Chivalry Isn't Dead!

*** NON SEWING POST, JUST A LIFE STORY ***

Dear Hubby and I have aged 20 years over this past week.  Our dear, sweet daughter who is only 14 and we knew boys were in her future, just not yet, let us know that the time is here.

This past week while we were at her softball practice we see a young man who we noticed approaching us from across the fields was dressed ALOT like my Dear hubby himself.  (Shorts, white socks, that the kids nag him about, polo shirt buttoned all the way to the top),  He was my husband's Mini Me! The young man approached Dear Hubby and I as we are sitting on the bleachers and introduced himself as A.J. and asked for permission to TALK to Dear Daughter.

You could have heard a pin drop on those bleachers!

Dear hubby waited a few seconds (it felt like hours) and shook the boys hand and just commented "As long as you behave."

The young man made polite conversation with us over the next hour, showing us pictures on his phone of his truck motor he & his Dad rebuilt, telling us he's a linebacker with the Varsity football team and that he enjoys hunting................

Even though my Dear Hubby was pretty stoic during most of the conversations, He approved of this young man.

Well I must say I am still in shock of it all!

This young man had the manners to ask for permission before he even talked to her and spent time with us before he even met her in person.  I am just in awe!

And this young man brought her a small gift when he introduced himself to her.  Gummy bears and a soda.  A way to a teenagers heart!

Then to top it all off, that evening he called her to tell her he enjoyed meeting her and her parents and hopes to get to see her again soon!

Dear Daughter sent a message to A.J.earlier in the day through a cousin letting him know that her parents are "OLD FASHIONED, JESUS PEOPLE".  I'm sure there are worse things to be know as but I am proud of that title and proud that she knew she had to let him know what to expect before........before.......... anything.

 know she's only 14, and I knew this day would be coming sooner or later, we also know she will be having friends whom are boys and we can either ignore it, and hope she doesn't sneak out or lie to us about her where-a-bouts or we can be chaperones in the next couple years of her life.

Not having any other girls before her, her Dad & I don't know what we are doing but we started with setting some rules for her.  I think if we get it out in the open up front we won't have to worry about any confusion of what appropriate behavior is with a boy.

• They have to be chaperoned at all times.  Not friends, but his parents or hers (Adults).
• No kissing
• Hand holding is ok
• Side hugs are ok
• NO public display of affection at Church (elbows may touch when sitting)
• Must sit with us at Church (I know how whispering & giggling gets)

We are new at this and I hope we are doing the right thing.  But I will say that this young man WROTE the book on manners and how to win the heart of a young lady's parents.

I do hope my boys were/are as well mannered with someone else's daughter.  Maybe this could teach them a thing or two!

Until next time..................

Bonnie

Butterick 6838 Purple Floral Nightgown

I must send out a great big THANK-YOU to Beverly from bjsewmuchmore for inspiring with the Butterick 6838 pattern.

Butterick 6838 Nightgown Pattern

My usual nightgown pattern has been the Butterick 5571 but I've tired of the pattern and wanted something different.

This was just going to be a muslin from a thrift store sheet left from Dear Son's wedding.  But I'm wearing this as I type!

Purple floral nightgown

Side view

Back View

Purple Floral Nightgown

This pattern fit right out of the package.  No alterations whatsoever!  I think this may have been the first time in my entire sewing life!

I made view "B", sleeveless and mid calf length.  I could have sewn this up in an afternoon if life didn't need attention!

I am so pleased with the outcome that I MUST make another one!

Thank you again Beverly!

Until next time..................

Bonnie

Butterick 6821 McCall 7160 Navy Dot Dress

My little nephew was turning 2 this past weekend and I didn't have a thing to wear to his party!

Happy 2nd Birthday!

I sewed up another frankenpattern dress Saturday morning and finished the hem about an hour before I had to leave!  No pressure here!

Since the party was outside and it's only 100 degrees here, I thought a shorter version was the best choice.

Butterick 6821 Navy Dot Dress

Self fabric neck binding

I didn't have any fold over elastic for the neckline so I just made binding from the dot fabric.  It worked out better since it didn't take away from the scatter dots of the dress.

Shoulder gathers

I used invisible thread for the shoulder elastic channels.  I didn't want to take away from the fabric.

Side View

Dress with Belt

$10.50 Dress

I really like this version of the dress.  Cool, comfortable and classy!

Going out

I repotted my African Violets back in March and they are blooming beautifully!  I like the way they look in my dining room window.

My Violets

African Violets

I'm thinking of ordering Silhouette Patterns Dressed to Kill Gently book and their pattern of the month the #212 Kors Zipper Top.  After watching the YouTube video on the top there seems to be many possibilities for this pattern.

I'm off to sew something wonderful!

Until next time................

Bonnie

Blue Halston Sheer Crossover Knit Top

Dear Hubby & I are celebrating our 24th Wedding Anniversary.   It doesn't seem like it's been that long.  We were so young when we were married.  But we must be doing something right!

