Day: November 24, 2018

Turkey Tracks: Out and About Dress

Turkey Tracks:  November 24, 2018

Out and About Dress

I finished this dress a few weeks back.

And it was a learning curve.  I have some very expensive knit fabric that I want to use for this dress, but I want to get the pattern right on my body first.

This first time, the bodice was way too long.  I was able to cut it away from the skirt, but now it’s too short by a few inches.  But I know what to do next.  I think the bodice shoulders could come in a smidge.

The other issue is that as first made, the pockets are way, way, way too far down the skirt.  I can fix that too.  And there may be just too much material in the skirt as well.  I kind of fall between two sizes.  Here the bust and arms are good, so I will tinker with the rest.  And I’ll shorten the skirt a bit as well.

The pattern calls for a fusible tape for the hem and sleeves—and that is brilliant.  I really like that method.  BUT, I don’t like the 1-inch hem with the tape I used.  Will try 1/2-inch on the next try.  As is, the hem needs to be ironed after washing—which I have done.

But, despite it all, I do like the dress.  The lined jersey is as soft as can be.  The dress layers well and will be nice when spring returns with a sleeveless under top.  Or, not.  It’s super comfy.

I got some sale fabric yesterday—an Art Gallery print.  So, on to the next try soon.

https://indiesew.com/products/sew-caroline-out-and-about-dress

Turkey Tracks: Fall Fun, 2018

Turkey Tracks:  November 24, 2018

Fall Fun, 2018

 

Look what showed up at the bird feeder the other day—before we got two snows.  Piliated Woodpecker.  I moved really slowly to reach for the phone camera to get this shot.  These birds are very shy and cautious and never light on a feeder for long.  Any movement from me would have spooked him/her.  They are HUGE.  I hear them in my woods all the time, and do see them from time to time.

AC and I were taking daily walks until the snow—and a spate of bitter cold—came.  We will resume in time.

The woods in Maine often contain old ruins.  Here’s an old house foundation—from back in the day when all these woods were cleared—which is also when all the rock walls were made.  Timber for miles around was cut down to burn at the limestone pits down in Rockport, so most of our nearby woods are fairly new growth—old for us, but not for the woods.  The limestone made the morter between the granite blocks quarried in Maine.  You know all that granite you see in buildings located in major cities…it came from Maine and was carried by schooners down the coast.

Maybe Common Snowberry?  Look at the blue of that sky.