No Idle hands here

A skirt and a rant about directional fabric.

I have this adorable skirt pattern
I found this cute fabric and I bought 2.5′, that is more than I need for the average skirt, but this one does have pleats.

It turns out that I need to cut the fabric along the selvedge, otherwise I’ll end up with a seam some where in the the middle. So here goes my rant – one directional fabric is awful for clothing!!!!! I understand, this is probably a quilting cotton, but the weight of this is great for skirts. So I growled and gnashed my teeth and went into my stash. There is a reason why we sewers have stashes.I also had 2.5′ of this fabric, which I like, since I did buy it myself.Side by side, you can see how the in the left fabric all the elements point in the same direction and the fabric on the right, the feathers and berries are tossed all over. Hmm, feathers, am I noticing a trend?

I made the skirt according to my waist size and it came out enormous, I have no idea what I did wrong. So some nips, tucks, increasing the size of some of the pleats and it all worked out. Most pleated skirts have markings where the pleats will be sewn – in this pattern I had to cut out the pleat area. This is to reduce bulk when adding the facing and the top stitching. That meant that I couldn’t simply take the skirt apart and go for a smaller size.It worked! and now I have a lovely new pleated skirt.I’m not sure the contrapposto stance works here, it looks good on Greek sculptures, but creates too much bunching on my shirt.At least the skirt flows and moves nicely.Another successful sewing project! Because the print is so busy, you really can’t see the top stitching, but I do like the shape it gives the skirt. I will probably make it again, but I’ll make the changes before I cut the fabric.

Secret Walks

Charles Fleming has published a new book Secret Walks of Los Angeles. It has been at least nine months since I was able to join him and 100 of my ‘friends’ for a Sunday walk. First order of business:I am acknowledged in the book, I tested the Franklin Canyon walk. This is a favorite in the hills of Studio City, although I have walked it often, it was fun to follow his instructions.We met at the Los Angeles Railroad museum, which was all decked out for Halloween. This is right next to Travel town and unfortunately, I don’t think it’s open as often. Today’s walk was all about the horse trails that start across the freeway and the river in Burbank.Into the tunnel and to the light at the other end – this takes us under the busy 134 Freeway.To view the river right before it enters the Glendale narrows, here it does have the concrete bottom. Also interesting geese that have bred with the Canada geese so they are very big.Off on their own, the mallard ducks.Across the river, the horse riders are getting their exercise. Along with their dogs.Weeds in California are beautiful.Even those seen through a rusty chain link fence right by the freeway.We crossed a bridge over the river, one that the horses use all the time, full of hay and horse droppings. There are many stables here, really a lot more than I expected, when walking on foot one sees much more than looking out the window of a car. This wasn’t the only person renting a horse, we saw a number of families doing the same thing.Smack dab in the middle of the city, surrounded by freeways, Disney studios and NBC studios is horse country. All the homes in this area are horse friendly, many have their own stables, those who don’t simply board the horses in on of the many stables around.This fellow peered over the fence at us. We saw many riders, some of whom were not happy to see a large group of people and dogs on their path.

November 1st in Los Angeles, warm, bright and people out walking and enjoying the surroundings.

Water

The Modern Quilt guild is growing by leaps and bounds. Now there is a Valley Modern Quilt Guild. We have had two meetings so far. At our first meeting we were given a challenge, make anything quilted based on water. For my inspiration I found this Japanese block print and my eye was immediately drawn to the whirlpool.So I pulled out my solid blues and traced the basic pattern on the fabric, then cut out corresponding light blue and white Thai silk that some one gave me. I proceeded to do needle turn appliqué.I love the silk, but it frays easier than quilting cotton. Since this is a wall hanging and I did try to use very tiny stitches, this won’t be a problem. Half way done, but not completely happy with the result. I have a vertical line with the blue and that is really bothering me.So I changed it, much much better. The quilting of course reinforces the idea of an eddy. I even pebble quilted in order to give the idea of bubbles. I even bound the quilt to continue the placement of the blues.And of course since this is based on a Japanese print I added a signature stamp. It says nothing, I simply slashed and appliquéd.A close up of the quilting and how it reinforces the pattern. Which is why I love quilting, the three dimension design that is created by quilting is part and parcel of the whole design. Bas relief, not a two-dimensional painting.In this case, the back is a busy print, so the quilting gets lost. I put on a sleeve for hanging and my little label. I need to add the date as well.A lot of people took the challenge. Yes, mine was very well received. Next month the challenge is fire, I am thinking of something very different. Maybe simple piecing so it won’t take me so long?

