It doesn't seem like much until I write it down.

[spacebug]

Got up early with s4's alarm today.
So far today, I've:

mailed the rent
called for my UI
scanned the paper online for jobs
taken out the trash
organized the medicine cabinet (kinda)
done a few dishes
made some indian fry bread that turned out pretty yummy
burned my hand on hot oil


I've thrown myself into more projects to try and have the fun clothes for Burning Man that I didn't get done for Con, and to do them with, you know, some time left over for other stuff. I don't know how far I'll get on this noble plan, but I'm doing okay so far.

So I've spent a bunch of time on this pattern that I got yesterday. I sewed a bunch of it together with fabric I had laying around, and while I measured myself for it and everything, it turned out really, really huge. So, I cut the pattern pieces and the lining down to the smallest size down (it had been on the middle), made sure my seam allowances were big enough (I tend to make them too small), and used the lining pieces to pin a mock up. It seems *much* more fitted now, and I realized that I'd done a few things wrong on the main one.

I've decided I want to try to get better at sewing, and to that aim I decided I should start using patterns again as a base, 'cause then I'm more likely to come out with things that fit better and I'll be more likely to actually *wear* them. I also got myself a big book on sewing that seems really helpful, and I want to try and spend the time it takes to do things right. My main problem with making clothes for myself is that I get excited to see how it turns out, and then I rush and cut corners and end up with things that are fine, but that would be much better if I'd spent the time to do things right. Like iron and press out seams and pin and measure correctly and all that. There's also a really nice section of the book that discusses machines and (the ever present) tension problems and has really handy pictures of different ways things often go wonky, which I think will help me keep my machine adjusted and actually doing what it should. (Yay!) And I'm learning that with things like body shapes, little differences, especially when they go in chain reactions with several pieces, can turn into huge differences. Which makes sense, but I still tend to sew with this "it's close enough" mindset. Maybe it comes from being predominantly improvisational in other creative pursuits or something.

So then I realized I needed some hook 'n' eye tape to get the thing done, and took the motorcycle up to the fabric store. I'd thought about going all the way to SR Harris, but wasn't quite up to that trek, and didn't think they'd have much in the way of hook and eye tape. As my bad luck would have it, JoAnne's didn't have any, nor did they have any fabric I liked enough for any of the things I want to make, so I came home before the traffic got too bad. But it didn't stop me from coming home with another pattern and a marking pencil (see, now I *really* have to go get more fabric now...), and at least I got a few more miles on the motorbike. It felt a little humorously incongruous to walk around in the roseville crafty store next to roseville crafty ladies with my helmet and leather in tow. Hee.

Comments

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

"it's close enough" works best with stretchy fabrics. With anything else... well, yes, eventually there will be problems. Tricksy fabrics.

I'm excited to see what you make. I bet it'll be cool.

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

fur can hide a lot, too. :) I'm not really making much until I get some more fabric. Maybe I'll have to come over and plunder your bins. it'd be like.. uhm, helping you get rid of stuff before you move, right? That's it...

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

Come plunder some time. I do plan to get rid of most of my material before I move (although some of it I would kind of like to get some money for, like the yards of velvet, etc.).
If you want you can come over soon - I'll be going home soon - and plunder until dinnertime, in fact.

more fur

[barda.livejournal.com]

I have a ton of stuff left over from when I worked at the kids coat place, so if you need more fur or funky fleece come on over and plunder away.

[sarendipatree.livejournal.com]

Mmm. Chapatis.