Basic Black Pant and Top Sewing

Ahhh, since it has become apparent that my travel 'suit' is black tank top and pants - enabling easy and decent-looking modeling of my Creative Sweatshirt Jackets, I dug into my stash and pulled out this GREAT black cotton/rayon/Lycra double knit. You can see my cutting layout here on my nice long kitchen counter. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Lyla Messinger's Margarita Top. It ha princess seams in front and a one piece back. The front 2 pieces are shown closest to the foreground, but you can see how this all fits along just the back pant leg on 60" fabric. Just way too cool! The 2nd photo shows the ruffly seam allowance to this fabric - and I cut 1 1/4" strips of it - thinking of inserting it under the hem of the top - just for a little something extra, a feminine touch. I used a ruffle out of this on a skirt a well. Hmmm - together that might be just pretty cute. I can always liven it up with a scarfed belt or something. Anyway - figure I need to 'ease' my way back into some regular sewing since I have that wedding gown facing me. Though still need to get - hunt the lace and fabrics. It appears a jaunt to Chicago Vogue and Fishman's is in order. Also was a very good girl this morning and pulled out the King sized Sheets that I bought at Linens n' Things when they were closing out. Since our bed is a Queen, I need to size them down. That took some thinking for the fitted sheet. What I cut off - such nice high count cotton, I decided to cut into rag size pieces, and I'll serge those and wrap them up as a wedding shower gift for Dear Daughter. I'm sure she'll roll her eyes about that one, but grab them frequently. At least I hope so - rather than paper towels all the time!

Wedding Gown in the works...

Goodie, goodie, goodie! Daughter is getting married June 6 - and of Course, I get to make the gown! Like all brides, she wants to wait til the last minute (so she can lose weight, which she doesn't have to!), but I convinced her last night that it just isn't smart to wait until May for a June 6 wedding! I spent most of Monday night looking through all the pattern sites for a good pattern to 'start from'. Will venture out today to pick a few of them up for real. Here is a picture of 'THE' gown...

Thankfully, I was able to point out the model's emaciated arms, and convince her she would NEVER look that tiny in the middle! This is a far, far simpler project than the last gown I made, so I'm looking forward to it. Sourcing that beaded fabric now using sources my neighbor and wedding gown etalier' Tina Colombo was kind enough to share. Plan to get this in the works so that I have a pattern all ready to determine exactly how much of the $$$ fabric to purchase. I think I also convinced her that a princess cut to the skirt, or a bias cut that would create some soft vertical coning would create vertical lines that would be slimming too.

Stay tuned.....

Reading Recommendations

Never have had a TV in our bedroom - we both read every night to go to sleep - and whenever I've 'had it' with either the computer (usually) or sewing (though rarely!), I just escape into my 'other world' reading.

Just finished Neta Jackson's first book in her new House of Hope series - Where Do I Go? This is a sequel to her YaDa YaDa series of books... It was just wonderful - and very convicting to me personally of how I look at homeless people, and what God is calling me to do with the time I have to be 'the feet of Jesus'...especially when family demands on my time lessen later this year. I can not recommend Neta Jackson's books highly enough. Along with Karen Kingsbury, I have never been more influenced regarding my role in our current world than by these 2 authors.
Neta's website is here: http://www.daveneta.com/books/YadaYada6/YadaYada6.htm

I think I recommended The Shack earlier this year - if not, I sure do. I use it - and thinking carefully about the theologically correct (my pastor says so too) ideas presented in it about how God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit 'see' things. It also has a website you'd find interesting...
http://www.theshackbook.com/ I used this book as 6 gifts at Christmas time. Say enough?

The other novel I finished recently is totally different - about a group of women pioneers going west - by Jane kirkpatrick, it is All Together in One Place. I've never read many western type things, but this one really gave me a new appreciation for all of my creature comforts - that's for sure! Would be a good read for any spoiled teenager of Gen-X'er!

