Stitch and sew

Well, it's down to the wire...the wedding is next Friday evening. 

For weeks I've been staring at the 'Turkey Suit' hanging in my closet.  Sometimes I  got it out and tried different colored blouses with it, and different accessories as well.  In the end, it simply went back into the closet.

Yesterday I drug the suit out and tried to decide exactly how I might be able to salvage it to be presentable.  I took the shoulder pads out almost as soon as it arrived.  I hated the tacky jacket button, and removed that, too.  Since the button was only decorative to begin with, I discovered I didn't need to replace it, the inside snap works great. 

When I went shopping on Tuesday I purchased a spool of beige thread just to make sure I had enough to do all the necessary alterations...Today, man, I was a buzz, and ready for action.  I began with the sleeves, and turned them under a good three inches, and carefully, very c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y measured each sleeve.  (Heaven forbid I should make one shorter than the other).  The scary part was cutting off the excess material...what if I need it back??????

Once I was happy with the snip-snipping, and the pin-pinning, I began the hand-hand sewing.  It has been a long, long time since I did any hand stitching, and I was not happy with the crude results, so three times, I un-stitched the first sleeve (thank goodness I had the foresight to buy a new spool of thread).  I guess sewing is sort of like learning to ride a bike, you don't forget, you just have to practice to get the skill back.  It took most of the afternoon, but, the sleeves were finally done.

Boy, was I a pooped puppy?  You better believe.

Should I tackle shortening the skirt? 

I had nothing better to do.  Why not?

I throw on the skirt and give an eyeball as to how much I think I'm going to have to turn up the skirt.  Ignoring the fact I looked like a turkey, I gave definite, sincere, serious concern to where the new hemline should be.  I then, put in some pins, and returned to the mirror.  The new line hit exactly at the middle of my knee, right at the bend.  Good choice.

Again, I was troubled, I had to whack off several inches of fabric...once gone, I cannot 'undo' the cut.  Bravely, and very, very carefully, I measured, folded fabric and pinned.  Over and over until I had circled the skirt.  I went back to the mirror.  Hey...not bad...my legs no longer looked like drum-sticks but actual human legs.  Whooo, hooo.

By now it was dark out, I'd not eaten, and I was exhausted.  Eating was a far more important project than sewing...so I carefully folded the skirt, gathered my sewing supplies, and put them all on the footstool next to the sofa.  I can't tell you what I ate, but after, I can tell you I contemplated finishing the skirt.

Frankie, who had been a silent observer all afternoon gave me a raised eyebrow, and stern expression.  "Don't even think about it.  You are waaay to tired to sew that skirt tonight.?"

For a few minutes I contemplated her input.  I knew she was right.  I'm already cranky.  On the other hand, I can hear my mother..."You should never sew on Sunday, because when you get to heaven you will have to take out all those stitches with your nose."

Well, I do have several days left to finish this job, oh what the heck, I know I'm going to sew on Sunday...taking stitches out with my nose...how hard can that be?