Where is the fun?

I've been sewing straight lines, a lot of straight lines.

Three hundred sixty-one feet, or four thousand three hundred thirty-two inches of straight lines. And not just sewing straight lines, before that I had to serge them. So sew it has actually been seven hundred twenty-two feet of straight stitching or eight thousand six hundred sixty-four inches of straight stitching.

And I'm not even finished, I'm not even near finished this project.



I know it is for the church, and I should share my gifts, blah, blah, blah (Catholic guilt) but I'M BORED!!!

I want some curves! I want some darts! I miss details!

That Marcy Tilton jacket, Vogue 8752, might be the thing I need to get back to work on after this project. Or to be holding the soft plush fleece for my nephew's pullover between my fingers. A gal could only dream.

One thousand four hundred forty inches of straight stitching to go.

In sewing news today...

I can move again!  

Well, I stayed away from the sewing machines this weekend and tried to mend. It was a weekend of Tiger Balm, Tylenol, and my new favourite machine that every sewing room should be equipped with:

This little machine saved me this weekend. A few minutes on my left shoulder (okay, maybe it was a little more) and I was feeling mighty relieved.

What is it?

HoMEDICS, a hand held massager.

Every sewing basket needs one of these.

And maybe a timer to remind me to get up an stretch and do some exercises as a break to avoid sitting at the sewing machines for too long.

Who knew?    

I had a huge surprise this weekend. My nephew was visiting and would you believe that he asked if I would make him another polar fleece.

Maybe that is how I hurt my neck? The double-take when he asked the question. Even Mama R was shocked. Bless his little heart, he is the one nephew that I can say has always been happy with the items I've made for him. But he is thirteen, a teenager, I didn't expect that he would let me have the honour to make him one more fleece.

So, digging through my stash of patterns I was able to find my Simplicity 3651 pattern of mens and boys parkas. A few adjustments to the style as per my nephew's request and this will  work.

So it was off to the fabric store since I didn't have anymore fleece in my fabric stash.

I was in trouble once I got to the fabric store, there was too much to chose from. I thought I would have had it narrowed down to the colour green, his favourite colour. And then there were other prints. Yikes!

I won't tell you which fabric he chose, I'll just say that I was surprised.

And I think the colour suits him too.

Who knew that was his second favourite colour?  

Oh My Goodness!

I am hurting this morning, my upper back and neck are playing havoc on my body. It is my own fault. I have no one to blame but me. And if I could kick myself in the pants I would.

Yesterday, I was sewing the taffeta bows and I spent too much time all at once at the sewing machines. How do people do this for a living?

I can barely move my neck without it hurting. I'll admit my posture was likely, okay it wasn't, the best while I was sewing. I was working on a fold out table that was not the best height and in the basement without the best light. And I sat there in that poorly aligned position for too long. My own fault.

I think this weekend I'm not sewing. I can use a chiropractor though.

On that note I bid adieu, sew safely.   

Taffeta Darling!

Taffeta, so much taffeta. This is the pile of taffeta waiting to be hemmed after serging the edges. A hundred twenty-five feet of taffeta. I believe this is the first time my serger over heated and I had to give it a rest.  

Can you believe that it was not enough for the six large bows?

This is another pile of taffeta that I will have to piece together to make the sixth. I will have to piece these together to come up with another twenty-five foot length.

And then more serging.

And more hemming.

 But there is more!

The left over taffeta pieces in this third pile will be used for four smaller bows.

And then more serging.

And more hemming.

Yes, I think I might be busy this weekend!

You wouldn't believe the lint that was collecting on my serger. Blow Off to the rescue!

I think I'm going to keep this can near by for this project. And for the next commercial break.

Yes Darling, I'm going to leave all that taffeta sitting in all those piles just like that. And I do know that taffeta wrinkles.

Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. [Oops, wrong movie.]

 

In sewing news today...

I found it!   

Yup, now that the sale is over I found my Fabricland membership card.

I guess the sewing gods were trying to tell me to step away from the fabric store.

Okay, maybe not.

I'm just happy it is found since it has been renewed and expires the end of next year.






Hmm, will these work?  
 

They're curtain rod rings. Perhaps not. I've been racking my brain on how I will secure and hang the bows.

The Prototype

The length might be a little short. I'll have to take it to the church and see if I can get some feedback.

If it is, I can add some length to the centre piece or even use this length for two of the small bows. I'll see tomorrow.

I might have found a solution to the hanging problem: key rings. Now to find nine more.

And I might have to re-think the clear heavy weight thread. Maybe some jewelry wire?

New adventures...

This week I am embarking on new adventures. I quit my job and Monday was my last day at the school. I know, I just finished the Vogue 8577 dress last night! I blogged about it here as Project #2 that would be perfect for work. Oh well.

I thought with all the change that is going on, I was in need of some slow down and take a deep breathe moment. I'm frantically trying to find a job stat. But I scheduled in some movie and me time and caught the afternoon showing of Anonymous. I loved it by the way.

Before the show I had a few moments to browse through McNally Robinson, the local bookstore. And guess what I found!

Pattern Magic and Pattern Magic 2. I wasn't even looking for it. I just happened to come across it. I looked for it in the local library without any success. I was beyond thrilled to find these. I can't wait for the new adventures in sewing these books inspire.

I wanted to get my hands on the books ever since I seen this green dress with the bow. Isn't it stunning?

I don't know when I'm going to have the time to sit down and start drafting the patterns. Instead, I need to be concentrating on drafting cover letters and resumes right now. But I can tell you that I can't wait for these new sewing adventures to take place.    

  

Vogue 8577

I've just finished sewing the buttons on the Vogue 8577 dress. I know they are not the best photos in the world but here goes:

Showing off the full skirt.

My deer-in-headlights look.  

The coppery green coloured buttons

And shoes to pick up the red in the plaid.