AND - last but not least, Do The Right Thing by Mike Huckabee. The true picture this is giving me of our 'leadeers' in Washington D.C. makes me sick to my stomach and madder than a jack rabbit. The stories of his campaign, intermingled with his life and political philosophies help me go to sleep at night in these troubling times. That - and feeling secure in God's love for us all who believe in Him. I'm praying that this outstanding man of God continues to persist, and perhaps becomes the next Republican Presidential candidate. Regardless of your political leanings, just read it - or watch Huckabee on Fox News at 10 on Sunday nights, and see if you don't agree.
A breath of fresh, honest, upright air - and believe me, here in Illinois, that is sorely needed!

Buried with new website development

Yeeks - I feel buried - with the computer! I'm either in front of my new MAC in my office, in my basement Studio with the ancient PC, or in the family room with my laptop on my lap ... I feel like I have an apendage.

Why or why am I doing this??? I'd sure rather be designing and developing my new pattern for jackets from sweatshirts with face-framing collars - it already has a name: CHOSEN.....
So why??? Because the 'path' of the development of my online business has taken a long winding road, and ultimately - to make things easier via maintenance, new products, news, marketing, Search Engine Optimization, and adding valuable educational content to my site - ONE site will be far, far easier.

Like with anything - it is a process, and I already am well aware of how much I've learned by having to deal with 3 different 'platforms' as they are called in my current sites. That is making this a bit easier, and perhaps even a benefit for the developers at my new platform as I bring new features to them from my other sites.

I AM having fun, though, digging through the treasure chest of books, patterns and notions available at my main supplier - who recently joined with another long-standing business. A benefit of all this work will be MANY more products available on my site.

Thought I had found ALL those Christmas decorations - but, my Mom was right...she said "You'll surely find something tucked somewhere you forgot. Yep - sure have: the cookie cutters hanging from ribbons over my kitchen sink and then a SANTA was winking at me hanging from the curtain rod over the sliding patio doors. How about you?

Recently have signed up on Twitter.com and Digg.com. Anyone out there familiar with these?

Also - re-discovered, in checking my website links - http://sew-whats-new.com/ This appears to be the new community of a gal I used to talk to all the time. It looks great - try it out!

Our donation - Thanks from Penny and Me

Thanks everyone for your support of my patterns and book for Creative Sweatshirt Jackets. Look what-together-we have done...donated $608 since Sept. 9 to Miracles in Action. Wow! As the note says - we are helping poor families to help themselves. I am blessed in the giving, and you should be as well. Thanks again!

Mom's new Jacket

It's done - YEA! Below are process steps. The corally texture fabric is actually gores from an 8 gore skirt of mine that I had decided I didn't want any longer - thus found it in my 'coral box' of stash fabric. Note that I'm accenting the left shoulder as I look at it. The first step was covering and growing the back yoke with silk doupionni.

See in the 2nd photo that I'd cut it on the bias, and chevroned the grain up and out at the shoulders.
For 'trim' I layered several strips of bias cut silk irridescent douponni and after stitching down the center, then 'roughed' up the edges with this great Chenille Brush.

That trimming accented the diagonal, and went along the edges of the purple yoke. I bound the edges of the lower front and back - and then sleeves too - with 2" wide bias pieces of a dark purple silk matka. Stitched it to WRONGside, then wrapped the edge. More chenille trim tops that for a finish - couching down this great variegated silk yarn in the very center of the trim as I attached it to the jacket.

Here, then are close-up shots of the final creation. See that I continued the very dark purple that edged the center front and hem, on around the neckline. The 'collar' is the original lower ribbing of the sweatshirt - ala my Transformed Pattern.

This shot of the front shows how great the Crone Art button works with my color scheme! A ponytail elastic band is anchored to the inside of the right front to close the jacket around this great button. This jacket went together quite easily - I only spent 2 real sessions of about 2-3 hours each on it.
I like it - so hope my Mom will as well. If not - I'll make her another and this will be a good sample.

Just had an email this morning from a customer who purchased my DVD in Houston at Quilt Festival and said she'd made several jackets - YEA!

Embellish a Hoodie

Well - this might be crazy, posting and blogging about a Christmas gift before it is given...but I have my doubts that my future niece-in-law will ever see this.

