Rise Up

While I may be laid up (now I see why they call it that), in my dreams I'm sewing. The projects I had on the go, ready to begin just before the injury, are sitting in the sewga room like time capsules, calling to me as I do my yoga each day. Gotta say, the universe has really helped me to reconnect with my practice :-) Ain't no distracting me right now.

In case you wonder if I've lost my inextinguishable obsession - no way! I conspire to develop new systems to help me get back to the sewing as I heal, even if for short bursts. I've convinced Scott to help me cut out the fabric for my patterns. I tried to convince him to trace my patterns, but no dice. So I will have to cut the pattern to the sizes I envision and hope they're on the mark.

I have a new sewing chair, a loaner from Scott's office, which has wheels so I can shuffle around. Now I need to create a viable support for the healing foot (maybe my air cast will be enough, maybe I'll need to create a ramp to elevate my foot)?

When I've got it sorted, here are the things I'm working on next - the pants for V1166:


They're Very Easy, apparently, which is what I'm looking for in my first pants project. I have made yoga pants, but I don't think they're the same beast - at least from a fitting perspective.

Now we're going to see if my lower body is easier to fit than my upper body. And also how long it takes to determine the fit on pants when one's ability to stand isn't stellar.

The other thing I'm mentally working on is the next version of V8413, the dress I made originally in scary-cheap poly double knit (one of my few online fabric forays). I have some burnt orange double knit in my stash, specifically to remake this, and have just been waiting for an opp to get started. Who knows, I might even make a different version this time. Anyone have any suggestions about which version they think would be cutest on me??


Since I got the news about my foot yesterday I've been feeling very strange. I don't know if I'm in denial, or if I'm the arbiter of the extent of this injury as it has occurred within my own body, but I do not believe that this is going to keep me down for long.

I called the physio clinic immediately - according to many, the best in the city and the one my doctor recommended to me. (Sidebar: Ever had your doctor call clinicians to get you an emergency appointment for tests, request verbal diagnosis same-day and then call you an hour after the appt. on a day she doesn't work to give you the results and the name of a physio location (and therapist) which she directs you to a) call immediately and b) then respond to her to advise when your first appt. is so she can send the results over asap???)

I spoke at some length with the friendly physio clinic receptionist whom, I advised, that I am extremely engaged and motivated to work through this injury as quickly and competently as is humanly possible. I told her I would come in daily, I would do whatever exercises are required times 2 - with all the precision required, whereupon she (I detect, vaguely amusedly) responded that one needs to rest between sessions. Whatever. If I were an Olympic athlete she'd take me at my word. She doesn't know that I have the steely will of a skilled professional when it comes to healing. Perhaps y'all know this about me by now, I am utterly single-minded in my pursuit of things. Especially resolution. Especially in matters of my own health and well-being.

No mind, they'll be taking me seriously on Monday at my first appointment. Everybody does, eventually.

Systematic for the People

Don't kid yourself, no matter how well you function when disorganized, you will still function better with a system. (I can feel the free spirits who love clutter giving me the death stare right now but I stand by my words. I'm not saying the clutter-lovers aren't fantastic. I'm not even saying you can't have your share of clutter and be optimally effective, if said clutter is methodical. But picking up crap to find other crap which requires wading through crap isn't efficient.)

Of course, putting everything away instantly after usage in tiny compartmentalized spaces when you'll need them again 5 minutes later isn't efficient either - even if it is organized. That's the camp I fall into but we all have our issues...

My compulsiveness has been tested by all the patterns I've purchased in the last 11 months. Including a mere handful of the patterns that come with certain sewing books, I appear to have collected an additional 35 or so. How this has happened is kind of beyond me. But hey, they're cheaper than RTW.

Recently, Victoria mentioned this incredible system she uses to organize her patterns and I was hooked. You should know, I haven't adopted it to the hard core standard she applies, which is to say I haven't grouped my patterns by garment type because a) I don't have that many and b) I'm happy to flip through the book or the index page to find what I'm looking for.

She uses smaller envelopes than I do; right now I'm keeping muslins in my envelopes for future reference. As I've never referred back to a muslin yet (save my bra muslins), I don't think I'll do that for the long term. But the great thing about this system is that it's so modular!

It starts with the binder:


Which contains a pattern index:

Note the index numbers in the left column. The other columns give info about the pattern company, its pattern number, and a description of the pattern. In my case, I've put a little heart next to the patterns that worked out especially well...

