Over half the woven fabric is folded and shelved

I took a couple of nights off from folding fabric after I reached the half way point of fabric folding. I think all the remaining fabrics (not in the discard pile) will fit in the cupboards. I might even fit in a shelf of mock up fabrics - selected from the discard pile; or possibly some of the notions also.

Now two thirds are folded and in the shelves, and its very satisfying. It's also a bit horrifying that with 620 metres done I still have over 300m to be folded.
Having to take a longer break as a ligament is hissy fitting.

There's a now heaping pile of assorted notions/scraps/patterns/unfinished projects in the middle of the room, and I need to tackle them too. I'm tempted to toss every notion into a large plastic tub and then sort them out to trims, elastic, closures, zippers, piping cords etc. I'll give that a go and see how it turns out.

Red, Pink or dye+pink cloak decisions

Yesterday I forgot to take the red wool to work to cut out on the large meeting table after work. Ugh.  Last Sunday I pre-shrank 5 woollen fabrics - these 3 are on my cloak list.  The red for scarlet regency,  the pink for a backup wool cloak and the green tweed check for steampunk as we've got a new event this July in Sydney.

I'll use any of them in real life in our few weeks of winter, as I find it easier to regulate how warm I am than a coat. I haven't even had a coat for around 25 years,  and it was teal.  No black coat or suit for me,  much as I love crows and ravens.

The pink is 100% wool and dyes really well,  so I can change it if I don't want to be a short wide vibrant pink blob on the horizon. Then I could make it a colour more likely to be worn c1800. That's the cut I'm aiming for.

If I don't dye it,  then I have two short lengths of vintage cotton I can use for lining the facing and hood. Back in the day they used silk (pics look like taffeta not crepe de chine) and my stash only has ecru,  putty green and cyclamen pink satin IR crepe de chine. The wrong pink for this.  Decisions.

Over a quarter of my fabric folded to fit

Thank goodness I have a stubborn streak and have learned to use it for good not evil.  The technique I'm using was used by a friend, Abi, who found it from another blogger. The result is effective and out of my stash should fit in the shelves. If not more culling to be done.
http://www.ialwayspickthethimble.com/2015/01/24/sunny-sewing-room-folding-fabrics-size/

By the time I'd reached my tolerance point on Sunday evening,  I'd folded a quarter of my stash,  if you go by number of pieces.  I simply left a couple of piles on the floor.

Last night I folded another 17 fabrics before I tapped out again.

This is the result so far:

Folding fabric, seemingly forever.

Started the tedious but satisfying chore of folding fabric to fit in the shelves.  Once it's done I'll be able to find a piece I know is in there.  Also hopefully it will all fit in the cupboards.

I'm sorting them into categories as I go,  and making a discard/giveaway pile.  Some of them may be used for mock ups or underpinnings for steampunk etc

An expedition to the sewing room approaches

I need to tackle the mess that is my sewing room. I dumped sewing stuff - unfinished projects and ephemera that I came across as I unpacked my less than strategic moving boxes.  It looks like that exploded or was tossed by burglars so the room isn't functional.

I also need to find my cotton drill to mock up my regency stays, and find the semi-firm cotton organdy that I bought about 5 years ago to make a corded petticoat.  When I was tempted to re-buy both rather than face the sewing room I knew it was ridiculous.  Especially given I'm on a fabric diet and trying to downsize my stash by using it. So this Saturday I'm going in and told a friend I may need an emergency evacuation team by late afternoon.  There may or may not be before and after photos.

I've started my next beaded cuff bracelet - this is wider and of a weedy seadragon (in the seahorse family) and native to Sydney harbour.  I custom ordered the pattern from an Etsy seller who's patterns I've bought and will use, although after this is finished.  It has 22 colours, and I stuck labels to the lids so it's easier on my brain when I need to get the next colour out of a tube.

I've got about 12 at a time out on my work tray, and am enjoying working on it.

replacing my laundry hamper lining

The lining on my laundry hamper got shabbier than I'd like, so it was time to make a replacment.  This time not from unbleached calico but a yellow and white stripe cotton twill.  I originally got a different fabric but realised that I was procrastinating because I just didn't like it as much.  I'd gone to Spotlight with a friend who was looking for Grinch fabric (which ended up out of stock) and realised that they had a sale so grabbed the stripe as well as some bargain blockout lining that I need. $14 down to $4, yes please I'll take 6 metres of lining at that price.

