I can sew but can I fit?

Y'all I can sew but fitting is becoming a challenge!  Let me explain.  I've been sewing for years and I sewed through all of my weight gains and small losses. But this time I've lost a significant amount of weight in a short period of time. I've lost the weight and inches but in different places than times past. In this instance you would think that losing weight and experience would work for me.  Well I'm here to tell you that it isn't.

Actually experience is making it harder to produce a well-fitting, well-sewn garment. I make what I think are amateurish mistakes, which frustrates me, and sends me back to the couch and a book. After years of sewing, I finally remember what new sewists feel like. How overwhelming the process of getting a garment correct is.

See, I've been attempting to sew...and choices have frustrated me.  Pattern choices...fabric choices...fit choices...have all stymied me. If I didn't have actual proof, I would wonder if I actually could sew. But I've hung in there. Even though I'm moving slower, it's because I'm taking my time and working out what's wrong.  That's where I differ from a new sewist.  I do have some experience. 😏

I'm presently working on OOP Vogue 2647. 

I originally made this dress back in 2016. I'm attracted to the pattern because my weight is the same now as it was then.  The challenge, my body is different. I'm also looking for simple and easy to sew because I'm still not ready for complicated.

I reread the blog post.  Greatful that I'd included so much information.  I cut out not one but two versions of the dress.  I sew it up, try it on, and WTF! It was tight on my body even with my Spanx on. Now it fit but it was close-fitting. Not since my 30s have I been a close fitting clothing kinda woman.

What to do?  What to do?  As always the answer came to me when I was waking up. But and it's a very important but, it was a complicated solution that a few years ago I would have done no problem.  Now, I'm weary of the alteration. I've decided to finish the dress, after altering the seams and gaining another 1.5 inches. I will let it hang in the closet. Maybe if I lose more weight it will fit next summer.

The second version, I will make as a tunic to go over capris or jeans. I've figured out how to get it to fit my abdomen without a lot of work.

My third will be from another linen I pulled from the collection.  Because after weeks of thinking about it, I realized what I did wrong with the original two.

1. I didn't add ease to my measurements.  I'm chalking that up to the slight body dysmorphia I have.

2. I didn't double check the measurements before I cut. Would have saved so much heartache.

See rookie moves! I'm changing up my cutting layout and hopefully I will get a dress that fits...cause the sewing was easy!

In the next blog post will I share the finished pieces and of course more thoughts!  Just wanted you to know that I am sewing...slowly...but I'm sewing.

*I know Blogger has made it more challenging to sign in but would you kindly sign your name if you use anonymous.  It makes it easier to talk back to you.  Thanks so much!*

...as always more later!

 

It's Been A Minute

I started January off so strong!  I blogged several outfits, wrote some draft blog posts for two shirts I was working on and then nothing. I literally stopped sewing again...but this time for a couple of reasons:

1. Working on the shirts and getting them to look like I wanted was hard.  The sewing didn't come easy to me and I wondered if I had lost my touch.  Then I got to the part where it was time to add the buttons and buttonholes and I really stopped.  Like months later both shirts need buttons and buttonholes. Hopefully I will get my act together and get them added.

2. I've managed to lose 40 lbs. My primary care physician has made it her mission to get me back to good health.  Along with good health has come weight loss because regardless of what I wanted to believe, losing weight did affect my body's systems.  As you know I had a health crisis in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic, and I resigned myself to the weight gain.  Hey I was still alive and I could sew pretty things to cover the weight gain so I was good. But being 40 lbs lighter has really realigned everything and I do feel better daily.

3.  However, the weight loss has really triggered me on a couple of levels.  Not only do I not have a desire to sew, because all of the clothes I was too lazy to get rid of now fit.  But even though I can see the body changes, I still feel fat. I'm not sure if it's that I think I should look thinner than I am or if I don't see enough change in my body.  To be completely honest, the whole thing trips me out. I've never really cared much about how "fat" I presented. So this new thought process is hard for me.

Anyway, I'm not sewing.  I own so many clothes in several sizes that I'm looking for holes to fill to sew some of the fabric that I'm still accumulating.  Accumulating at a much slower rate because I didn't buy fabric from January until just recently. But it is 10 pieces of additional fabric that's just sitting...

