Back in the Saddle

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh.......yes, Key West is my happy place.  It's crazy goofy, way out in the middle of the ocean, full of chickens and iguana and I love it.  I walk or ride my bike everywhere...in fact, until I got back to Michigan at the beginning of February, I hadn't been in a car for a month.  The pace is so much different when you can only go as fast as your own body can take you.  So I can't say that "I'm glad to be back in the cold, wintery north," but here I am.  And I did start to miss my sewing room by the end of the month. 

I have been sewing like crazy since I got back, but everything I'm working on is for an upcoming Threads article and I can't share...yet.  I'll let you know.  I did spend time with my stash trolling around for fabrics that would work for the Threads things, since going out to the fabric store hasn't been an option...yes, I have been snowed in.  I turned up lots of pieces that I hadn't seen in a while and also took the opportunity to do a bit of thinning.  There are still way too many lengths of fabric that I seem to need to hang onto even though I know I will never, ever sew them up.  I think I need to wait for a day when I am in a really bad mood and then start pitching!!!!!  Most of the time I get all sentimental and just refold stuff and put it back in the boxes.  *sigh*

One of the pieces I rediscovered was a silk panel print by Hale Bob.  The fabrics are kind of wild and have a definite Boho vibe.  I decided I would either make it up or pass it on....

I tried a few different options on my dress form...

A simple sheath type dress.  Using the panel asymmetrically...

Some kind of wrap skirt paying no attention whatsoever to the pattern...

Gather it up into something....?

As I played around with the fabric I realized why it was probably sent off to a fabric "jobber" and ended up on the remnant table of my local fabric store.  First of all the panels were not printed true to grain....

Second, the print was not centered on the fabric...matching the centers of the panels left several inches dangling on both sides....

...the idea of passing it along was starting to sound like the best strategy!

I hung the piece up on the wall and stared at it for a bit.  Seeing it in one big piece I realized that the print was basically a T-shaped garment waiting to happen.  So I went with it.

I had two complete panels, so I cut them apart and used one for the front and the other for the back.  When I sewed the shoulder seam the off-grain printing really showed up.

The worst bunch of folds and creases was right in the center, of course.  I decided I would just make that the neck opening and cut the whole mess right out of the middle!

I actually had several colors of cotton jersey that would have worked for a neckband...

I chose the umber color.

It really is a big ol' "T"!   It doesn't look like much hanging on the dress form, but it feels amazing to wear!  So drapy and swishy.  The perfect end-of-a-summer-beach-day dress.  I'm pretty sure if I had tried to do anything more complicated I would have thrown in the towel.  The off-grain stripes just about drove me over the edge!  The lack of structure makes it hard to see, so I think it will work.  I used a piece that I trimmed from the hem to make a tie, it was like sewing a mobius strip!  But once I tied it around the middle, it was fine.  

I am calling this my "Back of a Galloping Horse" dress!  My friend A says, "If you can't see it from the back of a galloping horse, it's fine!"  And so it is....

Harry Truman posing at the Hemingway House in Key West! 
Check out those huge paws!

2019 in the Rearview

When I was going to work everyday I actually needed things to wear.  I was making most of my 'working wardrobe' AND working, so the time I had to spend was quite limited as I think about it now.  Having the chance to slow down the process and really take some time with each project feels quite luxurious.  I don't really "need" anything to wear so my garments are really a way to keep my creative...engineering brain happy.  Being able to connect to other sewers through this venue is very special and keeps my social brain happy, too.

I was skeptical 4 years ago when my kids set up "Trial Balloons" and I was surprised when I realized that since then I have made 135 posts!  It hadn't occurred to me that I would enjoy writing about my sewing projects as much as actually doing them.  But I have really liked having this record of my work.  The way I approach my sewing has really changed since I retired and the kind of things I am enjoying making is also very different in this phase of my life.  Being able to look back over the past few years and see the progression is interesting and again, unexpected.

At the end of each year, I find myself looking back over the past year's posts and taking note of trends and lessons.  I don't necessarily notice them as the year is evolving, but taking them in all together usually points out a few trends, some new some continuing, and always uncovers some lessons to incorporate into my new year.  so....in 2019...

Keep on Knitting!
I continue to enjoy knitting projects.  This year I found myself gravitating to smaller needle sizes.  I used to never even think about anything smaller than a size 8, but one of my favorite projects this past year was knit on a size 3!!! 😳 I really enjoy the projects that happen when I have 'leftovers.'  I seem to be less worried if they turn out since the yarn is basically a 'freebee.'  I'm also getting better at getting things to fit, so I wear my knitting more than I used to.

     

Two for One Garments

I am totally fascinated by double faced fabrics.  I really love figuring out how to use them in reversible garments.  What kind of seam finish will work on both sides.  How to get pockets on both sides.  What to do for hems and facings and collars.  It's pretty geeky I know, but I like it.

           

"It sounded like a good idea at the time...."

There are always a few things that I make that just miss the mark.  They are usually sewn pretty well, they often fit OK, they just don't bring me joy at the end of the day.  I haven't figured out how to completely avoid these mishaps, but I have found that I am more willing to just let them go!  I used to hang them in my closet for several seasons waiting for them to, I don't know, get better?  Now, if something doesn't work I am grateful for the fun of making it and happy to set it free.  

