Almost May

I am just tickled with how the plants look this year. We haven’t had any issues with rodents digging up seeds. The sale isn’t for another month yet, and I expect that by the time it rolls around, we will have some really stellar-looking plants to sell.

I finished the black linen Free Range Slacks Sunday afternoon, but not without some angst. I am going to redraft the waistband facing for the next iteration. The facing folds down to the inside of the pants and creates a casing for a length of 1-1/2" wide elastic. I’ve had issues with the casing on both pairs I’ve made. Also, the instructions state to cut a piece of elastic 1/2" longer than the waist measurement. I’ve had to cut my elastic down to 3" less than my waist measurement to get the pants to stay put.

Otherwise, I love the pattern. I am not a huge fan of pockets but the pockets on these pants are fabulous, both front and back.

It’s time to knock out a couple of woven tees.

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As if Joann Fabrics going out of business wasn’t a big enough shock to the sewing universe, independent fabric stores are beginning to disappear at an alarming rate. On my trips to Seattle, I always stop in Issaquah, just off I-90, to visit Gossypium Quilt Shop and Issaquah Sewing and Vacuum. The two stores were on the same road about a mile apart. Gossypium Quilts closed its brick-and-mortar store some six months ago, although they still sell online. Yesterday, I got an e-mail from Issaquah Sewing and Vac that the owner would like to retire, so they are also closing. They looked for a buyer for two years and were unsuccessful.

I get it. This is a tough economic climate. (Especially in Washington state, which won’t be satisfied until it has taxed all its businesses and residents into the neighboring state of Idaho. The last person out should turn off the lights.) I also understand that owners are getting older. However, fabric—especially garment fabric—is one of those products that is difficult to purchase online unless you know exactly what you’re ordering. If you can identify a couple of trusted suppliers, that helps, but there is no substitute for seeing and feeling fabric in person.

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I ordered some Liz Caliborne tall tops from the JC Penney website and they arrived yesterday. Two of them have a knot detail on the front that is really flattering. I knew I had seen something similar in a commercial pattern recently, so I went looking and found this one:

I’ll pop into Joanns today to see if they still have it. Some of the Joanns stores are beginning to close. I could hack this into a top pattern without much effort, and it wouldn’t hurt to have some dresses like this.

I’m teaching the Scout Tee class today. I expect it will be fun.