Contrasts

I made another LB Pullover on the day I started the Teddy Pants!  I had some left-over black wool from a pair of trousers made years ago, not enough for another pair, sadly.  I had thought to cut the top part of the Assembly Line A-Line dress and make a top, but there wasn’t enough space for all the pieces, when I thought of the LB.  Sure enough, it fitted and I cut it out!  It makes up so quickly!  I thought it might be a little scratchy on the neck, but so far so good, a perfect extra layer for those cold days.  Now I know, I have a few of these now, but you know, it’s a darn good pattern, so comfy to wear.  I have no problem making numerous versions of the same pattern – hence the 5 pairs of Teddy Pants!

I have made myself an unofficial pledge to use up my stash, not that it’s huge, it’s just there.  It’s time for me to start with the fabric and find a pattern, rather than the other way around!  And if I can’t find anything, instead of offering the fabric to the girls, I’m going to sell it on, let someone else have the joy of making something lovely.  It’s the same principal with the vintage patterns.  I don’t need to hoard hundereds of vintage patterns!  What for??  Let someone else have them, use them, frame them, whatever.  They don’t deserve to be hidden in my sewing room in a chest of drawers.

I was hunting for fabric for the top for my Japanese Sewing contribution when I re-found some white linen in the linen box.  I’ve had it a while, it’s a sturdy, thickish weave – plenty of body to hold a shape.  I’m pretty sure I made a while inin skirt for Daughter No2 out of the rest of it, years and years ago now!  I tried cutting some Kana’s Standard trousers out of it last summer, but there isn’t enough, and it isn’t drapey at all. But I had a brainwave.

To use it up and get it out of the stash, I’ve made another LB Pullover!  Short sleeve with simple neckband, it’ll be good to wear in the summer.  I used the bias neckband, cut to the height for the crew-neck, I love the way it stands up!  It’s got a 60s vibe now.  The neckband had to be cut in two pieces, which left a join at the centre front.  So I decided to accentuate it by adding a vintage glass button.  The thickness of the linen makes it stand away from the body – which is going to be perfect when the humidity reappears.

I also dug out a pile of linen leftovers.  They’re all pieces I couldn’t get rid of when making trousers, but honestly, what can you do with such small pieces?  Well, I’m going to try to assemble them into a decent looking top!  It’ll be patchwork pieced, but I hope to make it neat.  And it’ll remind me of all those trousers I’ve made in shades of blue linen over the years!!  Talking of patching pieces, there were some bits of stripey jersey in another box – they’ll either become a Lark Tee or a Basic Instinct tee for the summer.  The colours all go, and as they’re all viscose jersey, they should all behave in the same way too.  Fingers crossed!

It seems my go-to for a quick top is either the LB Pullover, or the Uvita Tee!  I have to admit, they’re so useful in my wardrobe, take very little time to whip up and aren’t fabric hungry.  But they aren’t overly challenging.  Then again, in the current climate, I don’t actually want too many projects that are challenging!!  Sometimes you just want to go into the sewing room and run something up – not needing acres of instructions and hours of thought.  Just get in and sew!  Anyone with me?

Author: Anne W

I love fabric, and sewing. And I could do nothing else but sew, all day, every day, if I could! View all posts by Anne W