So why am I posting, because I did find some well loved pieces over the last several months, that I've been wearing again.  I wanted to share a few candid photos with you of garments I've worn over the last couple of months for the first time in years...

Jacket made in 2016.  Haven't worn since before Covid.

Cardigan made in 2017

Blouse made in 2017

Sienna Maker Vest made in 2019.

Me giving a presentation at work in a jacket made in 2019.

Formal Myostis made in 2019.

Basically, wearing all my pre-Covid clothes that I saved when I moved in 2020.  So, what do I want to make for summer?  Easy things...a couple of Cashmerette t-shirt dresses (since everything I previously made didn't survive), a duster or two, maybe a Style Arc Nova because I have some amazing rayon challis', and a button front straight dress.  Not a lot.  Though I'm mourning the dresses I made last summer, they're way too big now and besides a fix for the 2 myostis dresses, I don't have a fix yet for the others.

Hopefully, I will get the two shirts I started finished and shared here.  Also, hopefully, I will get a few more t-shirt dresses added to the closet. I'm still only working 2 days a week in NYC so I have plenty to wear!

Just an update before my 66th birthday occurs!  Can't believe I'm here at this age...

...as always more later!

Well it's been a minute!

I recently looked at my blog and realized that my last post was December 2023!  Wow that was a long minute away wasn't it.  My absence can be chalked up to the fact that I'm just not sewing.  Every time I get an itch, I think why?  I've spent so many years (at least 20) sewing 30-75+ garments a year that I have no need of anything at this moment. Special occasion, yes there's something in the closet. Need a summer dress, it's there. A special shirt or t-shirt, yes I'm covered.

I'm sure it doesn't help that I work in NYC maybe two days a week.  NJTransit is giving me such anxiety at the moment, that I've gone back to the required 4 days a month my company asks of me.  Getting stuck in NYC is no longer fun for me!  So, what have I been up to?

Reading:

Reading has become my safe space from the world.  As of January 1st, I've read 125 books.  I spend a lot of time reading! 

My Birthday:

I turned 65 this year.  I decided it was the perfect time to celebrate so I did.  

However, I had two parties that day.  Before the main celebration, I decided to have a pre-party with local sewing friends. I've talked about this before, the need to divest myself of some of my fabric. I mean I'm not really sewing much and I'd rather it go to sewing friends who will use it now instead of having my daughters have to dispose of it when I pass.  So I'm sharing pieces from my vast fabric collection.

I did have rules.  No wool crepe was to be taken.  It took too long to collect and I paid some amazing prices for most of it.  Prices that are way cheaper than what it's presently going for.  I have two tables of recent purchases.  They were also off limits. Also I had right of first refusal. Even with that 10 women rambling around in the collection and taking huge shopping bags away, there is still a lot of fabric remaining in the sewing loft.

A few photos from the pre-party and of the sewing friends who attended:

Lastly, I've recently gotten the desire to travel by train! My daughter, granddaughters and I have a trip planned to Chicago via Amtrak and I'm so thrilled. I have other trips planned in my mind traveling via Amtrak also.  I can't wait!

So there's my update. I want to say that I will update more frequently but honestly I don't know.  I don't want this to turn into a book blog but I have sewn so little recently that it will probably be more like drop ins when I have something to share.  I do post sparingly to Instagram still so you can follow me there.

Hope you're all well... 

Hey Y'all Hey...

I'm dropping in to say hey, I'm still alive...just not sewing.  I've spent the summer reading.  However, as I read the words an author's put on the page and recognize their creativity, my own creative urges are stirring.  Maybe it's the seasons changing, or allowing a friend to root through my fabric collection and liberate several yards to take home with her...or even just my creative season changing.  But I have an urge to create a few new pieces.

One thing I've realized is gone are the days where I will make a new creation every weekend. I no longer live that life.  I've made a lot of clothing, items that I can still pull from my closet and wear.  As a matter of fact I wore this jacket to dinner last night with a sewing friend...

