mathilde blouse: an all-the-hard-things finish

04 Sunday May 2014

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I’ve written only briefly about my “all-the-hard-things” goal for this year. It’s a nebulous goal, and the phrase “all the hard things” really sums it up more nicely than a whole bunch of bullet points or detailed goal lists ever could. Plus, an open ended goal leaves room for expansion and modification. I might make a bunch of quilting goals but then decide to take up, say, tatting (hint: likely not what you think–click the link!) or wild-yeast sourdough bread making. With me, you sort of never know.

One of my firm goals this year was to finally make the Mathilde Blouse, pattern by Tilly Walnes of Tilly and the Buttons. I had seen this amazing version done up in Liberty lawn over at the Workroom’s blog (Liberty junkies: this blog is nearly as essential a follow as the Purl Bee) and I just knew–though I barely had Washi under my belt–that it had to be mine. I bought the pattern, I bought some beautiful Yuwa lawn because I’m not about to goof up $35/yd Liberty and…

…I let the whole pile sit for a year, almost. Part of the issue was that the pattern, designed for A4 paper, printed super-weird and I had to hand-draw in many of the lines so that I could even cut it out. And that Yuwa lawn? Well. It came, and was supposed to be less-nice than Liberty, but it was the most beautiful fabric I’d laid my hands on to date, and I was terrified to ruin it. Plus there had been the Buttonhole Incident surrounding the Geranium Dresses I made for Lucy last year that made me love-hate-dread-fear my Janome auto-buttonhole feature. Let’s just recollect that Mathilde’s key feature is that lovely row of seven buttons closing the back of the blouse–romantic, dreamy, old-fashioned–but they had to be done RIGHT.

What is there to say except, reader, I finally sewed it?

This sew took me every bit of four whole sewing days, at 2-3 hours a day, to complete, but it was so worth it. I loved every minute, from french-seaming every part I possibly could, to carefully hand-finishing the cuffs (stitch in the ditch was too sloppy a finish for this beauty–hand sewing was definitely called for), to sewing on the bright, coral-pink buttons that Lucy insisted were the right choice for this blouse. (She was right.) Even setting a seam with my iron was a joy.

The best part? It fulfilled my childhood Anne-with-an-e dream of ridiculously puffed sleeves on a garment. Mathilde Blouse: check.

finished: tova and seed stitch cowl

02 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by Laura C in other sewing

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garment sewing, knitting, seed stitch cowl, sewing, tova

When I started out needing a crafty hobby back in 2009-early 2010, I picked quilting. I needed a new hobby because I was moving to the Netherlands, where I knew I’d be oven-less, and filling my time with baked goods just wasn’t going to be an option. I quit my publishing job to follow my husband’s postdoc to Groningen, and, frankly, I knew I’d pull out all my hairs if I didn’t have a hobby. I knew two things: knitters were weird. (Still haven’t changed my opinion on that one, but “weird” is much more a positive thing to me now than it was then. 🙂 ) And I didn’t want to wear any garments I had managed to sew. And everyone needs quilts! Especially in the Netherlands where it’s 50 degrees F in August! IF you’re lucky!

So quilts it was.

Until now!

You’ll, of course, forgive the dark, gloomy November photo, the Fisher Price rotary phone in the background, and the fact that yes, I am indeed wearing leggings as pants. This Tova? A watershed moment, much like quitting my job in 2010 was. I can sew something wearable! Something I’m proud to wear, that feels like “mine.”

Parts of it were a little difficult for beginner-garment-sewing-me, sure. I almost died when putting the inset in the front is like, step 2. I sewed that placket on in Step 1, felt pretty capable, and then my jaw dropped when I had to do those gathers and pin that whole thing together and then SEW IT all together in Step 2. And it’s not perfect. And I skipped the sleeves, because I’m a weenie. But! But, it’s lovely and I’ve loved wearing it today.

Another first: my first knit.

I made the “One Skein, One Night, Seed Stitch Tall Cowl” from knitandbake, which I, of course, found on Pinterest. Was I nuts to choose this as my first knit? Probably. Did it ever work out, though! Here’s the thing about knitting in the round: I didn’t have to worry about my stitches all falling off the circular needle. You just keep knitting, around and around, knit purl, then purl your knits, knit your purls, blammo. Of course this isn’t perfect either. The gauge in my first eight rows or so is totally off, and the yarn is all frayed in the beginning because I started knitting backwards (don’t ask) and had to pull out all my work.

I’m so happy with this cowl. I’ve found an excuse to wear what my husband calls my “hipster neckwarmer” every day since I finished it.

To new things! To wearing my work! And to awkward bathroom-mirror self-portraits! (And Fisher Price rotary phones, boy, the hit of the day around here.)