Dear Heidi,
Those pants look great! I think you did a fantastic job and I agree with all of your points -- especially about the seam ripper. I'm thinking about attaching mine to a homing device, since it always seems to be disappearing.
Or, I could simply buy a few more since they're only, like, $2.
Of course, I can't really just buy more, because then I wouldn't look for it and what if I absent-mindedly set it somewhere that Isobel could find it? Can you imagine the havoc a two-year old could wreak with a seam ripper?? Not to mention how badly she could hurt herself (I keep hearing that refrain from A Christmas Story: "You'll put yer eye out!")
I suppose that I could stop absently setting it down and wandering off. Yes, I think that's the answer.
I totally understand how you could sew the left-side zipper to the right-side back of your pants. It's really hard to wrangle the zipper, the material (the bulk of which is always either bunched up underneath the sewing arm or dragging off of the edge of my sewing table) and not poke yourself with pins or the needle itself.
Have you ever been blissfully sewing along, thinking all is going beautifully when you suddenly realize that you ran out of bobbin thread a good 8 or 9 inches ago? That's probably my single least-favorite sewing experience. Well, other than the time that I thought that I could substitute stick-on velcro for the other, non-adhesive kind and just put a seam in it for extra security...yeah, bad idea. I don't know what kind of industrial-strength adhesive they use on that stuff, but it took nail polish remover to get it off of the needle. (I would have just tossed the needle (and the project) but it was my last needle and it was a Halloween costume I had promised my nephew...and I still had to mail it to Illinois!)
I should run, have a pie in the oven and it's smelling like it's ready to come out. It's totally non-PWA (Pioneer Woman Approved.) Refrigerated, pre-made crust and canned pumpkin. But it still smells good!
Hope you had a GREAT Christmas. I'll post photos of my first sock soon -- I have a few questions I'd love to have you answer... I think I may have goofed but I have no idea where, how, or when. Oh well. All part of the experience, right?
Love,
Kat
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Item No. 15
Dear Kat-
The key phrase is “proud to wear”; the only way this was going to happen was by taking a class where a professional could bail me out when I got into trouble. The Boston Center for Adult Education has enough classes I could probably finish half The List in a couple of months…but where’s the fun in that…
Sewing class was perfect…it taught me measure body parts to ensure the outcome would be the right size; because how many times have we all bought a pattern, in our size, and it’s too small!!?! I learned how to buy the pattern, and finally, how to read a pattern. I also learned how to use my sewing machine, which, if you’re going to sew, might be a good thing.
I bought some beautiful grey wool to keep me warm in the freezing cold Boston winters, but The Professional teaching me to sew, informed me I would do well to line the pants…unless I didn’t have a problem scratching furiously from itchy wool…so I bought enough deep eggplant lining to make a second pair of pants to line the first. Only I would choose a project that required twice the amount of work…
The key phrase is “proud to wear”; the only way this was going to happen was by taking a class where a professional could bail me out when I got into trouble. The Boston Center for Adult Education has enough classes I could probably finish half The List in a couple of months…but where’s the fun in that…
Sewing class was perfect…it taught me measure body parts to ensure the outcome would be the right size; because how many times have we all bought a pattern, in our size, and it’s too small!!?! I learned how to buy the pattern, and finally, how to read a pattern. I also learned how to use my sewing machine, which, if you’re going to sew, might be a good thing.
I bought some beautiful grey wool to keep me warm in the freezing cold Boston winters, but The Professional teaching me to sew, informed me I would do well to line the pants…unless I didn’t have a problem scratching furiously from itchy wool…so I bought enough deep eggplant lining to make a second pair of pants to line the first. Only I would choose a project that required twice the amount of work…
Lesson 1: Even if you measure all the right body parts and buy a pattern cut to flatter your “problem area,” there’s a chance it’s going to be too big…like two inches too big on either side. In the end, it’s better than be being too small, but next go around, I think I’ll cut out a size smaller.
Lesson 2: When the Professional recommends buying a seam ripper, don’t laugh in her face and blow it off. Buy the seam ripper… you look like a schmuck every time you borrow hers to rip a seam, which, don’t kid yourself, you will be doing. The highlight of my seam ripping adventures was the zipper.
Lesson 3: If you ever meet a person who is learning to sew and has successfully installed a zipper the first time, bow down before them and ask to touch their golden hands for luck. Also, the third time IS NOT the charm…the third time I put in my zipper, I sewed it to the right buttock…and it was a left SIDE zipper! It took me four goes and, if I do say so myself, it looks great.
Lesson 4: After the class ended, I admit, I wasn’t sure if I truly fulfilled Item No. 15. I didn’t really feel proud about my item; didn’t really feel like I was all that and a bag of chips when I was wearing the pants…but then I went to DSW and found the perfect pair of shoes…Moral of the story…never let Husband or other members of your entourage tell you that what you have in your closet is “good enough”…shoes do make the outfit.
