Master Sewing and Design Certification Program

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween

 HAPPY HALLOWEEN YA'LL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's really me. I left my hair out to prove it!
May your Halloween be hauntingly good!!!1

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

The Tree Of Life Bag


I am preempting the Jenny Jacket today in order to correct a mistake that I made in the instructions for the Tree Of Life Bag. As I was working on mine last night, I realized that I published the instructions that I had originally written and there was a mistake that I had forgotten to correct in the new instructions. Hopefully, no one has moved on too far and I am catching you before you have to rip out the entire piece.
 The mistake is in the instructions for the center cable, Cable Pattern B.
You can see in the above picture that the center cable should have a small cable, twist and then move into the larger cable with stitches in the center. The instructions leave out the twists for the small cable. Here are the updated instructions. I will also update the instructions on last week's post where I published all of the instructions.
Cable Pattern B
(worked over 8 stitches)
Row 1: (Right Side), Purl 2, C4F, Purl 2
Row 2 and all even rows: Knit all knit stitches and Purl all purl stitches
Row 3: Purl 2, Knit 4, Purl 2
Row 5: Purl 2, C4F, Purl 2
Row 7: Purl 1, T3B, T3F, Purl 1
Row 9, 11, and 13: Purl 1, Knit 2, Purl 2, Knit 2, Purl 1
Row 15: Purl 1, T3F, T3B, Purl 1
Row 16: Knit all knit stitches and Purl all purl stitches.
These 16 rows make up Cable Pattern B.

Note that the only change is in Row 5.
If you would like to see all of the instructions with the updated change, click here.
I am so sorry for the mistake and I do hope that no one has moved on too far.
On another knitting note;
Sometimes I feel that I have the attention span of a gnat as I usually have my hands into quite a few projects at one time. I recently treated myself to a Rowan Magazine subscription.
 It's a bit expensive, but I feel that it is so worth it.
The magazine has wonderful articles.
 
 The photography is so lovely.




 And one of the nice little perks of a subscription is the gift that is included. With this subscription, I was able to choose the project that I would like to do. I chose a hat and glove set. This is the first pair of gloves that I've knitted and I'm finding them easier than I thought they would be.The yarn is as lovely as all Rowan yarns are. It's called Baby Alpaca dk. As you can see, the hat is finished and I've knitted the thumb in one glove and I'm ready to move on to the fingers. 
In the past, it was rather difficult for those of us in America to subscribe to the Rowan magazine, but it is now so much easier. Here's a link to their page. Sitting down with a cup of tea and my Rowan magazine is such a treat. It's like a small vacation to England and I never leave my chair!

Monday, October 29, 2012

Monday Morning Inspiration

Good Morning Everyone and welcome to a whole new week!
A few weeks ago I shared the first of my pile of Modes Royale vintage catalogues. Hopefully, this is not growing too old as I thought I would share one more this week. This is the Fall/Winter collection from 1955/56. I think this is one of my favorites. I hope you enjoy it as well. Next week I will share another vintage catalogue from a different pattern company, so stay tuned!


I love the pocket detail on the two dresses that are in the middle of the above picture.

Such a beautiful evening coat!

Take note of how the pockets are extensions of the princess line seams in the above jacket.

The dress on the left is timeless.


I don't know that I would wear the above dresses as they are, but the button and lacing details are really interesting. 


Both of the above jackets are lovely. I especially like how the trim on the jacket on the right so perfectly matches the detail on the skirt.

I would love to see the coat on the left in person. Lovely lines.



I really got a kick out of the above picture. The right dress from 1 to 5. This is a woman who has an outfit for the morning, an outfit for the afternoon and another for the evening. Who has the time to change so many times? There are days when I do well to get one outfit on!!!!

A nice little stroll through 1955! Hope you enjoyed it and I hope it inspires you in some way.
Wishing you a safe week and special thoughts to those who live out on the east coast of the United States. Having lived through a number of hurricanes, I know how upsetting this time can be. May you all be safe.
Rhonda 

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Sunday Night Reflections


One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a debate that goes on inside all people. He said, " My son, the battle is between two wolves who live inside us all.
One is named Evil.
It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is named Good.
It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."
The grandson thought about this for a moment and then asked his grandfather, which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied,
"The one you feed."

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Sunday Brunch

This will be the last Sunday Brunch post that I will do for a while. I need a change!! I love to make soups during the fall and winter so I thought that during the upcoming cool months I would share the soups that I love to make. So our Sunday morning posts will become Sunday Soups.
For my last Sunday Brunch recipe, I thought I would share a favorite fall recipe,

Zucchini Bread 

3 eggs
1 cup of oil
2 cups of sugar
2 cups of grated zucchini
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 cup chopped nuts, I like walnuts, but use your favorite
Blend above and set aside.


In another bowl combine;
2 cups of flour, I use whole wheat
1/4 teaspoon of baking powder
2 teaspoons of baking soda
3 teaspoons of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of salt
Combine.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Once completely combined pour into a greased tube pan or 2 loaf pans.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake bread for 1 hour or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow to cool then remove from pan.
 The bread/cake is moist and delicious! Slice and enjoy!
May our Sunday be special!
Rhonda

Friday, October 26, 2012

Fabulous Free Pattern Friday

I had such a good time putting together today's new pattern. It's basically one big rectangle with the addition of a rectangle for one sleeve and the other sleeve is just a rectangle that is extended from the original rectangle. I'm calling this top 
The Rolling Rectangle Top 
I have to apologize for the pictures. I had no idea that they were so blurry. Hopefully, you can at least get the idea of the top.
The above picture is the finished top laid flat. You can see that it is one big rectangle with a dolman type extension for one sleeve and the other sleeve was a rectangle that I tapered once I was able to try it on. The neck opening is in the top right hand corner.
You can see the rectangle shape above since I am bent to the side.
Again, I am so sorry about these pictures. It is very difficult to see, but the one side drapes and the other side sits close to the body.
I'm bending in the opposite direction here and you can see the one side is close to the body and the other side is draped.
To draft the top, you will need your hip measurement and the length that you would like your finished top to be.
This top needs to be made from a 2-way stretch knit fabric.
Begin with a basic rectangle. The lower measurement is 1/2 your hip measurement. The length is your desired length. This top needs to be close fitting so do not add ease to your hip measurement.   
The top left hand corner is the neck opening. Measure down 9". At the 4 1/2" mark, in the middle of what will be the neck opening, measure in 4" and curve this line for the neck opening as you see above. From the 9" point, measure out for your sleeve. This measurement will be the length from your neck edge to your wrist. Be sure to add a few extra inches as you can always cut away, it's a little more difficult to add back!! On the top right side you see the extension for the opposite sleeve. You can see below that I did not cut this on my top. This was added once I cut my rectangle. What I recommend is to cut the top as I have below. Sew it up and leave an opening for your arm. Try on the top and measure how much more you will need for the sleeve and then sew it to the opening. You'll waste less fabric. 

From the above picture you can see that the neck opening is in the top right hand corner.  
The flat version of my finished top. Look closely and you will see that the top seam has a slight curve at the neckline. Once you try the top on, you will be able to pinch in however much you need to for the curve of the shoulder. You can also see that I tapered my sleeves for a close fit.
Crazy me in my new top.
Rolling Rectangles. I really like this top, and I hope you give it a try. It was a lot of fun to put together and I really enjoyed wearing it.
Hope you've had a wonderful week.
Rhonda