Category: Clothing

Turkey Tracks: Me-Made-May

Turkey Tracks:  May 9, 2018

Me-Made-May

I am well on my way with garment making this year.

I probably can’t wear something I’ve made every day for the whole month of May yet, but I am not far off.  I can probably do it if I wear things multiple times.  I LOVE sewing clothing.

Looky, looky at new additions to my wardrobe:

Grainline Studio:  The Morris Blazer:  The coral knit is not very stretchy.  I’m still figuring out where I fit between a 12 and a 14, especially with tops.  And I’ve learned I do better with a 12 in a top if the knit is stretchy.  This garment fits, but only just.  So I wanted a sleeveless layering piece to go with.  I will make this adorable jacket again for the fall in a 14.

Grainline Studio:  Willow Tank top.  Pattern also extends to a dress.  I used double gauze and LOVE this top.  Will wear both pieces with either a jean or natural skirt.  Or, stretch jeans.  AND, I will be making this one again and again for this summer.  Overlaying it with a garment shirt would also be lovely.

100 Acts of Sewing Dress No. 3:

This is my second dress from this pattern.  This pattern is very…big.  Cheryl Rodriguez (my sewing teacher) and Becca Babb-Brott (see her Etsy store Sew Me A Song) have helped me to tighten it in the right places and to redraw the neckline and shorten the sleeves.  I just finished this one last night.  Our Maine spring runs cool to warm, so I can wear various types of white t-shirts beneath it.  Or throw on a pair of leggings.  The fabric is Essex Linen.

Here is a close-up of this gorgeous steel grey and cobalt blue fabric:

And you can see how pretty white sets off the fabric.  I will get a lot of summer wear out of this one for sure.  So pretty too with my Ka Ora silver bracelets–see earlier post.

I am cutting out accumulated fabrics now and will have a sewing marathon when I get home from my quilty retreat to the Franciscan Guest House for Mother’s Day weekend.

 

 

Turkey Tracks: I Am Officially In Love

Turkey Tracks:  April 8, 2018

I Am Officially In Love…

…with my little Brother serger.

Once cut out, knit garments sew up very quickly on the serger.

Look what I made Easter weekend—after a marathon pattern making and cutting out on Friday.

The knit skirt only has two seams, a waistband with elastic, and a hem.  I’m learning that different weights of knits can make a larger or smaller garment.  Thin makes larger; thick makes smaller.  I’ve just made a thicker black version of this skirt that came out beautifully. I went up a size for it, which worked perfectly.

All the tops are Cotton+Steel knits bought on sale 30% off from Pink Castle.  (PinkCastle.com)  These knits feel like butter on the skin.  They are so soft.

The big top, longer in back than in front, is flattering and easy. It works well with both skirts and tops.  I want to make it with the scooped neckline variation.  It’s Simplicity 8529.

Paper Cuts makes the Rise and Fall turtle necks.  Fall is meant to wear outside and has the larger turtleneck.  Rise is more fitted, longer, and meant to be tucked in.  Love both of these shirts.

I am having so much fun!

 

 

Turkey Tracks: Taxes and Sons’ Visit

Turkey Tracks:  February 22, 2018

Taxes and Sons’ Visit

The taxes are done!  The taxes are done!

Whoo Hoo!

I’ll drop off the package tomorrow to the tax preparer.

And I’ve had a lovely visit from my TWO sons, up from Charleston, SC, for a long weekend visit.  Do you know how rare it is for a mother to have visits TOGETHER from sons, both of whom have intense lives at home and work.  I so enjoyed this rare gift–facilitated by my wonderful DILs and my seven grand kiddos.

Both sons love lamb, so I cooked lamb shanks one night for them, with smashed Yukon Gold potatoes, roasted beets. and roasted Brussel Sprouts.  Yummo!  My secret for tender braised meat is my covered Creuset pot.  The cooking liquid included defrosted Hope’s Edge CSA tomatoes from last summer–smashed through a sieve–and local leeks and onions and my garlic.

