A New Baby (Lock)

This is a quick round up of a few random projects that I used to christen my new sewing machine!  Yeah!

I have had a Brother sewing machine at our lake house for 12 years.  Because I never did much sewing here it was fine.  But as I started using it with more substantial projects in mind, it just wasn't up to the job.  Last fall I had considered a new machine for Florida, but ended up taking my Janome to have there.  While I was shopping around I realized that I have had 4 different machines over the years with the whole shebang!  Monster embroidery units that I have never even taken out of their boxes!!!!!  I didn't want to do that again.  

My advise to people when they ask me what machine they should buy is always to get what you need and a smidge more to grow into.  Know the dealer.  And know where you will have it serviced.  I finally took my own advice!  I got a really lovely Baby Lock machine...sans embroidery, from the local dealer who has a service department right here!  Isn't she a beaut!

So far I am really, really pleased with my choice.  (Can you see me taking the picture in the side panel😜?)  I have had two different Baby Lock sergers that I have loved so I didn't go in completely blind.  It is very intuitive for the way I sew, so it has been a very smooth transition.  The dealer does have owner classes that I will definitely take to get the bells and whistles figured out.  But the basics have been easy to get used to.  So what have I been practicing on...?

I had a linen bias cut dress that I liked but didn't really wear.  I scrutinized it and realized that the fabric is a bit heavy, it is a decorator print, and the sleeves were just not right.  I decided I could take them out and make the dress cooler to wear and eliminate the whole sleeve issue!  

When I looked at this picture I was horrified!!!  Had I really worn this out in public!?!  The big brown leaf with the spot in the middle in exactly the WRONG place....OMG!  I was about to scrap the whole thing!!!  When I calmed down I realized that my dress form is a bit 'perkier' than I am at this point so when I put the dress on it wasn't as much of an issue.  Whew!

I took the sleeves off...and added a bit of elastic to the back waist seam to pull it in a bit, which gives it a little more definition at the waist.  Much better.  I'm much happier with the dress and think it will come out of the closet this summer, finally.

The second project I tackled was another pair of Merchant and Mills Eve pants.  I love this pattern!  I made them in a mid weight army green linen.  I love linen!  What can I say...they are great!

I do make one major modification to the pattern when I make it...it doesn't have pockets!  What!?  Right?!  So I incorporate slant pockets and hide the opening in the left hand pocket bag.  The original pattern calls for a side seam zipper, but because the opening is hidden in the pocket, I don't even bother with a zipper.  The button at the waistband moves forward a bit and I like making it a bit of a feature.

...And the last little project in this round up is a patchy linen top.  I did mention that I love linen didn't I?

and, yes, I had all these bits and bobs of linen scraps in my stash!  I lined it with a very soft Liberty of London lawn so it is still very light weight.  

...and I love my new buttonhole foot!

Now that I have eased into a few simple projects, I will see if I can get out of second gear over the next month and try out some of the other features of my new Baby...Baby Lock!

A New Crop of Tops

 After my last post I realized that I have been whining and stalling all summer!  I keep making lists and refolding my pile of fabrics...definite signs of a major stall happening.  After the flurry of tops I decided I was on a roll so I should just keep it going.  So here is a whole crop of tops, but these are from the Key West pile.  

Since I was on a Susan Eastman inspired journey, I made a Michigan/Key West crossover top.  A mix of my Michigan mud colors with a few hints of my new ocean inspired colors.  I like it, but not sure if it will make the cut for Key West.  I think it landed somewhere in Tennessee!  

The pants in these pictures were the first thing I made from the pile.  The fabric came from Merchant and Mills as did the pattern.  They are my favorite Eve pants.  The fabric is a lovely teeny tiny hounds tooth check linen.  I really liked the selvedges so made them a feature on the pockets and the waistband.  I truly adore the way these pants fit and feel.  I wear them all day and they are comfy like my knit pants, but I feel so much more 'dressed' in them.

The first top from the pile is also an M&M pattern.  It is the Factory Dress pattern but made into a top by leaving off the skirt.  I think they actually have done a pattern release of a top variation, but I just make the top and "forget" to make the bottom!  The fabric is the softest aqua color I have ever seen with a twin grey thread stripe.  It just screams ocean to me.  I got it when I visited Italy a few years ago.  The stripe is actually on the cross grain, which is a bit unusual for a woven fabric.  I like this version but have decided that I prefer it without the bust darts.  It is roomy enough that I don't think I need them and the extra volume also makes the hem circumference a bit much.  I did a mock up using an old tablecloth to see if my fiendish no-dart plan would work and I think it's a winner.  The next time I make the Factory dress or top it will be dartless.

