On your mark, get set, Bargello...

Or, how I spent my Sunday.

After an extremely busy week I finally made it to JoAnn's on Friday to get my batting for the Bargello quilt. I'd originally figured I could use the stuff I had on hand. But the instructions recommended very thin batting, i.e. flannel. In fact, either striped or checked flannel. No big deal, but it did involve a shopping trip I had no time for.

So here is my progress so far:

Starting with 4 sets of panels, sew them together into a tube - this photo is on the sofa I wanted to coordinate with. Then cut them in the widths as required. I used a pattern out of a book, so they told me how many of what width to cut. I did that last weekend and labeled them in the same order as they are listed in my directions. And yes, I know that 4 does not come before 3. Even in quilting. So when I started piecing I could look at my chart and see that strip #12 (the center and first strip used) is a number 2 from my group (next time I will letter these, rather than number, as the strips are numbered and it would be simpler to work with).

The first assembly step is to lay out the batting (flannel) on the backing. Backing face down, batting face up making sure to be as straight as possible. Pin at regular intervals.

Next, lay your first - center - strip down on the batting face up. This is where the checks or stripes come in handy. You need to be very accurate with this strip. It's like hanging wallpaper - get the first one right or the whole room will slope down hill.

Pin the second strip to the first, right sides together, like any seam. Then you sew these together and onto the batting/backing at the same time. Your result is a quilted back but smoothly pieced front. This is the halfway point. So from the center to the end at the right side. This will later be cut into 3 pieces for 3 place mats and bound. And done, as the quilting is already complete. Cool, eh?

I also got a little work done on the vest. The outside is together and tried on for fitting. Good with that. The lining has the markings done and the back darts and center back seam sewn, with the gap left for turning. And may I say that silk sure is slippery stuff to work with. Like trying to sew water. We'll see how this turns out.

We walked downtown this morning for breakfast at a "European Cafe", then strolled through the art fair in progress this weekend. Apparently the new rage in art is digital painting - enhancing (Photoshopping) a digital photograph and then printing it on canvas. I'm not convinced this is high level art, but the results are pretty cool, non-the-less. It did inspire me to play around with Photoshop a bit. All the pics in the entry are Photoshopped. Usually I just use Microsoft photo or whatever came with the computer. I'm wondering if there is a real difference at this level of use. It sure takes longer with PS, probably 3 times as long. Is it worth it?

And we house hunted Friday afternoon and Saturday. Finally, on Saturday, we saw some real possibilities. All four were acceptable for the most part. One had a garage too small for our cars, one had a nasty hot tub that would be a pain to remove and no exit from the basement, and one had no rough-in for plumbing in the basement. That leaves one on the short list. It's brand new - never lived in. A short sale that could be a PITA, but a pretty good deal on the home.

And Tennessee lost. Going out on a limb here and say we need a new quarterback. Period.

The Green Dress

Ok, so you're not fans of Bargello quilting. That's too bad, I bought a book at JoAnn's today so I can touch the information. And will probably mess around with this some tomorrow and Sunday. Saturday is OPENING DAY FOR THE VOLS FOOTBALL. We will be going to a bar in DC to watch with other Alumni in the area. And yes, I will wear orange. Orange underwear, orange shirt, and my UT earrings. Maybe I should have found some orange nail polish. Hmmm. So it will be bear, burgers and some Big Orange cheering on Saturday.

Well, I may be finished with BWOF #108 from Aug 2009. I'm not sure. Overall, I'm pretty happy with the outcome - dispite the expression on my face). The fabric is a loose weave 100% cotton from Hancock's. Almost a gauze and kind of crinkly, so I didn't push a lot towards precision in seam and such. I matched and sewed to keep the crinkles in place. The top was HUGE. HUGE, by that I mean ginormojus. I end up taking 4 inches up in the neck line. It wasn't how low it was, it was how it just hung, all droopy and limp and made the bodice droop and pull the sleeves forward. All just HUGE. In true "get 'er done" fashion, I just took 2, 2" tucks on the front of the neck beside the gathers and called it done. Perhaps it could have been made to fit easier by making more gathers, but some of the excess may have been in the top of the sleeve. Now, the part I'm not sure about. THE HEM. I originally used some lace hem tape and blind hemmed it, but it seemed to pull it too tightly. Sewed the crinkles together, I think, to give it an almost pegged look. So I just took my trusty pinking rotary blade and cut that stuff off. So, now how do I finish it? Leave it like it is? No hem, just pinked? Fold up a narrow hem while pulling out the crinkles? I'm afraid that will create a bell at the bottom. I'm not sure. Any suggestions?

But hey, did anyone notice I'm wearing shoes? No smile, but shoes. You can't have it all, apparently

House Cleaning.

No, not that kind. I avoid it like the plague. Just tidying up a few loose ends.

The major awards went out in today's mail. Enjoy. And if the shorts make your butt look big, blame Vogue. They made mine look my grandpa's.

karent: you're obviously cooking up something. And it smells quilty.

I put the zipper in the pants last night while O'bama assured us that he has the situation under control and that this is tough on all of us. I feel better now (about the zipper, not the state of the Union). Seriously, kbenco, I think the pants are taking longer than the quilt. I need a weekend.

Our anniversary is tomorrow, so we'll be dining out tomorrow night. And it doesn't appear that I will have new pants to wear for the occasion. Well, I could stop at NY & Co. on my way home.

