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Archive for the 'Sewing' Category


Speaking of Definitions, How About One for ‘Teamwork’

Friday, August 17th, 2012
By Twistie

It’s time once again to parse out reality… or what passes for it on Project Runway, the show where clearly nobody has ever seen the inside of an office not featured on a show involving Kardashians. Clearly nobody ever watched The Apprentice, or even The Office.

And if you don’t know where that rant came from, you might want to watch the episode before you read this… or you might want to just jump right in and read all the discussion now. Your choice.

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Left Out No More

Monday, August 13th, 2012
By Twistie

(Image via M3)

Happy Left-Hander’s Day!

Yes, it’s a real day. August 13. And this month friday the thirteenth lands on a monday, which makes it more dangerous. Bonus points to anyone who knows where that concept comes from.

Anyway.

As a southpaw, sometimes it’s hard to find equipment set up for me, let alone instructions to use it properly.

So in honor of the day, I have found a selection of tools and instructions to help my fellow right-minders be super crafty.

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You Keep Using That Word. I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

Friday, August 10th, 2012
By Twistie

There are times when I’m watching Project Runway, and I suddenly realize just how different the world of the fashionista is from the one the rest of us live in. This episode was one of those times.

As per usual, move on from here if you don’t care or don’t care to be spoiled. Follow the cut if you want to know my thoughts on last night’s Project Runway.

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They’re Ba-ack, or Ghosts of Seasons Past

Friday, August 3rd, 2012
By Twistie

Yes, it’s Tim Time again!

Well, that and Product Placement time.

And Blast From the Past time. Some more welcome than others.

As per usual, follow the cut unless you don’t want to be spoiled… or don’t really care about Project Runway.

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Keep Your Identity Secret!

Tuesday, July 31st, 2012
By Twistie

Sure, they’re for kids, but I see no reason these awesome felt superhero masks couldn’t be expanded for grown-ups. Jessica at Cutesy Crafts came up with them for favors at a child’s superhero/princess theme birthday party (there’s a boy and a girl both celebrating their birthday together, and there will be instructions for princess crowns, too)… but I want them for my next birthday bash.

Go visit Jessica’s site for more information and instructions… and superhero/princess cake pops, too.

Now, do I want to be Spider Man, Iron Man… or maybe I can come up with a Cat Woman mask.

What? I imprinted early on Eartha Kitt.


The Sweet Life

Friday, July 27th, 2012
By Twistie

Oh my dears, have I mentioned lately that Tim Gunn is totally my imaginary gay TV boyfriend? Because he is.

We had a Moment last night. Possibly two or three. And a bunch of other interesting stuff happened on Project Runway. So settle in with your favorite beverage (which you might do well to set down at one or six points in the proceedings) or snack (same counsel applies) or both (just have a new monitor at the ready), and follow me past the bouncing spoiler cut to learn more.

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Times Square for Fashion

Friday, July 20th, 2012
By Twistie

Darlings, last night began a new season of my beloved Project Runway, with my beloved Tim Gunn, and the fabulously deranged Heidi Klum back on my TV screen. Oh, and Michael Kors and Nina Garcia. Not that I don’t love them, but for me it’s all about Heidi and Tim. And the design. Okay, and some of the drama.

For those of you who don’t care and those who don’t want to be spoiled, here comes the cut. Follow it if you want to know who and what I’m snarking on.

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Victoria Had a Secret in the Fifteenth Century

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012
By Twistie

It may be badly deteriorated, but this scrap of linen may be one of the most important discoveries in the history of human dress for many a decade. Why? Because it proves that women’s underclothes existed in the fifteenth century.

For hundreds of years, most costume historians have believed that until well into the sixteenth century, women’s undergarments consisted pretty much entirely of the smock, a sort of undergown.

How did this amazing discovery come to light? Well, some renovations were recently done to Lengberg Castle in East Tyrol. During the work, more than three thousand fragments of clothes and other items of day to day usage were uncovered. The pieces were believed to have been buried when the building was expanded in about 1480.

The piece pictured above is described as a bra, but there is a strip down the lefthand side of it that clearly shows holes for a lacing to go through, indicating to me that it’s more along the lines of an early corset. There is apparently another garment similar to this one and two ‘shirts with bags’ that appear to have been meant to serve a similar function of breast support.

Perhaps even more amazing is the fact that two pairs of what seem to be women’s underpants were also found.

My guess? From the number of layers of cloth in the front, and the fact that there don’t seem to be so many layers in the back, is that this is actually medieval Kotex. Some experts in the subject believe that women didn’t do anything to contain menstrual flow back in the day, but there have been some vague references here and there to ‘clouts’ for women which seem to have been worn at certain times and not others. Hmmm… this looks like some strong potential evidence to me.

I don’t know about you, but I’m eager to see what new facts can be gleaned from these exciting finds!

If nothing else, SCA costuming will never be the same.


Table That Idea

Wednesday, July 11th, 2012
By Twistie

This is the Madrid pattern of table linens from Table Tableaux.

This is designer and manufacturer Nancy Hofer in her natural habitat. She created the design above and many more.  Other designs she’s done that I like include Martini, Tea Time, and Lisbon.

Each of these designs and more are digitally printed on cotton/linen blend fabric with water based inks, and then sewn into table runners, place mats, and napkins. Every person involved with the process is paid a living wage, too, so it’s fair trade made in the US of A! Hofer even does tiles of some of her designs and will be happy to discuss custom designs with you.

Check out her fabulous designs, people. And then dream big.

Now when I start my Yellow Submarine kitchen, I know who to call about coming up with just the right linens for the table. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA!


What To Do When the Washer Eats One Sock

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
By Twistie

It’s a well-known fact that washers and dryers eat socks. It’s equally well-known that they typically eat only one from each pair they attack. I don’t know about you, but after years of dealing with voracious laundry rooms and laundromats, I’ve wound up with dozens of unmatched socks I don’t know quite what to do with.

I’m thinking what I might do is pick up a copy of  Sockology by Brenna Maloney.

In this, her second book of crafty instructions for what to do with leftover socks, Maloney gives us another sixteen adorable stuffed critters to delight folks from three to three hundred. Whether your taste is more toward the super cute ducks pictured on the cover, the wacky toe sock rooster, or the cool aliens in jumpsuits (because in old sci fi movies, astronauts from Earth wear jumpsuits but aliens are often completely naked and Maloney felt it was time for the tables to be turned… though she mercifully does not give us patterns for naked astronauts) and gloriously deranged robots (she manages to make socks into cubes!) you’re sure to find a fun, easy way to upcycle those mismatched socks into something to amuse you or someone you love.

The patterns aren’t difficult, either. They’re sewn by hand using only running, back, blanket, and satin stitch. If you’re an experienced sewer, one of these should take roughly an afternoon to do.

Even if you never make a single pattern from the book, Maloney’s breezy prose will amuse you enough to make the cost worth it. Oh, and the cost? If you order it through Amazon, that would be just $12.08 (retail price $17.95!) plus it qualifies for free Super Saver Shipping on orders of $25.00 or more. At that price, you can afford some socks just to make into monsters from under your bed or big-mouthed frogs.












Disclaimer: Manolo the Shoeblogger is not Manolo Blahnik
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