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Continuing along on the Tie Frock pattern modifications….. dividing my time between home renovations, the pattern and professional work stuff. Whew!
Edited to add: the Green Fabric is from Amy Butler’s Daisy Chain collection.
You know you’re getting older when you watch the Oscar red carpet pre-show and find yourself asking aloud “who is that?” for every other person. This is why I sew or knit during television shows, to occupy myself in the awkward moments. I do like to look at all of the clothes, (and listening to the on-the-spot interviews is painfully entertaining) but I have to keep busy!
This little top was made earlier in the day, but the size is way off. Should have been a 2, but it’s more like a 3 to 4! So, I’ve adjusted the measurements a bit and will keep refining… hopefully the gowns and jewels don’t distract me too much.
When I first come up with an idea for a pattern, two things are critical for me: Is it something Julie would put on one of her kids and is it something I can distill into clear instructions.
When we arrived at the hotel and I pulled out Floria’s coat and frock, Julie lost her mind. As sisters, I can just tell when something is pretty close versus just right for her, and based on her reaction these new additions were spot on!
In terms of fit: the size 3 frock is about 1″ too narrow and 2 inches too short to be a dress, so the mock-up will be more of a tunic. I need to refine the measurements and make a few more mock-ups to flush out the pattern. I hope to have it up by the end of the month though! Based on the survey, the target groups seems to be 2 – 6 years. I think I will start there and then expand the sizing up to 8 years and down to 12-18 months.
Sorry about the little unintended break in the action. I had a trip scheduled to visit my father in North Carolina and I find the time leading up to my visits with him cause a certain amount of paralysis for me. I find I get a maudlin outlook on everything because my mind wanders back to the memories of my childhood and my Dad; it’s very, very difficult to slowly lose a parent before your very eyes. I’m in the phase where I am still absorbing what I saw and heard, slowly processing the state of things and what it all means. So, I promise not to drag the internet into it. Instead, I will tell you why I love dogs by way of a funny story sure to go down in family lore.
It all started innocently enough with a late afternoon walk. Just a little fresh air and potty break for the dog. I took Fin and Floria with me and MP straggled behind. My father lives in the mountains of western North Carolina, and the scenery is stunning. Lots of forests, nature and wild animals: a neighbor had a mountain lion in her driveway! Walking along, Fin noticed something in the woods and we went in to explore. It was an old tree fort that was too tantalizing to an 8-year old to resist. We hung out and let him explore to exclamations of “I can do it/ climb it/ reach it” among the loose boards and rusty nails, taking photos and laughing.
I discovered the fort owners had a very cool firefox and Fin volunteered to test it. The drop was- at most- ten feet, so I figured why not. It looked sturdy and I could not say no to his massive grin. Good fun, all around…. that spilled over into the house (much to Milo’s envy) when we returned.
The next day it was all the boys could talk about: Milo wanted in on the firefox action. So, during Floria’s nap I stayed behind with my father and stepmom while Floria slept and everyone else when to play in the woods. And by everyone, I mean Lottie the 8 pound Chihuahua went too. And what did I say at least 400 times as everyone was walking out the door? Internet, I said PLEASE WATCH THE DOG. I said it to any and all that would listen. Now, keep in mind we are in a strange land with strange smells where Lottie has never been. And keep in mind that while she is clever and tough (she is not a little purse-dog), she is still a tiny city-dwelling specimen. Cut to my stepmom and I sitting quietly at the kitchen table talking for about 45 minutes when we hear rustling and commotion. I of course assume Little Miss is awake & into something and so we chose to ignore the sounds hoping she would go back to sleep. But it does not let up and I decide I need to go lay down the law and tuck her back into bed. As I am walking past the front door I hear definitive scratching, breathing and crying. I open the door and there is Lottie: trembling and losing her mind. How she found her way (Half a mile! Uphill!) back I do not know. But she did. My stepmother and I are stunned and staring at each other with an awkward laugh/smile…. and then I realize that this might be a Lassie moment (trouble at the old mill!). I mean, the only way she could have found her way home alone down a road surrounded by forests and mountain lions was if something terrible had happened to the exploration party… leaving all of them incapacitated… and they sent Lottie to deliver the message. Because why else would this little dog be back at the house in the mountains all alone? Right? Are you with me here?
If you’re me you decide that’s the only logical reason and you put on your shoes to go help them. And that’s when you find your husband running up the hill, out of breath and laughing/freaking out that he lost the dog. But you’re holding the little dog, the dog you love like a child and center your days around. That dog.
Then it dawns on you that no one was watching the dog at all. People were having fun and she became frightened about something (my guess is the echo of a distant hunting rifle) and found her way back by smell or memory or just that magical dog sense we humans don’t understand. But, she found her way back. Alive and unharmed.
The best part of the story for me…. once I got over the dark, disturbing ‘what ifs’… was the awkward fear on everyones’ faces as they were telling me their horror of noticing Lottie was missing in the middle of the woods. Not so much for Lottie, but for themselves and the reality that I would most likely kill them if anything happened to the dog. None of us can get over the image of a tiny black Chihuahua in the middle of the very foreign Blue Ridge deciding that the woods are no fun and she wants to go back to the house. Screw the tree fort! She wanted dinner! And so she heads back, all alone, at the edge of a strange road until she comes to the correct house… where I happen to be.
Additional info here.
A new pattern is coming!
Based on Floria’s Christmas frock, I’ve created a spring version. I’m thinking this will be my first pattern for purchase and it will include 3 versions: long sleeve, short sleeve and gathered sleeve. I have 3 sizes worked out, but I may expand it. While I am still trying to stay away from set-in sleeves at this point, this pattern is definitely more involved than either the simple sundress or the kimono, so I think I will put the difficulty level at ‘beginner-intermediate’. But do not fear, there will once again be plenty of photos and direction for each step!
I may ask for a little feedback over the next few weeks to better tailor the pattern. I’d like to know what sizes people would like to make (in this poll you can vote for more than 1 size….mark as many sizes as you would like to make), what the scariest part of sewing/pattern reading is, and what aspect of directions helps the most. Thanks in advance for your vote!
I’m so excited for March 3rd. They are already playing the first single from Neko Case’s new album on the radio, and the album snippets have me beyond anxious! The record label [Anti-] released this film clip about the making of the new album…enjoy!
more about “Neko Case – Middle Cyclone EPK“, posted with vodpod
The zipper arrived, slightly longer than I intended. I will wing it though, probably stretching the side edges slightly. I hate it when that happens! One side has been sewn in (by hand) and the other started. I should have it done tonight, well ahead of our visit to North Carolina.