It was thrilling to pull it out and pair it with a sleeveless top I'd made and a pair of black knit pants. When I looked at the innards, I was pleased to see all of the work that I had put into it and shared in my blog post.  This is the kind of sewing I want to get back to. Where I pick a distinctive fabric, take a pattern and use the best sewing techniques I know to end up with a unique garment.

Plus I knew my sewing drought was ending when I purchased several yards of fabric from Julia Cost. It's been over five months before I thought about using my credit cards for something other than a book!  Don't know when my next post will be but the creative juices are stirring.  Fabric and patterns have been pulled and placed together, inspiration is talking to me, so we shall see what comes of it.

If you're reading this, thank you!  I think this is the longest I've ever gone without sewing, posting or discussing sewing and if you're still reading I appreciate you!

...as always more later!

Slipping into July...

Interestingly someone on Instagram said that I'd abandoned my blog, which I thought was fascinating since I have posted blog posts in 2023. I do try to post monthly, however, if I'm not sewing much there isn't much to share.  Especially since I'm slowly stepping back from the sewing community on social media.

My blog has primarily always been about my sewing journey. I mean over the years I've thrown in some politics, books, museum trips and sewing/fabric shopping adventures. But sewing is my blog's focus and if I'm not sewing, just what is there to say?

Also I was primarily a sewist that made garments to wear to work. Now that I only go into the office twice a week, I have MORE than enough items to choose from to wear.  And for the first time in my 50+ years of sewing, the amount of sewing items I own start to overwhelm me if I think on it to hard. So I purchase few new patterns and even less fabric yardage.

Pieces taken from the fabric collection - all from Fabric Mart

However, my sewjo has flared it's head. Since it's a 4 day weekend and I'm off work to celebrate the 4th of July, I've decided to balance my reading with a little sewing.  I pulled the fabrics above because I want a couple more Wexfords and an eyelet Vogue 9299 to wear with a pair of white capris.

I also have a Rifle & Co Hope dress using the extension pack dress cut out.  There's also a very complicated border print Mysostis dress in pieces waiting to be completed. I started this in early June but since I complicated it, I got stuck with the button front panel. Hopefully I will be inspired to work on it this month and finish it up. I think it will be distinctive when it's finally done!

This is my sewing update as I slide into July...

...as always more later!

I'm Reading More Lately

As I've stated in several posts, I'm sewing less. And I'm okay with that because I create as I need now and it's enough.  So I've filled the sewing time with reading. If you're only here for the sewing tap out now. Cause I have lots of thoughts about the books I'm reading and how it's different now.

I believe the biggest difference is social media. Between BookTok and Bookstagram, I'm finding authors I never knew about. I've also changed the genre I'm reading. I was primarily a true crime, mystery/thriller, lifestyle, best seller novels reader. I've totally gone in the opposite direction.  Where before I maligned romance novels, now I'm chest deep in them.

I need the escapism they provide.  The world has been through so much in the last 3 years that escapism fare provides the perfect backdrop to the sh*tty things that we humans continue to inflict upon each other...without adding a global pandemic into the mix.

When I was younger romance novels were those little Harlequin Romance books with some bodice ripping, unbelievable characters and situations. Well things have changed in that genre. Not only are there a ton of new authors but the niches have changed too.  Fantasy Romance (vampires & werewolves & fairy lands), Magical Romance, Mafia Romance, LGBTQIA romance, Interracial Romance tales, Plus size Romance tales...it's enough to make your head spin.

There's also a ton of new authors with a myriad of writing styles, choosing to write about sex in a variety of ways. It's inspired a lot of conversations with my daughters. LOL!

Anyway, my reading has exploded.  I've read 63 books since January. I read when I commute, waiting for the doctor and dentist, and instead of spending evenings in front of the TV I'm curled up on the couch on weekends...pretty much all the dayum time.  One of my daughters said, I always have a book in hand now and that's true.

Who am I reading?  After 6 months of serious reading I've developed some favorites, Kennedy Ryan, Lucy Score, Talia Hibbert, TL Swan, Lauren Asher, Beverly Jackson, Brenda Jenkins and Taylor Jackson Reid. Though I have a few other new faves too. 