Starting with a pull0ver hoodie sweatshirt - I slashed it up the center, added a hood lining cut on the bias, bands up the center front, cut off the lower band, added an interfaced piece of fabric... and added a big black zipper. Some hand stitching using the Clover double eyed needles to easily work with 2 different color strands of pearle cotton was fun too - and I think (hope) added a funky feel.

Sew....hoodies transformed....a new direction??

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

Copied from a book - NOT original - but it was pretty neat - a squashy, flat pumpkin that I'd bought after seeing this idea back before Halloween. Stayed fresh on my front porch. Drilled HUGE holes with my drill for the candles (5), the fresh greenery is seeded eucalyptus. Assorted little gourds and pumpkins were hot-glued to the top.
Noticed a soft spot on the side after Thanksgiving that night - so removed it from my dining room table to the kitchen counter. SURE glad I did, as during the night, it all collapsed - mush pie! Couldn't even blame it on one of my cats (who were fast asleep at our feet on the bed).

Engage with me in Merry Tossmas

Just got this email - and WOW! Do I ever agree! Be sure to click on the title of this post to watch the very entertaining - and pointedly true video on "Tossmas".

Here is the list of Christmas-friendly retailers - that I will support. In fact, I plan on going to Bed Bath & Beyond with my 20% off coupon, asking to see the Manager, then respectfully rip it up in their presence and tell them why and that I'm on my way over to Linen n' Things to buy that coffee maker for my hubby for a CHRISTMAS gift because they call Dec. 25 what it is - Christmas!

See below - and participate as you feel led. I feel better that I've shared it with you!

Focus on the Family Action’s2008 Christmas-Friendly Shopping Guide

How leading retailers’ messages rate
Last updated: 11/13/08
We welcome your use of these ratings in your shopping decisions. As an additional way to help you communicate with the retailers we evaluated, we are providing the convenience of a petition which you can sign by visiting focuspetitions.com.
Retailers will be presented with petitions – thanking those that embrace “Christmas,” and alerting those that have purged or marginalized “Christmas” that you object to the secularization of Christmas. We hope you will “stand for Christmas” with us and encourage the continued acknowledgement of this historic Christian observance in our culture.
"Christmas-friendly" retailers– prominent acknowledgment of "Christmas"
Cabela's Crate&Barrel Dillard's Eddie Bauer JCPenney Kohl's

L.L.Bean Lands' End Linens 'n Things Lowe’s Macy's Neiman Marcus Nordstrom Pier 1 Imports Sears The Home Depot Target Wal-Mart

“Christmas-negligent” retailers – marginalized use of “Christmas”
Barnes & Noble Bed Bath & Beyond Best Buy Borders
Circuit City Dick's Sporting Goods GAP KB Toys Kmart Toys “R” Us

“Christmas-offensive” retailers – apparent abandonment of “Christmas”
American Eagle Banana Republic Bloomingdale's Lane Bryant Old Navy

Originally published by Focus on the Family Action. Copyright © 2008 Focus on the Family.

Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Londa's Way : now available

My new BOOK - a printed book - is now available for purchase. Color cover and step-by-step instructions inside for the 5 great jackets you see photo'd on the front and back covers, including the few patterns needed - all for just $18.95. If you've wanted to try one of my jackets, but were a bit intimidated, I wrote this book for YOU! All self-contained, but I also did construct a webpage with a video on fitting - just as an 'add-on' to 'train' you to the neat concept of utilizing the web to transfer even MORE info - as this is the way my patterns work...linking to webPAGES for all the photos.

There's a story behind this one - and I thank helper/friend Cyndi from the Novi show for her awesome listening to both my customers, and then my 'composing' it on the road on the way home. Once home from the American Sewing Expo, and convinced I should do a PRINTED book (in addition to my 'book' on DVD), I locked myself up for 2 days and just DID IT! With the stupendous help of my wonderful local printer, Upclose Printing, in Champaign, IL, I was able to 'debut' it at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival.

Just as with my pattern sales, I've promised to tithe on the sales of this book to my current charity: Miracles In Action - www.miraclesinaction.org

So far - the book is being very well accepted - I've even already had 2 nice orders from Nancy's Notions. Comment here about your experiences with my book.