Halloween

This year it feels like people are celebrating Halloween for a whole week. Of course at my Thursday night knitting group we always have a party on the Thursday before. I am guilty of not coming in costume, but others are so creative. Our theme this year was monster mash up – or at least mash up.Ellen takes the prize for the literal use of the terms. Natalie is Mummy Dearest, with a wire clothes hanger included. Sarah and family are Alice in Wonderland, no mash up but this family always comes in a themed costume. I do like how the Chesire Cat is in new and improved colors.And the winner of most creative goes to Amy, Miss Captain America!

At school on Friday the Kindergarten had their costume parade. I love how many super heroes and Princess there were. Aytan as Iron man with his friend Atman.The mask didn’t stay on long.I got to march in the parade.Westley came over to spend the night, the pumpkin hat lasted on his head for a second.Mommy and Abba went off to a party as pregnant Princess Amadala (at least the pregnant part is real! It’s another boy) and Anakin. They enjoyed a wonderful night out and even got to go to breakfast just the two of them.

And finally Halloween night!Aytan’s even has implants.He made a pumpkin mask to wear, luckily it was only for the house.‘Ariel’ came over.Kitty Cat Anna has her bucket ready. This mask actually works! He kept in on all night, Erez happy to take his kids on the same route he used to go as a kids, although most of the residents of the houses have changed.

Yes, quite a haul of candy. I love seeing the street full of trick or treaters of all ages! Little children, teenagers and adults in costume. This is the part I like best, people out at night, knocking on doors and everyone happy and cheerful, even if some are dressed as ghouls or witches.

Creative crafts

Elizabeth Hartman is a very talented designer. She has a whole line of pieced animals, she has even put most of them into one quilt pattern. She is meticulous and in her patterns she has you cut out squares and rectangles and as you sew the pieces together, an animal emerges – accurate every time.I made two rabbits to use in another very talented designers project. Sarah Lawson and her pattern Creative Maker Supply case. She writes the best patterns for bags, backlogs, purses, you name it, she has designed it. Her patterns are very well written as well.My two rabbits were larger than her dimensions, but I had no problem resizing on my own. I love using By Annies Soft and stable, it adds body without weight. I machine quilted around the bunnies.Have to look at the back to see. I also changed the interior somewhat, I put in a vinyl pocket as well as a mesh one. I learned how to insert a zipper with a binding, so the case opens flat as well as being roomier. Other great advice, use a handbag zipper. It’s not just longer, the tape is wider, so it’s easier to sew in as well as affording more space.Using up my foxes and other animal prints left over from Shira’s quilt.Still Rabbit with hibiscus. Another nice thing about certain handbag zippers is the two pulls.I haven’t found these zippers at JoAnns, but there are many sources through Amazon, I made a point of buying a few zippers.Another project I just made as a last minute gift for a friend – a little zippered bag. Reverse appliqués the heart.Matched the zipper to the flower on the handle.Made sure the lining also picked up some of the red.There are so many tutorials online for little zippered bags and they are wonderful gifts.

