Some sewing, and some progress on the bathroom

I tried to change the Linda pant from Style Arc (documented here) to a narrower leg, using the Willow pant block.  No luck.  The pants look fine from the front and the side, but I am going to take a big leap off the cliff and show the rear view.  What a disaster.  So I guess I'll have to spring for the new pattern after all.

 

 

Oops, gee I must have lost that back view photo after all.  What a shame.  And don't you think I look like I'm wearing hospital scrubs or a prison suit or something?  Maybe I spent too much time in China during the Mao years.  This is a ponte knit and very comfortable, though.  I had some idea that the "column" look would make me look thinner....but not from the back, I assure you.

 

I'm documenting the very slow progress on the master bath renovation!  I've done too many home renovations to count, but for some reason never properly documented them...including this one, but here's the master bath so far:

 

 

 Doesn't look too pretty at the moment, but it will. 

 

The next picture shows what was a closet in the hallway but will now be a large shower.  I wish I had taken pictures of the "before" bath.  The toilet now sits where the old shower was.  It all was tiled in a lovely baby blue...

 

 

 

 

Okay, this is how I really look

at 8 am heading out to play tennis.  No makeup (face smeared with sunscreen) and a sourpuss look on my face.  Actually my back was hurting even before I went and seriously hurting when I came home (had to go back to bed).  But I love tennis so much that I will play through the pain!  I wanted to get this picture, warts and all, of my new tennis skirt and top.  The material is so cute (vintage cowgirls).  I counted up my tennis skirts so far...nine.  Time to stop!

I did finish my version of the Linda pant and I think they came out well.  My major concern was that the side seams hang straight and I accomplished that.  The hem circumference is about 3"-4" smaller than the pattern, bringing them to the width of the Willow pant.  I'll try to get a picture later.  They are made of a ponte knit, in turquoise, just for around the house and grocery store stuff.  I'd like to find a slightly heavier and really nice knit for wearing out.  Might have to check out Emma OneSock!

 

Meanwhile, over at Petty Grievances the Sewcialists Logo has been voted upon and approved!  I'll be adding it to my blog.

 

 

Taming the Linda

Pant, that is.  From Style Arc patterns.  I love Style Arc and heard wonderful things about the "Linda" pant, so I ordered the pattern.  Now I find that the legs are rather wide, which is no longer the style.  Style Arc has a new pattern, redrafted with narrower legs, called the "Barb".  I already own the "Elle" pant from Style Arc, and the "Willow" pant.  The "Willow" has the narrow leg and is meant for a non-stretch fabric, while the "Elle" has a very narrow leg---I'd say they are leggings---and meant for a stretch fabric.  So when I received my "Linda" I decided I really didn't want to pay for, and wait for, yet another pants pattern.  I compared all the patterns and redrew the legs of the "Linda".  I've cut the fabric out, so keep our fingers crossed!  But meanwhile my machine bobbin is acting up again.  I just got her out of the shop for the same problem.  What's up with that?  So I'm not going to chew up my fabric until  I get that straightened out.

Barb pant

Willow pant

Elle pant

Linda pant

Not doing much

I either have a low grade fever or allergies...hard to tell.  But I'm not doing much of anything, including sewing.  Just surfing the web to amuse myself:

Garage Sale-ing

I've never been a huge fan of garage (yard) sales, but the BF likes them and persuaded me to look there for a replacement dryer.  Most of my appliances have given up the ghost this year:  dishwasher, refrigerator, washing machine, and now dryer.  I had to go out anyway to look for sconces for the master bath (have you priced those lately?  Gag.)  So we stopped at a couple of sales on the way and now, voila!  I am also a fan of garage sales.  Of course, you have to pick the right neighborhood!  We happened upon a sale today where I wanted just about everything...the lady of the house was my size, the prices were very good, and I got a dryer for less than half the price of a new one (of course I have no idea how long it will last).  Meanwhile, my new finds are on the clothesline after washing.  Three new nightwear outfits, two sweaters, and one tee shirt.  The sweater was $4 and the most expensive thing was the $6 brand new pink nightgown.  Score!

 

And just to leave on a laugh:

 

 

So, I'm redoing the master bath

One my my passions is to renovate homes.  I've made some fairly good money at it in my time, too.  Any house I live in usually has a project going on, and right now it's my master bath.  It's been torn down to the studs and I've found a new vanity to be installed.  I am awaiting quotes from a couple of guys who have been over to take a look, and I like one of them very much.  I'm attracted to contractors who have ideas of their own and don't just take notes.  The bathroom is being expanded into a large closet that backed up to the old shower.  Now that closet will become the new, very large shower.  I've decided that white tile is timeless, so the shower and floor will be white porcelain tile that looks like marble...I think.  The vanity, in contrast, is dark wood with a black granite top in an Empire style.  My personal taste is contemporary with a little eclectic thrown in, so this fits right in.  Pinterest is very helpful to me right now....I'm collecting ideas!

For a few days, it's all about tennis.

Played yesterday in my "Beefcake Cowboys" tennis skirt.  Played today in my "Purple Flowers" tennis skirt.  Tommorrow, maybe the "Cowgirls" skirt...whichever I feel will be lucky.  After that things will settle down, and I'll be making more tennis outfits but just for practice days.

  For this version I used the same "Gorgeous Gore" tennis skirt TNT, the same tennis panties TNT, but I added a  tee shirt out of the busk/panty fabric and a bias strip of the skirt fabric.  I need to remember to buy plenty of the lycra that I use for the busk and panty in order to make the matching tee, but it's only suitable for spring and fall.  Otherwise it's 100% cotton, baby!