The hamper lining is very simple. A tube to fit the widest part of the tapered basket, gathered onto a circle slightly larger than the base inside.  The previous one I made had an elastic casing under the outside lip to stop it from slipping inside but that wasn't as effective as I'd hoped.  So this one has tape n each side that ties through the handles to help prevent the liner from getting dragged down inside. There's also a ridiculously long edge so that it doesn't slip inside at one point and drag the entire liner inside ... which happened a few times with the old one.

I covered the lid also - a circle with an elastic bias tape casing on the edge.

Non-garment sewing wishlist for the xmas hols

I realised this morning that the list I posted yesterday was short, because the non-clothing items were missing.

I bought a folding frame knitting bag at an op shop and have fabric to replace the bag.  I got a quilted cotton bedcover (king size) to make a fitted cover for my chaise. I might need to sew that one on my treadle. I need to make a pattern and play pattern tetris with the cover. It's currently draped over the chaise and fitted cover would work so much better.

Make block out curtains for the lounge - or add block out lining to the existing curtains.

Hem the sheer cotton lawn so that I can hang it in my bedroom window and not worry about the neighbours in the next building watching me from their lounge/balcony.

AND one of my friends made me a loom bead bracelet that I love wearing but as it's a wonder woman one it doesn't go with everything. So despite my strong dislike of hand sewing I've ordered a bead loom, have the delica beads and am going to make myself a strawberry bracelet to wear with my strawberry dress. I want to make more bracelets too, but we'll see how the first one goes.

Even when I wasn't overweight, women's watch bands and bracelets didn't fit me - hence a self description of "shetland pony in human form" due to my short & stocky frame. I love bracelets, and delicate ones don't suit me. So the beaded cuff works really well.

Overly ambititious sewing plans for the xmas break

The office I where I work closes for 2 weeks every Xmas. It's not usually my idea of a fun time to go away - hot + school hols. Unless I'm going somewhere they're unlikely to be.

I had come up with grand ideas to sew all.the.things. La Nina was predicted so yes it would rain, but it would be cooler.

Ahem, xmas eve is due to be the fourth 40C or higher in 9 days before xmas. Saturday hit 43.7C, tomorrow is forecast to be 43C and Wednesday 42C Ugh. If it continues over the break I may invite myself to friends' with air-con or up the cooler mountains.

Planned are to finish the November dress, start/finish the December dress. Make a full slip*; anti-chafe wide stretch lace thigh garters to see if they work for me (inspired by Bandalettes but without involving international post); an unwired sports bra to use as a sleep bra; actually two different ones, using MakeBra Ulla as the bodice of a dress-length clone of a nightie that's too short to wear outside (to the clothesline not shopping nor socially). Plus whip up a dress for January.

So yes, ambitious if the weather is favourable, and that now seems to be unlikely.

* from either of these two patterns

Switching sewing and bed rooms on the horizon

I originally thought I could sleep in the small room & sew in the large one, but after being here 8-9 months I've completely changed my mind. The switch hasnt happened yet, partly cos there's still some unpacked boxes of sewing "stuff". Scary boxes of a mix of notions, unfinished projects and who knows what cos I shuddered and closed them. I need to put my big girl pants on and just start going through them.

I'll need to downsize from 5 to 4 single door cupboards for the fabric, and it works out as one got damaged in the move so lowest half is unusable anyway.  How I plan to decide what to get rid of is to work in reverse. I'll pick the top 10 in each fabric category, put them in the cupboards, then pick the next ten favourite in each category. Repeating until the cupboards are full, and what is left is the less loved pieces.

 The bench top i was going to add legs to for a sewing will be too long for the smaller room, so I'll soon visit IKEA and get the kids desk Pahl as it's height adjustable and the middle height is ideal for short me. It's 128cm by 58cm, so not quite the 140cm wide that I was going to get that would then also need adjustable legs. Getting it all in one is more affordable and simpler to assemble.

Sewing on Sunday, regardless

My foot is slowly improving - it's getting another torture treatment tonight and again on Monday.

