Tuesday, September 27, 2022

you'd think I'd never done this before


I started on my skirt Saturday afternoon cutting out the front, back, waistband, and pockets; stitched the front and back together, ran the gathering threads and started to gather one side when I put it down for the night. Sometime that night I woke up and remembered I hadn't sewn in the pockets which has to be done when doing the side seams so Sunday I had to tear out the gathering threads and rip the side seams down to where the pockets would go. Damn, you'd think I'd never done this before.

I probably could have finished it on Sunday if I hadn't had to start out undoing nearly everything I did on Saturday. Then it took me three tries to figure out how to put the pockets in, again, you'd think I'd never done this before. Pinned one side, stitched it, then checked my work. Wrong. Pinned it a second time differently and checked it. Wrong. Finally got out one of my skirts I made last year and examined the pockets from the wrong side and finally figured it out.

I was down to finishing the waistband, inserting the elastic, and doing the hem. This is where I quit on Sunday as my back was complaining.

You'd think I would have had plenty of time to finish on Monday but it took forever to get the waistband and elastic done. I couldn't find my note for how long to cut the elastic so once more I consulted a finished skirt and got a good enough measurement, three tries to get the elastic in, too much trouble to explain why the first time was wrong, second time the safety pin pulling the elastic through the casing opened halfway through. Third time I taped the safety pin shut and got it in right. I got the length for the skirt measured and the excess cut off so end of day Monday all I had left to do was the hem and it was off to yoga class which Abby called late in the day that something came up and would I...yes, I'll lead the class.

So now...ta da! Once it's washed another half dozen times or so the gathers will fall more softly but it'll do for the wedding.


Here's the recipe for the Coconut Cashew Chicken (from emeals.com) I wrote about a couple of posts ago. Since there's just two of us, I cut all the quantities in half (my amounts in parenthesis):

2 lb (1) boneless skinless chicken thighs, cubed or use chicken breasts
2 1/2 tsp (1 1/4) curry powder
1/2 tsp (1/4) salt
1/2 tsp (1/4) pepper
1 (1/2) onion, chopped
2 T (1 I think, I might have used two) olive oil
1 T (1 1/2 tsp) minced ginger
3 (2) cloves garlic, minced
1 - 13.5 oz (7 oz) can coconut milk
1/2 c (1/4+) roasted salted cashews

Sprinkle chicken with curry powder, salt, pepper. Cook chicken and onion in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 4 minutes or until lightly browned.

Add ginger and garlic to pan,cook 2 – 3 minutes or until fragrant. Add coconut milk and cook 7 minutes or until mixture has thickened and chicken is done. Top with nuts.

Side dish:

2 - 8.5 oz pouches microwavable jasmine rice (I used 1/2 c basmati rice and cooked it on the stove)
1 – 6 oz (3 oz) pkg baby spinach
2 T (1) lime juice
1/2 tsp (1/4) salt
6 T (3) chopped fresh cilantro

Cook rice according to package directions. Stir in spinach, lime juice, and salt tossing to wilt spinach. Sprinkle with cilantro. (Not everyone likes cilantro so eliminate that if you want)



26 comments:

  1. The skirt looks terrific. I like that style a lot. Thanks for the recipe, too.

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    1. Simple gathered skirts are my favorite and what I wear mostly in the summer, more comfortable than shorts.

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  2. I would do the same things, even though I've built skirts since I was 16. Glad you got it all finished! I don't have a sewing machine any more, and may look into getting one that sits on a table, just so I can play with some old rayon skirt materials and make some kind of caftans or something like that.

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    1. There's been very few years when I did not have a sewing machine even if I didn't use it. I don't have a sewing table/cabinet so mine just sits on one of those 3' wide by 6' long folding tables when I want to use it. I used to make a lot of my clothes in high school and the first two years of college. Then I used it mostly to make halloween costumes for my kids until they outgrew dressing up.

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  3. Ellen, that skirt is drug! (Hanging out with kids has ended, so I'm dishing up my remnants of talk!) It is a fine job, and pockets are A+. If you showed it one more time with the blouse, we'd all storm your closet.

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    1. I'll get a picture of me in the entire ensemble. And pockets are essential.

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  4. I understand. My last sewing project was identical to one I'd done before, and yet the logic of it evaded me and it took twice as long. Copied and printed your recipe, BTW.

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    1. Here's hoping I remember next time as I want to make a couple more as I've about worn out the two I wear all summer. It's a good recipe and I'm all for good and easy these days.

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  5. The skirt has turned out really nice and I love the colours. So what it took some time, Worth it.

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    1. It did turn out well and all my favorite colors. And yeah, what else did I have to do with my time?

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  6. Now I know exactly why I never make skirts! I do make cashew chicken though.

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    1. Oh, come now David, you could make a skirt if you tried.

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  7. I find that I'm struggling more with the most basic of sewing techniques. And I've been doing this forever too! Pockets can be the devil. And if you don't get them in the right place, it's just all wrong. But look how beautifully it turned out! Good job, you!
    Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. I hope I can remember what to do in the right order as I want to make two more for next summer as I've about worn out the two I wear all the time. I've been trying out a lot of new recipes, another one last night with italian sausage, broccoli, and orecchiette pasta also very easy and very good.

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  8. Your skirt is lovely! I love that fabric. I need to share this recipe with Mike so he can make it for me.

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    1. It did turn out well but I'll be glad when it loses some of its body.

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  9. You remind me why I don't sew anymore. It's been so long I had forgotten all the stuff you mentioned here. I think it's pretty great that you kept at it and made such a lovely skirt.

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    1. I didn't really have much choice if I wanted something to wear to the wedding. I want to make one or two more as i've about worn out my two I wear all the time in the summer. I find them more comfortable than shorts.

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  10. I have no sewing experience, so I can't really offer any advice there, but I've also had moments with other tasks where I think, "HOW can I not remember how to do this?!"

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    1. I have those moments quite often in my glasswork too.

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  11. Do you use a pattern for that skirt? It looks sooo comfortable! I haven't worn a skirt in ages, but I think I'd probably wear one of those, especially if the pockets were large! LOL Excellent job and I love that fabric. Is it cotton??

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    1. No pattern except for the pockets which I made with tissue paper from the pockets on a skirt I already owned but made deeper. It is cotton, 45/46" wide. I cut two lengths 30" long, sew them together selvage to selvage and gather, finished skirt length is 27" not counting the waistband. The waistband length is one width of the fabric. If, for example, the elastic is 1 ½" wide then add ¼" for ease and ⅝" for the seam, then double that so you would cut 4 ¾" x 45/46".

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  12. Nice looking skirt. I used to make wool pants for work, with pockets, and ZIPPERS. Do you think I could do that today? Not a chance. I can still hem stuff and fix the holes in Jim's jeans, but that's about it. Good job!

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  13. I am determined to try the cashew chicken recipe the next time we find an edible chicken. I wonder if shrimp would be a good sub. It might take a while but will let you know if it's a success. Thanks!

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  14. Nice job on the sewing. I love to sew and am down to just one machine. There was a time when I had three set up all the time and sewed nearly every day. Pockets are essential and I add them to clothes I buy on sale. Can't wait to try the recipe!

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  15. That cashew chicken recipe is going to get tried sooner rather than later.It's one of my favorite dishes, but the price at the restaurant where I used to get it as take-out have increased so much I just won't pay them. The fabric in your skirt is beautiful. I laughed at your description of getting it done. One of the horrors of my schooling was the sewing portion of home ec. I made a gathered skirt, and it was an abomination. I still don't know why I picked a border print of skinny chickens; that was a mistake.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.