there are times when we need a little time off. when the list of stuff you wish you had time to do is growing faster than you can check them off. when the routine has become so crazy that it's not fun anymore. when you're not exercising, not spending adequate time with your Maker, when you've lost your joy. (i think that last one comes when the one before it is not happening!)
that's why i'm looking forward to 2 weeks in february. i don't have enough vacation days to do it, but i don't have enough reserves to not do it. i'm taking time off.
i'm being a bit idealistic, i realize, thinking that i will garden, clean the attic, bake, catch up on paperwork, get our taxes done, read a couple books, blog, have brunch with friends, sleep, go for walks every day and go to macworld. but that's ok. i'm gonna love trying!
i'll let you know how it goes...
Sunday, December 27, 2009
sewin' a coat
it's been a long time since i've sewn anything of significance, but i've had the itch lately, and have visited the fabric store several times in the last couple months.
one week i looked through pattern books--every section--just to see what's there. i jotted a couple numbers, and left without purchasing. kept thinking about those patterns, and went back, looked through them again, and actually bought 2 patterns. even at 50% off, they are ridiculous, but i've had some fabric sitting in my attic for about 5 years. it's time to make it worth something.
so these patterns sat on my desk for about a week. one night i read the instructions as reading-in-bed material. (pathetic!) i'm not sure why i couldn't just rip into them the day i bought them like i have always done. intimidated by patterns?! finally, a couple nights ago, i trimmed and ironed the pattern and started cutting out the coat while we watched The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (Netflix). notice i said "started". it took that long to get this pattern cut. yes, it was a little complicated; and yes, the fabric was a bit thick, therefore difficult to cut; but c'mon! 2 hours to cut out a coat. yes; i am rusty.
then the cut-out sat for a couple more days. i went over the procedure in my mind... over and over and over.
finally, this afternoon, the sewing began. i've done everything i can do until i buy more thread, more bias tape and a little piece of lining for the pocket. and i'm having fun! it's not a lined coat, so i decided to bind my seam allowances with a contrasting bias tape (hence, the need for more).
here's a photo of the inside back, with the bound seam allowances started.
and here are my sleeves, almost ready to be set.
here's a picture of my pattern:
maybe i'll wear it on new year's eve... maybe. :)
one week i looked through pattern books--every section--just to see what's there. i jotted a couple numbers, and left without purchasing. kept thinking about those patterns, and went back, looked through them again, and actually bought 2 patterns. even at 50% off, they are ridiculous, but i've had some fabric sitting in my attic for about 5 years. it's time to make it worth something.
so these patterns sat on my desk for about a week. one night i read the instructions as reading-in-bed material. (pathetic!) i'm not sure why i couldn't just rip into them the day i bought them like i have always done. intimidated by patterns?! finally, a couple nights ago, i trimmed and ironed the pattern and started cutting out the coat while we watched The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio (Netflix). notice i said "started". it took that long to get this pattern cut. yes, it was a little complicated; and yes, the fabric was a bit thick, therefore difficult to cut; but c'mon! 2 hours to cut out a coat. yes; i am rusty.
then the cut-out sat for a couple more days. i went over the procedure in my mind... over and over and over.
finally, this afternoon, the sewing began. i've done everything i can do until i buy more thread, more bias tape and a little piece of lining for the pocket. and i'm having fun! it's not a lined coat, so i decided to bind my seam allowances with a contrasting bias tape (hence, the need for more).
here's a photo of the inside back, with the bound seam allowances started.
and here are my sleeves, almost ready to be set.
here's a picture of my pattern:
maybe i'll wear it on new year's eve... maybe. :)
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