users can vote for the token that they want to "get out of jail free". The token with the fewest votes will get the ol' heave ho!You can also vote on the new token.

Vote here or at #tokenvote if you tweet.

More Blogger woes: My comment problem seems to be ongoing. So, if you signed up for the Let Them Eat Cake! giveaway but don't see your comment posted, feel free to send me an email - clio[dot] phineas [at] gmail [dot] com - to confirm that you are "in".  (Sarah Mayo, House of Pinheiro, Poppykettle, Kirsty, Amity Originals and Jennifer Churchill - you are all "in" even if your comments can't be seen here for whatever reason). Oh and there is still loads of time to enter!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Frosting Diet: Let Them Eat Cake Giveaway!

I'm not a dieter when it comes to food or fabric or anything. I ask: Is a life without brownies worth living? I think not. But here I am, all giddy about the Frosting Diet.

So, in the spirit of modern diets, I thought I should do a "cleanse" to rid my Craft Lounge of cake, which is so damaging to my mojo. But since others thrive on cake, I say "let them eat cake!" We'll do this cleanse as a giveaway.

Cake

Is there anything more versatile than a knit wrap dress? It's very delicious cake indeed. In someone else's hands this might not even be cake. However, the chance that I will sew myself a knit wrap dress is slim-to-none.

So, this giveaway is for Butterick 5454 (size 8-10-12-14), a classic style wrap dress pattern, along with three yards of this ITY knit, which I bought two years ago from FabricMart to make myself such a dress. Additionally, I'm throwing in this book on fitting and figure flattery. I bought it in a flurry of new sewist library building, but I don't think I've even cracked the binding.

Please holler "pass the cake" in the comments by Jan 20 (midnight EST) if you are interested. I'm happy to mail globally. Oh, and make sure I have a way of getting in touch with you, please.

A few additional confectionery thoughts...
I'm so glad that you all seem as excited as I am about the Frosting Diet. Feel free to join in, even if just for a month or week or one project. Anyone who wants to sew fabulous rather than basic is welcome! If enough people are interested I may even have to contemplate a button or something like that. (Wow, I already regret saying that. I'm so non web or tech savvy.)

On another tech note, Blogger seems to be having some kind of bad hair week, possibly due to a lover's quarrel with Disqus. A few readers posted comments that I can only see in the mobile app or in the moderator tools. So, apologies if it seems like your comment was not received or acknowledged - it was! Wordpress is looking better all the time.

The Frosting Diet

I don't think my mojo problems were jet lag related, afterall.

I've been feeling angsty since posting my (yawn...) sewing goals last week. I've noticed that one of the big trends in the blogosphere for 2013 resewlutions is sewing more cake - practical garments and basics. I admire those who turn out beautifully fitted and sewn staple pieces that go with everything and take them effortlessly from season to season. I envy those who sew up lots of things quickly. Cake is great. But... you see...it's just that... well...

I love to sew Frosting!

Debbie Reynolds in Singin in the Rain

And I guess I was feeling like I ought to sew cake. So, I am scrapping my 2013 sewing plans and going on a Frosting Diet!

My rationale is that, since I am just not one of those amazing people who have the time, talent and skill to sew most or everything they wear, I want the things I sew to be the real show stoppers in my wardrobe.

For many, the drawback to frosting is that it doesn't get worn. But I wear my frosting so much that it didn't make sense for me to participate in the Frosting Fortnight. Case in point, last summer I wore my flowered pants so much that my sister had to threaten an intervention if I didn't wear something else. And I've been positively living in my leather jacket. It's the cake that remains unloved and unworn in the back of the closet (eg: knit tops). 

So, here are the basic tenets of my Frosting Diet:

• I will not sew basics. 
• I will neither make sewing decisions based on what I need, nor will I worry about coordinating with the rest of my wardrobe. My mojo will be my guide.
• I will not worry about when or where a garment will be worn or if it fits my lifestyle.
• I will sew the things that excite me and that I fantasize about wearing. 
• I will work with leather, lace, silk, cashmere, sequins, metallics, animal prints, hardware or whatever fabrics or trims truly excite me, including the "too good" fabrics in my stash that I've been saving for an occasion.  
• I will sew garments with interesting and unique details that will set them apart.
• I will go the extra mile in terms of technique and finishes. 
• I will be bold when it comes to style and pushing my fashion envelope. 
• Luxury will replace practical. 
• Color is "in". So is black. And white. And texture. 

Ok, I realize that this list of do's ands don'ts is rather broad. My overarching point is: why should I sew basic when I can sew fabulous?

This diet already fits with what I like to sew and wear. It just kicks it up a notch. So, this is more of a clarification in my thinking and motivation rather than a radical reassessment. I am going to trust that my creativity will take me to a happy place.

Importantly, the aim is not to sew impractical or spend the year stunt-dressing or radically altering my style. I plan on wearing my frosting as if it is completely normal, much as I do now. I still want an LBD for example - what could be more basic than that? But I'm getting a strong urge to incorporate leather into my LBD. Carolyn is probably to blame.

Also, I'm not saying that each and every project will be necessarily challenging. But each will be well thought out and that extra special non-basic something will be added. I think my kimono is a great example of this - the pattern was easy enough, but I think the combination of luxurious fabric and a decorative stitch elevated it from bath time to boudoir.

Anyway, I'm feeling so much happier about my sewing plans since this revelation - my mojo is running barefoot through the grass. Probably naked. LOL. Yes, that excited.

Here's to 2013! Bring on the buttercream!

Monday Mash Up: Cosy Socks Reveal, New Fabric and my Hatred of the Red Eye

Flying back from California on the red eye is a much better plan on paper than in actuality. Especially when there is turbulence. How I hate turbulence!