I follow quite a few bookstagrammers on IG as well as Oprah's book club, the Good Morning America book club, Amerie's book club and Reese Witherspoon's book club. I'm also on GoodReads with a small circle of friends. I like variety and it's nice to see so many books available and what my friends and others choose to read. 

Lastly, I purchase most of my books from either Amazon or Barnes & Noble, because there is nothing like walking into a bookstore and perusing what's there! Sort of like fabric shopping in a bricks & mortar store! I'm also reading off my Kindle App on my iPad which offers even more books!

That's what I'm doing instead of sewing. How about you?  Do you read?  If so, what genre do you like?  Any fave authors or books you'd like to share?

I promise more sewing content is coming because I've paired some patterns with fabric for a few new pieces to be sewn when I'm not reading! LOL!

...as always more later!

A Follow Up to "My Fabric Collection is my Retirement Fund" Post

I wrote this post, My Fabric Collection is part of my Retirement Fund, back in March 2016. I was about 10 years out from retirement then. I'm now three years away from it. My retirement date is on record at my company that's how close it is.

After rereading the post and the comments which are so interesting, I wanted to do an update to this post for a couple of reasons:

1. Covid

Covid changed everything in 2020.  The way we work.  The way we shop. How we live.  When the world shut down in the spring of 2020 due to the pandemic, it caused us all to reassess so much of our lives.  That reassessment affects us all to this day.  It also made me very grateful for the fabrics, notions and patterns I had stashed. I sewed without challenges when it seemed like the world was coming to an end.

2. Moving & Changing Lifestyle

I've lived in this apartment for three years now. I packed, moved, unpacked all of that fabric in the midst of an illness.  An illness that caused me to re-evaluate a lot of what was important to me.

Also, I no longer work in an office four days a week. During the spring until the end of the year, I go in two days a week which changes what I need to wear and sew. Hybrid work arrangements are more the norm since Covid.

My lifestyle is slower now. I'm happy spending time with a good book or a good TV show cause Covid even changed that! There are so many streaming options and movies released to TV.  TVs are larger, less expensive (relative to the inflation we're presently experiencing) with more options to give you that movie theatre experience at home.

3. Balance

My life is more balanced now.  Back in 2016, I worked, sewed, and hung out with friends/family a little. It was like a 50/40/10 split. I read a little but since commuting took up so much of my time, I used my commuting time to do several things.

Now since my commuting time is greatly reduced and even though I have more responsibilities at work, my life seems more balanced. I'm working on spending time equally between sewing, reading, time with my grandchildren and making sure I'm available for my friends. This seems a more realistic picture of what my imminent retirement will look like.

Now let's discuss the main topic of that post - my fabric collection. If you've been reading along, you know I want to reduce my collection by about 20%. That reduction that was discussed some in the comments due to retirement is in full affect in my life. I have several reasons for wanting to lose a portion of it:

• I want some of my living space back in the Resource Center. I want to reuse some of the wall space currently holding fabric.
• There are pieces I know I won't use and I want them to go to another sewist who will enjoy them.
• I've been culling my collection all along but the thought of having to move this much fabric again gives me the heebie jeebies.  And who knows when or if I will need to do so.  Making plans ahead of time just seems wise.

While I'm not concerned about my fabric collection in the event of my death, my daughter has a list of sewists who live nearby who can have dibs to my collection.  She has first rights to everything and the sewists on the list know who they are. This allows for a smoother transition of my things for my daughters. Yes, I thought up this plan when I got sick in 2020.

Finally, while I didn't purchase a lot of fabric in 2020, I did start buying in large amounts again in 2021 and 2022. I've slowed down buying fabric in December 2022 and this year so far I've only purchased a few pieces. My purchases are more well thought and creative driven now. I've been using my fabric money for books.  

However, I also want to use some of those beautiful fabrics I've accumulated. I want to make amazing garments to move around the world in.  Pieces that won't be seen on anyone else. I want to take those sewing journeys while I can still enjoy them.  I want to enjoy the sewing while I can.

