xmas shirt

jenjoycedesign© Christmas shirt 2016 (2).JPGEvery  Christmas I make a shirt for Jeff.   I finished this one belatedly on new year’s day, then as soon as I finished sewing on the last button Jeff had to try it on, and then of course… he was so cozy in it … it was too dark to photo…. he wore it to work the next day,  and I never got to photograph it. Now it has been already washed, and being flannel it’s already lost its crisp allure and gotten a little fuzzy ….

jenjoycedesign© placket & cuff detail.JPG

What is so funny is that every time I make one of these Christmas shirts I seem to mess something up badly, if not disastrously.  This year the buttonholes were okay, plackets and collar okay … but….  the plaid was so wavy as it was probably the last on the bolt and warp/weft apparently is terminally twisted, and so the plaid did not/could not/ would not stay square. Thus I did a horrible job of matching up in front (like if I make it match at side seams, the front is wonky). Whatever! Who cares! (except that I kind of do care).  A bit dissymmetric, but I will just let it be what it wants to be.

jenjoycedesign© collar detail.JPG

Needless to say, since my sewing machine is already out, I may have to sew some other crazy  new-from-old shirts, so watch this space for some fun upcycling!

Making (2)

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Emma has been so very patient, chillin’ out while I’ve been a Making Maniac.  We haven’t been doing much walking in recent days because I am seriously preoccupied, and besides, it’s been raining a lot lately too. I just want all the gifts made and then I can enjoy myself,  and the sooner the better!  

The latest is something I promised somebody closely related (I won’t say who,  or the surprise may be ruined)  I’ve been working on this stocking for 3 days, totally improvising as I go ~ pretty interesting heel turn huh?

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Felted it partially this morning, and here it is, still quite damp.  Well, that is us here, filling the days with cheer of making. It just doesn’t get better than that, and  I hope you’re all having a magical December !

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