Cheaper to replace??? Seriously??

I like iced tea. Not just any ol' iced tea. My iced tea. 

My mom's is a close second but it needs to be sweeter.

My poor ol' Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker is getting old. 

It came with 2, that's right 2, pitchers....3 quart; fabulous!  

 Well, both pitchers now have cracks in them and leak.

What to do, what to do? 

I was just going to order a new pitcher and be done with it. Oh nooooooo! A replacement pitcher costs more than getting a BRAND. NEW. MACHINE. Really?  Is everything in today's world so disposable? Why do they make fixing something more expensive than buying a new one? I don't want a ''new'' one!!

I am used to my machine. I know what settings to have it on, how many tea bags it takes, how much water to add after it has perked for a little while. I have the perfect balance of sweet to bitter, brown to white, water to ice. I don't want to have a new machine break me in; to take the time to learn all it's fussiness until that perfect pitcher of tea is achieved.  I just don't!! (picture me stomping my foot in a mock fit, okay, maybe a little bit of a real fit)

For now, I will just persevere with my tiny leaks and wipe off the counter top after I pour the tea into another pitcher (good ol' rubbermaid) until I decide on a new and pretty and possibly red (or some other bright color they offer at the beginning of the summer season) or order a new pitcher to go with my beater machine.

Regena's Sweet Tea

Fill the machine up with water as far as it will go. I use the 3 qt. mark on the pitcher.
Fill a 16oz water bottle with water (1/2 liter)
Use 7 teabags in the basket. I use the strong setting and cover the overflow hole with a tea bag so the unsteeped water doesn't filter into the pitcher and make the tea weak.
press start
After the pitcher has an inch of tea in it, pour the reserved water into one of the holes around the top where the baskets rests and down into the reservoir.
In the hot liquid, add 1/8 cup loosely packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup white sugar. Mix like crazy.
After perking, add ice into the tea until it reaches the bottom of the pour spout. Stir. Drink up!!

Think I have a tall one now!!

..

Wedding Corset. part 2

These are the changes I made to the pattern based on the first fitting.  I added 1.5" to the top and the bottom. I didn't have to move the waist or reshape the bust area. Yeah!!!!  I did have a few issues making the curved areas nice and the seam allowances line up, but after it was sewn, it worked out well.

I taped tracing paper where I needed to make the changes and used a measuring tool that kept the 1.5" for me so that I didn't have to constantly look for the right spot. A hem guide, a piece of sturdy paper/cardboard cut to size would work too.

As you can see, I made a dot every half inch or so to accommodate the curve. I did make the little flat area on the right a bit long. It should've maintained the 5/8" seam allowance, so I need to practice my grading. :-)

The curve on this one was a little trickier because I didn't want to have the curve make the cup area smaller so I just straightened out the line instead of following the natural curve. For the little jut-out....I did a million dots and then connected them. 

It worked!!!!

I had the same grading issues with the bottom, but I did fix it before I cut the pattern to size. No worries though, you trim and clean up the lines before you bind it. Thank goodness!!! :-)

After I had sewn all the pieces together  

( see part one) , I opened the seam allowances and stitched one side down to use as a temporary boning channel. I will be sewing both sides down on the straight seams and using bias tape as the boning channel on the two very curved bust seams. The seam allowance bunched up too much for my liking.It doesn't show on the outside and it will get covered on the inside, but I am a bit of a perfectionist, okay, anal. LOL

 The boning should be about 1/2" shorter that the length of the boning channel. You will have several different lengths in one corset. the more bones, the more sizes.

There are several kinds of boning. Here are the two main kinds. Spiral steel and spring steel. These are both quarter inch wide. You can buy them pre-cut or by the roll and and attach your own ends. I am lucky enough to have a place that sells corset supplies, so I can take the corset in and try the boning before I buy it. There are several online suppliers: Sc City Dry Goods, Lacis, Farthingales 

(they also have a Canadian site)

 As you can see, the only difference in the boning is that the spiral steel is very flexible. If your corset is long, you don't need a truck load of support or you will be very active, spiral is the way to go. Shorter corsets, the spring steel is fine. Unless you go to the half inch size or have a really rigid busk.

I know many a costumer that uses plastic electrical ties for their boning. 

 The left side has spiral boning in it. Notice how it follows the curves better. The right side has the flat, spring steel.  We decided on the spring steel for better support. The bride did a lot of hopping and bending to make sure which she preferred.

The front with the alterations. Good coverage. No gaposis and no curling edges. All and all a very nice fit. Once fully boned, the wrinkles will disappear. 

This part is the base and will be covered by two more layers of fashion fabric. Yes, you can make a corset with just one layer of fabric.

The back.

Compares to the last fitting, the back opening is larger. The boning really took some stretch out of the fabric and the added height and length changed the outline. We decided to add one inch on each side to make the opening smaller. there will be a privacy panel to cover the skin that is a contrasting color so she wanted a pretty wide opening. She also likes the hour glass shape and did not want me to make the sides parallel to each other which is what most corset makers try to achieve. ;-)

The altered center back. Notice how I tapered the ends...I know, I know, that parallel thing again!!! I just HAD to even it up a little!!! :-)

In the next installment, I will show you how to sew the boning channels, buy the boning (field trip!!) baste the fashion fabric ''in the ditch", grommet placement and binding.

Part One here
Part three here

** Give Away Starts TODAY **

this giveaway is over  thanks for playing

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish Modern Dining Room Furniture to cute cookware to chic lighting pieces. Rachel Ray? They got it!!


The winner, by random number generator, will get an online coupon worth $25.00 to spend on anything from one of the many CSN Stores!

To enter, leave me a comment about how you found my blog and visit the csn store of your choice and let me know what you might get with your $25.00 buckaroos.


