A few more sewn items for the girls

I spend a large portion of last weekend tracing off a bunch of Ottobre patterns for the girls (from the last two children's editions).  This week I have sewn a bit even though I haven't posted along with my finished items.

First version 8 of McCall's 6875.  This is a straight size 4.  When I asked who wanted to model it, the nerdlet gladly volunteered.  Her mood did an about face the moment I pulled out the camera to take pictures.

Next I did a couple of versions of Ottobre 1-2014-13 (Blue Orange) in a double-sided rayon and cotton knit from Jo-Ann's.  This fabric is so soft the girls were all willing to try it out and wear it for me.

 Like the bow?

It's a straight size 110 and as you can see it turned out way, way to big, but I did do a pretty good job of stripe matching.

Though it isn't going to last since when I sew it smaller the stripes are unlikely to still match and I don't plan on taking the whole thing apart, but just sew down the sides.

The second version of this is the same fabric but with the stripes on top and the diamonds on bottom.  For this one, I just serged off 1 1/2 inches off each side (so 6 inches total), and you can see that it fits a lot better and still has room.

The last piece that I just finished is a pair of ruched leggings.  This is Ottobre 1-2014-15 (Green Lines) and is in a size 110 in length and a size 86 in width.  I made them in a lavender crushed panne.  I love this stuff but I rarely use it because I have been told it is beyond the lines of taste.  That doesn't stop me from using it altogether.  The nerdlet loves her new leggings and has said that she would like them in every color.

This leggings are great for her.  She has never had a pair that has fit her so well.  I'm not sure I'll make a pair in every color, but she'll get at least a few more before I start looking for a non-ruched legging pattern for her.

I actually have a number of the other patterns I traced already cut out and still another pile that needs to have fabric picked for it.

TBT

Q and I in 1999 (I think).

McCall's 6875 - Version 7

So while I said that I wasn't going to make any more of these for a while, I ended up making another one and will finish version 8 later.  The nerdlet's friend and neighbor is having a birthday party later today and so I let her pick out fabric for her own dress, and this is the result.

This one is a straight size 5.  I wanted to embellish it a little and considered adding trim around or ruffles to the sleeves, but really the girl it is intended for doesn't wear much embellishment (though she loves dress up clothes) so I decided against it.  In case your wondering, this dress is about 2 1/2 hours to make even with having made it a number of times before.  

TBT

I'm in the middle and the nerdlet's godmother is on the left and the bear cub's godmother is on the right.  We are at the Texas Renaissance Festival.  I'm not sure what year this is, but I'm guessing 2000 or 2001.  I'm wearing Simplicity 8855 (though I think it's not the shirt I made with the oufit in the picture).  The outfit on the right (other than the jacket) is Simplicity 7756.  The cape may be McCalls 8936, but if it is the picture on the front of mine was different, but I cannot find mine right now to tell you which cape pattern it is exactly.

Spread the Word to End the Word

Orange Curd (and Lime)

At the end of January, I discovered a recipe for microwave lemon curd that was super easy.  After that post, I experimented successfully with lime curd (simply replaced the lemons with limes in the recipe) and not quite as successfully with sugar free versions (Splenda works, but it makes a slightly grainy curd and needs more to sweeten it).

Today, I decided to try the mandarin oranges.  I zested four thoroughly.  Next time I will likely zest a lot more for extra flavor.

I squeeze the juice of a lemon (about 2 tablespoons - between 1/8 and 1/4 cup).

I then squeezed enough oranges to make 1 cup of juice.  I ended up using 12 oranges.

After that I followed the same recipe as my previous post, except I halved the sugar.

And for a bonus, this was what I ended up eating for lunch.  It's definitely not the worst lunch I've had.

Orange curd:

1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs
1 egg yolk
2 T fresh lemon juice 
1 cup fresh orange juice
zest from 4-6 lemons 

Melt butter in microwave, set aside to cool slightly.

Whisk together sugar and eggs in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl. (I would use a large bowl so you have room to whisk - my stove top ended up being a mess)

Whisk in juice and zest.

Finally whisk in the butter.

Microwave on 50% power for one minute. Stir. Repeat.

Continue microwaving at 100% power in one minute intervals, stirring after each interval until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. The curd will thicken as it cools. (It only took me three times for it to be done).

Strain curd through a fine-mesh sieve to remove zest.

Pour curd into sterile jars and store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.

McCall's 6875 - Versions 5 and 6

I finished two more versions of McCall's 6875.  These were not as well received as well as the previous version, at least not with the nerdlet.  The nerdlet said that they were nice but not pretty enough for her.

I then told her that I guess they were for the bear cub and Darth Baby, and the bear cub started giving me big hugs over and over.  Darth Baby has expressed a definite preference for version 6 on the right.

I still love these dresses and may make some more in the future, but I spent some time tracing off a bunch of Ottobre patterns and hope to make some of those now.