On Improvising When Sewing a Skirt

When one goes to sew a skirt there are specific guidelines that one attempts to stick to, but often other factors get in the way and lead to the need for improvisation.

Having enough fabric is one thing that most consider. Generally this is thought of when buying the fabric in regards to how much the pattern calls for. Other people, like myself, become enamored with the fabric, instantly decide that it would make a wonderful skirt (with a fleeting thought of looking through patterns later), and when getting to the counter to request 3 yards, only to find that there are about 2 yards, still feel confident that there will be sufficient fabric to make a skirt. In reality, one should not feel this confident unless they are an expert seamstress, but excitement and over determination often prevent this thought from coming to mind.

Once the fabric is home and has been washed, one can happily sit down with their shoebox full of patterns and select one such as this:



Eloise, because she looks like her name would be Eloise, is quite proud of her bolero and skirt. Evelyn in the background is too. (Simplicity Pattern 3773, 1951)

Finding the pattern piece to be too long, it is decided that the skirt can do with being a bit shorter and the pattern is folded at the base. It is then discovered when placing said pattern on the fabric that there is only enough fabric when cutting with the selvage to cut out six sections, not the called for eight, and one decides that having a smaller waist than the measurements given for the skirt that this is acceptable. Alas, when two panels of three sections have been sewn together, a quick attempt to hold and wrap them around one’s waist proves that six was not sufficient and there is the need for another section.

Ready to be sewn together!

Now begins the great debate as to what should be done about this misfortune. One, a second visit can be made to the fabric store to search for more of the same fabric, pointless in this case because there wasn’t any. Two, the entire project can be resigned to the “failed dress pile”, which is a rather sad fate for it. Or, three, find a way to make another panel. Choosing the later of the three may make it seem as though the only other option is to select a complimentary color fabric, which brings about a  great deal of frustration as one tries to find an exact match. However, there is a solution for this situation! With the remaining bit of fabric that was cast aside after the cutting of the other pieces and by folding the pattern in half one finds that there is enough remaining fabric to cut multiple pieces and sew them together to create a full size piece to match the others!

Improvised Section

From this point everything should go swimmingly as far as piecing it all together to form the actual skirt. It is when reaching the attachment of the snaps and hooks and eyes that one again begins to flounder a bit. First there is the finding of these supplies and if one is using vintage supplies and has them on hand they are apt to be of different types, sizes, and colors. Since they are on the inside of the skirt, though one should not worry and just be happy that they have something with which to make the skirt stay on.  After whatever is being used has been decided upon then comes the positioning of the snaps, which is fairly easy, and the hooks and eyes, which are not so easy to attach and hard to hold in place when trying to do so. Never-the-less, after struggling with this step one should have a beautiful skirt to wear at home or out and about! ♥

Finished!

On Literary References Made: January through July

Once again, for those who are interested as to what literary references have been made, here are the ones made in the posts from January through July.

On Emptying Crumbs from the Toaster
-The Brothers’ Grimm “Hansel and Gretel”

On Things That Are Green

-William Allingham’s “The Fairies”

On Alice in Wonderland Day

-Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (chances are this one did not need to be pointed out)

On Ladybirds

-The Mother Goose nursery rhyme “Ladybird, Ladybird”

On Thread

-Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes”

On Making A Pie

- The Mother Goose nursery rhyme “Simple Simon”

For literary references prior to January see here. ♥

On Typewriters

The typewriter, while a more roundabout way of typing these days, is a wonderful contraption that has served many a typist well since its invention. With its delightfully click-clacking keys and a satisfactory ding upon reaching the end of the line to let one know that the margin has been reached, the typewriter presents its user with an array of happy noises to let them know of the progress they are making. Of course, sore fingers may also present one with a fair idea of how long one has been working, but it must be admitted that sore fingers as a gauge are not nearly as entertaining or fun. However, the pleased feeling one has upon completion of the letter, form, or whatever they have been they have been typing is, more often than not, well worth the work.

