Sew Expo - I Actually Sewed Something

Today I met my friend, Judy Wisehart in Denver for lunch and to attend the Rocky Mountain Sew Expo. It's become a regular thing for us to meet up there and walk through and view what the vendors are flogging. Normally, when we go, it's too crowded and hectic to really see anything due to the crowds. We usually attend on Friday, however, this time we both able to attend today and it was perfect timing on our part. We ate lunch without waiting forever in line and actually got to see what the vendors had to offer. Judy scored some trims and tulle for making dresses for her granddaughters along with a super duper spiffy ironing board cover.

I also ran into my friend and customer from Great American Quilt Factory where I worked for 3 years. It was kinda of odd tho as she was the only person I ran into today, unlike past shows where I would get lost from Judy because I was talking to yet someone else I knew. That's Sharlene and me.

I also did a Make and Take of a table runner on gridded iron on backing. It was really simple to use. I definitely think I will buy more of the grid to make some table runners as gifts. The other picture is of the few goodies I bought. Mulberry silk yarn for Erin to dye up along with silk sari waste to spin into some woolen yarn for a novelty. The photo includes the table runner top and some cherry pins. I also scored some hook and loop tape to close some 1700s period jackets that I intend to make later on. I found yardage of one of the fabrics in the table runner but there wasn't enough for the size of napkins I want to make to go with the runner, so I will order it from the website of Contemporary Fibers.

The strawberry buttons and the novelty hooks and eyes came from Denver Fabrics where I stopped on my way out of town. I need to find a warm grey fabric to make my Mother of the Bride dress and thought I might luck out there, but alas no. The one fabric I found that was the right colour and weight was very short on yardage, sadly and there was no more to be had. The strawberry buttons are for an Outlander Swap over on Ravelry. Strawberries being one of the symbols of the Fraser Clan, which is the clan of the main male character in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.



I did actually spin today as well for the Tour de Fleece... Again more shall be revealed...

#68 of 365 - Won't You Be My Neighbour

My friend Judy gifted me with a new/old cardi. She and I appreciate good woolens and we are always in search of them when we hit the charity shops. As we keep our house really cold, sweaters are very welcome and are worn by me often whilst in the house.

This one is made by Pendleton Woolen Mills. It's got pockets, which are always a necessity for me.

It also puts me in mind of Mr. Rogers.

#66 of 365 - Knitting yet Again...

Busy, busy weekend. Knit with the girls at the Lamb Shoppe yesterday afternoon, saw The Rising also known as Mohr Phun which was a concert presented by Angus Mohr and Gobs O'Phun, thus the name, last night.

Also met the Judds' new family edition, currently sort of nameless... I fell for her and she for me. she tried to hide under my skirt and go with when I left the house this morning. Then to church at my church home away from church home, Saint Thomas. Then it was Kiltmaking 202 with Judy this afternoon.

Now watching the Oscars and hand stitching pleats in. Ryan Blair WILL wear this kilt at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Denver on the 13th (next Saturday, don't ya know)!

Basically, I hung out all the weekend with various iterations of my Denver,Aurora and Broomfield friends.

How to Make an American Kilt

Here is the wool tartan in the Old Blair.

For more years than I care to think about I have been trying to get my Da, Allan to get and wear a kilt. I finally convinced him last summer to go ahead and purchase the Old Blair Tartan and let me make his kilt for him. This process, was of course, speeded up by my girlfriends admiring him in my Stewart Kilt.

I have a great friend, Judy Wisehart, who makes kilts professionally and she agreed to show me how to make a proper kilt from beginning to end. So with fabric in hand, I spent a couple days at her house, cutting the fabric, stitching the pleats, pressing the pleats, pressing the pleats some more and then more steaming and more stitching of the pleats. When all was said and done, and the buckles and tabs were added after I returned to my house (finally as I had been gone from home for 3 weeks) it was finished. I then went in search of a sturdy hanger to keep it on (whilst also avoiding the malls in the search) and made a hanging bag to protect it whilst Da traveled it to home in Arizona.

Here are some pictures of some of the many steps it takes to make an American kilt.








The finished product and when I can find it, I will post the picture of him wearing it. Now on to stockings to go with..