manly jacket mini-update
Just a quick little update on the manly jacket ...
I put together a muslin of the jacket, and it generally fit pretty well! It's amazing how quickly things go together when you don't have to worry about being neat, or careful, or finishing seams, or putting in lining...
A few tricky spots though. The back beneath the shoulder blades is a little baggy/wrinkly, and the sleeves look funny.
For the first, I tried putting in back darts, and they looked pretty nice. But, I was a little worried that it wasn't normal for guys to have back darts, so I checked w/ the draping class teacher. Good thing too -- she says it's probably because the back is too long, and I should take it up horizontally tapering to nothing at the sides. (This tuck will disappear when I transfer back to pattern).
For the second, I dunno what's wrong.. the seams don't match up, the elbow's a little saggy, and the cap of the sleeve is a little puffy. Did I trace the wrong size sleeve? Did I put it in backwards?
bunnies and bears
Went to Jo-Ann's this past weekend to pick up 10 yards! of muslin for my draping class. While I was waiting in the fabric cutting line, Steve found these: (Vogue patterns were 75% off).
He is planning to go for the bunny w/ glasses and the bear on the bottom right.
manly jacket 2
For a proper fit, men's jackets should stop at the first knuckle on the thumb. Sleeves should end at the knob on the wrist.
After tissue fitting, I chopped 2-3" off the jacket body and sleeves.
manly jacket
Got everything for a belated birthday present and started tracing the pieces. Pattern companies have a very sad selection of men's clothing, and most of it is pajamas :p
This one is Vogue 2800; there are about a billion different little pieces, and the jacket was evidently designed for a man with a very very long torso. Or a man with very bad taste. I will be doing a muslin first to make sure the fit is right. Fabrics are a chocolate corduroy and slate-green lining.
go away curls
Momoko's frizzy sausage curls are gone and replaced by sleek wavy hair.
Blythe websites have helpful tips on how to straighten doll hair -- all you need is water, a towel, and an iron. (I checked out Squeakymonkey and the This is Blythe forum.)
Read on for instructions and lots more pictures.
Before:
You need:
Iron, wet towel, and momoko. A small block of wood will be helpful too.
1. Set the iron to medium/nylon. (Be careful and test heat to make sure you don't melt her hair into a big smelly lump.)
2. Sandwich lock of hair in a wet towel.
3. Press for about 10 seconds with iron. Tug slightly on hair to keep it straight.
4. Take out of towel, press wood block on top to help it set and cool.
5. Repeat til straight enough.
First and second passes on left half:
Final results (three passes on head and a bit of finger combing):
chop chop
I pruned my rose today. It looks grey, sad, and cold.
The neighborhood roses look even more stubby, but I left a little extra on since it's only 1 year old. In northern CA, you prune in January (other parts of country = Feb or March).
Instructions: Cut with bypass pruners at 45 degree angle 1/4" above outward facing bud, leaving about 4-8" of branch on bush. Get rid of all leaves and any canes smaller than a pencil in diameter. Put a drop of Elmer's glue on cut end to prevent insects boring in (skipped 'cause I couldn't find the glue).