Needles and pins

I don’t sew much anymore but I’m sewing an alb, which is a long but simple ministerial garment. I will be officiating at a wedding that will not be held in a church, and I want a simple garment to wear without making a substantial purchase.

So, after much looking, I found a jacket pattern that will work. I’m modifying it like crazy and extending it full-length.

The collar has been the most difficult. Who decided that clergy should wear mandarin collars anyway?

Here’s the upper front so far—no sleeves yet.

And a close-up of the fabric, which is an easy-care, opaque gabardine:

I’ll put white trim on the sleeves and possibly up at the neck as well and will wear the alb with a white cord belt.

Onward to knitting: here is the back of my Surplice Lace Top right now. I’m about to bind off the right shoulder.

As I write, a carpenter is doing demo work on our family room. The cat is confined to my daughter’s room upstairs so he doesn’t escape the house. Jesse the dog is in a long “stay” just outside of the family room, which he is happy with because he can intermittently doze and watch the workman.

He loves people, he loves activity, and he loves the family room. He does have a concerned expression, though, about the changes to his room. Wait until they start busting out the brickwork.