Me? Sew?

Presser Foot
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

A girlfriend passed on her old sewing machine to me. She gave me some sewing tips on threading and technique. I was delighted that it was enough for me to adjust the straps and put some darts in Mary Grace's dress for her spring dance. We picked out the dress at the mall last week during spring break. Its an interesting job searching for a dress for a 12 year old. I wanted something tasteful and fun, she wanted something fancy and flashy. We compromised and decided on a sundress, and I flashed it up a bit with some clear glass beads on the larger polka dots.

I had to use the booklet to figure out how to fill the bobbin, but I did it! And you can't even tell that its altered. Woowoo! I imagine that my mom is looking down and smiling at me. She tried many times to get me to sew but I never did. Her machine was very temperamental... it had a sweet spot. I never could find it. I always pressed too hard or not hard enough and the bobbin ended up a rats nest on the back of the fabric. She knew just where it was and could make that thing sing. She made lots of clothes for me during my childhood.

Here's the girly, modeling her dress, post alterations:


Bead detail:

Mary Grace is Home For Spring Break!

Mary Grace Home For Spring Break
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

And there is a WHOLE LOT of lovin' going on in this house. Abi and Andrew are both attached to big sis. She can barely take a step! Hahaha!

My heart is swooning, there is never a happier time for me than to have all my chickens in the nest.

Andrew's First Lost Tooth

Andrew's First Lost Tooth
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

It's been wiggly for a while and on Wednesday he bit into a sandwich and it shifted. He worked on it all day Thursday, then lost it sometime in the night last night. We went on a mad search for it this morning and came up with it thankfully, (WHEW!) so we'll be leaving it out for the tooth fairy tonight!

I've made him a tooth fairy pillow case, one we can use on nights when he has a tooth to leave out. I had one when I was little that my mother made. Its a regular pillow case, and I've sewn on a little pocket. I'm in the process of embroidering it as well.

Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

It's my favorite day of the year!

Picot Stripey Socks All Done!

Picot Edge Stripey Sock Complete 3
Originally uploaded by wenjomatic.

Stripey sock are all done! I was thinking about them for a gift... but.... hmm. I really like them! The picot edging was fun and I am a big fan of the turned edge construction. I'll definitely repeat it in the future.

I'm a bit concerned about the short-row heel and how its going to hold up in this yarn. It looks great but when they are on, its stretched pretty well.

Pattern from Black Dog Design, Picot Eyelet Socks minus the eyelets.
Yarn: Knitterly Things Vesper Sock Yarn Superwash/Nylon in Afterglo

The dye issue still bothers me a bit. One girlfriend says it looks Iike I knitted white socks then colored them with markers. She's right... the yarn really hasn't taken the dye very well. But I think it makes them interesting... and certainly a conversation piece.