Miss Celie

Bits and Pieces

I was rather productive in November with three dresses for me and three outfits for Sir Linus (my father’s very cute nickname for my dog). But, December has yielded not quite as much. I have a few things coming up that need to be photographed.  In the meantime, I will regale you with a minor project, a lingering UFO and a tale of woe.

First, tale of woe. My beloved gravity feed iron bit the dust last week after five years of faithful service. While working on a project, there was a spark, smoke and the shorting of an outlet. I’m not sure if I need an electrician or not. The shorting of the iron may have blown a fuse or blew out something (tripping the switches / circuit breaker got me nowhere). I just haven’t had the where with all to investigate. So, I’m back to my age-worn Rowenta Sew ‘n Press. I liked this iron fine when I bought it. It doesn’t cyle off (yeah!) But, I feel like I’m putting water in every 10 minutes and it wears 3 oz compared to my heavy gravity feed. Hopefully I’ll be replacing my gravity feed in the first quarter of 2013.

 

Minor finished project is another 4-2011-122 tee shirt from Burda. I’ve gotten so much mileage out of my other tops. They are great under jackets and wore well in the summer as easy tops. I’ve had this navy version cut out for months. But, was waiting until I had blue thread of the serger to finish.

My UFO. I just need to add buttonholes to the this Vogue  vest / cape. I know it’s not much to look at here, but withold judgement until I’m all done. The buttons I have are going to make it pop! The material is CRAZY thick, an Oscar de le Renta wool. So, I need to use my buttonhole attachment to make the buttonholes. And, because nothing is easy, I need to use a modification in sewing the buttonholes since the since buttons I have are too big for the template. I’ve decided to wait until the light of day and when I’m alert before tackling this.

Finally, one more Purple Friday outfit is on the cutting table. It’s a little sweater with a cowl neck. I’m going to a Christmas Party / Ravens Game Party on Sunday and would like to have this completed by then. It’s just 1.5 star pattern from Burda so shouldn’t take much out of me.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend and managing to stay out of the mall for Christmas shopping. I know I am!

15 comments

  1. Saw your PR pic on Tee’s blog, but actually read about the event on yours. :-). Sounds like a great time.

  2. One of my children shorted out an outlet at Grandma and Grandpa’s more than 26 years ago. (He stuck a key in it. It traveled out through his body and out his leg onto the metal strip separating carpet and kitchen flooring. He wasn’t wet so he survived and had a great nap that day.)

    Several years later, during the Christmas season, outdoor lights would not work at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. An electrician was called. Seems the “sparking” activity eventually caused wires to melt together and stop all current. I’m just thankful it didn’t start a house fire.

    So…if that outlet doesn’t work, please call an electrician. My other two kids have lived places where fires did start from the shorting out. It is scary. My daughter had an electrical fire in the attic/ceiling of the bathroom early on the first day of spring semester one year. She found it just in time. My youngest son is just back home in his apartment after a fire in his building on Wednesday.

    Please call an electrician as soon as you can. *Stepping off soapbox now.*

    The other bits and pieces you shared look fun!

    • Thank you for getting on your soapbox! I hadn’t thought of that at all. And, my house was built in the 30s. I’ll call my electrician ASAP to investigate.

  3. Sometimes I wish my iron didn’t shut off on its own; then sometimes I am glad for one less way to burn my house down 🙂
    My husband the electrician concurs w Miriam- old wiring might leave u in a more dangerous situation. Likely a call to an (IBEW) electrician is in order :)!

  5. I must state~~I LOVE ROWENTA IRONS 🙂 I am a professional seamstress so my iron gets ALOT of use 🙂 They provide FANTASTIC STEAM and I am VERY HAPPY with them 🙂 I USE ONE UP about every 18 months. My last one SURVIVED for almost THREE years until DUMB CHERYL (ME ) dropped it TWICE in a year 😦 She was LEAKING water ALOT and I do formalwear alterations so I cannot have a ‘leaky’ iron 😦 I have NOT purchased the $200 Rowenta model yet. Reviews are GREAT but the lifespan doesn’t appear to be LONGER than my $100 models. My NEW one is Rowentas’ FOCUS 🙂

  6. Sorry Miss Celie, I ran out of room 🙂 PLEASE call an electrician to inspect your wiring 🙂 Ask friends and co-workers for REFERRALS : If it costs a few hundred $, it’s WORTH It…. Peace of mind=PRICELESS 🙂 Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays 🙂 from Cheryl Designs 🙂

  7. Why bother yourself with buttonholes? I’d like to suggest you use large press studs even covering them if you like then sew the buttons on the front just for deco. I like this pattern too but it is way too expensive here so I’ll wait for a sale at Sewingpatterns.com.

    • You know what? You are totally right. I just ordered six 30mm snaps from Pacific Trim. Those buttonholes were going to be a nightmare. I’ll still keep the two in-seam buttons (since the openings are complete). But, the snaps will work just fine. Thanks for opening my eyes!

  8. Thank you for being human. So many times you seem like the WonderWoman of Sewing –beautiful work too! . I always enjoy your emails. I too have a Rowenta, and it no longer shuts off automatically, and I’m always refilling… Merry Christmas to all!

  9. I love my Reliable I300 steam generator iron. My husband purchased one for me about four years ago. He also got me the vacuum ironing board.

  10. This pattern and the snaps have been languishing in my stash since last year! I am so jealous of you! The purple already looks amazing, can’t wait to see the finished product.

  12. I love it in this fabric! how funny that we were working on the same project. I just read your comment doll but I think the black buttons/snaps will look great.

    xoxo

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