The Factory Dress from Merchant and Mills

The next top is a pattern that I got a while ago but never made up.  It's the Monty Dress and Shirt from Style Arc.  I have used several of their patterns and find them to be drafted with me in mind.  The shoulders are usually generous enough and even the sleeve lengths are closer than most patterns.  I did quite a bit of messing about with this, so you might not recognize it from the pattern envelope.  The original had a front yoke and was very cropped.  I was using a big stipe print and thought it needed more space to really show it off.  I added a dropped back yoke with gathers to add some volume at the hem.  The rayon fabric really moves well and the longer length gives it a lovely flow.  I think this is going to be a favorite.  It feels like it will be perfect for hot sunny weather.

I spent an inordinate amount of time matching the back yoke and absolutely no time on the center front.  I just got really lucky with the palm placement at the center.  Whew!

The Monty Dress and Shirt from Style Arc Patterns

OK...last top!  (did you notice how nicely they all go with my Eve pants?!  I may need to make at least one more pair of pants so I can swap them out for laundry day!)

This top is a version of my square shirt that literally doesn't touch my body when worn!  The perfect top for really sweaty days!  The loose open sides let the breeze in and the light Liberty silk absolutely floats.  

Finally, I made a maxi length T-shirt dress.  I built a bra into the top which makes it really comfy.  I think this will be just right for after the beach.

Whew!  A flurry of summery stuff.  It feels good to be making my way through the pile.  It's a bit odd that just as the weather is saying corduroy, I am hauling out the silk and linen!  I have a few more things that I'd like to do, but I am pleased with my progress.  I'm also enjoying working with some new colors.  Now that my hair is more grey than brown, I think the soft grays and aquas will be nice, and more at home in Key West than mud.  👍

Fabric on Rye

I'm back from my UK travels and, gratefully back to full health!!  I was overwhelmed with the well-wishes you sent and know they played a major role in my speedy recovery.  Thank you!

I have renewed gratitude for the miracle of good health.  I know my experience was minor on the scale of health crises, but it did serve to remind me that we can't take our health for granted.  I am so happy to be enjoying mine again and just in time for my favorite autumn season.

One of the favorite things that happened on my recent journey was the conspiracy of events that took me to Rye and my new favorite fabric store...Merchant and Mills!

Before I left for the UK I had come across (on Pinterest of course) a great rumply linen jacket that screamed, "make me for fall!"  I tucked it away with a note to find out more about it when I got home...

The second nudge came when I stopped in at Liberty of London.  (always my first stop when I visit...fabric and cream tea in the same place...duh...of course it's my first stop!) 

While trolling around in the fabric and yarn departments I noticed a series of patterns that I'd not seen before.  They are based on simple working garments, but with a contemporary edge to them.  Hmmmm....another 'note to self.'



We ended our travels with a stay in Brighton where we visited with my son, his girlfriend and her family who live there.  We decided to take a day trip to Rye, an old medieval village just a bit east of Brighton.  Knowing that I like to sew, our host recommended a stop at a place she had heard of but hadn't yet visited.  Our Google map took us straight to, yep,  Merchant and Mills!!!!  It is the actual first and only store...they sell their patterns in other fabric retailers, but the fabrics and notions are only available at the store (and a few things on line...but you can't touch them on line!).

Not being a teenager, I don't often use the term, "OMG"...but...OMG!!!!!!  I was in love!!!  All the patterns, incredible hardware for bags and jackets, vintage notions (I got the finest of fine black steel pins with little gold heads, they are used to mount bug collections!) and the fabric is to die for!  Before I could even pull my drooling self together my son and my husband had both picked out patterns and fabric that they wanted and asked if I could make them.  (can you say Merry Christmas?!)   We spent the next hour and a half trying on the sample garments, picking out which colors of oiled canvas to buy and collecting a huge pile...of course they can ship to the US!

Michelle, who was a bit taken a back by our exuberance, did an excellent job keeping track of us and all the yardages (meters!).  She even agreed to a photo before we headed out to explore the rest of Rye.  (which, btw, is charming!)

I was really thrilled that our package arrived within two days of returning, I don't think I could have waited any longer.  I'm so excited to dig into the patterns and projects, especially knowing that my boys are excited about them as well.  They always appreciate when I sew for them, but the fact that they actually picked out the projects means a lot.  I have a pile of work this fall!

Seeing the store was amazing, but when I opened the DHL box the experience kept getting better...just look at the darling packages...so English!




...And of course all the wonderful treasures inside.




I have no idea how to sew oiled canvas, but stay tuned, I'm sure I can call Michelle if I get into trouble!  Cheerio!