Flashy hot tub suit

I would like to tell you the story of a boy who loves bright colors, who knows what he wants, and can be a wonderful/terrible/delightful helper at the fabric store. He is the reason I have 3 spools of that useless but shiny metallic thread, and he is the designer and enthusiastic wearer of this amazing swim ensemble:

THE DAY BEFORE our river getaway, I went to the store for elastic (to finish my own last minute bikini). He came along. He saw this stuff on the shelf (we weren't supposed to be in the fabric section but I told myself swimsuit lining was a "notion"). I bought it. You can do like 35 swimsuits from a yard of fabric, you know?

$11.00 of happiness

I didn't make any of those swimsuits....yet. Because when we got home he told me how he'd design his own - a shiny stripe down the back, and the shorts with different panels of shiny/bright pattern - lightweight spandex leftovers from running pants I made for a friend.

I had to make it.

I used this pattern for the bottoms, getting SO FANCY that it's fully lined and reversible (and for modesty).

shorts in process - yes!

I used this pattern from this book for the top. CAKE.

The "back stripe" he requested turned into a back panel for time saving.

I mean, sort of. You know that feeling when a project is awesome and you're kind of winging it and really short for time butSUPER excited? I often think "uh oh I'm about to make mistakes"...this time I misclaculated the neckband, making it longer or maybe exactly as long as the neck opening. Duh.

top front

He wore it every time he got in the hot tub, which was daily. He would not wear it kayaking, running around, or ever near the river. Sense of occasion is strong in this one.

happy llamas abound!

Obviously it was a hit.

after and before fabric samples

The fabric did not hold up so well to constant chlorine abuse; let's call it a fabric test. A fabulous, crowd pleasing, super flashy fabric test.

What are you wearing and shining at your people?

xo bex

Reading: Rain

I picked up Cynthia Barnett's latest "Rain: A Natural and Cultural History" expecting to learn a few choice facts and then quit reading midway through (don't hate!). See, I have great ambitions to read lots of science texts. In reality I manage 3-4 half nonfiction books per year...petering out after too much dense text, terrible editing, or just general fact fatigue.

But this reads like a novel - it's one of those rare popular science books that's edited for great storytelling, loads of cultural references, and solid science (here are some others). I'm happy to know about Cynthia Barnett, too, who's an excellent environmental writer obsessed with water, water policy, and the American West.

Stories inside include: The pervasive many-cultured "myth" of Noah's flood, how witch trials in Europe coincided with major climate change, and other great connections between rain and the people it nourishes. Super juicy. Super good for cocktail conversation, general education, and for me, for classroom anecdotes and climate lesson jumping-off points.

For sewists, learn about the development of the first waterproof fabrics, their elevation to couture wear, and return to the grimy-fingered Scots who invented it. And functional umbrellas of paper, too - how have we forgotten those?!? Also, of course, the PNW climate and grunge.

I was hoping reading it and putting my mind on rain would bring it to California. But there's only one of me...so if lots of others read it we'll will the clouds to break? Nah, it's a real science book so there's no recipe for a rain dance. Worth the while though, absolutely.

A side effect of seeing the book cover around the house is this earbug, which I share for you with love.


For more: http://www.worldsciencefestival.com/2015/04/smart-reads-rain-natural-cultural-history/

P.S., I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. (you can get great books there too!)

Mini hudsons

These are the Mini Hudsons from True Bias in a size 5. I extended them to 7 length to balance his little body and long legs. At this point, they didn't have ankle bands (yet). Elastic was 20", should be more like 16-17". He's so narrow! 

I bought drawstring elastic at the notions shop to use for these - it's not how they were designed and the elastic was a bit of a challenge to secure without making the drawstring "fixed". I worked it out. :)

He hated them when he saw them; I think because they're gray. Proud mama taught my boy to loove color! Well and also it's WAY too hot for french terry pants right now. 

highly danceable

maybe he'd be happier with a shirt ?

Look at those feet! This child. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Last years bikinis and this years improvements

These look decent enough on my dummy, but I have a lot more need to fight gravity than she does. On me both tops were huge fails. 

Soma bikini view 2: b cup at best, but I bet it's better for even smaller busts.

lil star button I sewed at the Kauai airport ❤️

I loove the super low back on this one. 

I tried it on to see what the deal was and handily, there's a horizontal seam right across the bust. I can do this! 

Here's how I FBA'd it- super fun to feel like an engineer with curving lines. 

A little added to the bottom of the upper cup...

A whole lot added to the top of the lower cup (probably a smudge too much, but I'll tone it down in the seam allowance)...

And I narrowed the center triangle so it can act more like a stabilizing bra bridge.

(I had to give dummy some boobs for this demo)

Kept the low back, added volume.

It's fabulous! Now to finish it. 

do I finish with this polka dot fabric, so it matches the bottoms I made last summer? Or start fresh with THIS FABRIC??

Seems like an easy choice , I guess 😏.

And Just so I don't make this mistake again, 

Here's the Soma bikini view A. The elastic throughout is supposed to be FOE- should have been a clue this is not a heavy lifter. 😮

Others have written about issues at the top of the triangles- I just did a lazy pleat to deal with the excess fabric.

I tripled the elastic down here hoping for stability- to no avail. 

Can't quite theorize how to FBA this guy, so I'm putting it aside. I harvested the notions though! 

Off to a week of daily swims starting tomorrow! Wish me sewing luck tonight.

Xox bex

inquiry: Best T shirt (major updates)

A few years ago I conscientiously stopped wearing /buying/making t shirts. I was dressing fancier, and needed to step it up.