I've planned to go sewing again this Sunday anyway and this time I shall make sure I stick with using my left foot on the pedal. I'd love to get at least one of these dresses finished. The Lost at sea is close, and the Lobster is also nearish enough. I won't take the oldest dress so that I can focus on these two.

I gave away a Morris chair that I'd bought about 20 years ago intending to restore. It was Queensland maple, with dreadful 1970s orange and brown plaid upholstery (and with solid sides).  It physically didn't fit in my new home, and I no longer have a storage space so it needed a new home. I wanted it to go to someone who at least wanted it, and as a freebie. One of my friends noticed it and asked what it was (I had it standing on the front so it took the least space). She loved it, so I gave it to her ASAP.  She even has leather in her stash that would look superb instead of the plaid.

I'm instantly going to use the space in my lounge to put up my dining table. The table top's permanent home will be on top of back to back drawers in the sewing room, as a cutting table. The legs are easily stored.

With the table set up in the lounge while I binge watch some TV shows I can fold fabric to store it more neatly in the cupboards, The fabrics will take less space so I can move some of the pile off the floor and into a cupboard.  I'll also use the table to open boxes of sewing "stuff" and spread it out to cull/organise it.

Once more of the existing "too much sewing stuff" is in a useful state (or donated) then I can set up the sewing bench for my machines. The previous sewing Sunday was productive and I came home with a 170cm x 60cm x 4cm bench from a kitchen refit.  My friend had collected an entire cupboard/bench set to use in her craft room and took this last bench "just in case". In one of our many conversations I'd mentioned a trip to Ikea with another friend (to escape driving in a bad storm) in which I'd looked at long narrow benches for my sewing room. It was one of those meant-to-be things, as the bench top she didn't want or need is exactly the size I need. I still need to buy 5 or possibly legs for it, so there is at least one along the back edge. My vintage sewing tables can fold down, and be kept for sewing days with friends. I plan to have a few of them once the sewing room is visitor friendly.

sewing progress

I didn't get any pretty pictures, but I've sewn all the first pass seams on Lost at Sea, and need to do some overlocking before I can attach the front yoke. The yoke is overlayed with an edge-stitch onto the front bodice, rather than seamed right sides together. The yoke seam allowance is pressed under, and I may not need to do more than pink the edge, and overlock the bodice edge so that it doesn't fray like crazy. I remembered to cut the upper collar in two pieces, and it's not easy to see but the swallow is at the same on each side, easily too thanks to the gridded cutting mat. Not a quality photo, but it's the one I have.  The selvedge will be in the seam allowance & trimmed back, so it's not an issue as I carefully measured before I cut. The undercollar is in one piece so that's what counts.

I remembered to cut out the interfacing (found it in stash) for the collar and back neck facing, but completely overlooked cutting out the front facing. I'll get around to that this week.

I couldn't resist buying some fabric, the surprise is that I bought none for two months so it's my first for the year. Almost unprecedented given that I've been to fabric shops for thread/zips.

I got enough for 1970s wrap dress pattern I keep meaning to use. I couldn't resist as it's a viscose, and colours I can wear. I just don't do poly as I overheat in it.

I also have a case of sewing room envy - and my room isn't even close to being organised yet. I keep finding non-sewing stuff to cull and clear out. I saw a newly set up sewing area on a FB sewing group I recently joined, and immediately wanted the long bench for sewing at. My vintage sewing tables were ideal for my old home, as they were on opposite walls, but now I'm better off with a long bench so I can move from sewing to overlocking more easily. I ended up at IKEA today - friend was taking me to pick up a lampshade elsewhere, and we wanted an escape from driving in a deluge. The desk used by the FBer was too long for my space, and I don't want to cut it even if I could iron on new edging myself. Other tables are too wide, but the PS2014 outdoor table is the right width and depth. I'm hoping it's strong enough for my Janome and overlocker, but I can always replace the legs with others. Having this to look forward to may motivate me to keep working on culling and organising.

Slowly unpacking (first the stash)

I definitely felt more swamped with boxes from the stuff in storage, than I did with the initial move of the home stuff. I was equally exhausted from this last pack of things + clean up of the old space. I also realised that I'm back under the line of iron depleted and will hopefully be getting an iron fix in the next 3-4 weeks.