New idea: another DVD - ALL video, and on the basics of fitting and embellishment. No PDF portion - so lower cost than my Ultimate DVD.

Not sure when that will 'happen' as I have wedding sewing in my future - as daughter is getting married in late May. It will be FUN to sew on silk and satin - rather than sweatshirt fleece for a change!

Guest spot on Pfaff's Now Sewing now airing

I'd been told that my 'spot' on the Pfaff educational site: http://www.nowsewing.net/ would debut on Oct. 24... but that 'happened' while I was in Houston, so what a 'treat' today when it occurred to me to log on to the site to see if I really was 'on'! Yep - Grandson Cole (3 1/2 now) even stopped his playing to "see Nana on the 'puter' TV".



A full half hour of my techniques all about fitting and embellishing my fashionable jackets made from sweatshirts is the latest spot - and garnering pretty good reviews, I see! :)

This site began as a way to educate the Pfaff dealers - and was so popular that the dealers asked for it to go 'public'. The offerings can be seen when you click at http://www.nowsewing.net/index/webapp-register-form.
I've registered for the Platinum at $29.95 because it gives me unlimited access to ALL the "Behind the Scenes" interview/lessons with Sewlebrities from both 2007 and 2008 AND acess to the projects that go along with those spots.
Gold Membership is $19.95 - giving access to only 2008 spots, or you can also just buy a 'ticket' to a single viewing of a spot (like mine!) for $3.95 - but my understanding is that you only get to see it once. If you go with the Platinum or the Gold, you can see the spots over and over at timing good for you.
My 'spot' is in the dropdown menu on the pay per view, and labelled:
Londa Rolfing Not Your Average Sweatshirt Jacket.
Say - they forgot that 'h' in my last name - Rohlfing - but with an opportunity like this - what's an 'h'???
Again - thanks, Pfaff! What an opportunity - and even I enjoyed watching it, I gotta say. Kinda weird to see/hear yourself on the computer...AND, I know I"m re-focussing on those neck-firming exercises!!!

Say - if you are one of the first 3 people to write me to tell me what I say and have not DONE on my jacket as worn in the video, I'll reward your astuteness and attention with a FREE signed new Book: Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Londa's Way.

Election night Fashion?

Politics aside - all I guess I can comment on that 'dress' that Michelle Obama selected for the Election Night acceptance speech is.....thanks for a wonderful new example of some extremely POOR design! TWO 'centers of interest' - and NOT in places that, I, as a lady, would want to draw attention. Besides that - TWO, not the design-wise 1 or 3, but 2!!!
For me, the ultimate thing I teach is that I want to wear the clothes, the goal being that the clothes flatter ME. THAT dress certainly 'wore' her, if you know what I mean. What did you see? Her or the dress? I saw - only that dress!!!

Ughhhhhhh..... and I'm not alone in my sentiments. I'm just hoping that she finds some new designers with some good training before she starts being my 'First Lady'.

Houston Quilt Show Ramblins'

FINALLY back from the Houston where my friend, Glenda and I manned booths at both Quilt Market (wholesale) & Festival (retail)!!! On the road on Monday, 11/3 I got a call inviting me to come on up to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Minneapolis to sub for another teacher who had a family medical emergency...so, with the van all loaded anyway - why not?!? Sew.....after one night in my own bed (loving on my cats who desparately missed me during my 2 week absence), I took off again - but this time with my wonderful hubby for my helper! Yea!!!!!
The management of those shows is amazingly wonderful, and I had a great time. I taught my 'wing-it' version of Basic Sweatshirt Jacket fitting - which turned out to be such a wonderful one hour class, that I'm adding that to my class offerings as I travel. Same goes with "Embellishment"- another new one. God works in mysterious ways, He does, He does!

FINALLY home then late last Sunday night to 2 VERY desparate and starving felines - who have hardly left my side day and night. I think I'm caught up on orders, and rested...lots of work, but all-in-all VERY exciting. Looking now at travels for next year already. Always find those listed on the front of my website. Houston brought bookings from two more stores in Florida for February. This Illinoisan says "Twist my arm!"