That's the update to my post. How about you?  How have your attitudes changed towards sewing in the last seven years? Did Covid affect you? Did the supply chain shortages from Covid cause you to keep more sewing related items on hand? Do you still work 5 days a week at your job's location? Or do you work from home now? Have you retired or is retirement imminent?

I want to hear your thoughts, so talk back to me!

...as always more later!

I've Been Sewing

My sewing resolution for 2023 is to take my time, create more involved garments, and enjoy the journey more.  

My reasons are:

1. I don't need a lot of new clothes.  I have a few holes that need to be filled but not enough for me to create large amounts of clothing.
2. I want to explore the technique driven side.  Not just sewing techniques but fabric manipulation, dyeing, printing, quilting, the techniques that take time and aren't accomplished in a weekend.
3. There have been some ideas that have been floating around in my mind that I've always said, when I have more time.  And as the saying goes, "You MAKE time for the things you want to do."  So I'm making time.

While I'm concentrating on making tops, because that's what I NEED right now.  I'm making tops with fabrics and techniques that need special handling. I want to take my time and enjoy the journey.  Sewing this way is going to slow my making way down...and I'm good with that!

I may even do more progress posts so my finished posts aren't so long and involved. I have one top finished, waiting for buttons and buttonholes and one top that I've just started.  However, the fabrics I used are what makes each top so distinctive and enjoyable to sew.

This is the first tunic I worked on in 2023. It's a MimiG Katie tunic that I've made several times before.  However, it's the panel print I used that made this sewing journey so enjoyable.

My second piece is a pleather and knit top from Cashmerette Club called the Wexford.

I have a few more tops queued up with fabric and patterns pulled and there are two more housedresses I want to add to my "house dress collection."  2023 is going to be an interesting sewing year and I hope you hang with me on my sewing journeys.

...as always more later!

Breathe

Y'all I feel like I'm just coming up for air and able to breathe freely for the first time in a minute.  It's been a challenging fall but I can feel the page turning. The urge to create is strong.

I'm on Holiday break from December 20, 2022 - January 2, 2023.  Fourteen days off to celebrate with my family, relax, and jumpstart my sewing passion.  I'm going to try hard to get those last garments up on the blog before the end of the year.  I really don't want to carry those posts into the new year.

I've cleaned off my sewing/cutting table.  This was it's original state:  

Here it is now:

It's looked like the top picture for so long that to have moved things around and prepped the top to actually use is so encouraging!

I reorganized my patterns. They've been moved from piles all over my sewing room to the blue & white tote next to the sewing table.  The patterns I really want to work on next are on top of the table waiting for fabrics to be paired with them.

Moved some fabric around and reviewed my Fall Sewing List. I really feel like making some tops for this winter.  I have plenty of shirts and need some variety to wear over my jeans and knit pants when going into the office.

The last photo is of my sewing machine eagerly waiting for me...

So that's my plan...it's not an ambitious one...but hopefully it will restart my sewing journeys.

...as always more later!

The End of November 2022 Already?

I think this is the longest I've ever gone without a blog post.  There are a number of reasons for this.

1. While I have posts for my last five garments written, I have no pictures of the garments on me.  Somewhere during the summer & fall, I just didn't feel like taking them.  While I've thought several times about posting with the garments on my dress form, I just haven't gotten there.

2. I've been having real dental issues.  Why does everything in our bodies have an expiration date on it? So I've been dealing with them and will continue to deal with them into 2023.

3. I've been having some physical challenges.  From having to use a cane to walk long distances, to catching the crud, I just haven't felt like myself.  In all honesty, I still don't.

4. Because of the above, I haven't sewn since the beginning of October, which is a lifetime in my world. However, I've had no desire to sew or acquire.  That alone is a little frightening...me not buying anything.  I totally skipped the Black Friday sales because I just don't feel like adding more to what I already own.

Speaking on that...

I've decided to downsize my fabric collection a bit.  Realistically, I'm not going to sew ALL of the fabric beauties I own.  Now when I say downsize I don't mean get rid of it all, I just mean sharing some of it with others.  About 25% of it with others, meaning I will still own quite a bit.

