Does this dress make me look pregnant?

Simplicity 3874.
I don't really understand the current trend of tops and dresses that not only obscure your waist but in fact make it look bigger than it is. What kind of body shape looks good in this style? Why would someone who's not pregnant want to wear maternity clothes?

Yet, somehow, they do seem to look good on everyone Stacey & Clinton put in them. So I spent $1 on this easy-to-make pattern (hey, it's only $1) on the off chance that this look might camouflage my less-than-flat abdomen without making me appear either pregnant or as though I was trying to hide a pregnancy.

Then, right after Thanksgiving, I found out I was pregnant. At my age, according to one website, the odds of this happening without medical intervention are so low as to be considered incalculable. So I was quite surprised, but happily so, and also very relieved that I hadn't just eaten too much turkey and stuffing to fit into my clothes. And so I'm definitely OK with looking pregnant in this dress. I just wish I didn't look so FAT in it.

Super Reader Halloween costume

For the first time ever, this Halloween M actually asked for a costume. Although he's into the usual superheroes (he would wear his Spiderman T-shirt every day if he could), he wanted to dress up as an obscure PBS character, "Super Why," a "super reader" from a show for pre-kindergarten kids. I made him a green mask and blue cape. He still wears the cape around for fun, pretending to be a variety of superheros, which of course pleases me no end.

The cape is 20" wide at the bottom, shoulder width across the top, and 24" long from back of neck to bottom edge. I used a single layer of lightweight poly-cotton, so that it would be floaty, and not heavy hanging off his neck.

When I did a mock-up using paper, I started with this pattern in mind, but straighter straps (i.e., parallel to the vertical axis of the cape, rather than inward-curving) lie really nicely around his neck. (The straps on my finished cape do end up curving inward a bit, because of the narrow-hemmed neck edge. Next time I think I'll do a facing at the neck instead of narrow hem.)

Thrift-shop haul

Lookit what I scored at the Goodwill store on Geary St (SF) yesterday:

Patternmaking for Fashion Design by Helen Joseph Armstrong. Its previous owner had torn the covers off, hole-punched the pages, and put them in a 3-ring binder.

I did the same thing with my calculus textbook way back when, to avoid having to lug the entire 50 lbs. of it around.

I also got a kids' crafting book, a chocolate brown sheet and a yellow-with-white-polka-dots sheet. Books and linens were 2-for-1, so I paid only $8 for everything! SCORE!

The secret life of Sew-sew Crafter

I think about knitting all the time. This is my fantasy life: to knit things. to completion. I've collected all sorts of knitting patterns (mostly free) and tips and websites and blogs and online yarn stores. I read knitting books from the library all the time, and I keep a list of knitting books that I want to borrow as soon as the library gets them. I have a stash of yarn that I have no idea what I'm going to do with. I have straight and circular needles in every size (ebay & yard sale specials). However, I have only actually knit:

• 1 sweater (it took over 5 years (I am not exaggerating), and I want to frog it because I don't like the style anymore), and
• 1 scarf (a gift, started last fall, finished this March, just in time for the warm weather in DC).

Now you know the skeleton in my closet. is made of yarn.

Another vintage skirt

Vogue 7218. Waistband piece was missing, but using the photocopier to enlarge the drawing of it from the instruction sheet worked surprisingly well.

(Blurriness due to photographer being 4 years old.)

I've had the fabric for over 20 years--originally intended to be a 3-piece suit.

Vintage wrap skirt

Simplicity 5084, original price 50 cents - I love the way the v.2 pockets pooch out a bit at the top edge.

My version could use some bleach pen decorating, I think.

Next time:
- Make flat butt adjustment: cut waistline at center back 1/2" lower (tapering to nothing at sides).
- If using lighter weight fabric, interface waistband.
- Don't attach waistband wrong-side out.

Loop-through bag

The Lucy Felted Bag really grabbed me (from a Lion Brand catalog) but I figured it would be a lot easier to make one from one of big M's old J.Crew sweaters. But first, a mock-up:

It has a long strap on one side and a much shorter strap on the other, through which the long strap is inserted to close the bag.

Cute idea, but...

the design flaw becomes obvious when you put stuff in the bag and wear it: it doesn't hang straight. The side to which the shorter strap is attached will always hang lower, which makes the bottom of the bag jut out.

Possible solutions:

1. A velcro closure at the top of the bag, to keep the top edges even. But for this style I like the idea of having no closures (other than the inter-looped straps). Also, it would make this particular bag non-reversible (not an issue for the sweater version).

2. Wear it the other way around. That just doesn't look good to me.

3. Cut the back side shorter than the front?

Details:

- The pieces measure as follows (includes 1/2" seam allowances):

14.5 x 14.5" - cut 2 from denim, 2 from floral fabric

14.5 x 28" - cut 1 from interfacing

long strap 3.25 x 23.5" - cut 2 each from denim/floral/interfacing

short strap 3 x 8.5" - cut 1 each from denim/floral/interfacing

- 1.5" deep box bottom, rounded off the corners.

- The 2 halves of the long strap are seamed at a slight angle, to fit the shoulder.

Next time (if there is one):

- Add an inner pocket

- Make the small loop narrower (~1.5")

- Velcro or button closure?

Sure glad I didn't spend 5 years knitting one.