Author Archives: Jan

About Jan

Musician and geek and Juris Doctor; lover of fine art and fine craft; mother and grandmother and significant other and friend. Passionate about sewing.

Sew? Clean? Sew!

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My sewing room is an abomination. An embarrassment. A couple of days ago, the Jazzman walked in while I was slaving over a hot sewing machine, then backed quietly out as he turned out the lights so he wouldn’t have to look at the mess. That was a suitable response. In fact, the only way I would share a photo with you was by first running it through my iPhone’s ToonCamera app so the mess wouldn’t be quite so recognizable. Here’s the problem: there are only 24 hours in a day. As you know, I’m trying to get too many … Continue reading →

What Every Body Needs

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As I walked into the JCC this morning for my water aerobics class, the sky was overcast and the weather forecast said there was a 90% chance of rain for the balance of the day. A young mom and dad were getting out of their car next to me and walking their two children into the day care center. The mom was dressed impeccably and wearing a bright red coat. Wow! Pop!! We all should have a brightly colored coat to bring us some cheer on gray days. I’m headed into my basement sewing room to begin work on Marcy … Continue reading →

All You Need is Love

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… And some of this incredible poly/rayon/lycra knit from GorgeousFabrics and Katherine Tilton’s wonderful Butterick 5925 top. I think I am more in love with this garment than anything else I’ve made this year. (You like the picture, don’t you? I’m channeling my inner Shams.) Here’s the review: Pattern Description: MISSES’ TOP: Pullover top has neckline and pocket variations, seam detail, and shaped hemine. A: slightly draped neck and pocket bands. B: pocket binding. A and B: semi-fitted, stitched hems. C and D: loose-fitting, hem band, and narrow hem. B, C and D: neck binding. Wrong side shows on hemlines, … Continue reading →

Thinking About Design

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[Photo borrowed stolen from Marcy Tilton’s fabric store. I wrote recently questioning the definition of design. This morning I reviewed my blog posts since early February of this year (the date I traveled to Santa Barbara and got kick-started by my friends/teachers/mentors Diane Ericson and Marcy Tilton and inspired by all my stylish sisters of the cloth on the West Coast). I have made a staggering 27 garments since returning from Design Outside the Lines. Twenty-seven! (Oh, and that’s in addition to a bunch of knitting, two sewn bags, and helping DGD make her first T-shirt.) Honestly, that seems a … Continue reading →

Yummy, Yummy, Yummy …

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I’ve got love in my tummy for this fabulous fabric. (Maybe one has to be born in the 50s to know that song.) When’s the last time you made something you loved so much you couldn’t wait to finish it before wearing it? That was yesterday for me! Ann Steeves had a knit sale this weekend. (If you’re reading this on Sunday afternoon, Oct. 13, runrunrun to GorgeousFabrics.com where the sale’s still on.) I picked up some of this poly/rayon/lycra blend from Gorgeous Fabrics last week, and it is to swoon over! Every time I put my hands on it … Continue reading →

Almost There

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I’m on the last row of the last square of six 25″ x 25″ squares of Tyler’s blanket. Five of the squares have been blocked. Four of the squares have been sewn together. I’ll finish it before the cold weather sets in, I hope. I’ll finish it before I leave for Frankfurt on November 8, I hope. I’ll breathe a sigh of relief when it’s done, I know!! Here’s the previous post on this topic. I don’t need any Good Mom points for this activity. My account is already overflowing beyond belief.

Training Them Early

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I posted a photo on Facebook yesterday that brought me so much joy I just wanted to share it here. This photo is from late 2006, a couple of months before my darling Boston and his family moved from Tucson back to Youngstown. It was taken in my home in Tucson, where I hosted frequent sleepovers for Boston and his sister. There are three facets to this photo: 1) the blanket on which he is lying; 2) the green blanket to his right; and 3) the red pajamas he is wearing. 1) When Boston’s daddy, DS#2 Tyler, was born, a … Continue reading →

The Guinea Pig Shirt

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Why, oh why, do I keep trying patterns no one has made before?! (Or at least no one has written a review or a blog post.) I must be a glutton for punishment, or else I’m emotionally bonded to my seam ripper! Today’s newbie pattern is Vogue 1363 in Sandra Betzina’s “Today’s Fit” line. I liked the layered look of View A. This has been my year of mixing prints, so I thought I would have some remnants that would work together with the Missoni-esque ITY fabric that I picked up at Vogue Fabrics’ booth at the Pittburgh Original Sewing … Continue reading →