Yet Another Top

I worked in the herb garden yesterday for a change of pace. After all that rain Thursday night, it was very easy to pull weeds out of the paths. I also put in some annuals—pansies and lobelia—and cleaned out one of the raised beds for lettuce. The robins sat patiently on the fence posts waiting for me to finish so they could look for worms. The birds seem to like the herb garden and the birdbath.

I should have cut the grass after lunch but I decided to sew, instead. Mowing is on the schedule for this morning. I need to get it done today because it is supposed to rain for the next several days.

This is the latest iteration of my custom-drafted top pattern. I made a round-neck version this time:

This might seem like boring sewing to some people. This is a simple pullover top consisting of three main pattern pieces—front, back, sleeves—and a neck facing. There is nothing complicated or challenging about a top like this, but it sums up exactly why I sew. Finding something like this in ready-to-wear would be impossible. This top fits me perfectly. I can put it on and completely forget about it. The front isn’t constantly shifting toward the back. It doesn’t pull across the bust. It is long enough. I have full freedom of movement. And best of all, the fabric isn’t a washed-out pastel or muddy earth tone.

I absolutely love this print. I happen to have a pair of capri pants in that lighter blue color and this top coordinates perfectly with them.

I like challenging sewing projects, but sometimes, it’s more about the function than the process. I needed some summer tops and now I have them. They aren’t fancy, but they meet the need. And I love to see them hanging in my closet.

As soon as I finished this top, I cut out another Scout Tee from some Robert Kaufman Cambridge Cotton Lawn that I bought at The Confident Stitch down in Missoula. I purchased it in both black and white, and I am making a black Scout Tee. The fabric is lovely.

I’ve got two pieces of rayon fabric left that I want to sew into tops before the end of June. I’d also like to make up at least one pair of Rose Pants. I could use a couple of casual T-shirts, too, if for no other reason than to remind myself how to sew with knit fabric. I’ve been over here in the world of woven fabric for quite a while.

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The husband has to wait for a short load of concrete to pour the sonotubes for the deck. The batch plant has a mixer truck coming to Bigfork for a job on Monday morning, so after they pour that job, they will send the mixer truck here with what’s left. He’s doing a concrete cutting job today. Some of his concrete cutting jobs are for commercial businesses and have to be done after hours or on weekends.