But it was a gift ....

Well, I went to the chain fabric store and searched for faux suede. I fond some, but it wasn't on sale, and I really only needed about a length of 6" at full width to allow for practice runs. So, I went to the remnant and clearance sale table and found some really nice velvet in a chocolate brown. That will complement the wool nicely, I think. The browns are close enough for the purposes of buttonholes. And it was on sale, too! Into the basket it went ... along with a nice blue sweater knit that 2 metres left and a nice burgundy textured knit as well. Perfect for the first round of the "twisted turtleneck", I think! I may have to line it, though. The Pilot says it is a bit see through. I think I have enough black interlock to underline the bodice at least ... I know I am supposed to be shopping the stash, but this stuff can't count as it was a gift. That's right, a gift. The MIL gave me a $25 GC for Fabricland (our national chain) and I had to spend it, right? No choice there or I risk offending the DMIL.

I don't need any more patterns right now as my last HP order has arrived. 6 more patterns for the table! Most of which can be done with stash fabric! Which ones? Razor Sharp pants, the Everyday Pants, the Bollywood dress for the Pilot's grad in the summer, one of the last Kensington Jackets, and the 2 classic shirts (princess and plain although the actual names escape me at the moment). That makes a lot of HP's to sew up in the next while. Sounds like a resolution to me! The only one I will make ... to sew up as many of the HP patterns in the stash as I can in the next 3-6 months. That should take me to the spring offering, don't you think?

Still on the subject of gifts, in their quest for ever more roast chicken, the two men in my life conspired together this Christmas and bought me not one, but 2 beer can chicken stands. Their philosophy being that now I can roast 2 birds at once in the oven and they can have more crunchy, spiced skin. Now, this type of cooking is not really well known to me, although I hear it is a big thing in some areas of the US. So, while I was fabric shopping, the Pilot and the monkeys went next door to the grocery store (yup, cruel world, isn't it? fabric and food in one location!) and bought a chicken. We came home and the Pilot did his duty, drinking half a can of beer so that we could use the rest for the bird. Messy way of cooking, I must say. Splatter ervywhere, although that could be the bird's fault. Very fatty bird. The result was ultra moist meat, but a messy oven. The skin wasn't as roasted as I would have liked either ... too much steam from the beer perhaps? Advice would be welcome from those more experienced in this ...