Then my life and fashion said it was ok again, and I didn't have any!

I'm making ALL the t-shirts, choosing the best 1 (or 2 - one each fitted and drapey, MAYBE), and chucking the rest.


This survey will only be helpful for you if you're shaped like me -- but lots of women are, so I hope it's of use! I'm 5'6", 38" bust, 30" waist, 38" hips.

Shirt 1: Grainline Hemlock T - free pattern, one size. Pattern includes long sleeves, but just cut them to 3-4" and it's a drapey, oversized T shirt-- well, actually, you'll need to shorten the hem another 4" (or more if you're shorter).

fresh out of the laundry basket sorrrrryyy

I had this pocket around so I slapped it on there. Here's the rayon knit I used.

shhhh

Shirt 2: Lou Box Top - this pattern is built for knits OR wovens, so once you find the shape you like, you can use that pattern allllla time. it's worth the $12.

here it is in motion. size down at least once if you use Lou for knits.

nice curve @ back, right?

and here is how posture changes the way your body looks, courtesy of showgirls everywhere

not in action

Shown here with scoopneck and curved front/back hem options (there are 3 hem options and two necklines included).

Tissue knit - zero fabric stability. Excellent drape :)

I like this one A LOT. I brought up the rear hem another 3", as patterned it was just too long (for this fabric). For work or any bending-over situations, I'll use the crewneck, not scoopneck, option.

Shirt 3: Plantain - again, free pattern, worth the printing! Fabric is rayon lycra jersey. (this is a plan, not a shirt, apparently.)

Shirt 4: THE WINNER! Megan Nielsen's Briar. I don't love the crazy high low hem, but the neck and bust and sleeve shaping are the best. Here's one I made in lovely interlock with dots. I used a M, I think...

and here's how i fixed the hem on the next one:

Shirt 5: from Meg McElwee's craftsy class. Good top, but too sporty in styling. I could probably hack it to open the neck and shorten, then widen the sleeves, but who has time for that when there are all of these lovely versions ready?

Shirt 6: scoopneck tee from Skirt as Top

I made a 25" x2" band to use at the neck. For my reference 😅

Real life: the sleeves are a little too short and narrow- for this one I wanted to add a band (3"Xsleeve circumference) to finish the edge and add a little length. 

Findings: Briar is the winner. Just fix the hem and size down a bit.
Not testing: Tonic top from SBCC or blank canvas tee from Cake-- I just don't like their shapes.

cooking happens too: summer squash bake

(Accidentally and optionally Vegan) Summer Squash Bake with Salsa Verde
Adapted from http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/07/summer-squash-gratin-with-salsa-verde/ who adapted it from Sunday Suppers at Lucques

This was a kitchen sink recipe to use up a pile of fresh herbs and early summer delights from our CSA box (join here: http://www.eatwell.com/#whats-a-csa). I improvised pretty wildly from the original because I didn't feel like going to the grocery store, and had high quality-if different- ingredients on hand. The recipe can take it. 

Serves 4 to 6? 

Gratin
2 pounds summer squash
Salt
1 1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs (from nick's pizza crusts decadentttt)
3 tablespoons butter
1-2 quartered spring onions - just the white part - save the greens for garnish
[1 cup grated gruyere cheese] -i axed that as I only had cheddar and feta onhand. cheddar is too kiddie, and feta too salty to mix with the brine of the salsa verde. i
1/4 cup salsa verde (below)
Freshly ground black pepper

optional: 1 bunch chard, chopped into ribbons

Salsa verde
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1 teaspoon oregano leaves (or half, if dried)
a few basil leaves
1 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
3-4 teeny cloves fresh (undried) garlic
i subbed 6 lemon-rosemary marinated olives for:1 salt-packed anchovy, 1 tablespoon capers, and 1/2 lemon

1/2 cup olive oil

Cut the squash into thin coins. Toss with salt and set aside for at least 10 minutes. Do it n a colander so it can drain easily. I used this time to play a game with my kid. 

direct from smitten (buy her cookbook): Meanwhile, place breadcrumbs in a small bowl. In a small skillet or saucepan, melt butter and keep cooking it over medium heat until it browns and smells nutty. Carefully pour (in a small drizzle at first) over breadcrumbs and be sure to scrape out any brown bits from the pot. Toss crumbs to evenly coat.

Make the salsa verde by blending the herbsand olives in a food processor or blender. With the machine running, stream in the olive oil in a drizzle. Season with salt and black pepper.

Add shallots, [gruyere] half the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup salsa verde (about half; you can use the rest to dress eggs or any roasted meat) and some freshly ground black pepper to the bowl with the summer squash and toss. Transfer to a 9×9-inch (or equivalent; I used a 9-inch round cast-iron skillet) baking dish. Scatter remaining breadcrumbs over the top and bake 35 to 40 minutes, until the squash is tender and the crumbs are crisp.

Rebecca's version to finish:

Add chopped chard as squash is cooling- the steam will wilt it just enough to provide a fresh herby texture. 

Garnish with chives and grated cheese. 

yum. do you have a great plum recipe to share?

xo bex

FO: Latest Moss

I never blogged last years free stretch corduroy moss... So here's this year's!

I just followed the directions, straight size 8, and added about 4" at the lengthen line for modesty (aka ability to sit without flashing).

Oh and I jean-ed it up with patch pockets, a hammered button, and yellow topstitching. This skirt really reads jean skirt to me, but maybe because I keep making it in these Levi's- like fabrics?

Maybe one day in a classy wool. Mayyybeee...

What's your fave skirt? How about dress pants? I need some, but I'm scared...Manhattan trouser???

Update: action shots!