Day 203 of 2026

 

I've finished four sweatshirt pillow covers for Little E.

Day 202 of 2026

The shirt came together better today. 

It's ready for buttonholes.

 

Day 201 of 2026

My day started out pretty bad. 

Can you see what's wrong with my machine here? 

After a new needle and several times rethreading, 

it's still not working properly. 

From there things only got worse. 

I found that the markings and some of the directions

 for the shirt I am making are incorrect. 

After a deep dive online, I found a post that explains

 what happened and how to fix it. 

Tomorrow's another day 

and I hope to power through and finish the shirt.

 

Day 200 of 2026

It's been a while since I've knitted anything. 

My hand has been giving me some pain 

so I thought it best to give it a break. 

Tonight I was able to get color number three finished. 

 

Day 199 of 2026

I want to make Fireball a shirt. 

I bought the pattern and the prescribed amount of fabric. 

I have begun laying out the pattern on the fabric

 according to the diagram. 

No matter how many times I measure the fabric 

and review the pattern layout, 

I keep coming up short. 

I suspect it is a pattern-writing error 

and will look into that at a later time. 

For now Fireball will be getting a short sleeved shirt.

 

Day 198 of 2026

I finished another sweatshirt pillow cover 

and then moved on this pouf 

which has been waiting for a zipper since last year. 

It has its zipper now and will be filled 

with small bits of threads and unusable fabric scraps. 

 

Day 197 of 2026

I only finished one sweatshirt pillow cover today, 

but I have a good idea how to tackle the other three now. 

I should get a good amount of sewing time tomorrow

 so we'll see how far I get.

 

Day 196 of 2026

Today I'm working on a new project 

which involves sweatshirts and zippers.

 

Day 195 of 2026

One of the things I love 

about this Matchy Matchy Sewing Club pattern

 is that right before you are to stitch 

the final edge of the bias facing down, 

it reminds you to add a label, if you are using one.

 

Day 194 of 2026

My main accomplishment for the day 

was assembling these four chairs. 

I am sure to have some sore hands tomorrow

 as some of the bolts were extremely stubborn. 

I was determined to get them done today though, 

so I did not have to begin the process again tomorrow.

 

Day 193 of 2026

I'm almost finished with my second Collage Gather Top. 

Tomorrow I'll finish the neck and hem

 and try to get a picture.

 

Day 192 of 2026

Done.

This is the Collage Gather Top by Matchy Matchy Sewing Club. 

I've already plotted out my second one.

 

Day 191 of 2026

I started this shirt yesterday afternoon and finished it up today

 with the exception of the hem. 

I will be doing a try-on tomorrow 

to decide what length I'd like to make it. 

There are a few changes I will probably make to the pattern 

before making the second top, but this wearable toile 

is definitely going to be wearable.

 

Day 190 of 2026

As we explored a new room today, 

GB#6 discovered the lightsaber. 

He was fascinated.

 

Day 189 of 2026

I am making something called a wearable toile. 

This means I am making a garment out of fabric

 that is not the "good" fabric 

I intend to use for the real garment. 

This allows me to make my pattern adjustments 

and try it out to see if I am happy with the fit 

without ruining my "good" fabric

 if the adjustments are not quite right. 

In theory, the wearable toile will be good enough to wear 

even if there are still small adjustments to make. 

My fabric for this trial garment is two 100% cotton 

Pottery Barn crib sheets I found at the thrift store.

 

Day 188 of 2026

The mailbox flowers are finally blooming. 

There will be more. 

This is one of my favorite plantings.

 

Day 187 of 2026

I have found a few notebooks and notepads that have notes and lists 

from previous trips I've taken. 

This one was from a trip to a quilt show almost ten years ago 

at which I took some classes.

 The part I like the most is at the very top. 

We were told to quilt the big designs first, then filler designs 

and then (my favorite part) grid where you forgot to fill. 

I did not have a problem with today's picture. 

Tomorrow I'll go back and see if I can get the others to work.

 

Day 186 of 2026

Today's throwback is from July 4, 2014. 

Please see this post 

if you missed why I'm giving you throwback pictures.

 

Day 185 of 2026

Today's throwback is from July 3, 2015. 

Please read yesterday's post 

if you missed why I'm giving you throwback pictures.

 

Day 184 of 2026

My computer is doing things I don't understand. 

I think I'm going to have to go talk to someone, 

but since this a holiday weekend, I'm not sure when that will be. 

As of right now, I can't get my pictures here. 

Until I can remedy that, 

I will post a picture from the same date in a different year. 

This one is from July 2, 2016. 

It was not picture of the day but an outtake 

from the photo shoot of this quilt that did make the blog that day.

 I will replace these temporary pictures 

with the ones I have taken on the correct dates 

 as soon as I am able. 

In the mean time please enjoy these blasts from the past.

Day 183 of 2026

The volunteer walnut tree next to our deck 

has started producing fruit for the first time

 after years of growing. 

I suspect it will be a mess below, 

but it has finally become a great source of shade 

so I'm not complaining...yet.