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three things make a post

1. I went to Staples and printed 7 patterns from the new Alabama Chanin book. Total cost: $50. Here's Harley, guarding them for me on the guest bed.


I plan to spend the week tracing and muslining (especially the A-line and tank dress patterns, as well as the fitted dress pattern from the previous book) so I can compare the fit and figure out which  version to make.

There seems to be an error in the A-line pattern -- the back piece shows the hemlines for the top, tunic, dress and long dress, but the front piece only shows the hemline for the top. It's an easy fix (I just laid the back piece over the front piece and traced the hemline), but still weird.

I'm sort of mulling over the idea of making an Alabama capsule wardrobe -- a dress or two, a jacket to wear as a cardigan (I've tried on an actual AC cardigan and it was too short for me), and maybe a skirt.

2. I went to Quebec City last weekend! And it was great!

Not a lot of sewing/crafting stuff to report, but I saw these reverse appliquéd dresses in a gift shop and thought they were really cute.


The neon-green-and-orange one especially.


It was actually pretty well-constructed, with two rows of stitching around the neckline. Also cute!

I also bought a ridiculous par of shoes from the best shoe store on earth.



And on the way home, we stopped by Johnson, Vermont, to see...

3) Johnson Woolen Mills!

I've had a minor obsession with this place ever since I bought a flannel-lined winter coat (OK, two) from them at the Big E a few years ago. They're one of the few woolen mills—if not the last—in New England. They also make excellent bags and blankets and stuff. And their wool wears like iron.

Pics are bad because the lighting was bright, sorry.

Bags.


The mill itself wasn't open to the public (wahhhh), but I consoled myself with some fabric shopping.





I bought two yards of a gray-and-purple houndstooth. I couldn't resist taking a picture of the cutting table.


Now I need to learn how to make a coat!

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