I Love to Sweat!

We just recovered from record-setting heat, and in the interim I'm making a "Comfort" basket for the Basket Auction at my daughter's school softball fundraiser dance. While it was hot as heck outside, I'm inside making cold-weather gear. And it's just as hot inside until I turn on the air conditioners. I'm SO not ready for warm weather.

Of course, I wasn't supposed to sweat for a week as per the doctor's orders regarding my incision. And, *of course*, I had to pick probably the only week in spring where my area sets some heat records. And I'm working with fleece! It is VERY hard not to sweat under these circumstances. So today I was mighty happy to have reached Day 8. Today I could sweat! And the temps have dropped down to a high of about 62 degrees...

I've been in serious doldrums about going to the gym, but today I was happy about it. I loved to sweat. Starting to get back into a normal routine, and I was even able to throw some baseballs overhand. The only drawback is I still have the clear patch covering my incision. My ultra sensitive skin that is prone to "band-aid rash" is now itchy from the clear patch. The edges are coming off little by little, but I'm hoping that sweating will encourage more to come off.

Enough about sweating, even though I'm enjoying it.

Here are the projects I'm working on for the Softball Fundraiser Basket. They're all cut out and in the process of being embroidered. My embroidery machine is humming away as I type this post.





















What's going in the basket? Here's the list:

1. 2 scarves (one for Mom, one for Dad)

2. 2 hats (again, one for Mom, one for Dad)

3. 2 softball headbands for cold outdoor practices

4. 1 seat cushion

They have to be done by Saturday so I'm busy, busy, busy! I haven't touched the semi-formal dress for pattern alterations but probably will do so tomorrow as I finish the embroidery. I had to redesign the headband because I just didn't like the design in my Great Copy Patterns book. I've made the headband many times before and decided to change it so it looks more like some of the RTW styles I've seen on the girls.

Also, please say a prayer for my MIL. She undergoes surgery tomorrow. She was in a serious car accident and came out virtually unscathed except for a fractured vertebrae in her neck. It should be a short operation to insert a pin in it. This is the woman that defies all traditional notions of aging. She's going to be 90 in December and looks, acts, and dresses like she's 55 or 60. I'm not kidding. She sharp as a tack and nothing gets by her. She still lives on her own, in her own house, is frequently in the paper and on the regional news for her volunteer work. She helps out a lot of "old" people (she is not one of them though ;) ) as well as young ones. Two months ago she was on the news being interviewed on how she helps out individuals and families with the community tax program. Still, there are surgical risks for a person her age. So if you can, say some prayers for her tonight please.

On a side note, if you a regular reader of my blog, you might remember my post on the 7 Things I Hate About Spring. Well there are about 5 or 6 things I hate about the habits of gym members. The little things that really irritate me. In order to get these things of my chest (or my case--my itchy back), I'll let the world know what they are:

1. Don't laugh or sing when you're on the cardio machines. I can time your laughter virtually every 20 seconds. And if your laugh is the most irritating laugh on the planet, it drives EVERYONE up the wall. Please, keep your singing in the shower unless you're an American Idol contestant and actually very good. And DON'T, I repeat DON'T sing along with your Ipod. I can hear you and you DON'T sound anything like Beyonce. Trust me on that.

2. Don't talk to yourself. It's distracting. And don't talk to me either. I'm trying to keep my focus. This is my workout time, not a socializing activity for me. Get in and get out. Me time. Not you and me time.

3. Wash your hands. Probably my biggest peeve of all. This one lady uses the toilet, then walks right out to use the machines. I KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!! Your personal hygiene habits make me cringe. And the last time this lady held the door open for me, it was an "Eww...gross" kind of moment. My daughters are aware of who this person is too. Sadly, she is not the only offender.

4. Don't hog the machines. You sit there. I wait. You sit there. I do cardio. You sit there. I do more machines. Why do you even go to the gym? You want to sit? Stay home.

5. Cover tattoos in *those* places. This is specifically for the lady with the tatoo above her butt crack. From a distance, it looks like an extension of her butt crack. It is not flattering.

That's pretty much it. Thanks for letting me vent. That embroidery humming is making me sleepy. 1 more minute and it's finished!

Muslin Analysis

One great thing about the Internet--comments and suggestions! So after reading comments, there are some muslin issues to be addressed.

Susan concurred--add a few gathers under the bust and narrow the straps.

Sherril is seeing too much length at the CF on the front skirt piece. I agree. This was my gut feeling, and I'm glad Sherril mentioned this.

Kim noted that I don't need any advice and know exactly what I'm doing (Kim, you're too kind! I'm just muddling through...)

Connie mentioned about patterns that are just often "...not enough" referencing the bust gathering. That would actually be my own pattern drafting faux pas. When I drafted it, I could see the dart was small but decided to go with the draft to see how it would look. Not good enough, so more will be added. The beauty of learning by doing!

Rhonda asked what DD#2 thinks of her dress. Right now, she's actually more interested in me getting her softball pants finished ;) .

All these things are are just the front view, of course, that I posted. On the back skirt piece, I'm seeing the reverse problem of the front--too little at the CB. The left underarm top edge is a little shorter than the right according to DD#2.

Overall though, these are basically minor fit issues going on here. They're all easy corrections. So that's what I'll be working on the next few days. I'll make up a second muslin in plain 'ol cotton muslin and see how it looks.

