Show Notes: Episode 33

Here is the long, long list of links for Episode 33 of the Trappings and Trinkets Podcast!

Leggings:

Simplicity Pattern #8422
I used this paisley fabric from JoAnns
and a Sushi-print fabric that is very similar to this, but a darker gray color for the background, also from JoAnns

Here is the Kathryn Morgan video that is the most similar workout to what my gym class does, but she has all sorts of videos on her YouTube channel, and if you work through a bunch of them, you will definitely build your strength and your skills as you progress.

A couple links where you can buy ballet shoes.  Amazon and Discount Dance Supply

I can't track down online the shirt pattern that I talked about in the podcast.  I accidentally bought the pattern twice this spring, once at JoAnn Fabrics, and once at Walmart, so I think it probably is still available in stores.  I'm not sure why I can't find in online.  It is the "New Look" pattern line from Simplicity, and I see the pattern number listed as "S0184" and as "50184" on the packaging.

I can give you a link to the fabric I used though, over on fabric.com.

Here is a video that will walk you though how to make your own necklace.

Knitting WIPs:

Design Project in progress is made from Sweet Georgia Cashluxe Fine yarn.  I can't overstate how great this yarn is.  The ONLY negative is that if you have to frog & reknit it, it can start to look a little shabby from the friction.

WIP #2 is a pair of socks made from Brew City Lucky Charms Sock yarn in the "Spectacular Spectacular" color way.  Gorgeous, saturated, variegated color with flecks of gold sparkle.

Watching/Listening:
The Freakanomics Podcast, specifically this episode.

Atul Gawande - I have personally really enjoyed the following books authored by him:
Being Mortal
The Checklist Manifesto
and Better: A Surgeon's Notes on Performance

The Resident (it's terrible, but it totally sucked me in.). You can find it on Hulu, and apparently it is also airing Monday nights on Fox.

Finally, get your laugh on with Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King!

T-shirt Hacks

It's Me-Made May!  I am headed to ballet barre class this morning, so I am sporting an exercise-y Mostly Me-Made Outfit, which includes some fancy gray & white paisley leggings that I made yesterday (Simplicity Pattern #8422), plus a t-shirt that I definitely did not make, but hacked to have a much more flattering fit on me.  

My main objection to this shirt was that it was just too long and shapeless.  I, of course, did not think to take a picture of it before I started my hacks, but it was a t-shirt with no shaping that was a fairly close fit (not a big, baggy thing), and the hem hit me right under my butt.  So it was kinda sausage-y, if you know what I mean.  It also had a fitted crew neckline, which is my fashion nemesis.

Step One of my plan was fixing the neckline.  I don't understand why fitted crew necks are the style du jour for t-shirts, because I hate them.  I tend to take scissors to them in order to create more of a scoop neck, and indeed I did that last year when I bought this shirt.  I've been wearing it with a raw cut edge ever since.  But recently, I cam across a great sewing tutorial that shows you how to finish off the edge of a knit piece.  The tutorial focuses on sleeves, but you can extrapolate and use the same idea to finish the edge of a neckline.  I used some lightweight black knit fabric that I picked up at JoAnns as my new neckband, but if your t-shirt is super long, you could hack a 1.5"- 2" wide strip off the bottom and use that instead.

Step Two of my plan involved creating some ruching.  I cut a 5" piece of skinny elastic and pinned it in a straight line about 5" in from one side seam.  The bottom of the elastic was pinned right at the hem seam, and the top of the elastic was pinned 8.5" above the hem seam.  So when it was pinned, the shirt was all crumpled up underneath because the elastic was a lot shorter than the fabric it was pinned over.  

Step Three was sewing the elastic in place.  Getting this started was a little tricky because you have to stretch the elastic as you are sewing the seam.  (My sewing machine was being a jerk, so my seam looks terrible on the elastic side.  On the front side it was fine though.)  I used the stretch stitch on my machine, although you could probably just use the straight stitch, since you are stretching the elastic as you sew.  Just make sure to stretch the elastic only as far as you need to in order to make it the same length as the t-shirt underneath.  Don't stretch it all more than that.  I was using two hands to stretch the elastic as I pulled it all through my machine.  

