Week 22 of 2026

This week was all about roofing!

My husband and I (with some help from a son), re-shingled the house roof (we did the garage a couple of years ago).

The week before temperatures were below normal, too cold for roofing, and then this week temperatures ended up above normal for this time of the year, but at least no rain. We worked in 30ºC (90ºF) temperatures, and some high winds, but we are proud that we got it done. I love DIY jobs, but I don't want to do roofing again any time soon! Although the air nailer was better than I expected.

Photos from Around -

GingerSnap! up in an apple tree.

The chickens cooling off on a hot day.

Greta is so friendly.

Beautiful sunset working late on the roof (cooler temperatures).

One of the apple trees is really blooming.

All the best!♥︎

 

Week 21 of 2026

This week I finished weaving a set of tea towels -

The pattern is the Cajun Inspired Tea Towels from Handwoven magazine, issue Jan/Feb 2015. This is the fourth time I have woven this pattern, but the first time I used the called for colours. Three of the towels are woven with thrums (short lengths of leftover cotton knotted together), these ones remind me of a handwoven rug my Mom had. The pattern is one of my favourites.

Photos from Around - 

One of these is not like the others.

Good times.

Summer weather has finally arrived!

If he could open the door where their food is stored, he would. Photo taken an hour before mealtime, so a long wait! Miss Maggie doesn't make a peep at mealtimes anymore, she knows that Ginger$nap will make enough noise for both of them.

All the best!♥︎

Week 20 of 2026

This week I sewed a pair of overalls -

I used Ikea fabric again, to try out the pattern. I had lots of fun sewing this, figuring out how to put them together (Lutterloh has no instructions). They came out really nice, and are incredibly comfortable.

The Lutterloh pattern is from supplement #340.

This apron was a quick sew. The pattern is the York Apron, from Helen's Closet. It is made from a linen/cotton blend I bought for this pattern, from a local fabric store that was closing a couple of years ago. The one I made in 2019 finally wore out, so it was time to make a new one.

This time I added the big, divided pocket (instead of two smaller ones) - they are handy for carrying canning jars.

Last week was an annual Making Zen workshop (a week of free classes - mainly slow stitching). I made a stitched vessel (it reminds me of a miniature birch bark canoe my brother had when we were kids).

It was fun to make - raw edges, raggedy scraps, different sized stitches, it's really all about working with needle and thread, and using what you have.

Photos from Around -

We had an incredible dust storm this week - it was like being sandblasted, winds to almost 100km/hr, I have never seen anything like it.

Miss Maggie rolling in the dirt.

Best friends with the chickens.

Northern lights last night.

All the best!♥︎

Week 19 of 2026

These past two weeks I have been sewing clothes using the Lutterloh system (the weather has been way below normal, so I haven't been out gardening) -

First a tank top dress for summer.

Pattern #236 from the Spring 2026 supplement #340.

I lengthen the dress and added pockets in the side seam (made with a cotton/spandex knit).

I made a sports bra, and a couple pairs of panties from the leftover fabric.

The sports bra is pattern #37 from the Fall 2025 supplement #338 (the panties are from a self drafted pattern from a Craftsy class).

A stretch twill skirt,

Using pattern #126/127 from the Winter 2025 supplement #339.

The Lutterloh system uses a small picture, and a special ruler to draft out a pattern to your specific bust and hip measurements. The patterns are supposed to fit better than commercial patterns, and be quicker to draft than self drafting. The German pattern company has been around since 1935, and is based on the math formula of the golden ratio. There are no instructions for the sewing, so I find it interesting to figure out the steps (like a puzzle). I have been using the system for a few years and have had really good luck with it.

I also sewed a cardigan and tank top using patterns I have sewn many times (the Blackwood Cardigan from Helen's Closet, and a Lutterloh tank top - I can't remember which one). From a similar cotton/spandex knit as the tank top dress.

In searching for the link to the HC pattern, I noticed that the one pdf pattern is close to the price of one of the Lutterloh supplements, which contain about 40 patterns.

Photos from Around - 

It's exciting for the cats when there is a new box in the house (I don't know what Molly thinks).

