I started working on a new machine project (a peasant-style blouse from the Itch to Stitch Sew Beautiful book), and I had to make a tweak to the sleeves because my fabric was about 3” too short. So I added a crosswise-cut panel. I thought the print would be busy enough to be ok with the direction change, but it does seem a bit odd, so I’m thinking about adding some embellishment to make it more intentional-looking. So I thought I’d get a second opinion before I stitch it down, since the lace I found in my stash is pretty delicate. The first two are the sleeves with and without, and I’m also considering adding it to the front seam. The top will be split for about 3.5” down, but I haven’t done the pressing and finishing to show that yet.

I keep meaning to cut something new out to sew, and keep not having time. But in the meantime, I thought I’d show something I started several weeks ago. About two years ago, a geography project that was in our curriculum was to create an embroidery design, the unit was on Ukraine and this had to do with traditional embroidered garments. So my oldest made this design, and asked if I’d use it in my own sewing sometime. I had to sit on this one for awhile to plot what to do, but I finally started it. Last year’s ice dyeing had this leftover sweatshirt fleece from some shirts I made when the boys were younger, but it only dyed on the back side. So I’m using reverse embroidery to put his design on the front piece of this sweatshirt, so I can also use that piece of fabric in a way that won’t look like my clothes are inside out. I also have a back yoke piece cut, but I’m only getting to work on this around once a week right now, so I’ll need to either speed this up or drop that ...