Too much going on......                             Too cute for its own good......

          

Not really very comfortable......

Unintended Fabric Sources

I made several things last year from fabric that started out as something else.  Once again, I think it's the engineering challenge of figuring out how to make it work.  This year saw a summer top made of linen napkins, a cozy funnel neck top made out of a bedspread, a tote bag and skirt refashioned from a pair of denim overalls...and of course, a few tea towel T-shirts!

          

My on going love affair with Merchant and Mills 

I have a full on crush on M&M patterns, fabrics and notions.  Several of my favorite projects this year started with their patterns.  The simple, elegant silhouettes fit easily into my wardrobe and the clever details and well written instructions make them a pleasure to sew.  I will definitely need to try some more in 2020.

           

It's all about comfortable

The garments that become my 'go-tos' are those that feel great, and are easy to wear.  Sounds pretty obvious, but I remember lots of things that required fussing to keep them straight, or were a bit too scratchy, or didn't fit as well as I would like.  Not anymore.  If it doesn't work for my life...bu-bye!

          

BAGS!!!!!!

Wow, no one is more surprised then I am about my obsession with backpacks!  If you have seen my posts about them you are probably shaking your head and thinking..."again with the backpacks already!?"  Yep!  I just keep finding new pocket ideas, goofy hardware, better strap arrangements....not sure how long it will last, but if it continues for too much longer I am going to have to figure out how to get rid of the dang things!  For now, it's all fun.

Sharing!

I always love to find ways to share things that are handmade....

          

          

It is always exciting to start a new year, so much potential, so much unknown.  I saw a greeting card recently that I really liked, it just said, "I like where this is going."  Yeah, that feels right.  All the best in the New Year!

Another Auld Lang Syne

Now that all the packages have been delivered and opened I can share some of the Christmas sewing that I have been doing...

I had such fun making a little linen romper for my new great niece.  I made it a few sizes bigger than she is now because I remember that when my kids were babies I received lots of things that were newborn size up to about three months and then all of a sudden....nothing!  I also figured it would be easier to work in the bigger size!!!  Luckily she lives in L.A. so I didn't have to worry about which season of the year she will end up fitting into it.

I was careful to steer clear of pink and totally fell in love with a soft aqua linen.   It's a bit hard to see, but the selvedge of the linen has a single red thread and I wanted to incorporate it in the design.  I ran it along the lower edge of the bodice.   I am very pleased with the end result. I love the way the twill tape works for the straps and the hat was just too cute to resist!

Last year I made an oiled cotton canvas jacket for my "baby" and he was very excited about it.  Living in London, it is the perfect fabric for rainy, damp days.  I decided that since I knew the pattern  (Merchant and Mills Foreman) was the right size I would try another version for this Christmas.  I chose a bonded wool thinking I would not need to line it.  About half way through I realized that a lining would make it a much nicer finished garment so I ended up basically making two coats and fitting them together.  A bit of a puzzle, but OK in the end.

 

I used a nice heavy weight lining and it gives the jacket a nice hang.  So glad I added it.

The trim of the coat is a really, really soft supple leather that was the perfect match for the wool.  (Oh the things that come out of my stash closet!)  I tested a bunch of different buttonholes and settled on a leather bound version.  I think I spent more time on those buttonholes than the rest of the coat!

The pockets were fun to figure out.  I don't think patch pockets are the most comfortable pockets to actually put your hands into but they are useful for 'stuff.'  I added inseam pockets for hand warming.

The under collar is a wool jersey that really worked well to help shape the leather collar.  I'm going to remember that combo.

...AND, it fit just right!  Even when I am working with a pattern that I know has worked in the past I worry about the fit.  Different fabrics can change the fit, so when I got these pictures I breathed a sigh of relief.  Yeah!

We stopped in Captiva for Christmas with lots of my family before heading to Key West for the month of January.  I wanted to figure out something that I could make a bunch of, something that was 'gender neutral' and something that I could pack and would be easy for the recipients to pack as well. I ended up making a whole passel of little fabric 'buckets.'  I have one that I use for bread and chips.  It's just the right size and it folds up nicely into a drawer when it's not full.  Again my stash was full of great choices!  I really didn't plan that it would be a stash busting project...just worked out that way!

I didn't actually count how many I ended up making.   I kept pulling out fabrics that would work and thought, "Well, just one more!"  I think I ended up with about 2 dozen.  I still have some fabrics that I like, so I may make another batch when I get home in February!

It makes me feel old when I hear myself saying, "I can't believe another year is coming to an end!"  BUT, I can't believe another year is coming to an end!!!!!!   I already have some fun sewing adventures planned for 2020, so I am looking forward to the New Year.  Sending these little notes and stories out into the universe often feels a bit self absorbed.  I'm never sure if anyone will see them...so thank you for letting me share and commenting when something catches your fancy.  I love the virtual connections.  Thanks for coming along and wishing you your own sewing adventures in 2020.