Forgive the dappled, funny light. My fancy photo shoots go a little something like this:
Photo Shoot A. While dinner prep is in a ten minute interlude (frittata on broil), grab the camera and a cold beer, and run out to the woods behind the pigs where Steve is burning brush and has been cutting wood all day. "Can you take a quick picture? Camera settings are all set. Here's a beer. Thanks! Dinner in five!"
Photo Shoot B. While in the garden, where I've just taken pictures for a garden post and therefore have my camera in the garden shed, I look up to see child 2, 3, or 4 with my camera. "Mom, can I use your camera?" With slight irritation because we've been through this before, "Not that one. Use your brother's. And please put the strap on your neck while you walk that one back to where you found it." Later, I see they snapped photos all the way back to that spot, including one of me in the moment that I wished them on their merry way. I hope, at least, the strap was around their neck.
Yeah, that's how it goes. So styled and curated, eh? Not so much. Ah, that's our real life. (I love it.)
Also loving? This new top. I've done some printing and taping of patterns, and buying of fabric in recent weeks, all in hopes of a few new things to wear. I'm not looking for fancy or finicky or even super fitted, I'm looking for real. Real comfort, real ease in wear, and real practical in the making. As in, I need to start it one day and wear it in the garden the next and not feel as though it is too precious for (messy) living in. I think I found a winner in the Maya Top by Marilla Walker. It met all of my criteria, and though I might do an FBA (my first!) with the next one, I might also not. The next fabrics I have to try are more like a lawn and less like the lightweight denim I used the first time, which probably could have used that adjustment. I quite love the sleeves on this especially, and the way the facings work. It's a solid pattern and I'm eager to try it with other fabrics.
I also have Meg's (of Sew Liberated), Aida Top ready to go, and am excited to see how that turns out. And because I believe there are more hours in the day than there actually are, I also would like to attempt Sonya's (100 Acts of Sewing) Pants No. 1 because I have great hope that with the right fabric, they might somewhat mimic the pants I'm wearing in the photos above. Those are by Ace & Jig and are my go-to this time of year, such a comfortable and easy favorite (that perhaps I wear a little too frequently! Time to mix it up!).
Have you made any of these patterns? Is there any summer sewing happening in your home? Do share!