Today I didn't feel like working on pattern alterations at all. The air smells of baseball and softball, and I LOVE watching the games. It was also picture day and Opening Day ceremonies. So by the time I arrived home for good, it was 5:30 and I was exhausted. I fixed myself a nice drink, read the paper, made some burgers, made cookies, and ate my popcorn. Oh! I even won a basket at the Opening Day ceremonies! How cool is that? Lots of snacks in it and three DVD's.

9:30 rolled around and I decided to pull out the baby quilt material and start working on it. Just a little start, but now I'm off to do research on mitering quilt corner bindings. I'm assuming it's like mitering a vent corner, but we'll see. I'm no quilter.

Muslin on the Model

Here's DD#2 wearing muslin 1.1 tonight.

I think I'm going to add more gathers under the bust. Just a tad. The pattern was drafted to fit, but I think just a little more width by adding some gathering would be more flattering and make her A-cups look a little bigger. On the flip side, no cleavage is allowed to be shown at the school's semi-formal so all girls in the IBTC should consider themselves lucky. They can get away with a v-neck halter! She's only a freshman so I'm sure she's not finished "growing".

Never mind the bad muslin sewing...noticeable tuck in the right front near the armhole LOL.

I'm using her RTW top from her sports banquet last fall shown at right as my guideline. Also thinking maybe the straps could be a little thinner at the top shown on the muslin so it's more like the RTW top. Looking at the McCall's Hillary Duff dress pattern (5748), the straps on that one seem thinner too. The straps on her dress will criss-cross in the back and will be attached at the top back edge. They don't have to be like that, but I have "neck knot" avoidance. If I have that, she will likely have it too. She's a fussy girl that way like her momma.

Any other design/alteration advice would be greatly appreciated. Maybe others will see things and/or recommend things I'm not noticing.

Well, enough of muslins right now. Waiting for my other daughter to get home from her date with her boyfriend so I'll work on cutting out some fabric.

Semi-formal dress muslin: Version 1.1

Two pics here...



Fugly muslin Version 1.1 at left.

Fugly muslin Version 1.0 at right.

DD#2 has not tried on V 1.1 yet. I just finished attaching the new upper front to the dress last night. I think the style of 1.1 will be much more flattering on her figure. The deep v-neck will narrow her upper chest and shoulders, the curved midriff band will be slimming design detail.

The next fitting is tonight, after dinner.

My mobility is returning! After a very sore Wednesday and Thursday, my incision is healing nicely and my right upper back/shoulder area is feeling really fine. It was difficult cutting a new front Wednesday night with my rotary cutter. I was trying to use more of my body weight than arm weight when cutting the new front. The fabric was single layer and thin so that was good.

Can't Help Myself!

No, I can't. I have to post this. I had to go in for that minor surgical procedure at the plastic surgeon's office today from my initial visit last month. Nothing glamorous I tell ya, but putting off the surgery for two to three more years would have meant a bigger incision. No thanks! He did a kinder cut (which means hopefully a less noticeable scar) than my regular doc though. My shoulder area is mildly sore but that's the way it goes.

Anyway, I can't help myself and had to post my BP! As corny as it sounds, it hasn't been this low in 10 years! I remember being in labor with child #4 and my BP on the monitors were around 105/65 to 110/65. Some of you know I'm been working hard to keep the numbers down since they were upped in recent years.

So right before the procedure today, the nurse takes my BP and it is...

...104/62!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yahoo! I can't remember when it was that low. It has been a LONG time since seeing anything less than 105 on the upper number and lower than 65 on the lower number.

I probably wasn't nervous at all because I didn't realize they had to take my BP. I wasn't even thinking about it at all.

Just good news to share. Higher-than-normal BP readings have stressed me out the past few years, although I've been able to keep them mostly under 120/80 most of the time with hard work.

The Perfect Stole.

A HUGE Thank you to Mary!!! She pointed out this lovely FREE stole which is exactly what I want to make for DD#2's Semi-formal dance and DD#1's Prom.

I just want something to cover the shoulders and arms to prevent a chill, but that still looks elegant and classy. This little number fits the bill.

Thanks again, Mary!

The Semi-Formal Fabrics

First off...the purse and shawl/cape fabric and lining. White crepe-backed satin for the lining and a white/silver brocade. The pic below shows nice detail of the silver accent.

And now...the dress fabrics! To the right is the lavender dress fabric. It has a slight shimmer to it. At right is the skirt overlay part of the dress.

















And then both together--the tulle-like fabric over the dress fabric:

Which brings me to my next question. DD#2 wanted the overlay fabric on the entire dress. I told her that probably wouldn't be a good idea. She might have the little nubby crystals against her skin near the top edge and when her arms dangle at her sides. She's weird about those things.

I advised fashion fabric and overlay on the skirt portion or maybe the band and skirt portion only. So what do you all think about this?

In addition, my next question is, should I baste the overlay to the fashion fabric and treat as one layer? Or would it look better if both were free-hanging and hemmed separately. If the latter would be the case, would you hem the overlay slightly longer than the dress? I see that sometimes.

And for some reason, she has the crazy idea that these dresses are gathered at the top edge of the skirt portion when examining the Hillary Duff McCall's dress pic as well as her muslin based on the Simplicity one. I keep showing her the line drawings and explaining there's a reason why they're not gathered at that seamline. It would be too full. Most people probably wouldn't want gathering at the side seams because it's only going to add "fluff", rather than a slimming silhouette. She's having a mental block with this style. She doesn't realize that the dresses are designed with tucks in certain places for a reason. Most women do not want to look heavier. She's just not grasping that design concept well.

Anyway, I really want this dress to be nice on her. Hopefully later today I can draft the halter front and see how that looks on her as well. Time is going to fly.