When I was in my 40s and 50s, I always wondered why my older sewing friends, would start to share their fabric with others.  I understand now. It's just preparing for the next stage of life and that's not a bad thing, it's just different...so I'm preparing.

Moving forward...

The urge to sew is slowly coming back.  I have two weeks off for Christmas. My last Janome project will be due and will need to be worked on.  I also have a few things on my Sewing List that I'd like to make.  Hopefully, I will sew.  Hopefully, I will feel like taking a few photos.  Hopefully I will share these and my previous posts here to the blog.  I'm feeling hopeful! *smile*

I didn't want November to flash by without at least one post from me.  So here we are at the end of the month with me hoping I have something to share with you in December.  Thanks for hanging in and checking on me.  I appreciate it.

...as always more later!

Notes from my Sewing Machine - Early Fall Update

While I was on my sewcation, I needed buttons for one of my garments. So I went searching amongst my extensive button collection. As I was describing it to one of my sewing friends, she didn't realize that the last job I had in the Garment District was for a button company. Rochester Button Company to be exact.

During my three years there I learned a lot about button making, the different types of materials used to make buttons, how buttons are dyed, etc. I also accumulated A LOT of buttons. Sample buttons were ordered in gross amounts (144 pieces) and we typically ordered 5 gross. Which meant that my boss allowed me to take 2-3 dozen buttons, no problem. Three years of collecting free buttons, means that 23 years later, I still own a lot of buttons.

The other day I happened upon a history of Rochester Button Company and if you're interested it's here. Another article on the updated history once RBC left Rochester, NY. The second internet piece is for the reincarnated version of RBC with some of the team members I worked with in the 90s.

I've since purchased buttons especially during Frocktails weekend. I go through a lot of them for shirts and my TNT maxi shirtdress BUT I still use a lot from the collection too.

* * * * *

Sometimes when I look at my fabric collection, I KNOW deep down in my soul that I'm never sewing all of this before I pass on.  Yet, I continue to add to it. I'm definitely YOLOing in this circumstance!

I've also made the decision that I'm going to downsize some of my collection. Still thinking about how and when but I'm definitely thinking about sharing some of my goodies with my friends.

* * * * * 

I didn't sew half as much as I wanted to because work kept contacting me...and since I'm now the only one doing my job...I ended up working several hours every day for the first 10 days. I didn't sew or barely sewed until the Thursday before my vacation ended the following Tuesday.  To say I was upset in the way things turned out would be an understatement.

So I never got around to the Farm Rio dress. I knew that I needed time and space to work out the particulars and I didn't get it. I've shelved the project until next year. It was the only way I could move forward and sew the few pieces I did complete.

I did make a few dresses...which I've worn but still not photographed for the blog. With school starting and after school activities my daughter's availability has been slim to none. When she has been available either the weather wasn't cooperating or I just didn't feel like going through the process.

The Rivera Dress

Sewhouse 7 Romney Dress

Style Arc Montana Dress

Then work intervened again. I've been really busy and my sewjo fled. It turned back up this weekend. So I got this McCalls 7969 finished which I started during my sewcation.

 *****

BTW, I did attend NYFrocktails on October 1st. I wore this dress and had a wonderful time reconnecting with sewing friends I hadn't seen in over 3 years. You can see my recap here.

If I can get my act together and schedule a little time with my daughter, I have a bunch of blog posts about garments I've sewn in the last 2 months to share. That's my update. To all who reached out and asked where I was, thank you!

...as always more later!

So it begins...

I posted this to Instagram last night.

...while it says 15 days, I'm actually off 20 days...dayum near three weeks.  However, I knew I would barely do anything today. I needed a decompress day or two from work.  It's where I sleep late, lay in bed, crawl out, veg on the couch, watch TV and read a few pages of my book.  Then and only then am I ready to actually dive into the all immersive sewing I've been craving.

Usually when I have 7-10 days off, I do have a decompress day or two but I make up for it by having a cut pile. When I'm ready to sew, I can just start.  This time I have a pile of fabric, 2 half finished garments, 1 item left in my cut pile and a grand idea to reproduce an inspiration dress.

