I have a little project with sample squares of silk jacquard. I want to serge them to a backing of silk organza to stabilize them until I figure out what to do with them.

My Huskylock 1003 LCD has a knife that needs replacing, it's chopping whatever samples I'm giving it, but it's also folding. I haven't got much serger background, so I thought the LRS5 foot would be OK. Not so much. I should be able to serge an edge without folding over, n'est pas?

I have my Elna serger coming back today. That's what I'll use to do the job. There was nothing wrong with that when I shipped it to someone who thought she might buy it. She's been giving it a tryout since before last Christmas, so I know it's in good working order.

More later.

Ordering Fabric Online

I ordered fabric online for the very first time. I'm pretty excited. Did a mini-straightening and rearranging of all my fabric. I probably have 50 yards of various, hodge-podge knits, another 50 of coating and suiting wools and probably 50 yards of dress/blouse weight. I seem to have about 20 yards of stretch, black pants weight. That will come in handy, I'm sure.

I have been lurking at Diary of a Sewing Fanatic; she is my Muse. I really haven't sewn clothes for a very long time. I really, really want to.

I'm going to commit to taking some pictures tomorrow.

I ordered from Fashion Fabrics Club. I ordered 3 knit prints in turquoise/spa blue/lime, a lime gauze knit for light weight skirt or pants and a 4 1/4 yard piece of tan/brown/ geometric georgette for a summery dress. The piece was $15.25. I think I'm going for a mini-swap in the beach vacation vein.

Wish me luck. Follow through is always a challenge for me.

MaryBeth and Plaid

http://thesewingdivas.wordpress.com/?s=plaid

Thank you MaryBeth for shining the light. Now I can interrupt my plaid hari-kari with a little dignity preserved.

2 Garments a Month, No Matter What

Below you will see a link to MaryBeth's excellent blog where she works with plaids and comes to some very big girl conclusions. Me, I didn't get to see the post in time and committed plaid hari-kari (sp?) all on my own.

I teach basic sewing. Some of my students are doing things I either have not done or have not done in a long time. I know tons, but, the truth is, sewing has taken a bottom rung lately. I have been doing and being but I have not been actually sewing. Not to mention the stacks of garment fabric neglected on my shelves and oh, so worthy. So, instead of gazing at my navel and feeling like a fraud, I'm going to sew one garment every two weeks  until further notice.

Burda World of Fashion Magazine's instructions are all text. The only graphic help is with the cutting layouts. I can follow them now, but I'm really a visual kind of gal.

Above is a small look at the included pattern sheets which are printed on large sheets, four colors, one color for each of the choices, all overlapping one another . So I traced off all the black outline pieces on sheet G for my project. These patterns have no seam allowance added. It's a much easier way to work, you just chalk out your desired seam allowance on your fabric following the outline of each piece. This way you can vary the seam allowance. Say, 2 inches for the hem, 1/4 inch for the side seams which is especially useful if you are going to serge.

Above is a technical drawing of my project. I'm going pretty easy on myself, except for the bias cut and the plaid, ha, ha.

It's good that it's winter; I'll be in a lot more. I was doing patterns today at the store and there were a lot of things to make that I thought about. That's when the idea hit. If I promise myself that the constraint of two week's time, in the mix of family, friends, job, house and other interests that I can produce an actual wearable garment, not perfectionized to oblivion (those never get started, much less completed) with warts, wonky stitching, frantic hemming, uncareful planning and gremlin features all allowed, then I can start to do some actual sewing. Juried scrutiny will be strictly verboten, especially by me.

I've chosen an A-line, plaid, bias skirt to start. Invisible zipper, fully lined to the edge, no waistband and only two pieces: a front and a back. It's strictly 1 pattern piece for the skirt, cut twice. Easy, peasy. So you say!!!!!

The last two pictures show, respectively, the back pattern piece, and the front doubled, so it is one piece of fabric. Drat - after I cut them out I discovered that there is a slight nap, duh, and side by side, the two back pieces are like light and dark versions of each other.

Wally Lamb - the Hour I First Believed

His writing is pulling me in. I saw him at the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH. What a nice guy. Can't do much reading - too busy - I read the last ten minutes before I fall asleep at night.

Anna Karenina

I've been reading Anna Karenina for about three months. Some nights I get in 10 pages, some nights none at all. Sometimes, I can find a little time niche for 50 pages. I have six pages to go. I know, I know. Why am I posting instead of reading? I have developed an Anna Karenina pacing for this book that I have not had for anything else I've ever read. I love Levin and Kitty. I love Levin's speculations on his country's position in the world of nations, in it's destiny, in his search for rationality in living, and his explorations of soul. I absolutely love his doubts and foul moods. He is so human.

I'm also splitting up my days with sewing, painting and with the reading. I'm accomplishing a lot since my shoulder healed. It's been a long seven years. I am alone and it has become normal. My husband died and he is not coming back. I love seeing small, red trucks. I think he is putting them in my path so I don't feel entirely deserted. It would be just like him.

I got through the separation from the 18 year job. I got through a job search time. I mismanaged and learned to manage my finances; well, nearly. I had the fire and the reconstruction. I had the porch put on. I've found some new, very wonderful, friends. I've kept the old wonderful friends too. I have a grandson now who is 3 1/2. I had the rotator cuff surgery. I'd like a break from big things, but I know I'll be all right if I don't get it. I do a little bit each day of the things that I really like. It's not good enough, but it's good enough. I put myself out there with a good attitude each day and keep my heart open. That's really all I can do. I try to let go of the unnecessary so that the necessary can speak.

It's 2018, July 26 to be exact. I've had another rotator cuff surgery. I've had cataract surgery. I'm cleaning out my house more energetically than ever. I'm making progress. It's such a big job keeping up a house without help. The house and yard need so much, stairs to join the lower yard with the upper yard, stairs to the front door, some kind of pea gravel at the cellar entrance. Cutting my possessions down by maybe 50%, maybe more. Getting ready for the inevitable move. I can't keep this up forever. I'm all by myself in this. I like solitude and peace and quiet, but everything has a limit.

Teaching Sewing

They say if you really want to learn to do something, teach it. I'm doing that on Wednesday nights to small groups. It's really fun but so challenging. With sewing, don't take anything for granted. The collar won't fit if you change the size of shape of the neck opening.

The projects this time around an apron from Kwik Sew; Slash opening top from Amy Butler fabric, A fabulous dress from Kaffe Fassett stripes from Vogue, pictured at right. No lace insert, but the stripes gathered are going to be wonderful. Lots of connecting the dots.

There are pajamas, bit the top and the bottom, and the bottoms are a funky plaid-like cotton that the maker wants to match across seams.

Then there is a lovely top with a wide band. It's similar to the other banded top, that has the look of the facing turned to the front. I've see the pattern, however, and it is an added band. Not taking into account that the band is adding to the width would be a problem.

It's always something, and that's what makes it interesting.