Those index numbers accord with the clear envelope encasing the pattern cover:

They also accord with the number on the envelope, in which the pattern pieces and instructions live:

The envelopes live in the fancy new organizer bin system:

And voila!

Room Tour: The Sewga Space

There's a post series going on out there, in which rather well known sewists show their sewing spaces with fascinating explanation.

Alas, no one's asked me to participate, so I feel the need to take matters into my own hands. What I lack in sewing clout, I posit I make up for in style!

For starters, I am fortunate that I have come to sewing relatively late in life - because it gives me a bit more disposable income to spend on the important things, like hideously expensive (but top-of-the-line) sergers:


Yes, there she is, the Babylock Imagine, facilitating all my interior finishing needs at a moment's notice. You can also see my chic denim "regular machine" cover, though now, when I look at the inside seams, I want to start all over :-) I know I don't deserve this high end equipment at my novice stage, but that's between me and my line of credit. I've decided I'm going to improve adequately to meet its standard at my earliest opportunity.

Intriguingly, I have 2 other machines - the $200.00 Brother (encased in the cover), which Scott bought me and which kicked off this spectacular life journey, and a Singer 185J, which was gifted to me by my MIL a few months ago. Both of them are also great machines and I feel tremendously lucky in the sewing mechanics department.

Between yoga and sewing, I spend a lot of time in this space, so I feel two things are de rigeur: flowers and utter organization. Enter my latest purchase, which I've been waiting on for weeks:


It's modular plastic bins with a wood plank top. Likely I could have found something just like this at IKEA for half the price, but I opted to support a local business and it does fit perfectly in the mini (formerly wasted) space I have to use. The book situation is going to change. They're just hanging out there till I can find a chicer solution. I don't like to cover up a window with stuff...

Here's a longer shot...

In the first shot you can see the "paper bag" binder I have in the corner. That's the subject of another post, coming up soon, in which I advise you about my pattern inventory system. Note: I stole it from one of the most terrific sewists in the 'sphere, Victoria, but I don't think she'll mind... (Other note: Victoria - I'm working on the award post "interesting things about me". Will put it up soon and thanks!)

A couple of interesting facts about this room:

• My husband lawn-surfed the oil painting on the wall. It was so made by some family guy in his art room in 1972, which is why I love it. Art rooms are the thing peeps. Or art cubbies, if space is short. I've said it a thousand times - I am so grateful for my creative space.
  
  
• The sewing table is not an antique! I just learned from my mother that it's a reproduction she commissioned in the early 80s. It was designed with a special cut out in the back to fit over the rads we used to have in our old west-end home. Needless to say, one day it will be an antique because it is just beautifully made.
  

I'm not in a rush to perfect this room - an extremely unusual state of affairs (or admission) knowing me. I want to watch it develop into the most functional place for work. Functional, but with lovely form, natch. Two things I desperately need, but haven't been able to source affordably as yet are task lighting that really works (and looks awesome) and a decent chair. My back and neck are really taking the brunt of this, working as I do, but it hasn't come together yet and I guess I'll need to be patient. I think the universe is urging me to finish paying off the serger first, yes?

On the other side of the room is the fabric storage unit / ironing board / yoga prop section:


See the green genie i.e. Singer machine in its case on the floor there? Every single scrap of fabric I own is in the (ugly but endlessly functional) chest-thingy. You may be intrigued to know that's the first furniture I ever bought in 1986. I was with my mother and we found it outside a wood shop in the Beach. It's good to remember that, time was, I had really questionable taste. It keeps me on my toes.

I have all of my muslin, fashion fabric, fabric notions (i.e. shoulder pads), lingerie supplies, lining and scraps in that cupboard. My rule is, when I can't (neatly) fit those in the piece, then I can't buy more. So far it works. Note: I do believe in buying fabric to suit pattern purchases. Though I, like every sewing obsessed person, can barely resist fabric (it's like drugs) in its natural habitat, I have to remember that a) it's really expensive and b) it's useless if it sits in a closet gathering dust.

That mirror is excellent, btw. It makes you look super skinny :-)

Y'all know I love looking at interior spaces and I love sewing spots, so please respond in kind. If you have a sewing space (or a yoga space! or a fitness space! or an art space!), show it off. You can attach a photo in comments or link to a post of your own. I really would love to see where you discover your best self.