It was a delicious meal!  And a delicious visit with those special, special people.

Turkey Tracks: Sewing Knit Tops

Turkey Tracks:  February 10, 2018

Sewing Knit Tops

It snowed last night—just enough to trap me on the hill until the plowers come for the driveway.  I’m a good snow driver, but the problem here is NOT going out, it’s coming home up the hill and the steep, curving driveway.  I’m missing the Coastal Quilters monthly meeting.  Bah Humbug!

So…  I’ll just have to cut out another knit top.  Once the pattern is made and the top is cut, it does not take long to sew it on the serger.  And I’m doing great with matching fabric patterns.

Here is another, more polished, version of the Linden Sweatshirt—in an Art Gallery fabric I instantly fell in love with some months back. My sewing teacher, Cheryl Rodriguez, who has a studio in Belfast, encouraged me to go DOWN a size with knits.  This top can be layered in the winter—which I need to do as I can’t bear the collar of a wool sweater on the back of my neck.  Too itchy!  This fabric feels like silk next to the skin.  So nice.

 

 

This Turtleneck top is from Paper Cuts patterns, the Fall version of the Rise/Fall knit shirt pattern.  I made it in Cotton+Steel knit fabric I got on sale from Pink Castle Fabrics.   I LOVE IT.  I made the medium, and it fits like a dream.  Perfect.

I’m really enjoying making these tops on the serger and feeling much more competent with that machine.

On to the next…

Turkey Tracks: January Thaw 2018 and Update

Turkey Tracks:  January 14, 2018

January Thaw 2018 and Update

Hi folks!

This post will be a mish-mash of updates.

First, we had a brief but very welcome thaw.  At one point over the past two days we had temps in the low 50s, with a lot of rain accompanying the warmer temps.  Most of the snow has melted away, so we are ready for more snow to make everything look clean and white again.  The temps have dipped again, so we are back to winter.

Penny dog began begging for a walk as soon as the rain stopped.  She would not leave me alone until I dragged on boots and got out our coats.  The walking produced a “walking haiku.”

18.

January 13, 2018

That dog loves her walks
A January thaw called
Her joy filled my heart

Coastal Quilters had their monthly Sit and Sew at the Lion’s Club on Wednesday.  Becca Babb-Brott brought her spider web quilt and worked on the binding.  The spider webs are made with selvages:

I love this quilt.  (Becca’s Etsy store “Sew Me A Song” carries some really interesting Japanese fabrics that are hard to get here in the USA.)

She quilted it with diagonal lines that vary in width.

I finished all the blocks for the “Big Star” quilt, started in an Amy Friend workshop last year about improv paper piecing, the subject of her new book:  IMPROV PAPER PIECING.  The fabrics are Cotton+Steel, except for the charcoal solid.  Who knew I could make my own design?  I didn’t, but I really like it–though I recognize that it did not create any new territory.  I am sewing it together now.

I am on my THIRD Brother inexpensive serger.  I’ve sent two back as they had serious problems.  I am going to try out the one that came this week later this afternoon.  There is not doubt that a working serger makes sewing clothes really fast–especially with knits.  If this one doesn’t work, I’m giving up and will look for a more expensive serger.

I bought this yummy cotton knit fabric to make a sweatshirt on the serger this week–in my Wednesday class with Cheryl Rodriguez, whose studio is located at Waterfall Arts in Belfast.  Cheryl is AWESOME, and has gotten me feeling competent on the serger.  Now if the new one works…

And I finished the corduroy skirt that will go with the fleece top I made earlier:

It’s Simplicity 2058, and it fits after some major measuring and altering of the pattern.  I am back hippy and low waisted in the back, so a skirt without a waist band works best for me.  Thanks Cheryl for helping me figure out how to sew for my body.

I like the flare that develops AFTER my hips are fitted–the flare makes a swirly fullness at the hem.

