Category: Sewing Projects in SC

The Placemat Project is Done

And I so enjoyed making these placemats–which used up the blueberry fabrics in my stash, along with A LOT of the solid fabrics–AND the project let me experiment with different placemat methods of construction. It is nice to have some small projects to make that finish quickly…depending upon how MANY one decides to make.

There are 27 blueberry placemats–and there are homes for a chunk of them already. Two of these are going to Bryan’s family–to go with the 6 funky placemats which started this whole project.

So, altogether there are 33 finished placemats. All the backs are different. And I always stitched some lines in each one when I sewed around the edges–to keep the backing fabric well connected to its front. Each placemat is quilted with improv wavy lines.

I did put some of the striped fabric I had kept with the blueberry fabrics on a few of these placemats, and those are handsome, but WAY more work.

To remind, here are the six funky placemats where I experimented with different construction methods. Each method has its strong points, for sure.

ALL of these placemats and their napkins will wash and wear for DECADES. I know because I sent old placemats I made 30 years or so ago to Good Will when I left Maine. They were soft and comforting, but not worn enough to throw away. I did bring one set to see me through until I had time to make some new placemats here.

Now, the Traverse BOM (block of the month) quilt is waiting for me on the design wall. To remind, this quilt is designed by Tara Faughnan and my project is hosted by Sewtopia. (I just downloaded a hand quilting online on-demand class Tara Faughnan is running on her web site–as I want to hand quilt Traverse and the quilt from hell when it is ready. I’ve done a lot of hand quilting over the years, but it will be good to see what Tara Faughnan does.)

And I only have about two more nights to go before I finish the binding on the last of the Churn Dash quilts from the Cotton+Steel/Ruby Star Society project. I do have other scraps that are cut into useable pieces that will make up into…something…down the road. But for now, I’m moving on to other projects.

Sounds like a plan.

The Green Cropped Pants

Last night we had the most spectacular thunderstorm I’ve seen in the last two decades. We are talking LOTS of lightening and thunder, lashing rain, and high winds. These storms are heat-produced, I think–and Maine didn’t have summer storms like this one. Our temps went over 90 degrees yesterday, but today is cool and lovely. The porch is soaked, but the grass is happy. And in a bit I’ll go out and weed more in the grass as the clay layer will be soft and weed roots will come out easily.

Sunday morning I finally sat down to alter a pair of pants I rather like and have had for years and…years. I can date them to when Mike and Tami moved to the Charleston, SC, after Mina was born. Mina will be 16 this fall.

I never really wore these cropped pants in Maine. I don’t know why not. Perhaps it was a weight thing? But now I’ve lost 50+ pounds. And these rarely worn pants are PERFECT for beach walking and shell collecting here in SC. They are, actually, perfect for lots of activities. They are a pale mint green. They have these really neat pockets. The fabric is soft cotton with some lycra, so a bit stretchy—and definitely needs poly thread during.

I had started to rip out part of the elastic on the waistband where it was just way, way too big, but kept putting the pants aside.  For several months, it seems. And a few weeks back, I put the pants on the back seat of the car in case I passed one of the rehoming clothing bins I know I’ve seen—but couldn’t remember where. And, deep inside, I just could not let go of these pants, so they went back up to the sewing room.  

On Sunday, though, I finished ripping out what needed to be ripped out on the waistband. I took SIX INCHES out of the waist and using knit stitches and zig-zags on the big Janome, I tapered down the side seams—then put the waistband back together.  I should have used the serger, but didn’t have a good thread match and one needs 3 spools for the serger.

The pants look and fit AWESOMELY!!

I am so happy I fixed them!

And now I need a beach walk so they can shine.