Tuesday 29 April 2014

sifting through a couple of hundred (or more) photos before posting

I actually made my MAGAM garment for April - need to post about it once I've got the photo ready to upload.

I also have lots of photos from JAFA and Ironfest, and I bought an extra 1gb of internet data so that I can to it while I remember to.

On the everyday garment sewing side of things, I'm reviewing my stash spreadsheets and selecting fabric for winter skirts and some trans-seasonal blouses. I'd very much like to use the Hot Patterns 1063, Deco Vibe Flippy Skirt. I've had the pattern a number of years - deliberately forgetting exactly how many. However it'll take 3 metres of 150cm wide, which is a bit hungry of it. Fairly sure that my already stashed, drapable yardage is all around 2m. I don't particularly want to buy another piece of fabric. What I ought to do first is mock it up and see if it suits me or not. Cos if it doesn't, everything else is moot.

Later this month I've got a weekend sewing retreat - so I need to have planned & cut out projects suitable for 2 nights & 2 days of sewing. I'm taking my UFO blouses, and my UFO brown wool skirt (presuming I don't finish it before then). Plus I'm thinking of taking my 1970's knit wrap dress pattern. I have the monkeys on green to use as mockup and the viscose lycra knit for the real thing.

Are my eyes bigger than my stomach when it comes to achievable projects??

Maybe I should also take my UFO early 1800s open robe. It's pretty close to finishable. But, BUT ... I need a decent working wardrobe for this winter. A much higher priority.

Tuesday 22 April 2014

I've not disappeared entirely

I was especting to post again much earlier than this, but I got lured into the time-sucking-pit of JAFA sewing ... the weekend before Easter I was at the aussie Jane Austen Festival in Canberra, and somehow ended up with half made and unmade costumes to sew while I was there.

I haven't even looked at all my photos yet - but I've seen my friend's photos and will be doing a couple of posts once I've got myself sorted out.

I took my netbook with me but didn't even turn it on once! It was really nice to have a proper break from real life.

My March MAGAM short gown project didn't get finished. I took the pragmatic approach that there was less work involved in finishing my UFO bib front gown, that's about 4 years old. I also realised that I really really cared about having a chemisette (a false blouse for filling in necklines during for daywear). I cared more about that than getting the short gown finished - as I had daywear clothing that fit.

When I got back I discovered that somehow I'd used up my entire months data allowance in 4 days - I think something in the background was constantly refreshing and as I was home sick my netbook was on and byebye data.

I'll get myself organised to top it up this week so that I can post photos from JAFA, and also this weekend's Ironfest in Lithgow (www.ironfest.net).

I do have an April MAGAM plan, but as I don't have a photo of the fabric I can't yet post it ... but Winter is Coming!

Wednesday 2 April 2014

a delay in finishing my short gown ensemble

I'm having to take a delay in finishing the shortgown set - about which I'm not happy.

The reason is that the stays I wear under it don't fit, so I'm having to make a larger, quick & dirty version of them to wear at JAFA which is just over a week away. So yes, very not happy.

Until the stay are on, I can't tell if the bodice will fit. And if the bodice doesn't fit I will have to unpick the waist seam at the sides, unpick the sleeves which are inserted and insert a gusset at underarm.

Until the stays are finished I can't tell if any of the other clothes I already have for it will fit either. I may go from being well dressed to being shabbily dressed.

My desire for a new red wook cloak will be put on hold I think, as I need other things more. boooo Hisssss to the genetic lottery that makes me fat. (If you think I'm deluding myself about it being endocrine related and not diet/exercise, well I can give you the names of both my specialists who've empathised while they told me this. Mind you, you can pay the hundreds the apppointments with them will cost. For some things there is no cure, and for others there's not even a best practise treatment).

So a cotton drill machine sewn stays, is almost complete. I'm adding the metal grommets tonight, so long as I remember to get white cable ties (to use as flexible boning at the centre back) from Officeworks on my way home.