Basic Black

I had a lovely internet-free interlude (aka major outage) of several days, courtesy of my service provider. It seems to be connected at the moment, so I’ll jump on and post an update.

I used my time wisely, sewing like mad and using up almost every inch of black knit fabric in my stash.

Long-sleeve wrap top

from this McCall’s wardrobe pattern.

closeup of the side gathers

The fabric is super-soft and stretchy rayon lycra. I had enough of the same rayon to make some very nice yoga pants using some old well-worn favorites as a pattern.

Need I mention how difficult it is to photograph black? I purposely overexposed everything to show the detail but now it all looks either dusty or shiny.  

I think this one is my new favorite - in a stretchy ribbed rayon/poly/lycra:

I created dolman sleeves out of necessity, because I wanted longer sleeves but only had about ¾ yard – not enough to cut separate sleeves.

 
 

The neckline looked quite dull so I added the little roll collar from a scrap and now I love it! No pattern for this one, but I’ll have to make one since I want to make more like it.

 

Finally a cotton-lycra shell

 

from a fun old 70s pattern.

Why sew a top like this when you can buy one for $5 or $10? I probably wouldn’t if I didn’t already have all these pieces of knit fabric. The simple cap-sleeve tee is perfect for using up small pieces – 2/3 to 3/4 yard of 60” knit. (Also, since I buy most of my knits for $1.99 or $2.99/yard, I’m still beating the price of a shirt at most stores.)

 

Yes, I am still managing without a serger!  I’m definitely not an expert in sewing knits, but I’m slowly picking up a few tricks that work for me:

·       Most of the knits I’ve sewn so far have been fine with a straight stitch and a slight stretching of the fabric as I sew. I don’t really have to pull very much on the fabric, since the presser foot actually stretches it somewhat.

·       For the extremely stretchy fabrics, like 4-way stretch knits, I do use a zigzag stitch, set at the narrowest width I can get, which is between the 0 and the 1 on my width dial. This provides some give but looks like a straight stitch unless you inspect it closely.

·       I’ve had better luck with the hems when I fuse a strip of very lightweight knit interfacing to the folded-under part before stitching. That way it doesn’t stretch way out of shape while hemming, but the finished hem has some give during wear.

 

As much as I would love to move on to the grays in my neutral basics, I have a backlog of utility sewing and some gifts that must be finished, so those are next on the list.

 

Are you sewing and crafting for the holidays?

 

Katrina

Neutral Basics or Basic Neutrals

If you’ve been following my sewing over the past year, you know that I have a tendency to make colorful, patterned blouses, skirts, and dresses. And I did make a few solid colored trousers last spring. But I don’t have many plain tops to go with the patterned skirts. I’m especially lacking in neutral colors – I don’t even own a black tee!

So I’m putting together some basic tees and tops in neutral colors: white, off-white, gray, and black.

Here are the first two, each from about one yard of fabric.

Kimono-style cardigan, in a textured novelty knit (cotton blend?) from Mood

From Butterick 5394, fairly recent, but out of print.

 

This was a beautiful piece of fabric, but very strange.

Knits do not exactly have a grain, but I could not get the knit stitches to lie perpendicular to either selvedge. The entire piece was slanted about 20 degrees off square, so I stretched, steamed, pressed, and hung it in different configurations to try to straighten it.  Finally it was straight enough to cut, and it seems to hang just fine in the finished garment. I just have to remember to wash it carefully, and it may need blocking when it dries.

Simple tee in a smocked cotton blend jersey.

 

McCall's 9185 from 1998.

The fabric is surprisingly soft, and the smocking makes this knit more opaque than if it was just a single layer of jersey.

 

Next on the list is black. I already have white dog hair all over the stack of black fabrics, just from moving them around. I will have to carry lint removers with me all the time if I wear any black!

Katrina

An International Award

I have been nominated for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. That’s right. The WORLD!

The very talented Virginia of Tangent Gardening nominated me for the award, and I thank her.

I’ve long suspected that I was part of a sisterhood of some sort, but I’m very pleased to have it confirmed, and to know that it is worldwide.

Accepting the award involves a few tasks, which are not difficult:

1.     Thank the blogger who awarded me
2.     Share 7 random (previously undivulged) things about myself
3.     Pass the award on to 7 other bloggers of my choice and let them know that they have been nominated
4.     Include the award logo

 

Coming up with random things about myself is only tricky because I can’t remember what I have already divulged.  I hope that the following facts are new to you.

