This Simple Alteration Ended My Frustration

So I got this great shrug/sweater for Christmas...

It's the perfect cover up for chilly nights (or AC) and it's even a little sexy with the deep V in front and in back. BUT...because of the sexy deep V it was always falling off my shoulders and which also made it a pain to wear! So it was regulated to a dresser drawer until I could figure out what could be done with it.

A month or so later, I picked up this little beauty at a really great price...

And it dawned on me that the crossed elastic was exactly what my shrug needed in order for it to stay on my shoulders! Not only that, but it is a relatively easy fix, just needing some basic sewing implements...

And of course, the trusty machine! The 1'' wide black elastic was no more than a couple of dollars.
So, first I measured across the elastic of the shirt, and added an extra 1/2 inch allowance...

and cut 2 pieces for the top X and 2 pieces for the bottom X...

Then I measured down from the shoulder seam of the shirt to where the elastic began and marked it out on my sweater with pins on both sides. This is where the top of the elastic would start. I did the same thing for where the elastic should cross over to the opposite side of the sweater, again pinning where the top of the elastic should start...

I'm not sure you can see it in the picture, but the edges of the sweater curl up a little, and this is how I was able to hide most of my stitching...

Ready to sew!
BUT........
It still wasn't quite right! It didn't fit as nice as the shirt did, the X wasn't as crisp and I couldn't quite figure out why until it dawned on me that the shirt front is a solid piece of fabric, the sweater is wide open! So after trying it on again, the solution was simple...smaller X! So while wearing it my mom, who happened to be visiting me last week, adjusted the elastic so it fit just right without losing the open back effect yet keeping it on!

Just a quick pic to show the results, the V is just as deep in the front, and it's not possible to wear it (legally) without something underneath. But I have this gorgeous red Andy The Anh dress that it would be perfect over...
J.

Recipe Modification-Sweet Potatoes with Grapefruit

I'll never claim to be a professional anything and even more so when it comes to cooking. I never have the right ingredients and I'm always in a hurry so I think that high heat is the only heat and let's not mention the "fish spread" incident, (you really don't want to know.) So when I accidentally make something and it turns out to be edible and tastes good too, it's worth sharing.

This happy accident happened when I was making Southern Style Shepherd's Pie form Rachel Ray's Just In Time Cookbook...

(photo from Amazon.com)
If you don't know what shepherd's pie is, traditionally, it's sort of like a casserole covered in mashed potato, but Rachael Ray's is covered in sweet potatoes, which I suppose is the "southern" twist. And trust me, it's yummy!

But as I mentioned, I never have the right ingredients. The recipe calls for an orange and what I thought was an orange sitting on my counter actually was a home grown grapefruit, (smallest grapefruit I'd ever seen,) and the orange zest then had to be the grapefruit zest. Oh, and forget about the nutmeg, it became cinnamon. After the dinner had been eaten, it was decided that the pie was good but the sweet potatoes alone were great! Since then, I've modified it a little further, making ever so slightly healthier than the original recipe, (I don't really know how to calculate those things.)

Here's what I ended up with...

Ingredients:
(Milk not pictured...be sure to read the ingredients!)
3lbs. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
3 TBS olive oil*
Zest and juice of one grapefruit
1/2 cup lowfat milk*
1 Banana
1/4 tsp cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste

* The above is the "slightly" healthier version. For a creamier version, substitute 4 TBS (1/2 stick) butter instead of the olive oil and 1/2 cup heavy cream instead of lowfat milk.

How to:

1) Bring a pot of water to a boil and add the sweet potatoes. Cook for about 15 minutes, until fork soft. Drain and set aside.

2) Return the pot to the stove over medium heat. Heat the olive oil and slice the banana into the pot. Cook for 5 minutes.

3) Add the zest and juice of one grapefruit.

5) Return the potatoes to the pot. Add the milk, cinnamon and mash. Season to taste with the salt and pepper.


Enjoy!
J.

PS- Note how I have a potato masher and a microplane (grater) but nothing as simple as an orange...

Second Life-Altered Skirt

This is how the skirt looked when I bought it, about 5 years ago.

I wore it a few times, mostly with a white blouse and pumps you know, for business. I also had a co-worker, who knew of my love affair with my sewing machine, who told me she'd kill me if I took a scissors to it. It really wasn't that bad a skirt. Well, okay, maybe little long for my legs and never fit quite right in the waist, but it somehow had a retro-esque secretary feel with that little trumpet flair and bit of lace. Yet, it really wasn't me. So, I'm sorry Erin (the co-worker,) it was time for change. It had been hanging in my closet untouched, except to push it out of the way, for the last 3 years. Use it or lose it my mom always said.

So out came Machine And Gang, a.k.a. my sewing machine and necessary tools.

I wasn't sure I wanted to reuse the lace but decided to ever so carefully remove it with the seam ripper. Easier said than done. It was sewn on with such a thin thread it was hard to determine which was thread and which was lace. Then after removing it, I realized why the lace was used in the first place. Instead of a hem, the fabric had just been serged. Hmmm...

After measuring and cutting off the "trumpet" part if the skirt...

it became evident that this particular fabric was going to shred like no other! And I don't own a serger!

Anyway,being that I was at the point of no turning back, (I had already removed almost 7 inches of fabric,) I took my dilemma to Machine and did a very small stitch all the way around the edge of the skirt, hoping it would help the shredding issue then reapplied the lace.

It turned out sort of ok,

Not much hanger appeal, it's much better worn...

See?
AND note the threads hanging from the lace...
Now you can always find me.

Just look for the trail...
J.