I’m considering Item No. 2 or No. 36 next….
Cheers!
Heidi
Friday, December 22, 2006
Wow! We're blogging!
Heidi,
The List goes online - how exciting! I'm so glad you took the initiative to get this up-and-running! It was great to review the list again -- that was certainly an epic Starbucks conversation, wasn't it?
So far, I have gotten only one item "checked off" on the list :
In October, I went with my sister-in-law, Kendra, and her friend, Mary, to a co-op farm out near Puyallup, WA. We walked out to the small apple orchard and hand-picked our apples. After we washed our apples in a tub of water and bleach (and then rinsed them, don't worry!) we stood in line to have the apples crushed and then pressed. I'm not sure if it counts as cheating, but the "crushing apparatus" was run by a small generator. I did, however, turn the hand-crank on the presser, so it was close to 100% Pioneer-Woman approved. The cider was really wonderful -- it was an auspicious start to the whole List process.
Let's see -- lessons learned from my cider-making experience:
Lesson 1: Bring a camera if you're going to work on something on The List. I hadn't expected that we were going to do this, so not only did I leave the camera at home but also I was definitely NOT dressed for apple picking -- I was wearing brand new, suede boots and the most expensive pair of jeans I've ever bought.
Which leads us to:
Lesson no. 2: Dress appropriately. I was such a dork when we were rinsing the apples in the bleach-and-water solution... I was keeping my body as far away from the tub as possible so I wouldn't splash bleach on my only pair of "cute" jeans and my new boots. I was totally the girl that I would normally be mocking mercilessly! Karma, she is a bee-yotch.
It was a ton of fun, though. And it compelled me to research a question that has bugged me every fall since I was old enough to have tea parties with the fresh-squeezed cider that my dad would bring home:
What, exactly, is the difference between apple cider and apple juice??
The answer here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_048.html I have no idea how to embed a link, etc. I promise I'll learn soon.
Ok, baby girl is not napping and is hollering "Mommy, where are you??" via the monitor airwaves so it's time to remove my bright and shiny new "blogger" hat and put back on my slightly dingy (and strangely sticky) "Mommy" hat.
Talk to you later!
Love and miss ya,
Kat
The List goes online - how exciting! I'm so glad you took the initiative to get this up-and-running! It was great to review the list again -- that was certainly an epic Starbucks conversation, wasn't it?
So far, I have gotten only one item "checked off" on the list :
In October, I went with my sister-in-law, Kendra, and her friend, Mary, to a co-op farm out near Puyallup, WA. We walked out to the small apple orchard and hand-picked our apples. After we washed our apples in a tub of water and bleach (and then rinsed them, don't worry!) we stood in line to have the apples crushed and then pressed. I'm not sure if it counts as cheating, but the "crushing apparatus" was run by a small generator. I did, however, turn the hand-crank on the presser, so it was close to 100% Pioneer-Woman approved. The cider was really wonderful -- it was an auspicious start to the whole List process.
Let's see -- lessons learned from my cider-making experience:
Lesson 1: Bring a camera if you're going to work on something on The List. I hadn't expected that we were going to do this, so not only did I leave the camera at home but also I was definitely NOT dressed for apple picking -- I was wearing brand new, suede boots and the most expensive pair of jeans I've ever bought.
Which leads us to:
Lesson no. 2: Dress appropriately. I was such a dork when we were rinsing the apples in the bleach-and-water solution... I was keeping my body as far away from the tub as possible so I wouldn't splash bleach on my only pair of "cute" jeans and my new boots. I was totally the girl that I would normally be mocking mercilessly! Karma, she is a bee-yotch.
It was a ton of fun, though. And it compelled me to research a question that has bugged me every fall since I was old enough to have tea parties with the fresh-squeezed cider that my dad would bring home:
What, exactly, is the difference between apple cider and apple juice??
The answer here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_048.html I have no idea how to embed a link, etc. I promise I'll learn soon.
Ok, baby girl is not napping and is hollering "Mommy, where are you??" via the monitor airwaves so it's time to remove my bright and shiny new "blogger" hat and put back on my slightly dingy (and strangely sticky) "Mommy" hat.
Talk to you later!
Love and miss ya,
Kat
Thursday, December 21, 2006
The List is born...
The List was born from a conversation between Kat and me about knitting socks. Kat never had and I just finished my first pair. I had two false starts on the socks, especially with the whole double pointed needle thing and never mind the Magic Loop...I was inspired to pick up the needles again after reading how the YarnHarlot knits socks only with double pointed needles... because that's the way women have done it for thousands of years. I loved that idea so much; that there's a connection between me, this ancient craft, and the women who knit socks for their families, that I finished the socks in record time...on double point needles.