There's a massive cull to be done as I unpack, and I can't get into my built in cupboards/wardrobe as there are boxes of 'stuff' in front.  I decided that it would be smarter to unpack the fabric first because (1) the cupboards are in place, (2) they will take up the same amount of space empty as full but the boxes with fabric won't.

I've got 3.5 cupboards full of fabric and there are more boxes. The 5th non-matching single door cupboard that I had used as a linen cupboard is now going to have fabric also if it needs to. Then I can move the pattern/costume sets of drawers into place and unpack the teachest of patterns, and the suitcase+ of costumes.  I've got misc sewing stuff to sort through too.

I ripped a hole in one of my linen skirts, and the other is getting a bit too snagged, so I'm going to have to make a couple new skirts fairly quickly once I can access the machines etc. Currently there are boxes & the pattern drawers between me & them.

It'll all work out soon, I just have to keep plodding.

an organising project - folding fabric to fit

A few months ago my friend Abi re-organised her fabric stash by following this tutorial or how-to by I Always Pick The Thimble

I probably won't take or at least share any 'before' photos, but I'll see how it goes. I'd already measured the shelves in my 4 identical cupboards  but forgot to write down the details, so last night I did it again and made a note - they're 39cm deep and 41.5cm wide.

I also went to tackle the last step of fixing my pattern drawers - attaching the replacement running tracks to the frame, and then the drawers to the tracks.  I found out why I gave up back then (where back then is longer than I care to admit).  The screws they sent out with the tracks are the wrong size. The head of the screw is larger than the originals  - which I carefully put somewhere safe. So safe I can't find them.  I realised when I detached the only original broken runner still in the drawers. Comparing the 2 explained why I couldnt recess the screws enough for the runners to move. It was sticking and not working. 

UGH. So I have the right & wrong ones in an old film canister, ready to take to Ikea on the weekend.

Updating to add that I do have a couple of photos of when I first moved fabric from the plastic tubs to the single door cupboards. Some shelves are much messier now as this was taken in January 2012 (4.5 years ago)

     

Organising my cable chargers etc

I've been sick for a week - asthmatic-bronchitis which is an old nemesis.  I haven't had it for a few years now but it's progress is familiar.  I'm not coughing much in the night so it's not a hideous bout of it. Just tedious dull.

I'm not up to reading much cos it takes too much focus so I've been watching tv catching up on DVDs that are borrowed from the library and friends. Austenland was more fun than I expected. Though terribly cliched.  I've some box sets - the first 3 seasons of Damages, the last season of Torchwood and all of Six Feet Under.

One thing I did today, so I have the resemblance of virtue.  I had ordered a bundle of organdy bags to help sort out tights for costumes and they were in my mailbox on Thursday.  I'm a visual person, so the sheer packing was a random idea cos this way I can see what's in them without getting the air pockets that come with mini (or other size) ziplock bags.  I guessed the size cos I ordered them the minute I thought of it.

Anyway as I was ratting through my container of computer cables for my Kobo, camera etc it occurred to me that the organdy gift bags would be useful here too.  I can see what's in each bag without opening it. They're not tangling each other, and although yes I have to take a few out to find the right one, at least I don't have to take out a tangle and do a similar hunt.



A small thing, but I'm happy with it.

getting ready for my summer, sewing, holiday

I've got both new dress patterns in my grabby hands, and a brooch I'd won on ebay, so the only things left in the mail is an art nouveau ariel Tshirt, and the reprinted book Fitting and Proper, bought from Burnley & Trowbridge alongwith some fabric swatches. I knew that even with the exchange rate going not so well for overseas shopping , that I might as well bags it now cos it could get worse.  If it improves, well I don't mind cos I've hankered for that book since before it was reprinted.



As well as my summer dress sewing, I've got 3 domestic tasks and a spring clean to do. The 3 aren't that exciting so I'll either do them all on a roll, powered by the thrill of achievement with the first, or I'll drag myself along kicking & screaming.
- replace my toilet seat (have it al; ready) for one with a soft close
- put together the Molger shelves that are going into the cupboard I use as a pantry.
- add the Hemnes drawer base supports to my Aneboda drawers


I've also had a flare up of an auto-immune problem so I'm also aiming for some soaks in the ocean over my hols as that seems to help (and I don't question why). 3 big sleeps to go if you include Friday night. Hormones & stress & hot days are probably the trigger. I had the blue sparkle dress, that really stressed me cos I didn't want her to be disappointed. 

