What I love: Cracked.com Videos

Have you ever read Cracked.com? It’s a great time waster… You know, for eating lunch at your desk and need something to entertain you for a couple of minutes? Cracked is great for that! (For example: 6 things from history everyone pictures incorrectly, or 5 ridiculous movie sound effects) 

My favourite part of the website though is a video series called “After Hours” by some of the writers.

Check it out:

The Best Super Power (Is Not What You Think) — powered by Cracked.com

Clever, witty, AND geeky? Sign me up! 

Here are some other topics they’ve done: 

• Why ‘Star Wars’ is Secretly Terrifying for Women


• 5 Classic Movie Highschools The Would Suck to Attend


• Which Apocalypse Would Be The Most Fun?

Also awesome? Katie Willert, the woman in the After Hours videos, also have her own series, featuring gems like this one 

If Women’s Medication Ads Gained Self-Awareness — powered by Cracked.com

I get really weird looks from people when I reference videos like this in real life… So I hope you enjoy them and don’t give me the “OMG, that’s really pathetically nerdy!” look!

Thewallina is Thewonderful!

I’m a lucky, lucky girl… because look what I got in the mail!

A package of fabric from Inna at http://thewallinna.blogspot.jp/! All the way from Japan… very nostalgic! And look - she even put autumn leaf stickers on the envelope. Seasonal stationary is huge in Japan… ok, let’s be honest. Anything that ups the cute factor is big in Japan! ;) 

I first saw Inna’s blog when she offered to host the Pacific timezone Twitter chat for one of Tilly’s Sewing Social Twitter chats. I really admire her modern style - sometimes it’s nice to see something other than (really cute) retro-inspired sewing! Anyway, we started chatting a bit, and decided to do a little swap. I’ve got all of her things ready but haven’t mailed them yet… Mailing parcels is somehow a bit of a phobia with me, but dammit, I can’t be scared of the post-office, can I? 

Here’s what she sent me: 

Check out the sheerness of the lawn! It’s so fine… I can’t wait to make a summer dress out of it! It’s a lovely tomato red bandana-style print. Appropriately enough, it comes from one of my favourite Japanese fabric stores, Tomato! They have about 4 or 5 different locations in the fabric district, each specializing in a different thing. There the home dec shop, the notions store, a 5-story narrow building with different types of fabric on each floor, and my favourite: the outlet store. (That’s where I got 10m of double gauze for $1/m before I even knew what double gauze was!) The Japanese use the word “natsukashii" a lot to describe things that are fondly nostalgic, and all the Japanese packaging is definitely natsukashii!

But wait! There’s more! PERVY POST-ITS! 

Seriously, could you get more Japanese than these? Teeny cute post-its of a skirt… and when you peel the last one off you see her pink polka-dot panties! (literally, in the text says “cute pants”!) Clearly aimed at women who love all things cute… but with a hint of the Japanese sukebe (pervert) culture. Inna could probably translate better than me, but the text underneath seems to say that was you take off the skirts, you heart will race or pound! Thank you, Inna, for the perfect reminder of both why I love Japanese goods (so cute and unexpected!) and why I’m happy not to live there forever (hello, rampant sexism!) 

Thank you so much, Inna, for the lovely parcel! I’ll try to get yours in the mail soon!

In the mean time: How should I use my skirt post-its? Creative or silly ideas appreciated! :P

What I love: Bob Ross and the Joy of Painting

If you are North American, chances are you know the soothing tones and cheesy landscape paintings of Bob Ross’s tv series, The Joy of Painting. If not, here’s a little musical tribute that says it all! 

All those platitudes and little says are no joke - that’s exactly how he talks. And it’s mesmerizing!

I don’t know what it is about Bob Ross, but I swear, watching his videos is as good as meditating. Calming relaxing, motivating… it’s a miracle of cheesy art and cheap public television!

Brits, Aussies and others, have you heard of Bob Ross? Does anyone else have memories of being entranced by his shows? What other 80’s show are you nostalgic for?

Remember, folks: There are no mistakes, only happy accidents. Add some happy little clouds… Add a happy little tree. This is your world - You create it! 

New Patterns to Try!

Few things are sure in life - death, taxes, and everyone catching colds as soon as we get back to school! So instead of sewing, I’ve been curling up under as many duvets as possible as soon as I get home from work. I started feeling a little better today though, and celebrated with a trip to the fabric store! 

I bought some $3/m navy knit to make a shirt, and $5/m navy sweater knit to try drafting a draped cardigan. It actually felt good to buy basics. (Who am I?) And even more out of character, I bought PATTERNS! And we’re not talking Colette here: McCalls, baby! 

I’ve only sewn with one Big 4 pattern before: New Look 6022… but I’m determind to make comfy, practical clothes for teaching, and until Cake launches the Tiramisu pattern, I figured McCalls would do just fine. 

#1: M5974

This one has heaps of reviews on Pattern Review, and won as one of the top patterns of 2010. That’s got to be good, right? I’m nervous about hemming and edging on knits - The only way I’m confident is using folded bands like on the Renfrew. But I’m ready to try:  I got some knit stay tape from Sunni and I bought some clear elastic today, so I’m hoping those help!

