at least, not to start with.
In the beginning, there was a concept: another denim pinafore, but this one slightly less basic, but still very versatile. Instead of smooth plain dark denim, the fabric is a denim jacquard, originally a thrifted duvet cover, with an overall abstract foliate scrollwork design. My current fascination for turquoise/teal as an accent color means that using a precious piece of multicolor handwoven ikat for the narrow edge bindings will let the binding be a transition as well as a memorial (every time I see that fabric, I remember my dear late friend Larissa, and the trip we took to the Puyallup Sewing Expo).
There was also a challenge: at some point in the past, I had cut from the denim jacquard a Theoretical Pinafore, but not using the current pattern. There were Viking Apron Dress style pieces, and a few large-ish scraps. This was challenging in two major ways. One was that it would be impossible to modify the pattern pieces to create my favorite pockets, which are constructed as part of the skirt gores, and require both more fabric, and, well, the pinafore skirt to have gores! The other was to figure out a tidy way to attach the shoulder strap bands to the body of the pinafore, since loops and Viking brooches was not a practical idea for everyday wear!
After several possible options for pockets stalled my progress, the simplest option seemed the best, patch pockets not double welt pockets. I've never made double welt pockets, and wanted pocket openings with a long diagonal curve, which would be complicated to get right. That is a technique to try in the future, but with hard fabric limits, I wanted a sure thing. The patch pockets with a curved top edge looked great, and once stitched down, matched my image of the future garment.
One minor issue was that the entire pinafore was too wide by at least six inches, rather a bit in excess of "comfortable not snug". Six evenly spaced inch wide pleats from the top edge to the waist at the center front added some shaping in the bodice while allowing the pinafore to skim over my belly. For the shoulder straps, flat felling the narrow strips to the bodice was much simpler than my other ideas, such as spaghetti straps, or straps inset between a facing and the bodice. Plus, it turned out that there was enough of the ikat bias to neatly bind the neckline and armscye openings, which strengthened the edges as well as adding beauty.
Overall, I am quite pleased with the new pinafore, as it is subtly different than my other pinafores, but still obviously in my own style.
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Last year I planted garlic at the beginning of November. It all grew, but would have done better (had more cloves each) if planted earlier. This means that I need to somehow create a new planting place for the garlics, as I believe it is better to not replant alliums where they grew the previous year. Indeed, it would be good to create, eventually, four Useful Raised Garden Beds, so I can practice a form of backyard crop rotation. Now to figure out HOW to use what is already here to make something suitable, and Where To Put It... Landscape design is not my forte.
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Four pounds of plums cut up and macerating prior to making plum sauce 