Plus I've had to apply for my own job. This time as a permanent position - after 4.5 years contracting with them.  As it's state gov't, it has to be publicly advertised.  Applications closed yesterday and mentally I was prepared to come in for an interview early next week - there's minimum notification days involved for interviews.  But I think that's not going to pan out - guessing based on who I'm assuming is on the interview panel and their leave plans. I know it'll be a couple of senior staff in my unit plus someone else outside it (or 1 snr and 2 outside my unit) and what their leave is.

I'm getting help from another colleague with interview coaching cos I know I don't sell myself well.  They need to follow correct procedures so If I don't sell myself well then I can't get offered the job. This is why I've got most of my permanent jobs after temping. They go 'oooh socialised + nerd skills, lets keep her'.  Interviews, not so much.

So my 2 weeks as well as sewing includes eye check & new specs (broke my sewing distance)  with possibly a new script; haircut & recolour; visit friends up in the mountains; 2 x painful massage therapy appointments - deep tissue + trigger point. This isn't relaxing. Well, I should qualify that with afterwards I'm incredibly relaxed but not at the time. Possibly all the endorphins produced in reaction to pain. I've had 3 treatments and know how bad it'll be. But so worth it.

A distinct lack of sewing progress

I've not got any further with any sewing, though I did shop for fabric on my weekend away. I really need to post about the fabric & the costume event ... will get to that over the weekend.

Tonight I'm tryign to squeeze a trip to an art supply store between work & getting to a short film program of the Sydney Underground Film Festival. Someone I've worked with has her work screening tonight, and I'd really like to see it (Kookaburra) as I gave her some of my photos of the kookaburras that woke me up one morning.

At the art supply store I'm buying another roll of Whitetrace, for copying my vintage patterns & to use where my roll of sandwich paper isn't wide enough. the first roll I got is missing, possibly buried somewhere in my storage room, but the only spot it's likely to be is in the heap of things on the sofa. And I've rumaged to no avail. The roll I got first time around was the 46cm wide as it will fit on the Ikea Mala, a kids craft paper roll holder. As I took it out of that holder to take to a sewing guild meeting or 2 (may have left it behind by mistake??), I'm wondering if I should get the slightly wider 61cm as more usefull for wider pattern pieces, or altered pattern pieces. I'll have to decide in the next 3 hours, and then live with my decision. Cos either way I need to use it ASAP.

[re] organising my costume jewellery

I had a small desktop set of 3 drawers that I had my jewellery in for a variety of costume genres. But it wasn't the solution I was anticipating.  The drawer would either hide what I wanted at the back, or the drawer would pull out and be a hassle to get back in without removing everything from all the drawers.  So I'm going to try this instead. I've tried to group like things together, and at least I can see at a glance whether something is here or plonked somewhere else and to abandon hope of finding it quickly.

I did include my assortment of mother of pearl buckles, and the square shell buttons for my lobster-bustle - don't want to risk losing them in my general sewing stash. That can be a scary place at times, as I have too much stuff.

The gaping hole in my wardrobe - formal wear

It dawned on me when I got home from Cabramatta that I have a wedding to dress up for in 5 weeks ... and I'll need to make something as I'm too short & busty for RTW. I've got evening wear for c1800, but nothing else formal/dressy. Well, nothing that fits!  I have a gorgeous eggplanty purple dress that I'm loath to part with as it looked great and has happy memories.

Dress code is formal/dressy, which is the monumental gap in my existing clothing and even in concepts I have thought about making.

I'm thinking of trying a couple of lekala patterns - lengthening this dress & adding a fishtail for walking - 5850 and instead of the bolero shown with it (5853) use bolero 5865 instead. However this will require the purchase of fabric, or wearing black which I really don't want to do to a wedding!

The friendship was made through costuming, & steampunk - and shared geekdom/nerdery.  So I could do something corseted and not the lekala options. Also, the couple is more my age range than my younger friends (also made through costumes and geekery).

