The third bolt of kimono silk arrived this morning – it is just like the picture I saw online. It will definitely work well with the pale fabric.
I just have to finish a second swimsuit, complete the quilt (made with the Kaffe Fassett fabrics), cut out the winter jacket that’s been sitting ony dining room table for four months, then I can begin making something from the kimono silk!
Two of the three “bolts” of kimono silk I ordered from Ichiroya in Japan arrived this morning. Now I’m just going to have to look at them for a while before I have any idea what to make from the silk. I ordered the silk after the visit to Ann Williamson’s studio in Portland. I will make some kind of pieced jacket like one of Ann’s. The bolt still to come is in navy which should go with either the brick or the pale blue.
The swimsuit fabric arrived yesterday! I ordered it from Spandex House in NYC (I have actually shopped there) on Sunday, they called for my credit card info Monday afternoon, the parcel arrived Wednesday morning.
I have made swimsuits for myself for more than thirty years. Lately it’s become very difficult to find interesting patterned Lycra/spandex fabric. The day I shopped at Spandex House I wasn’t looking for swimsuit fabric; I bought a black and silver sequin fabric to make a dressy top.
I took a chance on the weight of this fabric – it turned out to be a good mid-weight. Now to make the two suits I’ve cut from other fabric. I’m down to a single suit – the pool “eats” them – I’ve tossed out three suits this past week. Since I do water aerobics three times a week, I need two/three suits on hand.
Finally got this pair of socks completed – I started them before I went to Portland, took them with me but didn’t knit much while I was away, or on the plane for that matter. And when I got back I started on the lace shawl (which I figure will take me about three more weeks to finish – I’m at the point where each row takes 10-15 minutes and I have another 60 rows at least to go).
This pair of socks is for me – I needed another “black” pair (didn’t want a solid black) and this combination of dark colours will be fine with black chorus apparel.
The other day I came across instructions for an improvised air cooling device on Snapguide. Take a styrofoam cooler, cut a couple of holes on one side, insert some pieces of cardboard tubing, cut another larger hole on the lid, place a small fan on top of that hole, put a pop bottle, filled with frozen water, in the cooler. Turn the fan on and you get cool air.
My bedroom gets very hot when the outside temperature goes above 28 degrees C. It’s expected to be a scorcher today, so I’ve closed the windows, lowered the blind, and turned on my “air conditioner”.
And it cools the air! Probably not the entire room, but I put it on the dresser and in my chair about eight feet away I can feel the cool breeze. I expect my bottle of frozen water will last about four or five hours, so I’ve just put a second bottle in the freezer to have for this evening. I have several frozen ice packs as well. I’m good to go.
The best part is that I had all materials in the house: the cooler, the fan, a cardboard tube, and a bottle of frozen water in my freezer. It took me all of five minutes to assemble the device.
For some time I’ve been taken with sashiko embroidery. I have a book with ideas for using sashiko to make quilts. I came across a picture of a carry bag using sashiko designs. Made from sixteen squares, I embroidered sixteen squares of linen fabric with sixteen different sashiko designs, then made up the bag. The fittings to attach the handles I found in a notions store in NYC last year.
I sew for Morgan, daughter of my young friend, Katie. Katie had seen this dress in an expensive shop – I said I could make it for very little. So armed with Morgan’s chest measurement and height I modified a child’s dress pattern I had on hand, and made up the dress. What pleased me most, was how I managed to align the collar perfectly with the white panel on the front.
Morgan has since outgrown this dress – so I’ve asked Katie to send me her current measurements. I’ll come up with something for Morgan for Christmas.
It’s rained quite a bit the last ten days and my garden has run wild. Everything is in bloom, one plant pushing against another – in a container garden there isn’t much space to move plants around. And the weeds! I don’t usually get a weed crop but I sure have one right now. Maybe late this afternoon, when it cools down a bit I’ll have a go at weeding.
Just finished a second t-shirt this morning. 
A light weight rayon knit (reminds me of the prints used by Desigual) – a bit easier to work with than the polyester I worked on yesterday. Pleased with the fit.
This is a third shirt finished as well – to wear with white or the pink pants I have.
Back to some garment sewing. Today a t-Shirt. I had some knit fabric I’m about to discard because it was difficult to work with, however, I thought I’d give the t-Shirt a try. Rather than a facing, I decided to use a simple binding, instead.
I made some modifications to the pattern – lengthened the sleeves, shortened the body length an inch. I was surprised this has turned out to be a wearable garment! I was expecting to chuck it out after I was done, but it fits quite well.
So I’ve just cut out another one from a rayon knit which I will assemble tomorrow. I’ve been wanting some t-Shirts with longer sleeves and a wee bit longer in the body than the ones I have. I have fabric for a half a dozen. I expect to busy for the next week on these.
jmn 