Stitching Along

Last time I introduced Nancy’s new jungle print kimono jacket in progress. For a very slippery polyester fabric, it has been going well. Here we are attaching the front band and trimming off the extra seam allowance. The band was interfaced with a knit interfacing.

Then the front band had the facing attached.

The jacket with all the bands hand basted and sleeves attached waiting for their bands as well. You may notice (or not) that the bands were cut crosswise. Not my idea but the pattern suggested it and it is a nice contrast to the main body.

The center back seam is French seamed for strength and then top stiched but all that thread gets lost in the fabric.

While it all looks fine…it just looked so ordinary…no pizazz so I went to find my box of pipings. Over the past 40 years I have made yards and yards of piping and kept them “just in case”. Having just 1/4 yard of some cool fabric allows you to use it up and make interesting piping. Here is what I decided to do…choose some piping made from 40 year old Thai silk and attach it to the sleeve bands and front band.

The sleeve bands were twice as wide as I wanted so I cut them in half lengthwise so I could have a seam at the edge to insert the piping. The little areas of red and purple add just enough interest and the black areas define the seams…win/win. Because Thai silk is more robust than polyester, after I sewed the piping to the sleeves, I pulled all the cording out so the piping was softer and flat. When I see blogs with garments with thick piping where that is the dominant feature…it makes me sad. All that work and the piping takes over and destroys the design. By pulling the cording out, you make just as much a statement without messing with the design lines and no bulk.

Once I had done the sleeve bands, I decided that the front bands needed a little something too but of course, by then I had already sewn the front band to the jacket…what to do? I sat down with the TV on and ripped open the band seams and then snuck in the piping. Here is a close up of the piping on both front bands with the bands sitting on top of one another and pinned.

I didn’t want the piping to be on the outer edge like the sleeves but wanted the piping to define the actual seam between the jacket and the bands. Here is everything either stitched in place or pinned.

A nice blurry close-up of smooth outer edges and cool piping where it shows off.

Outside in the garden things have been moving along as well with Spring planting. We go from this:

to this all covered up:

All the usual crops have been tucked in…Swiss chard, cabbages, leeks, onions, peppers, tomatoes. And of course in the netted cage…everbearing strawberries!!! The squashes will be planted later and grown up cages. Mr Mole moved our raspberry plants closer to the patio for easy access.

Can’t forget early peas! We don’t have much luck with peas as soon as the hot weather arrives, they just struggle and die.

Nadine manages to find some shade to rest from catching skinks (lizards).

For those who miss the brides…never fear, a new one arrives this week. See that scalloped hem and train that will be bustled up?

Happy Mother’s Day to my US readers and may all your Spring sewing go well!