The only other thing I can think of, is to use my Dr who corset and make a skirt & bodice/bolero to go with it. The fabric I first remembered in my stash is the shot navy/green twill which I have 2x 3m pieces- and I need to make a bolero from that fabric for my femme 8 Dr for Syd'nova anyway. I could use the same skirt pattern as the femme dr for this.

Then I remembered a gift of dark green silk dupion - I can easily could use that for a femme 8 dr style skirt, a corset + bolero and make a gauzey blouse to go with. I need the gauzey blouse as if it's too warm during the daytime I can leave the bolero off, but when it cools down in the evening I can layer up. I'd love a blingy capelet but that's not going to happen. The twill version for femme8 would let me see how the pattern works on me

I really don't want to buy fabric. OK, I'll be honest and admit that deep down I want to buy fabric but I dont' want to need to buy much yardage for this

not exactly a New Year's resolution

I don't really "do" NY resolutions, though sometimes I set myself a long term goal that's very achievable within a year. As a procrastinator sometimes a deadline is a useful thing to have.

In respect of sewing, I do want to end the year with fewer UFO projects - just as I did this year for the first time in ages. I'd like to tackle some of the historical & complete the real life ones.

I'm also aiming for a stashbusting target to end the year of 'only' 750m. I didn't make it to 800m by end of 2013, but I only missed out by 17m - pretty dang good.  I bought 60m of fabric but used/gave away 120m, and unlike last year where have my reduction was give-aways, this year only about 20m was.

As I've got lots of JAFA plans - 90% from stash, and a new skirt version of Ma Dola to make by August, also now stash fabric, and a wardrobe of Real Life clothing then I shouldn't have a major problem.

Other than JAFA and my stays/corset project I really need to focus on clothing for everyday, especially work.  I've gotten really slack at making them, and given my proportions (short, stout & boobular) it's almost impossible to find them to buy ready made.

I've never joined in Me Made May, because for most of my adult life every month has been Me Made. That gap was when I lived in London, and even then I eventually bought a 2nd hand sewing machine and made some clothing.

sewing UFOs checklist

Not as shabby as I expected, as I've finished 6 of my ufos (none from the historical category however).  Sadly I've added one new one, as half made brown wool skirt which I started and got distracted by costumes. As it's now summer here finishing it can wait for cooler late autumn days. I'd like to fossick out the sheers and make/hang them in the next couple of days. The blue skirt will get done before the end of the week - it's not going to lurk past the 2 year mark. That and I really want it for work in a week's time.

I also tossed 2 old UFOs, an abomination jacket. Not the style, the fabric. It was a stretch gaberdine wool but instead of the stretch running across, it ran down the yardage. That made it impossible to set sleeves that would fit my hefty arms. And it was @ 5 years old, so whooshka, in to the bin. The other was something I'd cut out @ then and a style I'd not wear these days so that got flicked also.

Non costume
- replacement cotton sheers for my main room - cut out
- blue linen/rayon herringbone 1930s skirt - half cut out
- paisley self drafted pattern - 50% sewn
- aqua knit top - cut out
- Go Petunia's T - cut out
- brown wool Burda WOF skirt, partly sewn (new 2013)
- replacement curtains for my main room, with block out lining - cut out
- flannelette nightie - cut out
- teal knit top - half sewn (discarded)
- Decades of Style 1930s matinee blouse - 80% sewn
- apron - binding to be added


Historical
- striped pocket hoops - 80% sewn
- pink white stripe regency saque hat - half sewn
- regency bibfront cotton day dress - 25% sewn
- blue (with tiny black diamond) open robe - half sewn
- regency stays - daffodown dilly pattern, cut out
- regency stays - mantua maker pattern cut out for a friend
- regency stays - Missouri Historical Society, cut out
- 1850s ruffled petticoat - needs levelling & waistband. therefore needs cage crinoline.
- cage crinoline – bag & vertical straps sewn, needs steels & waistband
- stripe lobster tail cage bustle - sewn, needs canes/steels inserted & waistband
- red bustle dress - part cut out
- 1917 austerity corset - toile cut out

Pop Culture
- Hobbit, skirts cut out
- Idris - skirt cut out