Some photos from Houston...








The 'store' on the left...





Helpers Extraordinairre: Glenda on the right - my helper who traveled with me and was both great help AND company, and Pat in the middle - our Houston new friend who helped out at the booth, giving us both a chance to have some 'shopping' time ourselves! My wonderful little sister also drove up from Austin to help on Friday - ALWAYS appreciated!
On Halloween, across from us in the booth all about Singer Featherweight machines - we were treated to these characters - how original! Another past helper, Darlene, sent me this link: http://planetpatchwork.com/travel/houston08.htm saying to scroll down to read what a quilt shop owner posted about my offerings at the market. Another picture of yours truly - in my 'Promised' Jacket. Click there and scroll down to read it for yourself.

Visit to Chloe Dao's Lot 8 Boutique

What fun! While here in Houston - on our day of fun between the wholesale market (where I had my first ever booth to sell my Creative Sweatshirt Jacket books, patterns) and the Houston Quilt Festival (retail extravaganza), my associate Glenda and I took in not only 2 wonderful fabric 'heavens', but around the corner from the first one we found LOT 8 - Chloe Dao's boutique. That is Chloe - as winner of one season of Project Runway! What a delight to have her sister, Sydney, help us - personally! She showed us all around and shared generously about learning to sew from their Mother, showing us detail on the new line for Fall, etc. In this picture of me with the mannequins at the shop, I'm wearing a silk charmeuse top (backless pretty much) that Sydney showed us as one of the favorite of Choe's designs. Their Mother had her own alterations shop - and retired now to do the sewing for Chloe's line along with another of the sisters. Another lady who helps do the sewing - I wish I could sit at her elbow because she does the most wondeful LITTLE double-turned little hems on all the silk...and it is not any of the numberous sewing techniques that I have learned.

Chloe has gone very geometric for her fall line. See the skirt I'm holding above in the picture with Sydney. The grey is a tiny bias grey silk piping in the geometric line. I asked about what kind of interfacing was used - and she said fusible - of a weight that gave the needed body. The insides were always of china silk, and absolutely flawless! All in all we were both amazed at the reasonable pricing on the garments for a designer boutique of this calilbre. If I really loved a garment and it fit - I would have no qualms about actually considering purchasing it. AND, I'm quite 'dutch' with my hard-earned $! Here's the back of that little skirt - I'm showing off the little pleats at the back of the skirt.

Another picture here - I'm 'embedded' in the display - modeling an intriguing backless silk top that featured VERY big kimono sleeves. Honestly - if it weren't backless, I imagine it would be hanging here in my motel room waiting to go home to wear at holiday parties!

The rings on this coat - are covered completely in fabric - bias I'm sure. This idea WILL end up on a Creative Sweatshirt Jacket, I'm sure. Then...I'll probably name that pattern Chloe. Snydney's friendliness and generosity in allowing us to take pictures was truly amazing!!! I met Chloe in Michigan last year at the American Sewing Expo at the Designer Challenge. I asked her how they could ever make garments that quickly - and she answered that the insides were SO unfinished, that we would find it hard to believe.


Chloe's line can't be called just 'Chloe' because of the objections of some designer by the same name. So her new line will be named Dao Chloe Dao - at least that's what this brain remembers. Her original garments in the boutique had the label in them "Lot 8" - which stands for the 8 sisters in the family. How cool is that?




The rest of the day found us at Universal Fabrics around the corner - where I started my 'hunt' for important fabrics for the upcoming wedding in our family. I found a luscious printed and beaded silk chiffon for my dress, samples for my daughter for her gown and the bridesmaids. Sew much excitement! At the other store - High Fashion Fabrics - where Chloe's sister told us to go - Glenda made some 'investments' in cottons, while I explored the rows and rows and rows of lovely solid fabrics in every possible color in every wonderful fabric. I have NEVER seen such a selection! Finding the coordinating fabric for my prized silk chiffon print was not hard at all here! And, a few more 1/8 yard cuts of samples to show my daughter. Truly a heavenly day for 2 sewing and fashion enthusiasts!