A little football talk is in order. For years we've been saying "Go Vols", well now it's time to say "Come Back, Vols!" We're a fickle bunch. Or, as we said in Detroit: "Go Lions! And take the Tigers with you!" A new coach, a new class, a new season. Here's hoping!

Well, I apparently dislike housekeeping, even without a mop. So until next thyme.

It's a sad, sad year

Yes, when we consider a win over Vandy a miracle, it's a bad year for the Vols.

I'll just be glad when this season is over. Maybe next year. It feels a little like a death in the family. Without flowers or casseroles.

Productive Saturday

It was windy, damp and warm here in DC today. My DH is visiting his mom and I had all day to do what I wanted. Sew, I sewed. Some. I'm ready for the zipper on the Burda pants. Side seams and crotch are done. Zipper edges are finished with some bias tape, as is the crotch seam. Zipper on board for tomorrow. I knocked out 2 alterations, that's the REAL news. 'Cause I HATE doing them. The NY&Co. jacket sleeves were a real mess. There's only so much that can be done with the really crooked cut, but it's improved. And I like the jacket, boucle-type fabric in multi colors, decent fit. And I hemmed a pair of pants (yeah, you can doze off now). Watched disc 2, season 2 of PR. And finished my 2009 Strategic Plan template and Power Point presentation (pretty sure I lost you there, lost me too). And I took a nap. Pretty good day, overall.
Well, except the Vols lost to Auburn, but that's almost a given this year. Now don't get me wrong. I'm no fair weather fan. I grew up watching UT football. My dad was an alumnus, I'm an alumnus and so's my husband. I went to my first game at Neyland Stadium when I was 7, we beat Georgia Tech. I tossed Cracker Jacks all over Dad when we scored. But it isn't easy being a Vol lately. My diploma is still on the wall, I still wear orange on Saturdays, but I don't strut like I used to, crow doesn't go down easily so I avoid having to face it.

Burda III

Before I go any further, I have to take a minute to remember what today means. My company lost 13 people in Tower One, seven years ago. They'd been given the all clear and went back. Today, I work less than a mile from the Pentagon. This is a picture I took at lunch. Just down the street from my office. I was going shopping, but couldn't get there - Jeff Davis Highway was closed for POTUS to attend the Memorial Dedication at the Pentagon. I'm tempted to tell "my story", the where I was tale. Maybe next year. This year, just walk down this path and remember your own way.

I finally sat down for a few minutes this afternoon and worked on the Burda pants. I was stumped/frustrated for a while because they seemed too large. I kept taking them in and messing with the back center seam to make them right. Knowing all along that I was messing with the waist band and didn't know what do to about it. So I sat down after work for a few minutes and took out all my sizing basting. Then I pinned on the waist band as cut-only one 'layer', machine basted it and tried them one. Good news and bad news.

Here's my cutting photo (and Kacy). Lightened a bit to show the fabric. See - it isn't ugly, just isn't great feeling. You can see my thread tracing (THANK YOU ANN! from Stitcher's Guild) as well as my initial attempts at marking at cutting line seam allowance. Now let me just take a minute and whine about how long this took. Seriously, I spent most of last Friday - probably 6 hours total - in cutting prep work. Lay out - fabric was a little tight, kind of narrow to fit it in, messing with the marking, making the thread tracing - what a lot of thread that takes! Maybe I'll get faster at it and learn to thread needles better, but it was pretty tedious. But I REALLY do like having a seam line to sew on. Notes for next time: leave bigger loops and use a less contrasting thread. In other words, LISTEN TO ANN! ANN KNOWS BEST.

Now, back to the good news, bad news....

Good News: darned if they didn't fit to a TEE! Absolutely awesome. Can't wait to finish them great. Want to make another pair perfect! I haven't had on a pair of pants at any price that fit like that. Who knew I had a German shaped ass? Seriously? Who knew?!?

Bad news: I put the stupid thing on inside out. Or however you say it. Right side to wrong side. So off that comes. Oh, and I put one of the front band peices on backwards. This Burda,-no- pattern-markings thing has been a bit of a struggle for me, I need to mark my pattern pieces better next time. Add to that (or subtract maybe) that there's no right or wrong side to my fabric (I hope!!! It isn't apparent to me, so I'm just plowing ahead) and I get all turned around.

Flushed with success, I cut and fused my interfacing for the waist band and cut the 2 still missing front facing pieces. Then DH called, said he was just getting home and did I want to meet him for dinner. Duh.... ye-ah. Thai food.

I have to work tomorrow, but DH will be out of town ALL WEEKEND so I'll finish them tomorrow evening. And may start pair #2. Upgrade the fabric a bit, I have some good stuff for next and some Zegna wool from Michaels for really nice (that will require a lining - itchy stuff). Woo-Hoo! My Burda virginity is almost lost, LOL.

Also on the weekend docket is a trip to G-Street for more waistband interfacing, the new issue of Burda (yeah, I'm hooked), and some general deal shopping. They extended last week's sale due to Hanna and I have a couple of coupons. A little UT football (get your stuff together Phil, this one's for real!), and I REALLY want a jacket at NY&Co. I saw today. And I have a $30 off coupon for just such an emergency. And maybe a call to Pizza Hut.

And as a parting shot, we went to Ocean City Maryland over Labor Day and walked along the boardwalk. Here's my favorite shot from there. An ART GALLERY!!!

Football time in Tennessee

My family just wanted to let Phil (Fulmer) know how horribly disappointed we were in Monday night's game. Gonna be hard to make to the top with this kind of a start, Phil.