I'm in pepper HELL

I really want to work on a skirt I cut out earlier in the week but I can't because...

I am in pepper Hell.  What you see pictured is only a fraction of the peppers that I have to wash, slice, remove seeds, chop and freeze! Somebody that my husband knows gave them to us. I'm not complaining too much because I love using them when cooking. It's just that all this work is cutting into my sewing time!

Simplicity 1760 Pattern Review

Yesterday I was extremely productive. I cleaned off my cutting table which involved putting away about 21 yards recently purchased that had already been washed and dried. Next I sewed another pair of leggings which only took about 30 minutes to sew. Finally I sewed a skirt that now only needs to be hemmed and it'll be ready to go. Doesn't that sound productive?

Pattern Description:
Misses' skirt in two lengths
Pattern Sizing:
6-22
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?Exactly

 

 

 

Were the instructions easy to follow?
I never even looked at them
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I thought the center lace pattern was particularly interesting
Fabric Used:
A polyester blend from my stash
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
I made a short version but added two inches. I should have added three because as it is I only have a one inch hem. I added hem tape
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
I will absolutely sew another. I'll have a black version before the month is out.
Conclusion:
Super easy and stylish. I plan to wear it with the Vogue 8815 peplum top.

 I'm already starting on another skirt. Butterick 5566. Stay tuned.

Boot Refashion

I'm not sure whether internet sewing friends are good for you or bad. Sometimes that put all kinds of ideas in your head the may or may not get you in trouble! Faye and I were having a discussion about boots. Here problem is that the calves on boots are ALWAYS usually too big but on me they are ALWAYS too small. A while back she sewed a pair up to make them smaller. That got me to thinking. I'd purchased a pair of wide calf boots nearly six years ago but the calf was just to wide. I wore them only once and thank goodness I didn't trash 'em.

Last night I dug the boots out of the closet and the "boot refashioning began!"  I want to preface this by saying, "please excuse the crummy pictures." You still get the idea.

BEFORE

AFTER

I probably could have taken them up a little more but the after is way better than the before. I'll can't wait to wear my "new boots."

This is how I did it.

Step #1
I cut through the inside elastic down the calf

Step #2
I trimmed some of the padding from the calf inside along the part I intended to overlap

Step #3
Using regular sewing thread and whatever needle was already in the sewing machine, I stitched the overlap down switching to a zigzag stitch at the bottom to be sure to catch both sides of the leather.

I guess I can thank Faye for my "new boots!"