The conversation escalated...we began to think of all the things we love to do around the home; sewing, cooking, gardening, and how we could do it in a traditional way, but still be a modern women...sort of like Sex and the City meets Little House on the Prairie...
The afternoon spent in Starbucks resulted in the following list, which is continually being added to. Some items may take a life time to accomplish, others… a mere weekend. It’s no matter; it’s all part of the experience of life and a way for two friends, a country apart, to stay in touch.
1. Make an ethnic meal from scratch, all courses.
2. Make socks on double pointed needles.
3. Piece a quilt, any size, by hand.
4. Make bread from scratch.
5. Make homemade sourdough starter.
6. Make an alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, kahlua.
7. Hand bind a book.
8. Write a book or a story.
9. Make homemade pasta.
10. Make jam.
11. Can veggies you grew yourself.
12. Hammer a piece of metal jewelry.
13. Pickle veggies you grew yourself.
14. Make homemade ice cream with a hand crank machine.
15. Sew a piece of clothing that you wear proudly.
16. Make greeting cards.
17. Make paper.
18. Make a bag.
19. Blow glass.
20. Throw a bowl by hand.
21. Make a seasonal soufflé – all four seasons of the year.
22. Make butter.
23. Make beads and a piece of jewelry from them.
24. Spin yarn.
25. Sheer a sheep, dye the wool, spin the wool, knit an item of clothing. (technically we should make the dye too)
26. Make a pumpkin pie with a homegrown pumpkin.
27. Weld a table.
28. Whittle.
29. Make chocolate.
30. Needlepoint or embroider a pillow.
31. Make raisins from grapes you grew.
32. Make an herbal tea from scratch – rose hip or chamomile.
33. Press your own apple cider.
34. Knit lace.
35. Learn how to crochet.
36. Mull wine without prepackages spices.
37. Make Crème Brule.
38. Make an entire meal from each of the following iconic chefs:
a. Julia Child
b. James Beard
c. Madhur Jaffery
39. Make an ottoman – the form and upholster it yourself.
40. Dye or print your own fabric.
41. Make an entire food item from scratch – grow the wheat for flour, raise the chickens for eggs…
42. Make cheese.
43. Design and craft a stained glass hanging.
44. Make hard candy.
45. Make candles.
46. Make soap.
47. Make yogurt from scratch without a yogurt maker.
48. Create organic compost for your homegrown veggies.
49. Make jam without pectin.
50. Needle point or embroider a traditional sampler.
The conversation escalated...we began to think of all the things we love to do around the home; sewing, cooking, gardening, and how we could do it in a traditional way, but still be a modern women...sort of like Sex and the City meets Little House on the Prairie...
The afternoon spent in Starbucks resulted in the following list, which is continually being added to. Some items may take a life time to accomplish, others… a mere weekend. It’s no matter; it’s all part of the experience of life and a way for two friends, a country apart, to stay in touch.
1. Make an ethnic meal from scratch, all courses.
2. Make socks on double pointed needles.
3. Piece a quilt, any size, by hand.
4. Make bread from scratch.
5. Make homemade sourdough starter.
6. Make an alcoholic beverage such as beer, wine, kahlua.
7. Hand bind a book.
8. Write a book or a story.
9. Make homemade pasta.
10. Make jam.
11. Can veggies you grew yourself.
12. Hammer a piece of metal jewelry.
13. Pickle veggies you grew yourself.
14. Make homemade ice cream with a hand crank machine.
15. Sew a piece of clothing that you wear proudly.
16. Make greeting cards.
17. Make paper.
18. Make a bag.
19. Blow glass.
20. Throw a bowl by hand.
21. Make a seasonal soufflé – all four seasons of the year.
22. Make butter.
23. Make beads and a piece of jewelry from them.
24. Spin yarn.
25. Sheer a sheep, dye the wool, spin the wool, knit an item of clothing. (technically we should make the dye too)
26. Make a pumpkin pie with a homegrown pumpkin.
27. Weld a table.
28. Whittle.
29. Make chocolate.
30. Needlepoint or embroider a pillow.
31. Make raisins from grapes you grew.
32. Make an herbal tea from scratch – rose hip or chamomile.
33. Press your own apple cider.
34. Knit lace.
35. Learn how to crochet.
36. Mull wine without prepackages spices.
37. Make Crème Brule.
38. Make an entire meal from each of the following iconic chefs:
a. Julia Child
b. James Beard
c. Madhur Jaffery
39. Make an ottoman – the form and upholster it yourself.
40. Dye or print your own fabric.
41. Make an entire food item from scratch – grow the wheat for flour, raise the chickens for eggs…
42. Make cheese.
43. Design and craft a stained glass hanging.
44. Make hard candy.
45. Make candles.
46. Make soap.
47. Make yogurt from scratch without a yogurt maker.
48. Create organic compost for your homegrown veggies.
49. Make jam without pectin.
50. Needle point or embroider a traditional sampler.
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