sarah in nyc

I have been reading and collecting old sewing books for a long time now. All of them have a couple of chapters at the beginning of the book describing various sewing techniques and often with illustrations or photos to steer you right. Amazon.com Widgets One of the techniques mentioned often is how to applique lace over a space between two finished pieces of fabric. The final effect is something ethereal . All of the books describe stitching each finished piece of fabric to a piece of marked paper and then stitching the lace over the space. I tried the technique out a couple of days ago.here is my marked strip of tracing paper stitched to the silk. What I discovered is that this old method worked like a charm. No cursing at all was involved. There is lots more work to be done and I am really looking forward to doing it. And now, another blast from the past. My father started each day with a cup of coffee. My father was a meticulous man. In my early childhood ...

It has been a while since I had been to the museum at FIT. I just finished a couple of project and it is time to get cracking on some new ones. So before I staple myself to the sewing machine I went out into the beautiful weather to feed my soul at FIT. Amazon.com Widgets The upstairs exhibit space was showing  Black Fashion Designers.  It wasn't enough of a unifying concept for an exhibit, but it was an opportunity to see lots of really great garments. This Patrick Kelly dress opened the exhibit. using the shape of tribal wear but in non traditional fabrics Forgive me, I assumed that all of the documentation about who the designers are would be on the website. That isn't the case, I am sorry that I do not have attributions. Awesome ombre dyed cape made out of macramed silk cording Worn by black models in the 1970's and still chic today. I love this deconstructed coat. Disco era dress with mirrored discs. Some garment played ei...

Sunday, I tied the tzitzit for Charlie's tallit with his family. Most of the families I work with are lovely and have a nice relationship with one another.  Amazon.com Widgets His family just takes nice up a notch or two. For me there is something so gratifying to see family working together tying their tzitzit. At the beginning they are all very focused at the unfamiliar task. But soon , as they relax into the task and their hands get used to the work they start to banter and joke with one another. They were all happy with the work I had done. Tying the tzitzit also give them time to get to see the work I have done up close. Charlie's mother had clearly done her time making friendship bracelets. She was fast. As always, we ended with Charlie saying all of the intentional prayers before putting on his tallit, said the blessing and sh'hechiyanu. The next day I helped another familym tie tzitzit on a tallit that I didn't make but consu...

Charlie's tallit is finally completed. Amazon.com Widgets please excuse the wrinkles, I promise that the tallit will be well pressed when Charlie and his family come to pick it up. I adore the pinot.   I love that despite the fact that there are so many textures and techniques used in this tallit, the tallit has a calm feel to it. And now onto the cooking. I had an appointment this morning. My son got the chicken going (honey mustard, because we have a young dinner guest this evening).  My son trusted me with the task of chicken removal., but before he went out for his bike ride he discussed the flavoring for the pilaf ( the chicken juice from last week's curry and date chicken) with me, and how I should make the kale. He also weighed in on my sister's chicken flavor question( Pomegranate molasses works well with black pepper and mustard and less well with za'atar.) My son left me to make dessert,an orange almond cake.  I dried...