Next, I cut a 1" strip of black knit fabric (This was the same fabric I used when I finished the neckline.)  I divided the width into thirds and folded one side over the other like so:

then I just sewed right down the edge.  There are probably fancier ways to do this, but it looked fine and I knew it probably wouldn't be a problem since the fabric was so dark.  

I tied it into a bow, knotted the ends and cut them off, then sewed the bow onto the bottom of the ruched seam.

Voilà!  Fancy-fit t-shirt!

SaveSave

Show Notes: Episode 32

Finished Objects: 

Faux Bernstein Shawl
Branches and Buds Pullover


Sewing Projects:
Housedress (Simplicity Pattern #1080)
I made it pretty much as is, except that I had to cut the body of the dress in half at a different spot to accommodate my fabric-buying mistake.

Leggings (Simplicity Pattern #8422) 
I had to make a size Small, even though my measurements are firmly in between a Med & Large on the pattern's fit chart
I also omitted the elastic completely, shortened the pelvis, and shortened the legs on the darker blue pair.  


Projects of the Future:
A design project using Sweet Georgia Cashluxe Fine
Yarn purchased for Émilien: Feza Organically Dyed Harvest

I show off a couple new pom pom options:
Tiny Tufts
and Petite Pom Poms

I also answer a couple questions, and recommend a couple remote shutter releases.  The DSLR one I have doesn't seem to be available anymore, but here are a few similar options.  The iPhone-compatable remote I have is this one.

Show Notes: Episode 31

Today's podcast includes the following-

Finished Projects:

Snowbelle Trapper Hats - Adult Size and Baby Size

Meowf Hat

[Pom Poms for both hats can be found on Etsy here.  If you want small-size pom poms like the ones hanging from the strings on the Snowbelle Trapper Hat, just use the "message to seller" button to send a special request.)

Wishmaker Mitts

Shawl Inspired by Bernstein (but I found the pattern too difficult to follow because of the language barrier.  If you speak German though, all the successful German project pages lead me to believe that the German version of the pattern is very usable!)

And, I talk about:

An Easter Basket Scavenger Hunt

Spoonflower - specifically the sampler pack of all their different fabrics

Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs. (The album can be downloaded on iTunes)

using iMovie to put edit together home videos & photos

And I'm wearing my Boho Blush Shawl.

Thanks for watching, and I'll see you in a couple weeks!

Show Notes: Episode 30

Colorwork is the theme of this week's show!

Finished (kinda) object:
Branches & Buds Pullover

Works in Progress:
A double knit hat (no pattern)
Meowf Hat

I also talk about college basketball
using a controversial book to encourage intelligent and civil discussion
and show you how to find your tax information if you have an Etsy shop and use Etsy Payments
and talk about my #makenine2018

Show Notes: Episode 29

Would you like to know how to sew a garment based on a relatively simple shirt, sweater, or dress that you already own?  The first 40 minutes of today's podcast will show you the step-by-step process of drafting a sewing pattern.  Also, cameo appearances by my cat, Tevye.

A couple new tools I used when sewing this sweatshirt out of knit fabric:

a twin needle

a thread stand

And an excellent tutorial if you want to put a neckline or sleeve binding on a sewn knit garment.  Actually, SewCanShe has lots of great sewing tutorials, if you're into that!

If you're not into sewing, just fast-forward to the 40 minute mark and you can check out a couple finished projects,

Pair of commission socks, Part Deux

Pair of Vanilla Socks for Moi

And a kinda finished object (that I will need to rip out and reknit half of:

Wishmaker Mitts

And then I talk for a minute about a new project I'm casting on:

Branches and Buds Pullover

Show Notes: Episode 28

Today I am rambling on about:

Sewing Machine Maintenance
Deep Cleaning My Bedroom

I share a couple planned sewing machine projects

A sock heel fail

Another pair of DK vanilla socks in LFA Dramaturg

You get a glimpse of my Wishmaker Mitts

Branches and Buds, a planned knitting project

Then I chat a little more about a new eye drop that is really helping my dry eyes

A couple Brene Brown books that I have read and am currently reading

and The West Wing