More Halloween

I’m beginning to think that we are all very familiar with what the skeleton looks like, even though most of us have very little to do with death.Getting Fido in on the act.Even apartment dwellers are in on the fun.Although this homeowner should win some prize, not for having rabbits on his fence, but for at least including them in the holiday fun.Some decorations are old fashioned.Others are all about the inflatable, with the Peanuts in the starring role. Maybe I should be glad that spider wasn’t inflated.Because this one is scary!Combining Halloween and Day of the Dead in one display.Very realistic ghost, you can see through it. Love me some JackAnd Sally.And then some people really go overboard with the gore.Other events do take place that have nothing to do with Halloween.

Winter dress

Although it still feel like summer, I’ve started my winter sewing. I must confess to really liking the Big Four pattern companies. I HATE to print and tape together patterns at home, which is what one often has to do when buying an indie pattern. Or else I have to pay $15-18 dollars plus shipping for a printed indie pattern. I will do so from time to time if the pattern is unique enough, but I find that the Big Four know what they are doing and I am getting very adept at hacking the patterns.

Love the peplum, do not love a V-neck for a winter dress, I tend to get very cold on my neck.I didn’t take a picture of the fabric before I cut it. Suffice to say, this is an ITY knit (probably poly-lycra) that I bought for $5 a yard at Michael Levines, in the regular store, not the bargain loft. $10 for a dress isn’t bad. It was a border print and I’m happy that I was able to cut the peplum out of the border section of the print. As I get older I find myself more willing to wear black – that is if there is some very interesting print on the black. This one fit the bill.

Now was the time to make some finishing decisions.This fabric is rather thick, so folding a hem didn’t seem like a good idea. Instead I serged this with a rolled hem stitch. Because most of the fabric is cut on the bias and it’s a very stretchy knit – I didn’t get a lovely clean finish, but no-one will ever get this close the the skirt. A finish is better than non at all, which was an option.I was thinking of using the border print as a neckband, but thought better of it. Rather than framing the whole dress with this print, why not only have it on the bottom of the dress and sleeves. I feel it gives a more balanced look to the dress.Also, I ran out of fabric, I had enough for the sleeve bands, but not enough for the neck.Yes, this looks more natural and finished than the jarring border print.The whole dress was made only on the serger, no sewing machine at all. Which means the darts as well. I could have lifted the knife and sewn the dart whole, but I don’t think that would work. Sergers aren’t made to have any fabric on the right side of the needles. So it’s just as well that I let the knife cut the excess fabric off.I folded the cuff in half and serged onto the sleeve, nice clean and neat.The inside. I love my serger!And now, for some cool weather. I think my photography has improved a lot since I started this blog, yet there is always room for improvement. I need to pay more attention to the background. That rose bush is distracting! I have signed up for a Craftsy Class on how to photograph ‘product’, we’ll see what that does to my photography.

The Mount Lowe Railway

We arrived! This was the end of the line for the funicular portion of the Mt. Lowe Railway. This incredible feat of engineering ran from 1893 to 1938. It was a must see and must travel destination in Southern California. Very little remains today, and what does was brought back by the Mount Lowe Preservation Society.Like this massive Wheel that pulled the funicular cars up and down the very steep hill.That is the haulage cable, and you wonder why I can’t get enough of this man made steel.A thing of beauty.From here, a conventional railway continued up to the summit of Mount Lowe.

