Sunday, September 9, 2018

Non Quilty Projects

A little recap on my rock work projects.
I met my goal of finishing the rock work on the hillside of my house. I even managed to get a few plants in the tubs.


I'm ahead of schedule on another hillside area I want to cover in rock. I didn't expect to tackle this until next year. This is the last major rock area I am putting in my yard.


I did a little walk around my garden. I still have some artichokes growing. I have harvested two so far and they were yummy. A little salt and lemon juice was all they needed for a delicious treat.


I was surprised to see some broccoli heads. Most of my plants I have let go to flower. I think I will eat these for my lunch.


My green cabbage was a disaster but my red cabbage did great. 


I have some tiny brussel sprouts.


I worked outside everyday last week but before I went to visit my parents in Washington we had almost two weeks of rain. I took on some blouse sewing. I had great success with this pattern in a size 10. I like version "D" with the long sleeves but made a straight edge instead of the diagonal cut. I made a new pattern with white tissue paper. I also took out some of the flare in the hips.


Here's a selfie of the top I made in a rayon batik. You do see a dog trying to photo bomb me. I can make this top in 2 hours. It just slips over my head. No buttons or zipper.


I saw another quilt blogger's blouse she made from this pattern and decided to try it. I went right for a size 10 and found it much too tight. Yipes! I have broad shoulders that can be a problem area for me in clothing but this was also very tight through the bust.


I really liked the pattern and went to Walmart and bought some fabric for 50 cents a yard. Made up the top in a size 14. I just made the short-sleeved version to get the fit right. 


I had a stash of a solid eggplant colored rayon batik that I bought from Cherrywood Fabrics twenty years ago. Really! I hope they will start making their rayon batiks again. Anyway...I found a printed batik rayon at a local quilt shop that I had to bring home. It matched the Cherrywood fabric. Sometimes that stash really comes in handy.


Love my latest top. 
I also added solid batik cuffs to the 3/4-length sleeves in the pattern since I prefer a full-length long sleeve for our winters.

I was definitely on a roll...
I've got another pattern to try. This will be a bit more time consuming. Buttons and collars. I am going to make the basic long sleeved blouse without pockets.


I made a mock up of this pattern too and turns out I needed a size 12 for it. Again, the mock up is just a short version that covers the areas I need to fit...shoulders and bust. Another cheap piece of fabric from Walmart.


It's not often my cutting table is clear so I took the time to cut out a dress I would like to smock and make for my niece's baby girl. I'm using a fabric with Alaskan forget-me-nots. I did a lot of smocking...very many years ago. I still have my pleater.


On my visit to my parents I gathered a few things to bring home. One was a quilted jacket I made for my mother at least 20 years ago. It fits me rather well...funny how that worked out! My mom found it a little on the hot side. I think it will be perfect for running around on my errands when the weather temps start dropping.


This was another project made from Cherrywook fabrics only this time with cotton. I have a lot of the cottons in other colorways in my stash too...maybe another jacket is in my future.


I was a garment seamstress before I started quilting. I even lined this lovely jacket. Button holes are very easy to make on my Bernina. Also did the fabric covered buttons to match. 


I still have the pattern.


I also found six other jacket patterns that are 20 years old...I made one of them and it was a flop. I bought all of these patterns at the Houston quilt show. I used to live in San Antonio so I made it to the quilt show every year.


None of the styles interest me anymore. Probably time for them to leave my stash.

The pretty day is calling to me to get off the computer.

6 comments:

Linda Enneking said...

The tops you made are so pretty, and I love the jacket. It is a nice basic style that could be made from any fabric. I have one made from prequilted fabric that I bought a few years ago. I wear it often because it is a nice weight to wear instead of a sweater, not warm enough for outerwear. I've been planning to make another one sometime.

Sally said...

Wow! Those tops are lovely. I wish I had the confidence to sew clothing...give me a quilt pattern anytime but clothing is another thing altogether. And that landscaping project is coming along nicely, too. Good Job, Debbie!

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

Isn't it wonderful to be able to sew! We can make a garment any way we like! New follower on Bloglovin.

Ramona said...

I, too, was a garment sewer before I became a quilter. The jacket you made for your mom is gorgeous! How nice that you can enjoy it now. Your blouses are really nice, too. I might have to pull out some patterns and sew something other than quilts again!

Suz J said...

Busy busy Debbie... the garden rocks just keep getting more and more beautiful. Well done with the successful clothes sewing. It is frustrating when the same pattern company has different sizing between their own patterns. Making a muslin is the only way to go - lucky you have access to cheap fabrics.

Unknown said...

This is Superb. I love your jacket. I love the fact that I’ve never seen something different like that before.

Thanks!
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