I'm making a pair of jeans-style trousers out of our Classic Levi Denim - Medium Wash. This is a mid-to-heavyweight denim (423 GSM), and it is a delight to work with. But I've found that, when making narrow (5/8" double folded) jeans hems, the part of the hem where it crosses the side seam and inseam can be difficult for some machines to handle. There are tools out there to help with that ("Hump Jumper" and "Jean-a-ma-Jig" come to mind), but there is also an easy fix to eliminate that bulk before it becomes a problem.

I took a coat tailoring class with Kenneth D. King, in which he showed us a way to reduce bulk in intersecting seams. This method works equally well on jeans and other hems in bulky fabrics. Check it out...

1 - Mark and Press Your Hem

Don't double fold the hem yet. Just press it so you can see the crease.

2 - Trim Your Seam Allowance

Then, carefully trim your inseam and side seam allowances close to the stitching line (about 1/4 inch is good). Stop trimming right at the hemline crease:

You can already see that it's less bulky than if you left the seam allowance intact.

Sew Your Hem

Inside: Cook and eat the most delicious potato soup. This light potato soup is full of flavor but light on calories. This simple potato soup is a favorite of our family and I know you will love it too.

Years and years ago a friend served me a soup like this for lunch. I had never had a potato soup quite like this before. I LOVED it so much I asked her for the recipe and have since added to the recipe to make it our favorite light potato soup.

Light Potato Soup recipe

I call it light potato soup because it’s more of a broth base than a cream base, but it still has a hint of milk that makes it absolutely delicious.

We love love love this soup with bread. Lately we’ve been having it with sour dough. You can find my simple sour dough recipe here. It would also be so tasty with my simple yeast bread or focaccia bread.

More tasty potato soup recipes

• Zesty potato soup
• Creamy Potato soup
• Pesto Potato Soup

How to make Potato Soup

This is seriously such a simple soup. You are going to love how easy it is to make and how delicious it is to eat. Yum yum yum!!

Grab your veggies and let’s get cooking! You probably already have many of these veggies in your pantry right now.

Chop up all the veggies to small bite size pieces. Celery, carrots, onions and potatoes all go together so well!

Grab a big pot and put in all the veggies. Make sure the potatoes are small enough.

Add the broth and bring to a simmer. Cook until the veggies are just soft.

Add the thyme and some salt and pepper. Whisk in the cornstarch {or alternative} simmer for another 5 min to thicken.

Add in the milk to thin a bit and add that creamy hint. You will love this!

Enjoy your delicious soup! It’s a good one!!!

Yield: 5

Light Potato Soup

Print

The best potato soup in the world. The perfect mix of a broth and a cream soup.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 10 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 potatoes
• 2 large carrots {1 cup mini carrots}
• 3 stalks of celery
• 5 cups chicken {or veg} broth
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 TBS dried Thyme
• 2 cups 1% milk
• 1 TBS cornstarch to thicken {or other thickener}

Instructions

1. Chop veggies to small bite size pieces
2. Bring to a simmer, then simmer the veggies, potatoes and broth until the veggies are soft. {about 15 min}
3. Add the Thyme and salt and pepper.
4. Whisk in cornstarch and simmer to thicken. cook another 5 min.
5. Finally add milk to thin just a bit and serve right away. You can add fresh parsley as a garnish if desired.

© Emily

Category: Bread & Soup

The post Light Potato Soup appeared first on Life Sew Savory.

Long ago, Nancy Zieman’s family acquired a tattered vintage quilt. Admittedly, when Nancy’s mother, Barbara, ran across the quilt stored in a garage, she wasn’t sure where the quilt came from or who made it. It was collected and stored for quite some time. When it was finally rediscovered, the quilt was in the same deteriorated condition as when it was stored away. The vintage piece was beyond repair. It was at that time Nancy had the vision for sharing the quilt for years to come. See the quilt and follow along as we share the steps Nancy used for displaying this beautiful, weathered quilt.

Caution: Quilt Lovers, these next three images are not for the faint of heart.

Once the quilt was adequately aired out and the smells faded, Nancy started her project to create a Framed Antique Quilt Block.

Supplies

• Frame (Nancy used a 10″ x 10″ frame.)
• Project quilt needing new life & love
• Rotary cutting mat
• Rotary cutter
• Square quilter’s ruler (Nancy used a 12″ x 12″ ruler.)

Framed Antique Quilt

• Identify the usable portions to feature, keeping in mind, you may want to include shabby areas of the quilt to help tell the quilt’s story.

• Work on the rotary cutting surface. You cannot see it in the picture, but a table-size cutting mat is under the quilt.
• Using a square ruler, audition the space around the selected area/block.
• Use the cardboard backing from the frame to determine exactly where to place the ruler.

• Remove the cardboard backing.
• Double check the ruler alignment.

• Rotary cut two sides.
• Reposition the ruler based on the cardboard backing and cut the remaining two sides.

• Secure the edges of the cut piece by basting within 1/4″ of the cut edge.

• Keeping the glass in the frame and working from the back, place the quilt block into the frame.

• Apply the cardboard backing and fold down the metal tabs which hold everything in place.

   You can always add a layer or two of acid free paper to serve as a liner between the quilt and cardboard backing.

• Ta-dah!

Nancy’s hope was that this project would offer daily enjoyment of a vintage find, or treasured piece, that would have been stored away for many more decades, and likely tossed out by a future family member. We encourage you to take a couple of moments to label your quilts and sewn projects to tell the story of the piece to future generations.

The rich history and family lineage adds elements far deeper than design and warmth. Nancy had the privilege of interviewing Amy Milne of The Quilt Index on an episode of Nancy’s Corner. Her work with The Quilt Index and Quilt Alliance focuses on preserving the details of each quilt.

The Quilt Index encourages the following, as suggested on the Labeling Pledge.

Include at minimum:

• Name
• Date quilt was completed
• Location

Other options to include:

• Recipient or reason for quilt
• Materials and techniques
• Pattern name, if applicable
• Story of the quilt

If the quilt was made by someone else, include any of the following:

• Where and when the quilt was received
• The maker
• Where the maker lived during their life
• Estimated birth (and death) date of the maker
• Pattern name, if known

Thank you so much, Amy! We are lucky to live in a time where there are many options for labeling a quilt. From hand stitched wording to computer generated and printed panels, the options are limitless! Here are a few of our favorite tools for labeling projects:

Premade Labels

In the cases of smaller projects, sometimes a premade label is suitable. Simply fill-in the blanks with a permanent pen.

Embroidered Labels

Nancy loved machine embroidery. Making labels on her Baby Lock Destiny II embroidery machine was quite easy. Simply use your included designs to personalize a label or grab quilt label embroidery software. The possibilities are limitless. From fonts, to coordinating motifs to sayings and colors, the label will be stitched to reflect your style.

Story Patch Labels

And, for the more computer-savvy quilter, try Story Patch labels. Revolutionize the way you label a quilt. Attach a story with this simple and innovative tag. Make it a keepsake by giving them a photo, audio, or video message they can replay over and over again. You and the project recipient are only four easy steps away from a gift they will treasure for a lifetime.

Learn about the importance of Quilt Documentation on the Quilt Index episode of Nancy’s Corner and watch Sewing With Nancy online.

The randomly selected winner of a copy of Amazing Designs Cute Key Fob Collection from Nancy’s Notions is Merri Lynn Voss.

Her comment is, “I love the puppy dog.”

Happy Sewing,

Team Nancy Zieman

Nancy Zieman Productions, LLC.

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Find out how to choose the best hand hemming stitch for your project with this handy chart + stitch tutorials.