So a plan but not a plan. I really want to sew what I feel with no pressures. I want to go on creative journeys not worrying about a timeline. I want to sew unhindered. I need this time. I need to reignite my creativity. This whole pandemic, post pandemic, learning to live a new way has upset my creativity. Also, the way I work has changed. I went into my office twice in the last month. 

Am I making clothes for home that I wear to work? Do I need to sew as many things as I have in years pass? Do I sew more for the granddaughters? Do I sew to sew? Or do I choose more engaging projects that stimulate me? I knew sooner or later I would be making these decisions since retirement is rapidly approaching. As an aside, I've set a retirement date in my head - still a few years off but I'm actively working towards setting my life up to be retired.

All of those thoughts are swirling in my mind as I move forward creatively. However, for the next 15-16 days, Imma create. I have everything I need on hand to make things...so I'm gonna make stuff.

Also, these fabrics just arrived and have made me anxious to get up off the couch and sew...

Some black & white strips from Cultured Expressions

African wax print from Mocherie Boutique

Expect more posts soon cause my sewcation has begun...

Reminder - If you're leaving a comment as anonymous, please leave your name at the end of your comment!

...as always more later!

 

The Beginning of August

I probably won't have any posts to share for a couple of weeks.  I'm starting the prep phase for my Summer Sewcation which begins August 19th and ends after Labor Day. To say I'm thrilled is an understatement. It's what I've been desiring -  a block of time to wallow in and create.

One dress that I know I want to work on is this one and will be blogging the process for posterity.  Cause this one is a project!

photo credit:  Farm Rio

I've been collecting fabrics, all from the collection btw, trim, and thread so I will have everything on hand and ready to go. This dress has so many parts to it that I want to do it justice and take my time!

I have a few other pieces that I'm working on pattern alterations and cutting out prior to the start of vacation. My cut pile has just one piece in it now so I need to add more to it. I want it to be a plethora of garments from which I can pick and choose.

I will admit that there are two more Myosotis dresses in the new cut pile but they have a twist. This dress is just so easy to wear, whether to work, out to appointments or just working from home, that I don't mind having dozens of them.  There's also two new patterns in the mix, as well as a pants outfit. I haven't sewn one of them in awhile and am pretty excited about it.

BTW, these are probably the last of my summer sewing. I've already started putting together a list of items I want to sew for fall. These new garments plus the ones I've already completed for summer will be enough to hold me.

As I said previously, I will be blogging the process for several of these garments but otherwise, I will probably be quiet here until then.

...as always more later!

Last Day of May 2022

While there's been no posts here to the blog, I have been slowly sewing.  I spent two weekends cutting out projects to make my summer cut pile. 

A view of my cutting table at the start of the weekend...

I know everyone doesn't sew this way but it really works for me.  I love being able to pick up a project and just start sewing.  It has also allowed me to start the process of getting things off my Summer Sewing List which lets me dream of new things to make.  All of this unclogs my creative mind and lessens my sewing frustrations.

So I had a 1/2 day off on Friday for Memorial Day weekend, Monday for the holiday and today as a bonus day...and I sewed.

I finished Simplicity 8658...

I finished McCalls 7969 - the dress that it seems everyone has made...

...and I'm currently working on the StyleArc Nova Dress

It will probably be mid-June before individual blog posts arrive on the blog with pattern & construction information, as well as pictures of me in the garments.  

The one thing I've learned using new to me patterns is that I like searching Instagram for photos of sewists wearing their finished garments. I can see how they fit, fabric choices, some even write some information about their process or link to their blogs.  I do this check more than Patternreview because I think I get better photos and I'm definitely a visual person.

While I have no finished garments to share this month, I have been sewing and fabric shopping! *LOL*  Speaking of fabric shopping, I've taken a "90 Day No More Fabric" pledge. Quite a bit of yardage has arrived this month and I need to get it stored away and/or used, so no new fabric for 90 days.

Yesterday was my 63rd birthday and I had a lowkey birthday lunch with my daughters and the grandkids...

The best way to notice time is flying, watch your children and grandchildren grow up. There are no babies here anymore!

...as always more later!