First Jalie

No, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, though spending a week in Boise feels like it may be right on the edge. I had a 3 day conference/training session at our former home office in Boise, ID. A day to get there and a day back and you've blown the week.

I won't bore you with the conference except for one "team building" exercise that was a ton o' fun. We did an (Yellow) Iron Chef competition. Yellow iron is construction speak for the equipment used. Four groups, 4 recipe: pork, chicken, tuna and beef. A secret ingredient: porcini mushrooms. Points for taste, presentation and creativity. They actually turned us loose in the cafeteria's kitchens with 3 of the chefs/cooks from the cafeteria. My group's recipe was chicken - we got to choose 2nd, and the beef was taken by the first choice team. Stayed away from the tuna - it's fast but hard to get right. 1/2 the group of 6 went to the kitchen and half set up the display table. I was part of the kitchen group that fried 48 (yes forty-eight) chicken breasts, added pasta (we got points for creativity on that part), wilted spinach, made sauce and sauteed mushrooms. The outside group borrowed a painting from another part of the building, added wine bottles and glasses, candles and designed the menu. And yes, WE WON! The golden spatula, LOL. Actually a wooden spoon with a gold ribbon. It was seriously fun and really hard work. And we had no blood or burns on any of the crew or contestants.

I have had no word back from Pfaff on my machine. I'm going to call them tomorrow, I just didn't have time last week. **sigh**

A few weeks ago I made a run to G Street and one of the items I bought was the Jalie tee shirt - the one with a tank top and cami options. I traced out the pattern for the tee yesterday afternoon. I cut it and sewed it up today. I was thrilled with how easily and fast it went together and how nice it fits! I put the sleeves in flat and then sewed up the side seams. I've wanted to try that method and since the Singer doesn't have a free arm this seemed like a good choice. The neck binding was off. It was too long, I'll have make sure I cut it right, not only did I not have to stretch it to fit, I cut off about 2 inches. It looks a little stretched, but better after I steamed the crap out of it, so after it's washed it may be fine. About 2 hours from laying out the fabric to wearing it. All in all, for a first try with a cheap knit from G Street's WALL of $2.97 fabrics, I'm way excited. I had only about a yard of fabric so this was a good match. I cut a size "V" and made no alterations (except the neck thing mentioned above). And I hadn't hemmed it yet in the picture. I see more of these in my future, maybe start haunting the XXL size teeshirts for the nice fabric

In other news, the green skirt is a wadder - it's HUGE to start and way too stretchy. Eh, no big loss, there was no passion for that project, it was a filler.

I also made (yet again) another pair of the infamous Marlene trousers. The flash washed it out, but you can see some detail with the lighter flash. Whew, they look great, they really do. But what a trial. I did everything backwards that I could think of: put the pockets in backward - twice; put the fusible interfacing on the wrong side of the fabric at the zipper (fixed with a Sharpie, LOL); made the pleat and dart the wrong way on one side; made one leg of the lining half backward (one seam right the other inside out). Surprised I didn't hem them folded out. I think because I was in a hurry, I wanted to take them with me. I made them from a beautiful black wool/camel blend from Fabric Mart. It's still only $7/yard and there's some left. It's really a nice trouser fabric - but very warm. I used the "other" side as the right side, so the basket weave doesn't really show. And lined it with the rest of the purple from the Burda skirt. I like the look and feel of the lining. I think the purple is a very rich look. I did the side pockets - the fabric side of the right pocket stayed backwards, it was too late to fix it when I noticed it - but no welt pocket yet. Hell, I'd've probably put it in with the pouch on the outside and in the center of my stomach on this pair. But I did finish, and I did take them them and wear them. I re-hemmed them today, they were a little too long. I won't get much more wear out them this year, though. They are definitely winter weight. But you should snag that fabric while it lasts. For $7/yard this is high end stuff.

Speaking of the Burda skirt, the March issue (I ordered my subscription last Saturday and my first issue came yesterday! That's some service, Pfaff should pay attention, here) has a dress with the same waist treatment. And it's their "special" pattern for the month that includes directions. NOW I know how to do the skirt. And I will likely make another one armed with that knowledge. And if you're looking at the skirt from January, get the directions out of March and you'll be done in a flash.

I want to RAVE about GLP. As mentioned, I got my first issue only a week after I placed my order. AND, I had asked to start with February, if possible. I received 2 emails apologizing for not being able to do this for me. The second one even provided local places where I might could find a copy (G Street included). This is, seriously, the best customer service I've had in, well, maybe ever. I responded to the second email telling them this. We all need a pat on the back now and then.

My son's birthday was last week. He's 21! Holy cow, how did that happen? He's coming to visit this week and over the weekend. I likely won't get much sewing done, but that's cool. I think we're going to drive up to Philly and see the historic district.