Break Time

I'm going to take a few days off, just to rest and regain some energy. You know how I love February - well, this one has been particularly fun. (Does the sarcasm adequately come across? :-))

At any rate, I'll be back soon with bells on. Or exciting boots, anyway. Kxo

Link Love

Hey y'all, the sewing blog roll is up on the sidebar. I'm sure it will continue to grow because there are some awesome sewists out there and I may finally be hitting that critical mass of "like-minded" sew bloggers which will, no doubt, point me in the direction of others.

If you can recommend anyone I haven't thought of, please do.

Enjoy!

In Praise of Freedom (and Food)

Sally is always right on the mark when it comes to the blogs. This week she turned me on to The Fat Nutritionist, who decries fun-food haters and speaks persuasively in favour of eating what you want. As much as you want.

Do yourself a favour and read this post. It's brilliant.

What a Bust

So, I made my first bra and it doesn't fit. Not surprising - even really awesome sewists tend to have challenges with their first few attempts.

The issue is twofold:

• Wire bras really are a feat of construction, with all the complexity that entails
• If you think fitting a skirt is difficult, try getting lift and fit perfection with fabric and boobs

There's a reason Freya charges $125.00 per.

I'm not going to bitch about it. Although it doesn't fit (somehow it's both too small and too big simultaneously) - and although I'm not really so experienced that I feel comfortable doing major pattern redrafting (which might be required) - I'm incredibly proud of myself for having undertaken this adventure.

I mean, I have a bra that looks like a bra. (Part of what demoralizes me so is that it actually looks like a real bra one might wear to good effect.) That's half way there, no?

My new friends on the lingerie blog might be able to guide me. I hope so.

And when the dust settles, I'm going to succeed. I will make a bra that fits me perfectly. I just have to be patient.

TNT

I've been reading the sewing blogs for a while, where I regularly observe the acronym TNT, one which (until recently) has meant nothing to me.

While checking out Gertie the other day, it was finally revealed that the acronym stands for Tried 'n True (as in: the pattern in question is so fab, it's tried 'n true / to be duplicated again and again, in a variety of different fabrics).

I think I've discovered my first TNT, a variation on Built By Wendy's jersey fabric dress from her book Sew You: Home Stretch. (Note: This is not her new dress book: Built By Wendy Dresses: The Sew U Guide To Making A Girl's Best Frock. That one, which I pre-ordered, has finally been shipped and I should receive it soon. The reviews I've read, say it's a great book, but not one for the absolute beginner. Some pattern drafting, or editing, is required. But you can make 25 dresses out of 3 basic patterns, if you learn how to adjust the main shapes. Once I've read it, I may have more to say.)

At any rate, I cut the dress pattern from Home Stretch in medium, which is perfect for me. The sloper is quite narrow, but using stretch fabric means that the finished product fits my curvy bits while nicely skimming my less curvy ones.






It's the same one I made, originally, in a pink fabric. Only this time I figured out how the hell to gather at the shoulders and I didn't cut 10 inches off the hem before trying it on.

I'm tremendously happy with this garment. I think it fits well, it's sexy, elegant and practical. I highly recommend it, this version, or one of the many others Wendy M. offers in the book.

Humble Beginnings

I see a lot of posts by a lot of creative bloggers wherein dedicated "creative spaces" are the subject of profile.

As some of you know, since I started sewing (in October 09), I've worked at the dining room table. My system has been functional, but labour-intensive, requiring full set-up and tear-down on every sewing occasion. While very orderly, my accouterments have been stored in the basement (scary place that it is), the family room, under couches etc.

Others of you will know that, since I moved into my "good size for 3 people" home, ten years ago, I've had a yoga room (of my own). It has been without a stitch of furniture, simply filled with yoga props - and most of those tucked away.

A room of one's own is a great luxury. I mean, Virginia had it right. And a room of one's own with no clutter - a space of utter zen simplicity - is its own kind of fantastic.

It's taken me a few months to come to terms with the fact that I can either keep sewing at the dining room table or crossfunctionalize the yoga space.

Ainsi, meet the sewga space:



It's hardly complete - even since I took these shots there have been numerous improvements - but it does provide a dedicated place for my every sewing prop. And there's still more than enough space for a gal to do some good yoga.

So there you go.

PS: The view out that window looks particularly "urban bleak" in February. Spring through fall it has the charm of foliage, which def improves the look - and mood.

Brief Administrative Update

Hey Y'all: I've been a bit lax on my commenting (though not reading, to the best of my ability) and responding to your comments. It's not that I'm disinterested, I'm just having a bit of a stressful time which, I'm sure, will abate soon.

I would like to take the opp to tell you that I've heard your comments about Yulanda have been read and greatly appreciated by her family. I too, found them so beautiful and comforting - it's wonderful to know how much she meant to everyone and to find that there are many other bloggers who have lauded her. Kxo