Category Archives: ladies

Greek Sewing

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Greek life on college campuses can be a wonderful experience.  The costs vary according to school and fraternity, but the cost of the on-going gift giving can have an unexpected impact on the budget.

With back-to-school just around the corner and rush set to begin in a few weeks, it seems timely to offer these gift and garment ideas in the hope that it might be useful to those of you with co-eds packing for university.

Fortunately, my daughter’s sorority experience commenced after the machine embroidery explosion hit the sewing world.   The following text is taken from an article I wrote for Creative Needle  some time ago.  The photos are all taken from the magazine itself.

 

Greekbags

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“It’s All Greek to Me”

On college campuses throughout the country, co-eds proudly wear Greek “letters” proclaiming their affiliation with a social sorority or service club. Students use surprisingly large portions of their budgets buying shirts, caps and other “lettered” items from the specialty stores found in every college town. Continue reading

Therapy Outfit #2

 

NOTE:  This was written prior to surgery.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I will be going to rehab after my knee replacement surgery. At this facility, ortho patients are required to wear shorts for all therapy sessions. SHORTS!!! Good grief! I haven’t worn shorts in public, except for yard work, since 1986.   Certainly, something would be needed to draw the eye up from the legs.

Embroidery to the rescue! Several designs from Loralie’s Have A Fit collection work well on the shirts I have embroidered to wear with the mandated shorts.

“The incision was my own little touch. Loralie is not into scars.

This design is called Torture, precisely what I will be groaning as Susan, my therapist, pushes me to my limits. She and her family were our back door neighbors when she was growing up. Now she is the recognized as the best therapist in the rehab business.  When I’m not moaning, we will be having a good time chatting about the neighborhood. Continue reading

Therapy Duds

The preparations for my upcoming knee replacement surgery remind me of packing to go to our cabin in the mountains of North Carolina. There are appointments for this and that, lab work, X-rays, haircut, which is scheduled for two days before surgery. It’s bad enough to look like you’re suffering from a bad case of the flu, but at least my hair will be clean and all the same color.

I’m busy preparing smocking and embroidery, lest my idle hands become the devil’s playground. Today, I suppose that old adage could only be caution against mindlessly surfing the net or playing endless games of computer solitaire. Heaven knows I won’t be playing poker in the lobby of the rehab center.

Like going to NC, the packing for this 3-week “getaway” requires some special clothing.

Two years ago, I had my right knee replaced. Given that this time I have the same orthopod, same hospital, same rehab facility, I pretty much know what to expect. And I expect pain, blood, sweat and a few tears. But I can handle that. I’m tough. Continue reading

Alice Camisole

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BACKGROUND:  The tatted yoke on this camisole is at least 90 years old.  What a testimony to the sturdy fruit of the shuttle!  I had sentimental reasons for my appreciation of this yoke (detailed below in HISTORY) and made a camisole for my daughter.  Miss Alice, the previous owner, was especially fond of my children and they grew up knowing her as an exemplary model of Christian womanhood.  In 1996, this garment was featured in my series entitled  Antique Textiles in Creative Needle magazine.

CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE: The project was a challenge.  I needed a way to attach the yoke to the gathered fabric without detracting from the intricacy of the tatting pattern.  Commercial entredeux just seemed too new and joining it to the gathered fabric would be bulkier than desired.  Also, white entredeux was too bright and ecru was too dark.  Machine made entredeux was the perfect solution but just how to do that on a diagonal line across the gathered straight of grain fabric made me ponder long and hard.

 

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Continue reading

Lady’s Grape Sweater

Just like everyone else, I love a bargain.  I found this great sweater, without embroidery, marked down from $48 to $9.   I knew the addition of an embroidery design would take it from plain to pretty.

The lacy knit sleeves make it cool enough for Florida weather and yet, with a green or purple shirt under it, it is warm enough for our few cool days. Continue reading