Stuff

First I want to say "Happy Birthday" to Gramma Liz.  We lost her two months ago, and today she would have been 95.  SIL Norma went to Washington to visit her kids-a planned trip, but a good thing to do to keep herself occupied so she doesn't have to think about the day quite so much.  Don't know how Stan is-he is definitely a man of few words.  When we got married, Gramma Liz warned me that he was and she was certainly right!

OK, life goes on and Gram would want it that way.  I really have been sewing-for myself and for others as well.  I started this project as a topper to wear to work, since we have to wear black.

 I decided it was too sheer to make buttonholes, so I made loops.  After thinking for a while, and not finding anything suitable in my massive stash, I hauled out the crochet hook and black thread from my mom's stash.  I have used a ton of her things-glad I held on to them!

I made a self-fabric binding for the front and the neck.  The front I cut across the grain, and the neck binding I cut on the diagonal to accomodate the curves.

The neck ruffle before gathering.

The ruffle in place.  I made a tube, finishing the ends, and left a small gap to turn it.  Then I gathered it down the middle and topstitched it in place at the neck.  I thought about hand stitching, but I thought the topstitching would make it a bit more stable since you really can't interface the thing.

In all its glory.  I REALLY need a dressmaker's dummy.  I think I'm going to invest in one soon since I'm working so much-gotta get something I want out of it.

Just did three buttons.  I had a terrible time getting my camera to focus, even on auto.  I think it was because of the sheerness of the fabric.

Finished with a rolled hem.  Love that finish and it's much easier than you would think.  I got the instructions from an old Threads magazine.

After all was said and done, it's too dressy to wear to work!  I would trash it working in my department.  So now I have a lovely topper to wear to Macy's special events.

I did some sewing for customers yesterday-I'll try to get those up in the next day or so.