A nightly game.

All the best!♥︎

Week 18 of 2026

This week I finished sewing a dress -

Last Sunday there was a live stream, free sew along class from Tailor Academy in Austria.

The class was amazing, so well taught, and I learned a lot! It was almost 7 hours long, and I was able to sew most of the dress. There was around 1000 people watching from all around the world.

Before starting we did have to get the pattern ready, cut the fabric, apply the interfacing, and make the belt (there was a video for that).

This was the first time I sewed a proper collar, and part of the reason I signed up for the class.

I used loom line cotton from GK Fashion Fabrics in Ontario, first time buying from there and I am really pleased with the quality of the fabric.

Here is a link to the photo gallery of everyone's dresses - I don't know if the link will work for those who didn't sign up, but it is amazing to see all the dresses.

Photos from Around - 

The cats went to the vet this week and since they couldn't be in the same crate, I made a carry bag for GingerSnap!, out of an old, unused gym bag by sewing squares of mesh in a few spots (it worked well - this was the first time we took two cats). In the above photo Miss Maggie is behind in her crate - as long as she is wrapped up in a quilt she doesn't make a peep.

This game never gets old.

All the best!♥︎

Week 17 of 2026

This week I finished weaving a set of tea towels -

The pattern is Four Blocks on Four Shafts Summer and Winter Towels from the May/June 2013 issue of Handwoven Magazine. 

Woven with Maurice Brassard 2/8 un-mercerized cotton, and some cotton bouclé.

This is the second time I have woven these towel - I forgot that they are quite easy to weave.

I love this pattern because of how all the colours mix together, and I could use a lot of different colours for the weft - the towels are woven with two different colours at the same time (two shuttles - pattern and tabby weft), making them interesting to weave. More details can be found on my Ravelry project page.

Photos from Around - 

Miss Maggie using the little fence as a scratching post.

The chickens have been roaming a lot this week.

Best friends playing their favourite game.

The last bit of snow!

All the best!♥︎

Week 16 of 2026

This week I sewed a summer dress -

Made using the cotton fabric I snowed dyed a few weeks ago.

Sewing is a learning experience for me, and I did learn a few new things. The pattern didn't have pockets, so I added slash pockets - I learned that slash pockets don't work with gathers, so the pockets stick out (fine for collecting eggs), pockets in the seam would have worked better.

I also learned how to install an invisible zipper - turns out it is the easiest way to install a zipper (I used an invisible zipper foot for sewing it).

The pattern is a Lutterloh pattern - #81 from supplement 321 (Summer 2021). I made the skirt with less width than called for, but I could have made it a lot narrower (it has too many gathers - an A-line skirt would look better, and look more like the pattern image).

Photos from Around -

Luckily planting in the garden is over a month away. Lots of work to come when the snow finishes melting, and it dries out (it flooded in August and never dried out before winter, so we weren't able to clean it up in the fall).

The coop has dried out a bit for the hens.

GingerSnap! has been hunting again.

He didn't get anything this time, but I need to make him a bright ruffle collar so the birds really see him.

All the best!♥︎

Week 15 of 52

This week I finished weaving a set of tea towels -

The pattern is Turned Twill Towels, 

from Jane Stafford Textiles School of Weaving, Season 5, Episode 1.

Woven in Maurice Brassard 2/8 cotton, and cotton bouclé.

I ended up with 8 towels, and 2 small clothes from the end of the warp.

More details are on my Ravelry project page.

Lots of warp ends to tie into a thrum ball to use as weft for more towels - no waste.

I also made a piece of stained glass. I drew the design after looking at lots of Mackintosh Rose pieces online. It is about 5.5"x12", made to fit a side light on the front door (I am trying to use up supplies I have).

Photos from Around -

I tried planting onion seedlings in the snail planting method, I am really hoping this makes planting onions in the garden easier.

Big hunter - I think he saw a leaf blowing in the mulch.

Lots more snow to melt - it is so dirty and mucky outside.

The chickens roamed free for the first time this year - we learned they don't like to walk over snow banks.

All the best!♥︎