1. I have a sugar addiction, which is politely referred to as a “sweet tooth.” Not a big secret, you say?

2. I love animals. Maybe that’s not a secret either.

3. I have an intense love/hate relationship with television. I rant against its general idiocy, yet I keep getting caught up in network series that I think are well-made and entertaining.

4. Speaking of which, I recently got hooked on Veronica Mars and watched all three seasons from beginning to end. It’s fantastic! 

5. I love language. I love how one word can have ten different meanings, or there can be ten different words for the same thing. The patterns and rhythm of words in different languages are fascinating.

6. I was a vegetarian for a few years, way back in high school, but started eating meat again while I was in college. Since then I have struggled to make peace with my carnivory.

7. I read a lot. When I worked full time, I would read five or ten books a week, mostly because I spent so many hours on planes and in hotel rooms. Now that I’m a lady of leisure, sitting at home 90% of the time, I barely get through a single novel each week!

 

Now to share the glory. In keeping with the International nature of the award, I cast a wide net to find my seven nominees.

A Few Threads Loose - Anna is an American living in Norway, and she offers a tantalizing view into her life there. Everyday activities like shopping and job interviews become amusing anecdotes when faced with cultural differences. Anna collects amazing vintage patterns and a visit to her blog is always good sewing inspiration.

Cosir Coser Sewing - María José in Spain makes the most incredible purses, and her sewn wardrobe is creative and lovely. She’s made some magnificent garments from patterns but I am just as impressed with her no-pattern tops and dresses. As an extra bonus, once in a while she shares a photo of her beautiful local landscape.

Farbenfreude - Alessa in Germany is a medical student, who somehow manages to sew, travel, and keep up two blogs in addition to her studies! Seriously, you would not believe how many dresses she’s sewn and hats and gloves she’s knitted even with day and night classes, surgical rounds, even exams. Does the woman have extra brain cells? Alessa’s blog is also a favorite because I have a special love for small European towns and I enjoy seeing her photos of her travels around Germany, Austria, and elsewhere.

Foster Reviews It - Foster in Utah shares her favorite books, restaurants, places to go and things to do. See which ones get a 5-star rating! Foster sews and quilts, and, unwisely, has recently taken up crochet. It’s a slippery slope, my friend!

The Empty Nest Mom – Barb is certainly making the most of her empty nest – one day she’s on a ferry in Alaska, the next she’s backpacking through Germany and Italy. Her delightful photos and intriguing observations let us vicariously enjoy her adventures. 

My Happy Sewing Place - Debi is an American living in Scotland and her photos of the castles and cathedrals in that part of the world are so gorgeous and romantic I feel as though I’ve fallen into a historical novel. Of course her blog is actually about appreciating and constructing vintage clothing, and she is one of the most talented and generous sewing bloggers you will find. Be sure to check out her “ABCs of Vintage Sewing” series.

Snippa - Snippa in England gets a lot of awards from me, because I can’t get over being impressed with her many talents and wide range of interests. Her blog supplies a steady dose of sewing, knitting, and crochet artistry, and so much more: local culture, natural history, recipes, jewelry making, fiber arts, gardening, archeology, and now even homemade beeswax candles. It’s a wonderful surprise every time.

Congratulations everyone! As I always say, feel free to pass it on if you feel inspired to do so, but you are not obligated.

Katrina

Something to Show for the Effort

It’s been a whole month since I planted my first vegetable seeds! Soon I’ll have to do the second round of seeds – I want to have the veggies come in stages rather than all at once, like last year.

Before I get started on that task, let’s check in with the month-old seedlings.

The northeast bed had hit-and-miss success. 

click on pics to see larger

The butter lettuce is doing well, but the mesclun did not come up at all. The cilantro and parsley look pitiful, but the carrots are growing profusely! I have to thin them soon, and of course I hate doing that.

The broccoli germinated but something is chewing holes in the leaves.

Stop eating my broccoli!

Hopefully that something will confine its chewing to the broccoli and not move on to the cauliflower!

The southeast bed is looking very good.

The peas are outrunning everything, with the vines already 6 to 8 inches long and the tendrils reaching out for something to climb on. Of the two types of spinach, one did much better than the other. Of the two beet varieties, I can’t yet tell any difference, as they both seem to be growing very enthusiastically.

Time for more seeds.

Katrina