For a second entry, post the giveaway, with link, to your blog or facebook or whatever, then comment again to me that you did.....two posts, two entries!! Easy peasy!


Monday Night, I will enter all of you into the random number generator and Tuesday morning (jan 11).....the winner will be announced!


Please leave your email addy so I can forward the coupon to you asap!!

Let the games begin.......................................... 


..

Be watching for a **giveaway** announcement!!!!!

It's gonna be fun!!!!

Wedding Corset 101- the muslin

My first project of the new year is to make a wedding dress. A pretty simple wedding dress by Vera Wang standards, but you want perfection anyway. I know the bride does!! :-)
Thought I go, step-by-step, through the process. I will spend most of my blog time on construction, but fit is VERY important. If I knew how to explain it better, I would.
First, get yourself a pattern according to your (or whoevers) measurements, not the size you get from the store. This is important, especially if you use a pattern from a specialty company like Mantua Maker, Truly Victorian, or Laughing Moon Patterns out of Sac City Dry Goods.

For this particular corset, I am using Simplicity 5006 with a sweetheart neckline.

The fabric I am using for the muslin is a white heavyweight twill. Canvas works well, something with no stretch. Save the coutil for the one you'll be wearing. The final corset will have a canvas foundation, a cotton lining and a white silk cover with a turquoise net and sparkle overlay. It is sooooo pretty!!

 Cut your pattern pieces to your size or the next size up. It's easier to subtract that it is to add....trust me!

 Lay everything out and label like your life dependied on it!. 

Use some tape on the wrong side of the fabric and mark your pieces.

I started at the center front seam and worked my way out to the center back.
 

Now, set your machine to 2.5 (normal) stitch length and start from the center out. 

First the right, then the left and then join them in the middle.

I don't know if you can tell, but I stitched across the seam line so the vertical seam wouldn't pull apart when we tightened the lacing.

It should look like this. 

Don't worry if all you connecting parts are 1/16" off. It will work out in the end. Honest!

See these little pre-grommeted strips of fabric. Get some!!! Seriously, it will be the best money you ever spent if you are making and fitting a corset, or in my case, several.

You just sew these suckers on, add a piece of metal boning in the boning channel and you are ready to go!

Leave them long, that way they can be used on long or short corsets. If the corset isn't going to be seen, you can use the strip as your grommets for a quickie corset. This one will be seen so I have to do it the hard way. LOL  Press this link for directions.

Your muslin is now ready for a first fitting. It isn't boned yet. This was just a starting point. It wouldn't hurt to sew down a few of the seam allowances and put in a bone to get a better fit.

Front

Back

 

Not bad for a first fitting. I wrote all over the fabric since I knew I wouldn't be using it as part of the finished product. That being said, I would've marked it up with water soluble maker if I was using it. Since I had to add length and some more coverage, these pieces are too short to use as the base. 

Have the person getting fitted wear the underthings that will go under the corset!!!!!! Your fit could be way off if you will be wearing it over a chemise and/petticoats and a skirt. Also, if the person will be wearing a spanx, have that too. It IS important.

We decided to add and inch to the bust area at the top for a little more coverage. Once the boning is in, the ''girls'' will be ready to say howdy and we don't want them fallin' out. And an inch and a half to the front and sides tapering to the original back length. She likes the opening, although I may adjust it after the next fitting with the boning in place.

Next time........................................

The final fitting and what kind, what size, and how-to insert boning.

Be forewarned....I will NOT be following the instructions that came with this pattern. I will be using a modifed version of the instructions for Laughing Moon's Victorian Corset #100. There will be no busk in the front and the fashion fabric will hide the boning channels. Feel free to use the instructions, but the corset will not be sturdy enough for multiple wearings and washings. just sayin'.......................

Happy sewing!!!

Click here for Part 2 

part three here

,,

Resolution or Evolution?

     I've been thinking a lot about the coming year. What do I want to achieve? What do I want to change? What works? What doesn't?  Really, who am I and how can I be a better me?

     I've come to the conclusion that I do not wish to make resolutions. They can be far too restrictive and set you up for failure and laziness and resentment. No sireebob! That doesn't sound productive or fun. I get enough stress from things I can't control I certainly don't want to add stress with things I can control. LOL 

     Believe me, I can pile on a mess of ''have to's'' that really aren't ''have to's" at all. Raise your hand if you do it too!! C'mon.....I know I'm not the only one!!  Admitting it is half the battle. hahahaha

     What will I do this year? Obviously, I need to set realistic goals. I need people I am accountable to so I don't feel alone and I get a boost or butt kickin' when it seems fit and proper. 

     How can I chart my evolution and keep it from feeling like a drudgery? Conundrum to be sure.  

The short list:  

*finish stuff in a timely fashion, "procrastinot"

*drop some tonnage for health and ego

  (let's be honest, I wanna be one hot 49yo)

*be less restrictive with the creative process 

* be a better mom, wife, friend, Christian

*figure out a way to entertain in my home that meshes with 

  the hubster"s 8:30pm bedtime 

* sister goal: go to parties and gatherings 

I made some progress in the resolution department over the last few New Year's: lost weight; made creating a priority; stopped settling for things that were ''almost'' what I wanted, but not quite; less boring underwear; live out loud; let the teenagers live to see adulthood (still working on that one LOL); go to more costumed events even if I don't know anyone. ( I have a shy streak that I have to fight daily....some of you will have a hard time believing that, but it's true. (My mom's got storieeeeesssssssss)

Not bad, eh?

How will you evolve this year?  

We will open the book.  Its pages are blank.  We are going to put words on them ourselves.  The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce

,,

New year, new way to blog...........mobile!. This is a test, this is only a test. :-)