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Well, I have spent the last couple of months takin…

Well, I have spent the last couple of months taking a class with Brooks Ann Camper to draft my personal skirt block. I discovered that 60+ years have taken their toll as I have both front to back and side to side asymmetry issues. I persevered and have a block I am really pleased with…

I love skirts but gave up wearing them as they as spun around as I walked or the waistband would shift as I moved leaving my hem visibly crooked. This block is so comfortable and the waistband and hem stay in place without elastic! I am off to pattern a simple denim skirt from this block. So excited! Thanks to Punk Frockers for introducing me to Brooks Ann Camper. #brooksanncamper #punkfrockers

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Just back from a weeklong visit to Cape Breton Hig…

Just back from a weeklong visit to Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia, Canada. Such a beautiful place, with great seafood, and such warm folks. Totally recharged and ready to tackle life full steam. Highly recommend if you enjoy rugged rocky scenery, sandy beaches, fresh seafood, and avoiding crowds. Tons of hiking, kayaking, bicycling, and swimming opportunities.

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Hacked Pleiades 1 dress by French Poetry. Loved th…

Hacked Pleiades 1 dress by French Poetry. Loved the dress and saw it on another sewist, so I took the plunge. This pattern does have extended sizing BUT I found it did not accomodate my larger than average biceps and even though the finished hip measurement was generous, the gathering is only in front, which caused my side seams to pull to the back at an angle. I replaced the lovely tied sleeve with the sleeve from Anna Allen’s Anthea Blouse which is not extended sizing. I also added some pleating to the back side to help side seams to fall straight. I raised the V neck an inch. I also skipped the zipper. The instructions were not beginner friendly in my opinion, but they get the job done. Also there are videos available for additional help. It is a lovely light eggplant colored linen, purchased at Pintuck and Purl. I completed this dress in 26.5 hours start to finish, a whole 2 hours before I needed to wear it. I recommend the pattern to the experienced sewist. #frenchpoetrypatterns #pintuckandpurl #sewover50plus

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Serger needle confusion… I recently bought a …

Serger needle confusion… I recently bought a new serger/coverstitch combination machine. My cover stitches were not consistent. I discovered my new machine called for and worked much better with ELx705 needles, which are not the same as 130/705 needles. I found ELx705 in sizes 80 and 90, with and without CF chrome finish, and with the option of a regular universal point or an SUK medium ball point. Schmetz’s color coding is so helpful but fails to distinguish an SUK serger needle from a regular universal point serger needle, so here is a tip to help you distinguish between them. The front groove extends farther up into the color coding on an SUK serger needle. The regular serger needle’s front groove ends below the color coding. Needles are expensive but necessary and the right needle for the job is important. Typically SUK or ball point needles are recommended when sewing or serging knits. I could not verify this works for the Organ brand needles which offers both styles of serger needles but no color coding so I tend to go for Schmetz needles. Happy sewing. #pfjustthetip #punkfrockers #sewover50

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Who needs another Tee Shirt? I always ask myself w…

Who needs another Tee Shirt? I always ask myself why bother to make a tee when the RTW are so cheap… well, it fits in the shoulders, the v neck is perfect depth and width, the length of sleeve and shirt are always to my liking, and the color is always a guaranteed favorite. This is Peekaboo Pattern Shop’s Women’s Essential Tee. I graded 3x chest to 5x waist and hips. But I also drafted the 5x sleeve onto 3x top. My measurements are 48 bust, 49 waist, 59 hips. Max measurements are 58 bust, 50 waist, 59 hips. Lots of options! Generous bicep on upper sleeve. Good instructions. #peekaboopatternshop #sewover50plus

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No Sewjo! I left my Sewjo in Me Made May. A week i…

No Sewjo! I left my Sewjo in Me Made May. A week into June I started to try and coax myself back to sewing. Nothing doing. I then came down with a raging cold after a weekend camping in cold, windy rain. A few days resting and yesterday i woke up wanting to sew. I started with a sewing room tidy and made some kitchen dish towels and reusable flannel unpaper towels. These are made out of heavy flannel, “Plaiditudes” remnants from JoAnn’s and thick cotton from a local selvage store. Money and environmental savings. I also traced out a new tee shirt pattern because during MeMadeMay I discovered I need more workout clothing and fewer pretty dresses for my lifestyle.