Month: June 2022

Rocking Out

Turkey Tracks: June 5, 2022

Rocking Out

I usually mow on Fridays as that is when the grass has had a week to grow. But Friday this past week was a rainy day.

The morning here yesterday, Saturday, was murky, but dry.  But after lunch, the sun came out, and I went for a walk.  I took my little ipod touch and ear buds and played music rather than my current book—I used to walk with music a lot back in Virginia, where I had a recorded tape of “walking music” that kept the pace strong.  I found myself singing with the music quietly so as not to freak anyone passing by and just moving pretty fast.  It was so much fun!  And that would not have happened if I were walking with AC doggie as I would have been walking WITH him.

When I got home, the sun had dried most of the grass—it was only wet in some shady spots—so I put on boots, got out the mower, and sang at the top of my lungs to the music and just rocked out the mowing and weed whacking.  I came into the house full of joy and satisfaction.

After a shower, I made a coffee and returned to the almost-finished knit top I was making—where I was trying a pattern hack to take out extra fabric around the neck.  It worked beautifully.  The shirt fits perfectly.  And today I will likely walk again and will cut out and start to sew the other two shirts—which are less flamboyant than this one. There was a scarce printed knit selection at Fiddlehead Artisan Supply on Friday—due to supply chain problems. But this print seemed so cheerful.

Today, Sunday, is cool and sunny—my kind of sunny day. I’m going to grill a flank steak at noon—and will use some of the meat for a salad supper, which I’ll make at noon too. Thus dinner will be all ready when I stop sewing. I’ll roast a cauliflower and will pan sauté some Bok Choy to go with the flank steak.

I bought some Granny Smith apples at the Belfast Co-op. Maybe I’ll bake some of them for a dessert for tonight. I’ve just been adding a bit of my raw fresh cream to dress the warm apples—after dishing up one with all its lovely juice. Vanilla ice cream is very…sweet. The raw cream is just right.

I’m Running Out of Amy Harmon Books!

Turkey Tracks: June 4,m 2022

I’m Running Out of Amy Harmon Books!

She published The Unknown Beloved this year, which I bought to read for myself.

I read all the time, but in recent years, my actual reading has been nonfiction and research. I listen to fiction on Audible or our local Maine library system when I sew—as I love, love stories. Friend Linda McKinney got me to read fiction again by bringing me about 5 of her Nora Rogers trilogies—through which I ripped as if I had been starving.

And then I found Amy Harmon.

Here’s the list of Amy Harmon’s books—from the front cover of The Unknown Beloved, which is apparently a murder mystery. I will read or listen to them all. And I will hope that she writes and releases another book soon. Her historical fiction is particularly nice. I was in tears through most of From Sand and Ash.

https://www.authoramyharmon.com/

Sewing Garments

Turkey Tracks: June1, 2022

Sewing Garments

So, I’ve had two knit garments cut out for two years—waiting for me to sew them.

It was now time, I decided. So I uncovered the serger and refreshed my memory on how to thread and use it.

I’ve made this dress a few times now—and along the way worked out altering the pattern to suit my body. It’s the ”Out and About Dress” by Sew Caroline.

I bought this more expensive fabric first, so I didn’t want to cut it until I made sure I had a good fit on the pattern.

And, due to the internal side pockets, I didn’t actually use the serger. I used a knit stitch on my Janome, and that worked fine.

The dress fits beautifully. I am so happy with it.

The other garment is the Chai T by Liesl & Company.

I cut the pattern out of extra knit leftover from another project.

The resulting garment was way too long. I want to wear the top outside, not tucked in.

And as is common for my body, the bust fits but there is too much fabric around the neckline as I have, apparently, a narrow shoulder width.

It was 51 degrees outside this morning, so I layered under the top. You can see the gaping neck line in front—and it is throwing off the fit in the shoulders too.

I was also fighting with my sewing machine until I realized I could put on the walking foot for the knit stitch as well as the straight stitch.

I chopped off the extra at the bottom and found a way to take out fabric around the neck (front and back) on the pattern that does not disturb the straight of grain (the front and back are cut out on folded straight of grain lines) and that does not overly impact the bust line.

There was some construction that was new to me—the yoke construction uses a ”burrito” folding method that makes the inside yoke seam on one side enclosed. But I hated the neckline attachment method and will not do it that way again. Instead I’ll do that burrito method for the yokes on both sides (if that is possible) and will install the neckline as I do all other knit top necklines—which makes the neck circle seam much less bulky and much less difficult to sew.

I did use the serger on the garment sides.

And I love the little cap sleeve.

Now I’ll buy a new yard of knit fabric and try it again.