Simplicity 1878

Here it is! Last month I posted a dress project I was working on. I finished it a few weeks ago and got my mom to photograph it for me. Overall, I'm pleased with how it turned out. It fits loosely, but not too loose. I don't have a picture of it, but it has two darts in the back - one on either side of the zipper - which add some shaping.

I forgot to add inches when I was cutting it out, and so I just decided that it would have to be shortish. I plan to wear it with cardigans and tights or leggings in the winter, so it should be fine. I made the pattern sleeveless, as you can see, because I want to be able to layer sweaters over it, and when I tried it with one sleeve sewn on, the sweaters looked funny because of the bulkiness of the sleeve beneath. If I was only planning to have this as a warm weather dress, the sleeves would be nice. I liked the look of it either way. Another reason for not having sleeves is that my shoulders are on the larger side compared to the rest of my upper body measurements, and by not having sleeves, they are less confined,  and I didn't need to worry too much about fit. I did need to take in the sides under my arms when making it sleeveless, in order to make it fit a bit more snugly. No gaping armholes, please.

I had my mom take some pictures of clothing I've sewn over the past year, and it felt really strange to pose for pictures. It took a few tries until I felt comfortable-ish. I think this is why I haven't taken many pictures of my projects along the way. It just feels unnatural. Having some little ones posing with me was a fun way to make it feel a little more normal.

New Project

I found an old braided rug at The Main Street Closet in Willow Street this weekend. It doesn't lie flat, it has a hole and it was never finished. I debated whether or not to get it, but it's rewarding to breathe new life into old things. Why go buy a new rug when I can fix up an old one?  Besides, it has character, right?

We were at a family reunion this weekend with Dan's extended Hess family. This was a perfect project to begin working on while chatting with others. Unfortunately, chatting was a bit difficult for me since I seemed to have lost my voice - not a good thing when you are spending the 24 hours at a large gathering where talking is the main activity!

Anyway, I started taking it apart because I will need to re-lace most of it so it will lie flat, and 

then I can also fix the hole more easily too. I've repaired two braided rugs so far prior to this, and it's definitely rewarding.  I have a slew of other projects, and the challenge for me is to make sure I finish some before beginning others or I get stressed out by all the (literal) loose ends.  And the real 

Changes...Kind Of

Did you hear all the cheering and celebrating coming from northern Delaware at the end of last month? That was us celebrating that DAN IS FINISHED WITH RESIDENCY!!!!

Five years. We made it through. I knew we would, but there were times when "being done with residency" was only a very abstract idea, similar to before I was ever pregnant, and I would think "someday when I have children..."

So here we are. We've been asked a lot what's next. Not much is changing this year for us. We are living in the same house, and Dan will be working at the same place (as "chief resident" for one year and part-time in the ER), just in a different position. Up until residency really ended and his new job(s) began, it didn't feel like anything was changing. If I'd been packing up a household while all the end-of-residency parties were happening, I think I would have felt like we'd come to an end of an era.

I can tell life is a bit different now because Dan's main job has more regular hours. He basically leaves at the same time each weekday and returns around the same time. Amazing. Sounds normal, right?! That hasn't been our normal for most of our marriage and certainly not for the past 5 years. So it's pretty nice to have some regularity in our life. The kids know more what to expect as well.

Here's Dan with his fellow 5-year residents at the EM/IM graduation luncheon.

With the out-going chief and the chief for the year after this one.

You've worked really, really hard, Dan. I don't really know the half of it, but I'm really proud of you. Edwin and Elena talk about someone being hurt and going to the hospital and say: "Daddy will take care of them." 

I know your patients are well cared for. I'm honored to have been part of this journey with you.  (You know, washing your scrubs and making sure you have food to eat and all that good stuff! ;) )

And Speaking of Sewing...

Did you know there are so many sewing bloggers out there? And their blogs are so fun to read and see what others are sewing? I really enjoy seeing what others sew, and have stumbled across a fun sewing/fashion challenge called One Week, One Pattern. And since I have two dresses sewn from the same pattern, I decided to sign up and join.

You can find out more at Handmade Jane's blog here.

I'll be using simplicity pattern 2147. I'm basically posting now so you all (all 8 of you) can keep me accountable, because I'd really like to do this. September 6 - 12 is when the wearing happens!