July Threads

 Basil loves to be trimmed. Unless you want flowers and 'bitter' basil.
I dry the leaves between two dishtowels out on my patio.
I weight the top towel down at the corners to keep the wind out.
I cover with the second towel to keep weird things out of my basil.
In a day or so of hot, sunny, summery weather, the leaves are dry enough to crumble into glass jars or ziploc snack bags.

When to switch threads? Or not?

I needed two hotpads to finish out a bridal shower gift (for an OSU alum) which did not coordinate with what I was sewing on the machine and on the serger.
After spending some time contemplating* whether I could get away with leaving the bobbin in white and just changing the turquoise out for black, I stepped up to the plate and changed both bobbin and thread to black.
No serging as I am using a woolly nylon thread in my upper looper and I got the tension on the rolled hem right on the first try on the floaty turquoise fabric. Not changing those threads - I may be this side of lazy but I am not stupid.

This is also when I realized a real need for the 2nd machine to get placed in the sewing room. I wouldn't have had to switch thread at all then.




*Contemplating Time is greater than Actual Sewing Time.

Update on niece's skirt length

I was sewing this Christmas skirt all long-distance from my actual niece with measurements e-mailed to me. You really forget how really tiny little great-nieces really are. Really!
When the waist to knee measurement says around 9" - it's SHORT!
I managed to contain the skirt length to 9" but the netting hung down another 1.5".

I couldn't decide whether to trim the netting, how much to trim, or to leave it alone. - you know - once you cut it you can't add it back on. I was also suffering from TOO MANY PROJECTS TO MAKE AT CHRISTMAS again.
I ended up trimming it even with the bottom of the trim and it was perfect.
We went down to my brother's (grandpa!) beach house on Saturday to celebrate and I trimmed it maybe an half-hour prior to leaving. It was about 45' at Rockaway and my brother has been doing some major remodeling and the oil furnace was fritzing out and it was chilly.
Gorgeous little Sophea is dressed in her jammies which clash horribly with the pink poufy skirt.
But it all fit and her mom likes it. 
Next up - a t-shirt with fabric appliques from the skirt to MAKE AN OUTFIT! Maybe a tie-dye attempt?
That project is due next week when I get a day off and plan to visit my niece and grand-niece.

Two Projects To Go

My great-niece, Sophea, turned ONE years old in November.
I wanted to sew something for her for Christmas but the project needed to gestate a few weeks before coming out of my head.
Finally, I decided to make a skirt with an elastic band to minimize fitting issues.
My niece quickly sent me measurements which was very nice to have.
Sophea's waist is 18.5" and the waist to knee length is around 9".

I wanted to make a full poofy skirt that would flare up.  It's trimmed at the bottom with giant black rickrack with another trim sewn down the middle of that.  We'll see if it looks really cute or really dorky on Sunday. It will probably swallow her whole!

I originally sewed a double layer of netting into the waistband but it wasn't quite enough netting. I added another double layer at the gather seam and this seems to be enough - 4 layers.

My only question is about the netting hanging down too far. I think it is too long but before I go off on a cutting frenzy, I left the decision for a couple of hours of reflection. I think cutting it closer to the hem will balance the skirt better. 
Sophea lives up in Battleground and with my work schedule - it's a bit difficult to make time to visit so this pattern was done with those measurements in mind and my memory to make up the rest.

I've only have one remaining thing to say: No matter how cute the sparkly netting looks at the fabric store - do NOT succumb.
Let's just say a few people have noticed my liberal holiday glitter look this afternoon.

*All of the fabrics, sparkle netting and trims were purchased here.