(24-Thing-2502) Knit Cuff Application

Revisiting that darned onesie just one more time, post-pajama party.  Knit cuffs to make it easier to push the sleeves up and keep them out of a syrupy breakfast.  Actually pretty easy, now that I've gotten the hang of working with stretching the knit to match it to the woven material.  Cut a piece of knit twice as tall as you want it to be on the sleeve, making sure the ribbing runs perpendicular to the sleeve edge.  Sew it into a tube, fold it in half wrong sides together, and press.  Turn the cuff upside down and place around the outside of the sleeve (garment should be right side out).  Sew or serge along the seams, stretching the knit as you go, making sure to sew through both thicknesses of the knit cuff.  fold the cuff right side up and you're done!  It helps if you line up the seams of the cuff and the sleeve and sew that part first, or they will never come close to lining up.

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(23-Thing-2402) Sewing Table Lamp Repair

There are 2 industrial sewing machines at my craft-space, both with lamps that didnt work.  Using some spare electrical cords, a soldering iron, wire strippers and a screw driver, I was able to replace the wiring in the lamps and make them work.  This is very good for when the sun goes down and I want to see just how close my fingers get to the serger blade. 

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(21-Thing-2202) Rag Soup

yummy rag soup! My dad makes this every Easter, filled with homemade mini meatballs. It can be made with chicken broth and beef, or with vegetable broth and meatless meatballs.

Rag Soup
2 boxes broth (chicken or veggie)
1 package mini meatballs (or meatless meatballs)
1 lb broccoli raab or okra or spinach
4 or 5 eggs
Parmesan cheese
Italian seasoning
cayenne pepper
salt
black pepper

Put broth in medium pot, add a handful of italian seasoning (rub it between your hands to crush it as its going in the pot), some cayenne pepper, and boil.
Brown meatballs (meatless meatballs) in a pan, set aside.
Add whatever greens you're putting in your soup to the broth. Cover and cook til done.
Add meatballs to soup, cover and simmer.
Beat eggs in a small bowl. Add to soup while stirring. It'll make strings of cooked eggs, like rags (hence name of soup).

Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Eat. The leftovers are great for lunch throughout the week.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(17-Thing-1702)through (20-Thing-2002) Flannel One-piece Pajama

In celebration of my completing my Master's Degree, I wanted to have a pajama party. So of course I wanted to have new schmancy pjs to host my party in! That didnt happen because I'm a slacker and was only able to complete one set of jammies, for Mint Hoagie of course!  He picked out the fabric, and to town i went! He's a bit longer in the legs n torso than regular patterns, so I made it up in muslin first, figured out how to alter the pattern, and then cut it and made it again.  I tried to draft a pattern for making a footie in the pajama, but in the end, I didnt put feet on these pjs. This garment also marks my first zipper insertion! Its nice and straight, and super duper for being my first zipper. The pattern is from McCall's 5956 for Halloween costumes. It's worked out pretty well in flannel instead of fake fur.  Here's a list and photos of my "things" for each day, starting Wednesday and finishing up Saturday before the party.

Wednesday: Footie pattern
Thursday: My first zipper!
Friday: Finished arms and leg hems
Saturday: Knit collar addition

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(16-Thing-1602) Flower Bed

It was such a beautiful day on Tuesday, I wanted to get outside! I'd bought some seeds and bulbs with the intention of potting some of them for TAD or guerrilla gardening around our sometimes not-so-spiffy neighborhood. It's not so guerrilla, but I decided to spruce up the outside of our warehouse loft building by pulling the weeds in one of the tree spaces in the sidewalk.

It was kinda gross, since people just throw trash and leave dog poo everywhere. But once I got all the weeds and trash out, the dirt was really quite nice. I wasnt expecting there to be so many earthworms! There were also a lot of grubs which i threw into the road and the pigeons ate. I wore my heavy duty gloves, but I'm still glad I didnt find any hypodermics or anything too gross. (I did find an unopened can of tuna fish and half a pre-packaged cheese danish* though). 

The bulbs are planted, and the seeds sown, but it's not so impressive looking yet. I cant wait for the seeds and bulbs to start shooting up greens!  I am also bad at remembering to take "before" pictures.  But here is one of the tree next to the little plot I did.

*Just a thought: If half a pre-packaged cheese danish can sit in a flower bed for an undetermined amount of time under some weeds and pouring rains, and still be identifiable as a cheese danish (it was in almost perfect condition) why would we EVER want to put that in our bodies?

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(15-Thing-1502) Friends

I spent the day playing games and goofing around with MH's brother's family, and his brother's wife's extended family from China.  I dont speak much Mandarin, which was ok because most of them didnt speak much English.  The pantomiming alone was super creative, so this totally counts ;)

Set and Ingenious are good games for playing with people who dont share a language.  There were pictures taken, but I dont have any of them yet :(  I'll update if I get them before the end of February.

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010

(14-Thing-1402) Dalahast Cake

Dalahast is a traditional swedish symbol which originated in Dalarna province.  Mint Hogie (my BF), is of Swedish descent and has taken a liking to these horsies. Especially when they are made of spice cake and icing.  I've altered a Spice Cake recipe from Fannie Farmer's Cookbook to make it even more yummy! This is the latest manifestation of dalahast in our house, made for a Valentine's Day party.

Posted via email from summation's Thing-A-Day 2010