Friend Gus Bruns dropped by and brought me this cowl that she made for me.  I love it!  She didn’t know that I love snowdrops and that I have them planted all over the yard.  The white on the navy feels like the essence of spring, doesn’t it.  The knit came from Alewives Quilt Shop in Damariscotta, Maine, and it is a sweatshirt knit.  Well!  I’ll have to slow down and go down for a visit as I’m looking for a knit in which to to make the Simplicity skirt, now that I’ve got the pattern “just right.”  The cowl fits “just right” too, and I really like it.

I took this picture Friday at a friend’s because it shows the sailcloth bag the kiddos gave me this summer–bought from a local store that specializes in sailcloth products.  I wanted them to see it gets used all the time.  AND, this picture shows how a mudroom functions in Maine–I love to see all the winter clothes hanging.  that’s my black coat and turquoise scarf just above the bag.

Lunch is ready (a lamb stew) and “that dog” is begging for a walk.  We’ll probably do it, though it is colder.  The bracing air may help clear out my head and chest as I’m fighting a simmering cold.  I haven’t had one in some years now, so it probably is time for my body to cleanse itself immune wise.

Hugs to you all…

Turkey Tracks: Flannel Dress Finished

Turkey Tracks:  December 24, 2017

Flannel Dress Finished

100 Acts of Sewing, Dress No. 3

I chose a very subtle flannel for this dress.

It’s plain.  I like the flannel fabric a lot.  It has nice lines.  I like the open edges on the hem–will look nice over leggings.  It will be a comfy treat.

It can be layered for the winter, but looks best, I think, for fall or spring with maybe a lighter cotton sweater.  I can’t really wear a wool sweater next to my skin.  My cotton turtleneck t’s are a bit heavy for it, but will work.  Maybe it needs a very thin knit top underneath??  Will think about that possibility.  But would like one with a bit of a mock turtle neck.  I could also make it a bit shorter for a kind of long tunic look.  I thought about pockets, but decided not for this dress in this fabric.  I do love pockets though.  Seam pockets would be better, but I do not know how to do that.  Yet.

The neckline came out really well and was great practice for me.  I made my own bias strip:

I am having so much fun!

Turkey Tracks: Knit Top

Turkey Tracks:  December 21, 2017

Knit Top

I finished this knit top Tuesday:  the Lark Tee by Grainline Studio.

The bias neckband I cut came out really well.  I am not going to sew a line of stitching on the outside as I think it would be messy looking on this knit.  The band stays flat just fine.

It’s the first knit thing I’ve ever made, and I’m really happy with it as it fits perfectly and looks really nice on.

This knit is thinner and very kind of slippery, so a great learning top.

I will make this top again in other knits–but later in the year as it is too light for winter in Maine.  And it is too fitted to layer over a cotton turtleneck.

I don’t do well with layering wool over a top like this one as the wool makes me itch.  That’s why I wear turtleneck tops a lot in the winter.

I’m very pleased…

 

Turkey Tracks: Another Top Made, Another Outfit to Wear

Turkey Tracks:  October 15, 2017

Another Top Made, Another Outfit to Wear

I love this top!

Don’t ask me what the material is because sewing clothing is a whole new learning curve for me, and I don’t know the fabrics.  Yet.  But this fabric is so soft.  You just want to hug it.

I’m wearing it now over a t-shirt and an LLBean jean skirt–and with navy leggings.   Next summer I’ll wear this top all on its own–no t-shirt.

It’s “100 Acts of Sewing,” Shirt No 1.

I love the patterns that are out there today as many of them show you multiple ways to sew a garment and make some attempts to teach beginners.  Since I have not made clothes in 40 years, that’s a good thing!

I’ve mastered threading the serger now.  The above fabric was very prone to raveling, but I made French seams instead of trying to serve the seams.  Next I have to experiment with setting the tensions for various fabrics.  I love learning curves!