paper tiles+ sticky tape

I'm trying to do something sewing every day - the past 2 days that's meant half an hour each day sticking a tiled pattern together. I really find this tedious, which I wasn't expecting. So tedious I'm unlikely to use a downloaded pattern again, unless it's a small item.

Today I'll cut out the pattern pieces so that I can start the alterations. I think this is why I found it so blerghhhhh - I always have pattern collage wtih alterations so to me this was a pointless collage even though it resulted in a pattern. I think if the overlap had been greater (even though that would have resulted in more pages) and had been able to line them up through the overlap it wouldn't ahve been fine, but my printer margin was at least 6mm or 1/4" bigger than the overlap so I had to use a ruler to ensure it was done properly. Maybe I'll have a pic of the next stage for you.

polyster is unlike rayon, and I dislike it.

My FFC order arrived at the post office on Friday, & I picked it up after work yesterday. I was definitely disappointed that the red rayon (#2912) is in fact a heavy polyester crushed satin. It melted and stank horribly. It's more cost effective to accept the loss than pay to post it back, though I'm definitely asking them to update the description of the fabric on their website.

So, that means I'll be making the vampire of venice nightgown from my stash fabric & pattern after all.

I can't wear heavy polyester. It's going to be 32C on Thursday (89.6F), was 35C/95F on Sunday and 39C/102.2F last Thursday. And it's only the middle of spring.

So wearing a long cotton nightie in 6 weeks time is going to be hot enough for the Dr Who party. No poly for me.

blergh, leg/life balance is out of kilter

I've been carrying around for a week the printed pages for the Lilly Rose dress. Back & forth from work to home. In the morning I feel full of "I can do all the things" but by the end of a working day I'm tired, achey & grumpy and even with the best intentions don't get anything done (bar feeding myself) once I get home.

I've had 6 weeks of not bending my right knee, with 4 to go. Even though I'm going "yay, the tumour is gone & it wasn't cancer", I'm equally frustrated with rarely being able to sit comfortably, and I even cross a road to walk on the left footpath, as the very slight angle makes enough difference that my right hip doesn't ache like the devil. I'm totally seeing a remedial massage therapist or physio after this, but it feels like a waste to do it now when I've got another 4 weeks (not that I'm counting or anything. [yeah right]).

It really feels like this has been a year of my life on hold - the gallbladder started mid-November last year, and I get my knee back in use mid-November this year. 10 weeks of going up the stairs at home 1 at a time is tediously dull & ragey making.

I'm so very very happy that I had a holiday in Brisbane, staying with Desir Brulant, sewing a couple of great costumes and catching up with my friends up there. That interlude reminds me that once I get past the next month I'll get back to my normal sewing self.

I do have things to look forward to, tomorrow I'm going to a Dr Who 1 day con, that I won tix to. wheeee. And at the end of this month a costume BBQ, and the end of November when I have my leg/life back a Dr Who costume party. My fabric still hasn't arrived so I may make the vampire nightgown, even if I'm unwilling to wear alien fangs!

hoping to Frocktober

I'm aiming to join in Frocktober, and get a summer dress made - it's mid-spring and 28C today so I really need summer dresses and all mine have worn out.

The fabric I'm aiming to use came from my November 2012 swag of Brisbane goodies - top left in this photo.


The pattern I'm planning to use for this dress is the one I bought at the launch of The Miss Page Collection in Katoomba last year [July?]. http://www.thetailorsapprentice.com/index.php/patterns/category/1940s I got the Lilly Rose


I'm not going to do the contrast waist, but may pipe it instead. Also will do 3/4 sleeves, cos short just isn't flattering. Not only do I now have bingo arms but the line drawn across the Acreage isn't flattering.

next choice -- skirt pattern

Part of me wants to use a TNT pattern (ie tried n true) but part of me wants something new for the blueberry skirt.  I'd like a 30s vibe, so probably not this Lekala skirt 5861 and though I prefer longer length, shorter would be cooler in our hot & humid summers. Plus I'd like to try using Lekala but perhaps not with so many pieces as 5687,

So part of me is tempted to again use Mccall 4161 which I've only used once, in wool crepe

or McCall 4593

 or even vogue 7640 which I haven't worn in ages, but for some reason I think of it as a winter pattern.

Also, I'm tempted to finally order the Onion pattern 3019

 

Regardless of which pattern I pick, I need to accept that nothing is going to make me look slender.  A sleek seal is what I'm aiming for, not a pudding.

blueberry not from pale pink

Before I dyed the fabrics, I overlocked the ends so it wouldn't unravel.  For the After photo I placed the trimmings on the respective fabrics to show how much they changed.  The burnout design in the voile is much more visible, and I'm looking forward to using them. 

pink to berry - if the dyepot allows

I'm dyeing this baby /shell pink linen/rayon herringbone to [hopefully] berry.  I'm using iDye, 1 packet violet : 0.5 black.  I'm also going to toss in 3m of baby pink cotton lawn as I'd like to use it and baby pink no longer suits me the way it used to.


I've picked through the stash for these print cottons - they're lawn or voile weight, and should go with either the blue UFO skirt and/or the berry skirt to be.

So although not actually sewing yet, I'm plotting, schemeing and dyeing to get started

dagnabbit, it could have been a 100% stash project

Yesterday I dozed through the Dr Who Episode "Vampires of Venice, and had a massive "D'OH" moment. I'd been loving the main villainess's costume (the matriach) more than the 'Brides' day-wear, but I had completely forgotten the nightgowns which I loved more than their formal gowns. Here's the nightgowns on the left and the matriarch's dress on the right.

And guess what pattern I have unused in my stash but Simplicity 4111 (a Built by Wendy design).

Wouldn't it have been ideal! Yes, there is in my stash a tub full of white fabrics to use in underpinnings. Aiyyyy, I'm not ragey over it but a bit sad. I could still do it, but then I have 5m of red shimmer rayon to use. Though it would be fun to wear a costume I could just sleep in .... at luv2costume's last costume party I made blue/white stripe pjs and then slept in them.