The Best Valentines Day I can remember . . . .

Deep into our Valentines/Presidents Day trip to DC.  We suffered two days of 15 F temps, then this blizzard yesterday.  Ice skated to dinner, hoping we didn't break a hip.  Now, we're listening to freezing rain and sleet on the windows and wondering what's next.  Flood warnings are up.  How about locust?

Speaking of which, we went to the renovated Renwich yesterday.  WOW. Thank you, Jackie Kennedy, for saving this incredible treasure.  The exhibit was called Wonder, and it was!

A Madison woman artist, Jennifer Angus, did this whole room of insects, called the Midnight Garden.

Walls are pink from the Mexican bug, the cochineal.  The patterns are made from individual bugs and moths.

This tree was from a forest near Seattle.  Artist, John Grade, took a mold of it.

Then, hand carved 1" by 3/8" pieces of recycled cedar into the shapes you see using the mold, then removing it.

After the exhibit, all the pieces will be returned to the forest floor.  Talk about being able to let go of your work!

Each of the exhibits took up a full room.  The above was a light show of colour mimicking the Japanese tsunami, but the wind part was not operating, probably too chilling!  Kids were laying all over the "ocean" carpet in this room.  Even my color rods were challenged.

Many other incredible exhibits, including a Chihuly chandelier that is permanent to the newly renovated space.  At least the blizzard kept the line outside down!

Easily won the best gift shop award (so far), although the new textile museum had some neat tidbits, too.

Now, to get my ice skates and raincoat out.   

This pattern and "muslin" took a while . . .

JiFirst, I was going to make this good looking V 9171 Marcy TIlton shirt 

in a double gauze as pictured on the pattern envelope.  Then, I read the yardage, and it specified only for 60" wide fabric.  Upon further examination, it's the long pieces that have to fit the width, then you are ok with nearly the 60" yardage estimate on 45" wide fabric.

I hadn't ordered the envelope's demand, so I had to order more fabric from Harts fabric's double gauze stash.  Fortunately, there was still some there.  In the meantime, I decided I didn't want to cut into $21.99/yd double gauze if I didn't like the pattern.  

So, I found another wild and crazy print lawn from Harts a few years ago to experiment on:

And even tho my matching pants are boot cut jeans by Chicos, I'm pleased.  

 i like this shaped tunic and decided to proceed.  It is a bit long on my 5' 4" frame, but . . . 

Wa laa, the finished piece.  Feels like a WI Spring piece, as double gauze is surprisingly heavy.  Might wear it on the plane  for our Valentines trip to DC next week.

Only tights I brought to FL.  It's almost dress length on me, but I can always shorten it if it becomes a drag, literally.

Patterns for short sleeve shirts

It's been in the 80's F here for the last several days.  i love making and wearing cotton/Lycra tshirts with linen crops or shorts to stay cool.  But, the Tilton sisters and others make mostly longer sleeve tshirt patterns.

How to adapt?  I decided to take a bunch of ready made tshirts from my fav people, Chicos and J. Jill and copy them .

First up is a little shirt that Chicos keeps changing a bit every year, the v- neck T.

Not real crazy about the peach color on this shirt, but loved the teal and the style.  

Made my version in a very soft 100% cotton from Harts fabrics.  Wore it yesterday with white linen cuffed shorts from J. Jill, hence the wrinkles. . . 

Secondly, I copied this J Jill shirt because of the easy sew.

It has a bias strip binding that folds under, like I've seen on Eileen Fishers garments, both knit and woven.

Great when the print is big   Here's one version, in a Dakota print rayon knit (I love these)

Worked with some teal blue linen crop pants that usually are hard to match 

Last but not least, another Dakota print version

With killer green linen shorts and my new Keens,I was a sight to behold!

My friend, Genie, made me get them.  Made of two cords an a heavenly comfortable sole.

The other UFO I brought to Florida. . .

Was this Katherine Tilton big shirt

I made it in two kinds of white linen from my stash, one a plain weave

 and one a jacquard.  I think the latter was from Gayfeather Fabrics in Madison, WI

This was a fun pattern to make with all the pleats and tucks, kind of like origami.  I left off the collar and just used the collar stand pattern.  And, I've been making a size down from the Large I usually make on K. TIlton patterns very successfully lately.

I like it front and back, with some Flax pants that were orphaned in my closet.

Perfect weather, low 70s and sunny, no humidity!

Not really conducive to sewing, but perfect for photography of finished projects.  I have two UFOs I brought to finish here in sunny Florida.

First up, is this copy of a French Terry Chicos skirt.  

I made it once before, but seem to have an endless supply of small bits of French terry.

So, since this skirt is comfy once my legs are tan (stay tuned for that), and works for dinner out, I decided to finish this UFO (rather than dump it at Goodwill with lots of other stuff today)

I love this Florida colour and it was relatively easy to sew.  Left my serger with this colour thread, too.

It has this neat, single slimming pocket and I faced the pocket with a Kaffe Fassett cotton print I've had forever.

Made this Dakota print up, to go with,

in my fav Style Arc short sleeve tshirt, Creative Cate.  Won't I look sharp at Five Guys!

Don't faint-I'm back in rainy Florida!

Made this Style Arc shirt right before we left, as the pattern came in the mail and I couldn't wait to try it out on some double gauze fabric I ordered from Harts fabrics in Santa Cruz, Ca

As you can see, the winter sun was way down in the sky as I photographed the finished shirt

The pattern has an optional button and loop on the asymmetrical long side to give it a little drape.  Double gauze barely drapes, I found.

But, the fabric is so soft after laundering and I like the pattern enough to make it again.

The back has buttons down a placket, too.  I extended the front into a button all the way down placket, since I had enough buttons in my stash to make this work.

I'm finally getting into this tunic look on my little, short frame.  Sure is comfortable to wear.

Marcy Tilton's newest dress pattern, V9081

This pattern has a nice, casual vibe, even though it's a dress, so I made a muslin while in Fl (hence the wild colors of fabric)

Then, I caught Marcys blog post of the version she made to wear in Pullyallup.  It reminded me of some houndstooth and striped knits I'd been collecting. Much more subtle colors, but fitting for our late Wi spring.

I liked making the dress, sort of like fitting together puzzle pieces.  And, it's great with boots now and regular shoes later.

Think I'll rebuy the pattern at vogues next sale and scale the fit down a bit.  But, a great travel dress for now, and my post frigid winter welter weight. . . Come on biking weather!!!