Sewing on the Red Carpet

Twitter, I'm told, was abuzz when Anne Hathaway appeared on the red carpet at the Academy Awards in this Prada dress:

Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Image

"Look at those nipples!" tweeted the ignorant masses.
But you and I know those are just badly done bust darts! Sewing is important.

Another view:

Put Yourself on the Map!

Vicki of Another Sewing Scientist has launched a Google map recording the location of all sewing bloggers to help us find each other in meatspace. Check out the instructions here: Map the Sewintists and then go pin yourself to the map!

And by the way, don't forget to enter the Plus-Sized Pattern Pyramid giveaway. Even if you're not quite magnificent enough for plus sizes, some of the patterns include medium sizes and even all sizes in one envelope.


View Map the Sewintists in a larger map

Plus-Sized Pattern Pyramid Power!

Last month the Beautiful Beverley (aka Bea Jay) of On The Road To Sew Wear launched a Pattern Pyramid giveaway just like Karen's only Bigger and Better--this one's for Misses of Massive Magnificence! Funnygrrl of Falling Through Your Clothes and Lisa of Sew On And Sew On were Beverley's first two winners, and I am pleased to be the third! (The deadline for Lisa's giveaway seems to have passed, but Funnygrrl's goes on until March 3.)

Here is my haul:



Plus this one, which I'm keeping and making of the organic red cotton knit on which it is reclining:



And here are my contributions to the pyramid:

THE RULES (As copied - and slightly amended - from Did You Make That)
Anyone, anywhere can enter the giveaway by posting a comment below by midnight US Pacific Standard Time Sunday March 3 BUT you must have an active blog. (Reasons to become obvious.)
I will randomly select 2 winners.
I will post a random selection of 4 or 5 patterns to each winner. Each winner will pick one pattern to keep for themselves, then host their own giveaway. They will randomly select a winner, post the remaining patterns to that Person C. Person C will pick a pattern for themselves, host their own giveaway and post the remaining patterns to the winner, Person D. Person D will…
All patterns are in the plus size category - ie - if the pattern comes in 2 sizing groups, then it will be the larger category. Patterns to go up to at least go up to a size 20 (most go higher). Patterns listed as "all sizes" will include plus sizes.
If you wish to take more than one pattern you can replenish the stock with a pattern you no longer want - but please make sure it is in plus size range
You get the idea!


THE Plus-Sized SMALL PRINT
We are taking it on trust that all pattern pieces are there.
If you’re a winner, Beverley would love it if you could make a small contribution to The Brooke. This is a charity close to the heart of Catherine, who so generously provided the original patterns. These plus sized patterns have been contributed by Catherine, Beverley and me in the spirit of the generosity of the sewing community
Please engage in a timely fashion, launching your own giveaways soon after receiving a parcel
You must be be happy to post patterns worldwide.

Thank you Beverley, and let the comments commence!

Imbolc Randomness

Some random thoughts on this Groundhog Day/Candlemas/Imbolc/Brighid’s Day or the day after.

• First of all, congratulations to Amity and Nhi on the launch of their new pattern line Lolita Patterns! Their first pattern, a darling skirt with scalloped hem in sizes 0 to 26 (Yay!) called Fuschia will be available February 6 and it's FREE! So rush on over there and take advantage of these two crazy couturieuses before they come to their senses and start charging for their work!
  
  
• A couple of weeks ago at Goodwill I saw a mother trying to rein in her over-excited 4(?)-year-old. She kept calling his name and he kept bellowing "Attitude! Attitude!" Indeed.
  
  
• Rather than change the thread in my machines I made myself another Vogue 8618 using what was left of the fabric for DD's Christmas dress.
  
  
  
  This comfy item is now in such heavy rotation in my wardrobe that I had to pull it out of the laundry for this picture (hence the wrinkles).
  
  
• Here are two patches I embroidered after figuring out how to spell the recipients' names in Arabic. Allah bless the internet! I did some of the design with a Frixion pen, which vanishes when ironed. However, apparently the marks reappear when the item gets cold and you can see some scribbles on the patch on the left. Just another reason to pay the big bucks to live in Southern California, I guess.
  
  
• Traveling further back in time, I was inspired by an early December post by Shams to make myself a coccoon sweater, so I ran one up that very same day and spent much of the holidays wrapped in it.
  
  
• I have been reading and enjoying--admiring, really--everyone's wrap-up of 2012 and thoughts or resewlutions for 2013. I love being included a little bit in so many different interesting, challenging, amusing and productive lives. As to my own life, well, I think I'm coming to a point where I can't go on tolerating some chronic low-level unhappiness of my own and will have to address it by causing some acute major unhappiness around me. I have never been one to rock the boat, much less mutiny or sink it all together. We shall see. I suppose I'll need new clothes.