Teddy Bears for Grown-ups

That bear fabric spent about 4 hours on the stash shelf before being cut and I was determined to use a new to me pattern without doing a muslin first. That's usually a recipe for disaster, but Sewing Workshop patterns are pretty darn consistent with their sizing and drafting. It wasn't a sure thing, but it was close and there were no disappoints with the San Diego Jacket at all. 

The hardest thing about this pattern is the collar/shoulder point turn.

Mark your dots and circles carefully and follow the excellent instructions to the letter and you will be well rewarded.

 The pattern should be titled "Five Easy Pieces". The only thing this pattern lacks is pockets, which is unfortunate in a jacket pattern. I added my own and it would be easy enough to add side pockets on the seams. The button loops where fun to make and the buttons themselves are actually two buttons stacked from the loose button stash. 

 Pale (but bright), green corduroy kept the fabric from looking too Halloween. My first choice was navy but it didn't work as well.

 This pattern was such a hit, a second is already cut as a vest in some nice medium weight black linen. That will be "Three Easy Pieces" since I won't need the 2 piece sleeve.

The plaid jacket is almost done. The lining is in and it's all hemmed and ready to get the inside casing and waist elastic. You'll just have to wait for pictures on that one, but it came out JUST how I envisioned it.

Finally the window A/C is being put into daily service.  We usually cool off at night pretty well, but by the time that cooling rolls around the room is hot and overheated by my standards. Now, I just turn on the unit about two in the afternoon and when the temp inside and outside equalize, off it goes and up go the windows. 

Murphy the loom has his new prayer flag warp on and awaits threading. I have a dog on the (Hollandia) loom in those Celtic knot towels. I just am not feeling the love for them right now and have been playing with the ProWeave program looking for a new treadle tie up  for completion of that long 6 harness towel warp. It's good way to force me to work with the program.

For farm news, it's been pretty quiet. Dog walks are limited right now. The fox tails are out in full force along with devils claw and other things that stick, poke and attach to socks, pant legs and dogs. I did see a rattlesnake while I was stalking a wild turkey yesterday. Once in a while I just can't resist following the resident wildlife, not that I'm quiet or stealthy, but they seem to accept it as long as I follow a good distance behind. I found myself well away from our property and spied the snake sunning on some rocks. He slithered into a crevice and I turned tail and headed back to home ground. Another reason to limit walks to leash only, wide trails and dirt roads at this time of year. 

With August, I'm imagining every New Englander is thinking about late summer bounty.

Blueberries, fresh corn on the cob and lobsters. I know I am, but since I'm sitting here in Oregon and not Maine, I'm thinking of this years annual painting/home improvement project. Oh joy. I have a number to pick from. I'll gripe about that when I finally settle on one. Do curtains count?

Parting shot: Poetry in Motion? In any event, fitter donkeys than last year.