It's finally finished

Though you may not have believed that Peter had abandoned me for other diversions, I now have proof of his alcoholism (snort!). Below is a candid of Peter bottling up his latest apple jack. This started about two weeks ago when apple cider went on sale at our local Hannaford supermarket. I guess you could say that Peter bought off less than he could brew. Last night, after two weeks of fermentation, he bottled the whole delicious mess, which we now get to schlep across the country in an inebriated foray south of the secession line. We'll be sure to let you know how things regress... 

On another topic, Peter says that people in the rest of the puniverse are pun-averse and that I should refrain from over-using them. Indeed, he has relegated me (as his family did his father) to the Catholic tradition of vocalizing puns only on Fridays. I'll try to de-cyst, but don't be cantankerous if I'm a somewhat less benign than I intended.

On to crafts. Since yesterday, I've been working on a sewing machine cozy from Rupp's "S.E.W." beginners' book. I've more or less adhered to her directions, except for one major deviation: though many acquaintances profess the sliminess of Walmart, the megastore nonetheless failed to carry the most necessary ingredient for this project - oilcloth. As a blockhead, I obviously find it difficult to think outside the box. After issuing a well-deserved ragging to the nice old lady on hand to assist, I ended up with this: 

100% cotton quilted with polyester fill. It seems, this time, that I cut off more than I could sew... well, almost anyway. I promised to offer advice, but instead, I've provided the above photo to give you some indication of what not to do: 

1) Thou shalt not forsake your measurements. I'm usually pretty fastidious about this sort of thing but I hadn't stretched the fabric or pressed it adequately before cutting and ended up with two sides that were 1/2" too short. I solved this by allowing for 1/4" seam allowances instead of 1/2" but that did prove for pretty dubious, if penitent, sewing. 

2) Thou shalt not lay your fabric indiscriminately. Though Ms. Rupp did eventually admonish against casual positions, she might have thought to do so before I pierced the fabric with my 7.5" scissors. Sheesh! 

3) Thou shalt not sew with unmeasured bias. Pay attention to the thickness of your fabric. This is what happens when you don't: 

I estimate (fairly conservatively, notwithstanding the indiscriminate positions) that this pin-job took at least 20 minutes longer than it should have for undesirable fritzing around a rather thick edge.

Nonetheless, I did finish the job, as they say, with alacrity, in spite of the obstacles certain blockheads threw in front of myself. My Janome (snake eye, in Japanese) doesn't even mind the blood (do not pin overzealously), and is much cozier thanks to the effort. It even has a little opening for its various cords AND, by not paying attention to the dimensions of my little machine, I've left it room to grow (that's right - this is even a problem in Japan.

Bon sewoire et bonne chance, mes amis!