Reunion dress. Material and pattern fitting.

I’m not a “finisher” which means that I enjoy planning and beginning projects and getting them done is my least favorite part.  This means I’m already planning my next project by the time I hit the mid-project phase.  So it was with the Auction Dress.  I couldn’t wait to get started on the dress I will make for my 20-year high school reunion.  This is why I have a firm “one project at a time” rule.  But the auction dress is done!  And now I can make the reunion dress.

The pattern is the Crepe pattern from Collette Patterns.  I’m going to make the sweetheart neckline version.  Conveniently, there was a sew-along on Gertie’s Blog for Better Sewing back in 2010-2011 so I will have guidance.  I’ve even set myself out on a sewing schedule.  When I was making the Auction Dress I hated how the sewing stuff sat out on the dining room table making everything messy all the time.  So for this project I will work only on the weekends and put everything away.  The sewing schedule will also hopefully keep me from the “gotta finish now” frantic nature of the last project.

I picked out the material two weeks ago because that was the day my excellent sewing companion could go.  This project will teach me underlining, so I had to find two kinds of material that worked well together.  With the good judgement of my sewing companion here’s what I (well, it was mostly she, not I) came up with:

The outer layer.
 

The underlining.
 
Here’s how they look together.  There is also a contrast sash that will be made out of the underlining fabric.
It looks good, eh?
 
So this week I’m tracing the pattern and working on the muslin.  I’ve decided to trace the pattern because patterns are expensive and I would like to keep mine in usable condition.
 
Here’s a fun initial pattern fit.  I can tell there will be changes with the muslin.
 
Especially around the sleeve area.
 
Because I totally ripped that open with my broad shoulders.
 

Picnic Project: Pier Park

The Picnic Project.
Established 2006.

Each year, Patricia chooses five parks in Portland—one from each section of Portland: N, NE, NW, SE & SW. She plans food and invites people for a picnic, then records the festivities. By 2028 she will have picnicked in every park in Portland.

Date: 18 August, 2009

Park: Pier Park

Present: Patricia

Food: Big salad

Activities: Reading a fabulous book, exploring the park.

Comments: Pier Park has a skate park and a Frisbee golf course. My brother goes there weekly to play Frisbee golf. I thought I would check it out.

Pier Park is in the very North part of North Portland in the area where residential begins to change over to commercial. Several trucks were parked outside the park while, I assume, their drivers rested.

Like other parks I’ve been to this summer, the dense planting of trees gave it a very Hansel & Gretel feel. It also brought the temperature down quite a bit. It was a very hot day.

There was a water feature and a play area.


Sadly, the merry-go-round had been removed.

My delicious big salad.

A very nice covered picnic area.

I wandered around the park for awhile and found the Frisbee golf course. There were a few people playing.

The heat didn’t deter the teenagers in the skate park.

The baseball fields, however, were deserted.

Picnic Project–North Portland, Overlook Park

The Picnic Project.
Established 2006.

Each year, Patricia chooses five parks in Portland—one from each section of Portland: N, NE, NW, SE & SW. She plans food and invites people for a picnic, then records the festivities. By 2027 she will have picnicked in every park in Portland.

Date: July 28
Park: Overlook Park
Present: Kelly, Heidi, Patricia, Jan & Nicole.
Food: Delights from Salad, Delights from Whole Foods, more salad and carrot cake.
Activities: Eating our yummy food. Croquet
Comments: I love Overlook park. It (not too surprisingly) overlooks the Willamette River and the North and NW industrial area. It is particularly beautiful at sunset, not too crowded and has a lovely running track. We had this picnic as a between-two-birthdays picnic. Jan’s comes first near the end of July and Kelly’s is in the first of August. We chatted, ate food, waited for the sun to come out (Worst. Summer. Ever.) and then played a smashing game of croquet.