Lekala vest becomes summer top

 

During the March break I joined my friend (who used to live in Ghana) in rural New Brunswick for a visit and sewing retreat! 

The first step was to buy a (second) sewing machine for her daughter's home - a vintage early 60s Singer straight stitch.

I brought all my remaining Ghana fabric, knowing what I wanted to make, and fairly certain which fabric I would choose.

Friend added length to some curtains, and sewed a pouffe with her one of her many Ghana lengths.

I used the Lekala vest pattern as a basic. It needed a higher frong neck edge and tighter armholes. So I also needed to draft new facing pieces.

 

I used buttons purchased about twenty years ago at the Bonn (Germany) flea market. They are shirt buttons in four fun (unexpected) colours: yellow, purple, green and red. They have come in handy over the years. And lo and behold TWO of the colours matched my top!

 

I sewed on the 'new' Singer. It purred, but I am worried it has some tension problems, and I was not sure how to fix that.

 

Also during the March break another frock-friend and I made our 'annual' pilgrammage to St. Hubert STreet to buy fabric. I got a grey cotton 'chambray' (well, heavier than a chambray) to make another pair of casual Azuki work pants; some grey summer wool suiting for a pair of dress pants, and two silk twills for blouses. Lots of work to do!

I also finally decided what to do with the stripey stuff I had purchased to make shorts for the Resident Entomologist. He did not want them. So I am nearly finished sewing up another pair of Angelia cargo shorts. The fabric seemed to have some give in it, so I thought it might have some elasthane. I looked up the name of the fabric on the selvedge, and it seems that it is 80% cotton, 20% linnen! Makes sense now that I think about it.

So obviously I am ready for summer, with two summer garments made in quick succession!

see the wonky facing?