Ascending 3250 ft, at some points as steep as 62 grade. In contrast Angels Flight which only has a 33 percent grade and is only 315 ft. long.The top of the tramway, from here one would switch to an electric cable car. Notice how there is a sudden drop off?Looking down at the concrete pilings that held the funicular tracks.An old photo of the funicular arriving at Echo Mountain House, a 70 room hotel. No way could anyone build this today, those men just standing on the front of the car with no security measures?!?! Those were very different times.Another very famous image, after leaving the hotel, an electric car took you to the top of Mount Lowe. And no, I wasn’t going to hike another 5 miles up there.Very little remains of the hotel today. Weather, flooding and a drop in profitability closed down the railway in 1938. Some of it was salvaged and sold, some simply stolen by scavengers. Unfortunately the Forrest service finds old structures to be a nuisance. They have no sense of history and whenever possible they simply destroy standing structures. My guess is they fear law suits. So very little remains of the hotel, just the foundations. Notice the large circular structure?That was a natural gas tank, when the hotel was built, the gas was used for everything. A short while later an electric line connected the hotel to Alta Dena bellow. I’m glad that the preservation society is keeping on top of the graffiti. Have I said how much I hate graffiti?! No one has the right to desecrate either public or private property. Either buy a building, or work on a canvas – I don’t care that the tagger calls it ‘art’ – it isn’t.Luckily some structures are too difficult to remove, here is the stairway from the station up into the hotel.A beautiful stone wall. Kudos to all the workmen who hauled up the materials and built these walls and the buildings that no longer exist.How cool is this, we are on Echo Mountain after all, the preservation society has reinstalled one of these echo phone (love the name). There may have been more to it in the old days, I tried and I heard no echo, maybe I can blame it on the fog.

Hiking Echo Mountain

The weather finally turned cool and it was feasible to go for a hike. I can’t get over the fact that within 30 minutes of us there are so many incredible hiking trails. On weekends these trails are full of fellow hikers, some people like to get away from the crowds, I’m just happy to see so many other Los Angelenos out enjoying our mountains.The San Gabriel mountains were shrouded in clouds, so much so, this almost doesn’t look like Southern California.A two and a half mile climb starts with a nice flat road and big flowering bushes.Starting the climb and looking back at some alternative paths below.A California Live Oak with bare roots next to the path.I’m no geologist, but these layers of rock fascinate me. What gives the pink one it’s color? How did that strip of white get trapped there? The views are supposed to be spectacular. We had cloud cover the whole way, yes it really was that grey. So the commercial area of La Canada stands out, but it wasn’t worth taking pictures of haze. Unless one walks right under the tower that holds the power lines and the top is disappearing into the fog. Or a hawk appears to be just a silhouette against the nothingness.Soon we were above the power lines but still only about half way up the mountain.I even remembered to hand Joel the camera so he could get a picture of me.
We made it to the top!

People enjoying a picnic. I thought I was focusing on the people, my camera thought otherwise.

A five mile hike is plenty for me. I’m impressed with those who walk the whole 12 miles up to Mt. Lowe and back. But this is where we turned back. Of course there are some wonderful things up at this level, but that will be another post.

This hike starts at the top of Lake Ave in Alta Dena. Anyone who knows Alta Dena knows that there is good soul food to be found. No we didn’t go to Roscoes Fried Chicken and Waffles, it was Sunday after church, the line was out in the parking lot. Instead we stopped at Louisiana Fried Chicken, food served in plastic baskets and only a few plastic tables. We earned the right to eat fried chicken and what can I say – there is nothing moister than good fried chicken. The batter has a little kick and the steam just wafted off the basket. I’m getting hungry all over again, but my legs are still sore from Sunday’s hike, so I will just enjoy the memory.

You Made Me?

That is what Shira says whenever I give her something. You can imagine, my granddaughter appreciating my work, makes my heart sing. Also makes me make her more things.Months ago I made this sweater. It was the middle of the summer when I finished it and it made no sense to give it to her a the time.The yarn is from Sarah, a knitting friend, she was de-stashing. Apparently she bought this on sale in North Carolina years ago and never used it. She bought an adult sweaters’ worth, so I sill have some leftover. This cotton/acrylic blend knit up very nicely, and once again, I used different color buttons.

So the day, or rather night finally came and I gave Shira her new sweater.Modeling with glow wand. My guesstimate works, big enough for her to grow into this winter.I really don’t like taking flash photos, it washes everything out, but as I mentioned, it was night.Yup, Aytan had to photobomb.Really photobomb. He wants a yellow shirt. He has no interest in hand knit sweaters.And finally, the happy grandkid photo!