Well, in the nearly 2 years since I last posted I've been sewing clothes and making quilts, and wishing I kept a blog. Not sure why I therefore haven't blogged except that it's hard to get into the habit of doing something that you don't do.
But! here we are.
I've got the Love Notions Rhapsody blouse on my sewing table, waiting for a hem and cuffs, but I haven't got back into that room for 3 days because it's the end of Summer School and I'm grading, marking, and commenting all the final things. I've had nice kids this year and I'm enjoying the gradual calming down of my days. On Friday I'd disappear into my sewing room and potter about for a few hours of celebration; but actually my mum flies in for a visit so that's not going to happen. I can't wait to see her, but I'm also longing to sew. I think I'll put a comfy chair into the sewing room and invite her down, so I can at least finish some of the less demanding stuff (border on a quilt, hem on a blouse) and also chatter.
My sewing room is ACTUALLY an 8ft sq space behind our under-house garage, right next to the laundry machine. I love my precious space, despite lack of natural light and slight cave-like feel. We loves it, precious, yesssssss.
Things I've learned in the making of this blouse: if I take a 1/2 inch wedge out of the center back of a pattern to accommodate the slight scoliosis, I've recently detected (ugh, she says, sitting up straighter at her computer) I get a better fit, and if I take out another 1/2 inch from the neckline the fit is better still; this fixes things far better than just a narrow shoulder adjustment at the shoulder-seam line does.
Also, WOW my shoulders are narrow. Like, they're 14 1/2 inches across from shoulder-drop to shoulder-drop. How did I not see that? My plan now, before thinking about fitting my bust or anything else, is to figure out ways to narrow shoulders-and-upper chest-area.
The Rhapsody has a sort of curved neckline with a clip in it, I took some of the excess fabric from the curve but I might also need to reduce the clip. It's a nice pattern, goes together like a dream. I made a test garment in a cheap lawn I'd dyed when we played Shibori in the back garden, and although the fit was off around the neckline, the lawn looked nice and not too stiff and billowy. I think I probably will make a lawn one; after this current one in double gauze is complete. It would be PERFECT in crepe or rayon challis, and I'll probably make one of those, too - I just love a pullover blouse.
Things I'd like to complete before the summer is out:
1-2 more rhapsody blouses
Itch to Stitch Bonn shirt (and possibly shirt dress)
Blank Slate Marigold (I'm not afraid of buttonholes any more.)
Test-out my pants pattern to find some easy-ish work trousers with pockets. I'm losing weight at the moment, and some of my single-size patterns (Style Arc, Lekala) are now no good to me. It's a good feeling to release the weight, I feel lighter and go up stairs faster - but it's also weird to pile up patterns to give away thinking "But I never got to make those!"
Hah. I think I might re-purchase one or two (style arc Marni?) when I've settled at a size that feels right. But this has also rather put me off single-size patterns; unless it's Lekala which is cheap as chips and therefore totally fine.
But! here we are.
I've got the Love Notions Rhapsody blouse on my sewing table, waiting for a hem and cuffs, but I haven't got back into that room for 3 days because it's the end of Summer School and I'm grading, marking, and commenting all the final things. I've had nice kids this year and I'm enjoying the gradual calming down of my days. On Friday I'd disappear into my sewing room and potter about for a few hours of celebration; but actually my mum flies in for a visit so that's not going to happen. I can't wait to see her, but I'm also longing to sew. I think I'll put a comfy chair into the sewing room and invite her down, so I can at least finish some of the less demanding stuff (border on a quilt, hem on a blouse) and also chatter.
My sewing room is ACTUALLY an 8ft sq space behind our under-house garage, right next to the laundry machine. I love my precious space, despite lack of natural light and slight cave-like feel. We loves it, precious, yesssssss.
Things I've learned in the making of this blouse: if I take a 1/2 inch wedge out of the center back of a pattern to accommodate the slight scoliosis, I've recently detected (ugh, she says, sitting up straighter at her computer) I get a better fit, and if I take out another 1/2 inch from the neckline the fit is better still; this fixes things far better than just a narrow shoulder adjustment at the shoulder-seam line does.
Also, WOW my shoulders are narrow. Like, they're 14 1/2 inches across from shoulder-drop to shoulder-drop. How did I not see that? My plan now, before thinking about fitting my bust or anything else, is to figure out ways to narrow shoulders-and-upper chest-area.
The Rhapsody has a sort of curved neckline with a clip in it, I took some of the excess fabric from the curve but I might also need to reduce the clip. It's a nice pattern, goes together like a dream. I made a test garment in a cheap lawn I'd dyed when we played Shibori in the back garden, and although the fit was off around the neckline, the lawn looked nice and not too stiff and billowy. I think I probably will make a lawn one; after this current one in double gauze is complete. It would be PERFECT in crepe or rayon challis, and I'll probably make one of those, too - I just love a pullover blouse.
Things I'd like to complete before the summer is out:
1-2 more rhapsody blouses
Itch to Stitch Bonn shirt (and possibly shirt dress)
Blank Slate Marigold (I'm not afraid of buttonholes any more.)
Test-out my pants pattern to find some easy-ish work trousers with pockets. I'm losing weight at the moment, and some of my single-size patterns (Style Arc, Lekala) are now no good to me. It's a good feeling to release the weight, I feel lighter and go up stairs faster - but it's also weird to pile up patterns to give away thinking "But I never got to make those!"
Hah. I think I might re-purchase one or two (style arc Marni?) when I've settled at a size that feels right. But this has also rather put me off single-size patterns; unless it's Lekala which is cheap as chips and therefore totally fine.
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