Tuesday, April 24, 2007

sewing a prom dress...

...is not really on the top ten list of stupid things to do, but it is close. Especially when you are sewing for a teenager for whom logic is tenuous.

The pattern is Butterick 4315, with the sleeves of Butterick 4050, and a corset Butterick 4254.

It is Tuesday before the prom. The dress (actually it is a skirt with an over dress) is almost done. I have to put the wasitband on the skirt, which is trickier than usual because the skirt is totally covered with lace. I have to hand tack the lining on the overdress, hem the sleeves, and hem the overskirt and skirt. (I think I will sit down in front of the TV for a while, watching either McHale's Navy, Hogan's Heroes, or My Favorite Martian. The TV series.)

I actually got to use my Clover brand mini-iron (the plate is a triangle with a base of 7/8 inches and a height of 1 3/8 inches). This officially makes the purchase worthwhile, since I have now used it twice. Plus I got it on sale for half off. When I put the lace around the neckline, I didn't want to iron the polyester lace on a cotton setting. With the mini-iron, I could do it a lot easier.

The dress is made of velveteen, and everything has been zig-zagged and I am covered with black and dark green velveteen bits.

I have been accused of delaying the whole thing because I didn't want to sew it at all. (I spent $180 on it, do I like to waste money?) Actually the delay was because I need to modify the pattern and I asked a friend who had done it before to help. Since she works full time and I spend the evenings calling for host families for exchange students, yes there was a delay. Even after the explanation I was accused of not wanting to sew it. (Actually, that is true. I'd rather quilt. But being a mature responsible adult, I do things I don't want to do. Something you should learn, elder daughter.)

Now she is disappointed in me because I'm not sewing the corset. Time is a factor, yes, plus I have never sewn a corset before. If you want the support, lets go get a bra-girdle (or whatever they are called). No, she wants me to put the stays back in her corsets she bought from Hot Topic. The corsets are...Ok. The stays have been thrown out. They were plastic and bent all over.

Tips for sewing on velveteen if you can't get out of it: Use a walking foot. Get a lint brush to get all the velveteen off of you. If you other choice is velvet, use velveteen.

Saturday, April 07, 2007

Dude Ranches...







...are the best vacation ever.

We went to the Bar M Ranch near Pendleton, Oregon. (http://www.barmranch.com)

After getting over my usual pre-vacation jitters (Is there anyway I can get out of this? Will my husband take everybody without me?), I had a great time. I had thought about taking my sewing machine (haven't made anything of note since November, except practice circles on orange fabrics). My husband and daughters swore that there was no table in the cabin on which to put it.

They lied.

But if I had brought it, I would have exploded. The food is that good and that plentiful. I needed to walk everywhere just to be able to have room for the next meal.

My husband and exchange student are letting the horses drink water (like they knew how to stop them). My younger daughter is on a palomino named Miko, and my older daughter is on a horse named Roscoe who liked walking. But he liked standing still better.

I like the trail rides best (except the part where the horse decides to walk right next to the edge of the trail.) Everyone else likes arena riding, where they get to trot and canter and everything. And learn to sit up straight! The exchange student has spent years riding English, and so she had to change a little, but her horse definitely had a workout!
To me, the best part of this vacation is that you get to know the other guests at the ranch. This is a social no-no at any other place.

Sewing is scheduled for next Monday, but it is only a prom dress.