Grief Shopping...

 Why does shopping make you feel better when you sad?  I have been trying very hard not to purchase much fabric this year as I just do not have space to store it anymore.  With the loss of my kitty, fabric shopping seemed to distract me for a little bit.  Fabric from fabrics-store.com:

I purchased 12 yards of this natural linen to finish my loveseat.  Fingers are crossed that 12 yards is enough after washing.

This is a waffle weave linen/cotton blend.  I purchased 6 yards to make a robe for my husband.  Hopefully, 6 yards will be enough and shrinkage occurrs.

This was a doggie bag purchase.  One yard of a grey pearl linen.  This will be a top of some sort for the hot summer days.

This is a doggie bag purchase.  Three yards of an asphalt linen.  This will become some sort of an outfit - pants with a matching top, a dress, or a skirt with a matching top.  Yeah, I try not to purchase anything without a clear idea of what I am wanting to make but I had been eyeing this color for a long while and it is rare to see a piece this large in the doggie bag.  

I have not purchased this amount of fabric in a long time.  I have my eye on another piece of fabric but I do not if I will get it now.  Although, it is possible that I may need another distraction.  My kitty that passed was like a baby to me.  He was the first one that I had raised from a kitten.  Believe me when I say that adults cats are much easier.  He never seemed to outgrown that kitten behavior and was still bouncing off the walls until about 2 days before his death.

Happy Stitching!

Saying Good-bye...

 Early this morning, I had to say good-bye to my sweet little kitty, Rocket.  I always referred to him as "Demon Spawn".  This reference goes back to the day we found him in a neighbor's yard being attacked by birds.  He was a wee little thing at about 12 oz with no mother or siblings in sight.  It was just before July 4th and I could not let him be outside during that time.  It took two days to catch him.  Then, it was now what do we do with him?  The obvious answer was keep him.  Here he is on day one:

He is hiding behind the toilet because he was not sure of us at all.  I did ask neighbors about him and others had attempted to capture him but he was a biter.  

He had a love of boxes, paper bags, and baskets.  Here are a few pics:

Making the bed will always be a reminder of him as he loved helping:

He loved getting water from the bathroom sink:

 or just sitting in the sink:

He loved the men in his life as long as he could sit at their feet as lap kitty he was not:

He just wanted to be nearby.

He sent me to urgent care many times because he loved biting me.  I suppose I tasted good to him because I was the only one he ever bit.  He loved my sewing room as it was the only off-limits room in the house.  If he got in there, I turned the lights out and left.  The room became undesirable at the point.  He also mostly loved his buddy JB:

Good-bye my little friend.  I can not believe that you did not make it to your fifth birthday.  I really thought I would have you another 10 years or so but life is much more fragile than we realize sometimes.

New Itch to Stitch Jean Pattern...

Itch to Stitch newest pattern is an on-trend jean.  Here is line drawing for the Bellville Jean pdf pattern:

The jeans offer the following features:

• High rise
• Above-ankle length
• Darts at knees and front hem
• Classic five-pocket design
• Pocket stay to keep pockets in place and trim the tummy
• Designed for non-stretch bottomweight fabric

Check out the fabulous versions of the jeans made by the testers on the blog.  The pdf pattern will be on sale through April 8, 2024.  The volume discount still applies. 

I am an Itch to Stitch affiliate.  If you purchased through one of my links, I will receive a small commission.  Thank you!

Hope you are inspired to create some new jeans.

Happy Stitching!

Slipcovers Finished....

 The procrastination has ended with the completion of the slipcover.  Here are the end results:

This is just about as good as it gets.  The fit is mostly good.  I had to do manipulating to get the last sewn piece on but that is kinda how home dec goes sometimes.  Now, my chair is a little more up to date.  The previous slipcover is somewhere around 20 years old. So, it is old for a slip.  I probably will not be making another chair slipcover anytime in the near future but it should be easier the next time.  I have no idea how long the linen will last but I suspect that it won't last 20 years.

Next on the project list is the ottoman.

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...Skirt & Top

 Sometimes, you just see something you love.  This is it for me folks.  I love gingham. 

This is the Eileen Fisher Sleeveless Organic Linen Shirt. Price tag: $128.00.  Details:  yarn dyed check, 25-inches long from shoulder to hem, point collar, button front, sleeveless, box pleated back yoke, hem side slits, relaxed fit, organic linen, machine wash.

This is the Eileen Fisher Crinkled Gingham Organic Linen Midi Skirt.  Price tag: $168.00.  Details:  yarn dyed check, elasticized waistband,  on seam pockets, hem falls below knee, a-line silhouette, pull-on style, organic linen, machine wash.

Admittedly, this outfit looks a little better with the shirt tucked into the skirt.  You will need to check the Neiman Marcus website to see more.  Shall we talk about patterns?  For the shirt, I would say use an already fitted button down shirt pattern like this one: 

This is the Liesl & Co Classic Shirt pattern.  It is well drafted.  The needed changes are removing the sleeves, adjusting the shoulders/armscye area, and maybe flattening out the hem.   I would be very tempted to leave the hem the way it is.  Here is another option:

This is the Seamwork Willis sleeveless button down shirt.  This is a good option for the inspiration photo.  I think the hem needs to be adjusted but otherwise it is good.

Now, for the skirt pattern.  I found a freebie for you if you do not mind making your own pattern - 1-hour a-line skirt.  So, that is the best I could do.  This is about as simple as you can get for a skirt and I could not find one on the big 4 website.  Maybe I gave up too early.

Hope you are inspired to create something wonderful.

Folks, I am going to take a break from the inspiration posts for a while.  I will return with the post when the fall/winter items start showing up in the stores.  I have more than enough ideas to keep be going for the next three or four months.

Happy Stitching!