Here's Johnny!

Well done there, John! I was just yesterday wondering, where in the world has John been?

Karen, Queen of Squishies

On Nov 3, 12:42=A0pm, "Karen, Queen of Squishies" wrote:

I have been on a mission to remake my wife's entire wardrobe. At least that part of it that involves sewing cloth. She was displeased with most of the things that she owns as they no longer fit her due to weight loss, and she hates to shop. I convinced her that we could do whatever she had in mind to fill in the things that she felt she needed. So far so good. I even had some labels printed up, (link below), to make the whole thing look RTW. It has been fun and I enjoy her loving all the new looks. Nothing too off the charts here, though. After all she is on social security now and has never been what you would call fashion forward. But I have been able to get her to try some things that she said she would never consider, if she had to choose them herself from a store rack. I would say her choices were conservative. Now she is trying drop waists, and 1930's retro Full legged slacks ala Katherine Hepburn, shirt dresses, and other things that were outside her comfort level. I think she looks smashing now, and I think she feels a new sense of her body as something to like and not hide. Anyway, That is what I have been doing. I have to go back to the basement woodworking room for awhile as I am going to make a whole house full of heat register covers out of oak with brass screens to cover up the steam registers that are used for heat throughout the house. It never seems to end around here, but it keeps me out of the bars. At least that is what I keep telling her.

John

John,

What is it that you eat, and how can I get some for my husband?

:)

-Irene

Steaming heaping amounts of love. She has me wrapped around her little finger. I wouldn't have it any other way. After all, I am just a man. Smitten, to be sure.

John

It was fun to do that quilt on the spur of the moment, so to speak. I have also been having a lot of fun, helping my wife chose patterns for clothing to make things that are new and different than she might have chosen herself. So far so good. Nary a wadder. Women's clothing is usually more interesting, from a design standpoint, than mens clothing. Mens is just shirts and pants. I have been there and done that and while I enjoy sewing for myself, I have been really enjoying sewing all of the different things that are designed for women. Much more challenging for me, as it is uncharted territory. I have sewn for her in the past, but not as complex things as I have done this time.

John

You almost make me want to go back to sewing for myself.almost.I do have a blouse in the planning..but not quite ready to tackle...not too sure which pattern will show off the Butterflies the best

Butterfly (Fewer cut off heads/parts of Wings, the better)

It was fun to do that quilt on the spur of the moment, so to speak. I have also been having a lot of fun, helping my wife chose patterns for clothing to make things that are new and different than she might have chosen herself. So far so good. Nary a wadder. Women's clothing is usually more interesting, from a design standpoint, than mens clothing. Mens is just shirts and pants. I have been there and done that and while I enjoy sewing for myself, I have been really enjoying sewing all of the different things that are designed for women. Much more challenging for me, as it is uncharted territory. I have sewn for her in the past, but not as complex things as I have done this time.

John

Wow! John, really pretty. i love the muted colors. Her wardrobe must be gorgeous! i bought some tweed a while back for a suit of coulottes and a lined jacket. i really must get started.... you are my inspiration! amy in CNY

What pattern for the Culottes did you choose. I chose Burda 8032. She was not as pleased with them as I had hoped. They were a bit more drop waisted than she liked. She isn't comfortable with the whole drop waisted look. Although she did like a Burda dress that had princess seams and a dropped waist. The legs of the culottes were flared quite a bit so it was sort of a Gaucho pants look. I liked it but they may be a bit more fashion forward for her conservative tastes. That may change as she becomes more comfortable with things that are outside her normal comfort range. Well, fashion is a moving target and is always subject to change. I like pushing the envelope, but she is a bit more hesitant.

John

Wore culottes a lot on my one job that were made out of linen (Bosslady called it an "Old Woman's fabric" as it lasts forever. She owned the Fabric store...I just needed something that was presentable when I was bending over, up/down on the floor, etc. After a few of her customers wanted to KNOW what pattern I used and WHICH fabrics I bought--she stopped : ) They looked just as nice at the end of the day as when I first started. I worked in the drapery/upholstery dept) I gave them away after and they still looked nice.

Butterfly

John I have an old Vogue pattern i really like for gauchos/coulottes. i cant remember the number, i only kept the "pants" part. the waist is high and not a "hipster" style, it's a pattern from the 90's. i can look when i get home to see what the # is on the tissue paper. (at work right now...) amy in CNY

Thanks, It would be a nicer look for her.

John

okeedokee!!!! amy

I agree with your wife and Amy. The low-waist hipster style may look great on someone 5'10" who weighs in at 100 pounds or so. Phooey! from me. Won't wear them, won't buy them, won't make them. OTOH, DH thinks they're big fun. He's a card-carrying, professional people-watcher. He does enjoy the grocery shoppers trying to keep their 'low-risers' covering their fannies while they're trying to retrieve something from a bottom shelf. The most challenged ones are those who are trying to hold a cell phone to their ear, hang on to their britches And get something from a lower shelf. (It's easy to entertain us old folks.) Polly

"amy in CNY" < wrote: John

I always say," People who wear low rise pants, are heading for a crack up".

John

On Wed, 5 Nov 2008 22:40:13 -0600, Polly Esther wrote (in article ):

LOL at that picture!

Maureen

Ok, John...i was incorrect. they weren't Vogue patterns, one is a McCall's (#4798 from 1990) the other one, for fuller coulottes was Simplicity (#5618 from 1982). the older pattern (1982) i used over and over. I think it also has a jacket, blouse and skirt patterns included. good luck ! amy in CNY

Thanks Amy. the search begins.

John