Weekend Project: Beautiful Music(al Instruments)

Question: What's the difference between a dead skunk in the road and a crushed viola in the road?

Answer: Skid marks before the skunk.

My mother is a professional musician who plays - you guessed it - the viola. (She also plays the violin.) So, when I saw this stringed instrument fabric, I knew it was perfect for her. I got started on her birthday blouse this weekend.

The blouse pattern is fitted with vertical darts in the front and back.

In order to put on the button band, the pattern instructs you to baste up the hem in the front of the blouse (only) before connecting the front and back at the side seams - this was new to me...

The pattern calls for slip stitching the button band and collar band, so that no stitches show on the outside of the blouse.

Overall, I think it's coming together nicely, and I should finish it easily in time for her birthday, at the end of September. :)

I also spent most of Sunday afternoon with Ana and Juana. Juana had finished the fleece jacket she was making for her son - all by herself! Including the zipper! She did a great job - I was so proud of her!

We ran out to Joann's and she picked out this blouse patten (photograph on your right - with spaghetti straps & two layers) and some fabric for herself. (She picked out another sheer, so it's more french seams for us...)

She'd like to make it as a dress, so we're going to see if we can just lengthen it... I'm not sure if we'll have enough fabric or not. (This idea came up after we got home with the fabric.) The pattern called for 3 yards of 45" and we bought 2.5 yards of 60". So we should (hopefully) have a little bit extra...??

Then I spent time with Ana as she continued to work on her pajamas. Those are going well also. She finished the pants and is making good progress on the robe. She decided to leave off the hood, but wants a collar, so next week we are going to try to draft a collar pattern. I'm going to have to spend some time thinking about this...

It's going to be tough to go back to work for a full week this week, after the holiday last week. Sigh... ;)