I like the wrap dress version, but I think the scoop neck is more, uh, practical for me! Here’s a picture of a WIP from Flickr: 

Basic, but I think it has promise! 

#2: M5890

This is another really basic pattern that I think has potential. Here’s what it really looks like: 

I like princess seams in wovens, but it seems a little fiddly in a knit? I’m curious to give it a shot. I’ve been look for a draped cardigan pattern that isn’t too long or too heavily draped, and I think this one might work. 

For inspiration, here’s the cardi in a stripe by Mindless Indulgences…

And a bright version by Lindsay Tyler on Flickr…

The strange thing is that there are NO reviews of this pattern on Pattern Review, and I can’t find anyone who has blogged about making the dress! It’s a bit of a mystery: Is something wrong with the pattern? Is it just so boring-basic that no one is making it? Or am I looking in the wrong place? Maybe I’m just used to indie patterns with an active blogger following?

When you buy a new pattern, do you research it first? How influenced are you by online reviews? And have you had any good or bad experiences with McCall’s patterns? 

What I love: Historical Documentaries

While school is starting, I’m keeping the blog fires burning with a few posts about my nerdy interests beyond sewing. I’m hoping that you’ll share a few favourites of your own! 

Above: Historian Lucy Worsley in costume. 

 I think it’s fair to say that most sewists are inspired by beautiful clothes from the past. Beyond simply lusting for the Downton Abbey costumes though, I think sewing builds a real connection to the lives of women in generations past, when handwork was a necessity and not a luxury or hobby. I’ve always loved history, and I’ll watch pretty much any historical documentary I can get my hands on! (British though, not American… Something about American docs tends to swing into superlative, overdramamic schlock really fast!) 

One of my current faves is anything by Dr. Lucy Worsley. She is Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces in London, which includes places like the Tower of London and Kensington Palace. She looks at history through the little details in life, which for me is much more interesting than grand battles and royal decrees. Here’s an example from a series where she explores the development of different rooms in the house from medieval to the present:  

There are plenty of YouTube videos of her work, including: 

• King Alfred… The Great?


• Harlots, Housewives and Heroines: A 17th Century History for Girls


• Developing the Regency Brand

It took me a while to warm to her rather distinct style, but what I love about her is that she is genuinely geeking out for history. It’s clear she really loves history, and wants you to love it too! 

Are you a history buff too? Are you particularly interested in one era, or do you love it all? Would you rather get your history fix through fiction or non-fiction? (Me, I love both!) 

Alma, Part Deux

This pattern has passed my ultimate test: I can make one in a single sitting before lunch! It didn’t turn out exactly as I planned, but that’s ok!

This is my second Sewaholic Alma, make with 1.5m of Japanese double gauze. I only paid $4 for this piece, but I never knew quite what to make with it. It’s reversible, with gingham on one side, and a red, cream and blue stripe on the other side. From across a room though, the stripe just looks like a washed-out pale pink, which is really unflattering on me! The warm tone of the cream isn’t great for my skin tone, so this blouse was a bit doomed from the start… but dang it! Double Gauze demands to be used! It’s so cosy and soft that it’s like wearing flannel pyjamas. 

To begin with, I thought I’d alter the pattern to make the v-notch deeper. Of course, after I sewed the facings on, it turned out to be too deep for comfort! I couldn’t just pull the two sides of the notch together (no one needs a third bust darts!) so I ended up sewing a little dickie on the contrast stripe behind the notch. 

And THAT made it look like a frumpy art smock! 

When in doubt, add distraction: Covered buttons! 

I also took the blouse in, and added a contrast cuff to the sleeves. 

So there you have it: Lots of problem solving, and still a quick make! I’ll definitely wear it, but it’s a little off. My husband thinks the sleeve cuffs are weird… I think it might be the buttons that are strange? Or maybe the colour was always going to make me a bit washed out?

These two Almas did get me thinking more about buying fabrics that will make me look good. I tend to buy fabric that I love, without thinking too much about how the colour and pattern will look on me. I end up with clothes that I love, but not always clothes that really flatter! (Seriously, does a dress covered in pieces of washi tape flatter? Nope! It’s still awesome fabric though, and I’m going to love that dress when it’s done!) I’m trying to stear away from black these days, and use navy instead… and looking for bright whites instead of naturals or light grey. I’ll still buy fabric I love, but I’m finding it fun to have a few more guidelines!

How about you? Do you consciously pick warm/cool tones and bright/muted colours to suit your complexion? Or do you buy whatever colours/prints strike your fancy?

In the Mood

Have you checked out Mood’s website recently? I think they must have updated it… because it’s suddenly *almost* user-friendly! Still a bit odd to use… but look at the splash page for the Fashion Fabric Section! 

A complete overview of each kind of fabric! Just click on the picture to shop for that type of fabric. It’s a real treasure trove of info for a new sewist like me - I mean, I’ve heard of so many kinds of fabric, but sometimes it’s hard to really understand the different qualities of each type. 

Case in point: Has anyone else been puzzling over the difference between lawn and voile? I know they are both lighter than quilting cotton. I have sewn with fabric meeting that description, but I never knew just what it was… but now I do! Thanks, Mood!

Mystery solved! 

Do you have any sewing mysteries yet to solve?