Arriving bleary eyed in Newark at 5:45am does not help with the 2013 sewing mojo. I spent most of yesterday gazing off into space alternately contemplating a nap and wrapping up my 2012 projects and accompanying blog posts. "None of the above" is what I actually accomplished. Not even the nap.

At least there were new cosy socks waiting for me at home.

Sock blockers: an xmas gift from Phin

So, these are "Heart to Heart" socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body knit up in a soft, warm cashmere and silk blend yarn. I started them while I was stuck at home in the wake of Sandy and finished them a few days before Christmas.  The pattern is my most complicated yet, involving cables - a first for me - and a fairly intricate lace pattern. I also added in an inch of rib knit on the arch so that the socks would grip a little at the mid-foot. (Thanks for the excellent suggestion, LinB!!)  I plan to make this a standard feature of my socks.

  
I've never been much into hearts. Or pink. But I'm really loving these socks. One funny thing that I've learned through blogging is that I am very into my creature comforts. The importance of cosy socks cannot be underestimated.

Oh! And look what I picked up at the Swap Meet in San Diego (Dawn of Two On, Two Off blogged about the Swap Meet here last year). 

$2 total

On the left is a red-orange stripey jersey knit and on the right is a black and silver loose sweater knit. Both will become tops. Each piece is about 1 1/2 yards. Burn test to follow. What a fun time I had shopping at the Swap Meet with Elizabeth and T.Sedai. We all came away with some fun fabrics.

More 2012 wrap up to come!

Look Who I'm Hanging Out With!

I'm in San Diego for work and am hanging with T. Sedai of Sew Skate Read and Elizabeth of SEWN at the National City Swap Meet (think flea market with a fabric section) on my one free day. Thankfully, I'm traveling with a suitcase that expands.

I hope you are having a great Saturday too!

Welcome 2013!

Ladies and Gentlemen, start your sewing machines. It's 2013 and I have lots of ideas for what's next.

I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: I am incapable of sewing with a plan. Is it odd that I can commit to a multi-month one garment project but not a wardrobe? Maybe. But here's what is swirling in my brain for 2013...

Previously mentioned or in-process projects: 

• Finish my red slip. Guests in the Craft Lounge (aka guest bedroom) really crimped year end sewing. So, this has been a one-seam-at-a-time project.
• Pimped Pencil Skirt (possibly several versions) This is a drafting exercise and I am pretty psyched about it.
• Wax cloth project (TBD) for my sisters. I'm hoping this will be a fun and easy project some time this spring.

2013 project ideas:

LBD - I want a black sheath dress. This was planned for 2012, but I scrapped the project at the muslin phase when the pattern needed more fitting than it was worth. So, I've regrouped and am going to try again with a different pattern.

BurdaStyle 07-2011-131

Shirts for Phineas - That man of mine is so very deserving. Also, I'm not sure if you are following the Thread Cult podcast series over on Daughterfish, but it is great. The most recent episode is "Sewing for Your Man."  I happened to be meeting up with Oonaballona, Daughterfish and Puu at Mood the evening it was recorded and even got to chime in. (What fun!) So, yes, Phin needs shirts and I need to show that man some love.

More Baby Gifts - In addition to my sister in law, my excellent friend Magenta and my sister Poly are both expecting. So there will, naturally, be a diaper bag gift for Magenta and a plethora of baby knitting in 2013.

And more for me - Right now my brain is on fire with thoughts of more Jean-ius pants, more slips and lingerie, and more drafting.There are a number of patterns burning a hole in my brain. I'm trying to talk myself out of another jacket at least until the Fall since they tend to take up so much time in my hands. Also, I want to try something new for me: some easy projects. LOL. 

I hope to have many more garments to show by this time next year. My last reflection on 2012 is how wonderful it was to meet so many other sewing bloggers and readers this year. I feel inspired by the talent, creativity and drive of others and am just itching to get back into the Craft Lounge in 2013.

Best wishes to everyone for a productive year!

Sayonara 2012!

When I quipped that there would be a lot to tell provided we survived the holidays, I had no idea that the week would go from busy with holidays to bumpy with family involved in one car accident, two ER visits, one migraine, an unexpected trip, a cancelled trip and general mayhem. Everyone is expected to make a full recovery, thankfully.

I had planned to do some kind of wrap up of 2012. I've loved seeing so many bloggers' top 5 lists for the year. But I didn't have time to think about it or write the post, and really, I think all I need to say about my 2012 year of sewing is:

Sha-zam!

Amirite?

But what fun would that be?  Honestly, I did many fewer sewing projects in 2012 than I'd like because of an over abundance of work travel and back injury. Plus, my jacket ate up a lot of sewing time. That said, I'm pretty happy with everything I've sewn this year. Here are the highlights.

My color block dress has been worn a ton. It is my go-to dress for when I feel good or want to look good.

My kimono is used daily. I'm glad I lined in silk every time I slip it on - it's luxurious and warm, but feels pretty light-weight and breathes.

Seersucker

Jean-ius

 I can't wait to pull my seersucker pants and white jean-ius trousers out of winter storage once summer arrives. They both became overnight staples.

And the fashion star tunic/dress that I made for PR weekend gets regular use, too. I've been wearing it with leggings and boots now that it's cold out. It's easy to wear and was a fun holiday casual outfit.

My only real flop this year was quite recent:

Sleep bra that fit all wrong!

The kicker, of course, is that I love how it looks. It just doesn't fit.

Looking at my projects from the year, the thing that jumps out at me first is that I sewed many different kinds of fabrics in 2012: leather, silk, lace, cotton, jersey, ripstop... It was not a goal per se, but did make things fun and interesting and stretched my skills.

Anyway, tomorrow I'll share my plans (if you can call it that) for 2013!