24 Years ago!

Happy Anniversery

He was so thoughtful and bought me a "new" wedding ring, I lost mine last summer in the Gulf of Mexico.  I was heartbroken.  But I LOVE my new ring.

New Wedding Band

I gave him a Ruby Red Grapefruit tree......




Now to sewing:

You know if I make one top, I usually make another and sometimes another and another............!

I had this mesh knit fabric in my bin and thought that another Halston top would be great.

Blue Halston Sheer Crossover Knit Top

Bottom Crossover

Tiny hems

Back View

I added flutter style sleeves to this version.  I'm not sure if that was a good idea since it was more tiny hems to sew..........

Side View

Front View

Fold Over Elastic at Neckline

$12.50 Halston Top

It took me over a week to finish it because I lost steam on sewing all the tiny tiny little hems.  I don't think I will be making another one for a while.

I do like the top,  But when I get hot, the sheer likes to stick to my arms.

Until next time.......................

Bonnie

Finished Quilt In Time for a Special Birthday

Just in time for a special Birthday!  The quilter called me on Saturday, I drove 40 miles round trip to pick it up, came home and sewed the binding that I just happened to make up last week.  Finishing the quilt just in time for Dear hubby's Aunt's Birthday on Sunday!

Binding the quilt

Making a quilt makes me so nervous.  Maybe because I'm my worse critic.  So I tried to think what I enjoyed most about this quilt.

• I like making & sewing on quilt binding
• Making the pinwheel quilt blocks and the mason jars

That's about all that I liked........hmmmm I'm trying here!

I couldn't believe I finished it on time!

The quilter is the sweetest man.  I just gave him an open pass, to do what design and color he thought looked best.  He did an awesome job!

Paw print quilting in orange

Finished quilt

Quilt

The quilt made her cry.............she's not an emotional person.  I'm a sympathy cryer.  She was overwhelmed.  I brought her huge Publix bakery cupcakes.

She did love the quilt.  I think that it holds a special place in her heart.

I do hope that there is not another in my future anytime soon.  I'm ready to sew for me!

Until next time....................

Bonnie

Butterick 6821 Simplicity 3893 Blue Crossover Maxi Dress

I told you a maxi version of my frankenpattern would be in the works next.

I used the Butterick 6821/Simplicity 3893 for the bodice and then just cut 2 rectangles on the fold for the skirt.

Butterick 6821 Simplicity 3893 Blue Maxi Dress

Butterick 6821 Simplicity 3893 Blue Maxi Dress

Back View

I tried both blue and white thread for the shoulders but ended up choosing clear nylon thread so that the channels are invisible from the outside.  I like the look of it!

Shoulder view

Fold over elastic along neck edge

Butterick 6821 Simplicity 3893 Blue Maxi Dress

$10.40 Maxi Dress

I'm thinking that I need a black shrug next.  I will dig through my patterns and see if I have something in there.

Until next time.................

Bonnie

Butterick 6821 Simplicity 3893 McCall 7160 Frankenpattern Dress

******** I HAVE SEWN SOMETHING NEW!!!! *************

I've stayed away from cross over style bodices since I'm a little busty.  They always seem to gap open just when I don't need them.  But I loved the gathered shoulders on this pattern and thought I would give it a try.

I liked this vintage pattern Butterick 6821, then I noticed that the Simplicity 3893 is pretty much the same pattern.   I used the directions from both the patterns since both had great ideas.  The bodice is frankenpatterned of both Butterick 6821 and Simplicity 3893.  I used the McCall 7160 full circle skirt.

Butterick 6821

Simplicity 3893 

McCall 7160

I sewed up a quick muslin with a yard of leftover fabric.  Not making any changes to the pattern yet, I was worried it wouldn't fit me to be able to try on.  But it worked out just fine.

I love the gathers on the shoulders.

Muslin

 The only change I had to make was to take a pleat out of the front.  a 1/2" pleat from the front, tapering to nothing at the side seam tightened up the crossover enough not to gap!

Muslin

I love the gathers at the shoulders.

The Butterick 6821 said to gather the shoulders and sew on twill tape.  I preferred the Simplicity 3893 used two pieces of 1/4" elastic at each shoulder seam.

Shoulder gathers

 The dress went together easily.

Butterick 6821 McCall 7160

Crossover bodice

 I used fold over elastic along the front neckline.  This seemed to keep the bodice close to my body, and the crossover fit snug.

kimono style sleeve

back view

McCall 7160 Full skirt

$8.97 Dress

Frankenpattern Success! 

I don't know if I mis-cut the skirt, but I ended up having to trim 3" off the center front & center back of the skirt.  That was a hmmmmm moment but I made it work.

I just serged the hem and turned up the 3/8" and top - stitched.  It's a little shorter than I like, but it does come to my knees.

Overall I am very happy with the dress.  I'm thinking a maxi version will be in the works soon!

Are you proud of me for sewing up something new?  I'm proud of me!

Until next time....................

Bonnie