I’ve finished my, how to sew from Japanese craft books, series on label-free. And here is the dress:

The only thing I’m not sure about is the belt. You can barely see it because of the pattern on the fabric but I widened it from 2″ to 4″.

Project Notes
Pattern: dress 7 from Japanese craft book ISBN-10: 4579111494 (ISBN-13: 978-4579111497)
Fabric: 100% cotton
Size: enlarged a size 13

I’ve been scarce around the internet, reading and writing.

On Thursday night my friend, Olinda, noticed my website was down. It happens sometimes. It’s the second time, that I know of, this year. It happened a handful of times last year. And a handful of times before that. It’s sort of frustrating. So I changed web hosts. Everything moved over without a glitch (I think).

Then on the weekends we’re usually out and about so posting is rare.

But the big monkey wrench in posting came when I was reading Mary at Confessions of a Craft Addict. She was saying her site had issues on Internet Explorer. So I opened up IE to take a look. And then being curious, I checked my site. CRAP. I knew my site wasn’t “up to code”. I just never fixed it before . But for some reason, now, I was determined to get it right. So that’s what I’ve been doing for days. DAYS! I’ve been looking at code so much, my head hurts. But I was determined to have it fixed. I couldn’t stop. Not even for a silly old thing like my head exploding.

But now it’s all fixed and it even validates! Well everything except the galleries. But I’ll fix that some other time.

So what’s that have to do with the picture of the shirt? That shirt is a prime example of how stubborn I can get when I’m determined to do something.

It was supposed to be a gift for my nephew. I bought organic fabric specifically for him. And I bought fabric paint. I had grand ideas for trying out freezer paper stenciling. But right away I knew I was on the wrong track and I should have stopped. But I didn’t, even with the obstacles in my way, I just barreled on through.

First of all the fabric is too stiff. I should have used a knit because the pattern is basically a t-shirt, except for where the snaps at the shoulder should be. But knowing this, I didn’t stop. I just kept going along.

And then I noticed I cut two fronts out instead of a front and a back. But…I kept going.

Then I thought the size seemed awfully small. But march, march, march. Must not stop now. I just figured, it was all screwed up, so why not just see how it comes out.

But I stopped at the snaps. I didn’t want to waste snaps on a hopeless shirt.

I then washed it a couple of times hoping that would soften it up and I don’t know…magically make the front piece into a back piece? I don’t know what I was thinking.

Project Notes
Pattern: shirt 5 from Japanese craft book ISBN 4418051244
Fabric: stiff as a board organic cotton
Size: 100cm

Oh and let me end with a random video of Isabelle because I know Olinda is missing Isabelle.

The video is from a couple of weekends ago. My friend, Lorraine, came down from Oregon and we went out to dinner. A whole bunch of us girls and Alan. There was live music and Isabelle was dancing and clapping. I couldn’t get any of the clapping on video but I did get a little dancing.

Which reminds me. I want to get a small teeny camera that does video as well (for when I always forget my big heavy camera). I’ve been looking at some super inexpensive ones that are 6 and 7 MP. Does anyone have any experience on how good the quality of the video looks like on those things?

I think I’m almost there, my perfect top for the summer. It’s nice, simple, AND I can wear a regular bra! Yay!

It’s pattern #12 from ISBN 4579110439 again (or 9784579110438, I never know what number to put anymore).

I automatically enlarged it knowing that size was an issue. And I also left the bow off. As usual, I started with a muslin. I got as far as finishing the neckline and one armhole. That’s when I decided I liked it enough to use real fabric. But when I finished it, I didn’t like it! I actually stood there, looking in the mirror, wondering if I was very tired when I had decided to make it.

But then after wearing it a bit, I changed my mind. So, yes, I think it’s almost perfect. The only problem: the neckline is a bit low. Or maybe it’s too wide. You can’t tell that from the picture though.

On the weekend I wore it out and found myself tugging it up because you could see a little bit of my bra cup near the straps. Maybe I enlarged the neckline too much? I’ll have to figure that out and then I see this in a more summery color.

This is another top from ISBN 9784579110438. It’s pattern #2, lengthened. I think it might be too long. I was thinking of making another altered version of this but I’ve changed my mind. I’ve moved onto something else.

Why? Because I’ve become a little obsessed with making the perfect top. And this top isn’t perfect. At my nephew’s 4th birthday party I realized it didn’t stay put. The gathering isn’t sewn down. It’s bunched around the tie. So as I was playing I realized it was moving around. It needed some fussing with to keep it looking the way I liked. I don’t like fussing. I just want to wear it and forget about it.

And yes, I want to make a top versus buying it. I don’t like it when I’m standing next to someone who’s wearing the same shirt as I am. Is that weird? And that won’t happen if I’m wearing something handmade. If it did, that would be sooooo twilight zone.

I have some criteria. I want something that looks good on me, is comfortable, and something I can wear a normal bra with. Though I do like these halter tops I can’t really wear a normal bra with it. I’ve tried a sticky bra with no straps on it but it’s just too strange. I wear it and it does work. But every time I wear it I wonder if my skin is absorbing some icky chemicals and who knows what. So yes, I’m on a mission to make the perfect top.

Sometimes I get fabric on sale. Actually a lot of times. And I think the fact that it’s on sale makes me a little color blind. That is, of course, how I end up with some of the clothes I’ve made. For example: the bright green ick tank top, this bright green skirt, and that orange smock for Isabelle. They aren’t necessarily colors I would normally pick. But I guess that’s not such a bad thing…sometimes.

And that’s how I come to have this pink candy top in linen. (It’s pattern 2 again from ISBN 9784579110438. I just added a band at the bottom.) Well the color isn’t really called pink candy. That’s what it reminds me of. I think the color is actually coral. I wouldn’t regularly choose this color. But it was on sale…

And it makes me look HOT! And not in the “I’m so fine, I blow your mind” way. More like hot as in hot to the touch. I think the blinding brightness of the top is reflected in my face. Ha ha ha! I’m just joking…a little. I do think it is a tad bright. Just a bit.

And now I leave you with a picture that includes Isabelle.

Doesn’t her pose look familiar?