Summer Sewing: T Shirts

As summer is fast coming to a close for me, I figured it would be appropriated for  me to share some of the goodies I have been working on this summer.  Earlier this summer I started the process of creating my own patterns from pieces of my existing wardrobe.  I have created 3 shirts: one short sleeve (from with interlock), one tank top, and a long sleeve shirt (both from ribbing). 

 (Please don't ask me what I was doing with my hands...like I really want to draw the attention to my hips. Humph! I also really dislike the bulge my belt makes...sigh, I guess you can't have everything look perfect. *smile*)

The entire process was fun and worked my mind like a good puzzle or riddle. Some adjustments still need to be made on the patterns I created before I make more tops with them (notice that I did not post a picture of the tank top. Let me just say it was a little snug at one part of the side seam. Hmmm, must have messed up on the seam allowance?). Although I did my best to choose fabrics similar in texture to the ones I was copying, the little nuances in the fabrics highlighted some of the problem areas I had not noticed before. For example, the teal, long sleeved top featured above needs to be 1inch shorter in the chest area (to keep the wrinkles around the pits) and 2 inches shorter in the upper back. These issues did not manifest themselves as clearly with the thinner, lighter fabric that the original top was made from and only came to my attention when replicating it with a slightly heavier ribbing.




This was the first T Shirt that I replicated...

It came from this brown T shirt (not the best picture since it is lying down; however, you get the idea right?)...

Soon, I will be posting about how to copy and recreate your own pattern from a whole  T Shirt  without riping it all to pieces.  Stay Tuned!

52 Living: A Light From Behind the Door

Only the imagenation knows what is on the other side

52 Living: Boys and Dirt

Food Fact and Fitness Friday: Slow Cooker Soup

This will likely be one of the easiest soups you will ever make! Dispite it's simplicity, it is delish.   It passed the Family Dinner test so it is official!. This recipe is taken from Gourmet Vegetarian Slow Cooker cook book

BARLEY, MUSHROOM, AND ONION SOUP

It's delicious. It's typical of the kind of peasant soup you might find in a mountainous region where barley grows plentifully, and mushrooms are to be had in season. And best of all, it's a put-the-stuff-in-the-pot-and-walk¬away-from-it no-brainer.

Ingredients:
1 cup pearl barley, rinsed thoroughly
8 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil 1 onion, thinly sliced 1/2 ounce dried porcini
mushrooms
2 tablespoons tomato sauce 1/2 cup diced carrot
1 cup diced celery
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a saute pan, heat the oil and saute the onion until golden brown, about IO minutes.

Rinse the dried mushrooms and then soak them in a small bowl in about a cup of water for 30 minutes. Lift out the softened mushrooms, leaving any grit behind, and squeeze the excess liquid out of them. Pour the soaking water through a strainer lined with a damp paper" towel or a coffee filter. Coarsely chop the mushrooms.


Add the mushrooms and the strained soaking water, the sauteed onion, the tomato sauce, carrot, and celery to the barley. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours, or until the barley is completely tender. Add the parsley and salt and pepper to taste.

Serve sprinkled with a tablespoon or two of freshly grated Parmesan.