Frequently accompanying a typewriter are several important accessories. These are things such as the ribbon, a typewriter eraser, and quite possibly correction film. The first being a necessity if one should actually want something to be put on the paper, as opposed to turning out a blank page, and the later two items for removing what one does not want on the paper, but may have accidentally put there. Not uncommonly one will find themselves in search of at least one of these items in the course of their typing and quite possibly have to empty a drawer to get at them.
   
In addition, aside from all the ordinary people who have used typewriters, just think of all those lovely authors who did too, such as Joan Aiken (who never wrote on the computer), George Orwell (who used a Remington), Daphne du Maurier (who used an Oliver made in the USA) and, lest we forget, Ray Bradbury (who wrote Fahrenheit 451 on a typewriter and a coin operated one at that!). Lewis Carroll even used one, which sold for a good amount at auction earlier this year! Also, in the event that one is wondering, there is a national typewriter day; it is on June 23^rd. ♥

On Making a Pie

Pie making is a tradition that has been passed down through the ages and a very yummy one it is at that! When going about the process of making a pie there are a great many steps and things one ought to keep in mind. To start with, the type of pie that is to be baked must be decided upon. In making this most important decision, the pie maker will find themselves perusing the pages of their cook books and their recipe cards causing them to consider an array of delicious pies, such as apple and berry, and some not so delicious pies, such as a prune-banana. Usually the decision is an easy one to make based on season and what sort of filling is readily at hand and with this decision having been made, the pie maker is off and running and ready to face the making of the crust.   

The first step in making the crust is to mix the flour and salt. Something that must be remembered is that it is unwise to dump the flour into the bowl from a height that is greater than necessary. Failure to keep this in mind will generally result in a small dust storm and it is usually at this point that the pie maker will look down and realize that their previously black shirt would have been better off had they worn an apron. After the dust storm has settled, the pie maker will then have to cut in the shortening. Cutting in of the shortening first requires that the shortening be measured and then taken out of the measuring cup, which in itself is a task. The shortening, being an ingredient that feels the need to stick to everything it touches, once put in the bowl with the flour and salt will do everything in its power to avoid being cut into pea sized particles by the pastry blender. This includes sticking to the pastry blender, then sticking to the knife used to get it off the pastry blender, and then to the pastry blender again. To combat shortening fatigue, one should remind themselves that without the shortening that the crust would only be a pasty goop and that there would be no purpose in making it. Upon the survival of cutting of the shortening to the correct size, water can be sprinkled (not poured, which will make things more difficult) onto the mix. From there the pie maker will be able to gather the dough into a ball in hopes that it will not crumble or be overly sticky. Having a ball of dough the pie maker may now vigorously take a rolling pin to it after causing another dust storm by placing flour on the surface on which they intend to roll it out. Being ever so careful the then rolled dough may be placed in the pie tin in hopes that it will not stick to the surface or tear before it reaches its final destination.     

After the crust has been completed and the pie maker has taken a deep breath to recover from their unintended exercise, they may then prepare the filling to go in the crust. In doing this they should be sure to follow the directions least they forget to include the final step of dotting the top of the filling with butter, which if forgotten will only be thought of after the top crust has been placed and sealed and the pie had been in the oven for about 15 minutes. If the pie maker does remember the butter, then they are almost sure to forget to put aluminum foil around the edge to prevent it from burning. Like the lack of butter, chances are that this will not be realized until the pie has been in the oven for a considerable amount of time. In either case, the pie maker should look forward to a brief moment of panic and quite possibly burnt fingers. However, in the end the pie maker should hopefully find that they have a well turned out pie to grace their table, unless they have been daydreaming in which case it will most likely have burnt, and will then be able to focus on the mess they have made of their kitchen.

And now having read these helpful instructions, one can be sure that they will know how to successfully make a pie should they wish to do so and quite possibly will have gained a greater understanding as to why the pieman refused to let his pies be tasted before seeing a penny. ♥ 

Yum!