Secret Life of Me

shiny

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:51:01 +0000

let’s talk about distractions. i didn’t sew this weekend because we went so seattle. it was an excellent trip, but for obvious reasons, i had to put aside plans to work on my jeans muslin. and of course, while sitting on the couch just now (not sewing) i just came up with one more thing to distract me from working on the jeans. i just sketched out a dress to make out of a pretty reddish purple knit that i have sitting in my stash. batwing, tie-sleeve, empire waist dress. it will take me a bit to get the pattern right, but it should be really great for spring/summer weather and has officially been added to my list of to-do’s for spring break (which begins on saturday!). so that takes my spring break list to:
finish jeans muslin
gray sweater knit drapey sweater thing
batwing/tie-sleeve dress
…
i am trying to keep my list realistic so that i might actually accomplish it, but i have just found another thing to keep me distracted from my sewing room: rock climbing. my brother-in-law took us to the rock climbing gym while we were in seattle this weekend, and i never knew i would enjoy it so much. so i have decided to make the rock climbing gym here in eugene a regular part of my world. i officially need more hours in the day.

long weekend

admin — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 05:40:00 +0000

i haven’t done any sewing since last monday, when i fixed the back pocket on my jeans and started on the front pocket and fly. i really am making progress, i swear, pics for proof to come. but my sewing was interrupted by a long weekend trip to seattle for dylan’s brother’s 30th birthday. it’s been a really great weekend and it’s nearly over and i will pick up with the jeans in a couple days.

jeans progress

admin — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 22:36:21 +0000

i finally found time to work on my jeans muslin. i decided to make them wearable and go forth with things like top-stitching and pocket details. so i have spent a good deal of time today working on the back of the jeans and since i have never done twin needle sewing, i thought i might do it the easy way (read sarcasm) and top-stitch in two passes. i should have just pulled out the twin needle that i have and practiced with all the time i would have saved. in the end i was pleased with the look of the top-stitching, but the back is not without problems.
it wouldn’t be a susan-project without problems.

do you see it? do you? that was done with the markings on the pattern piece. somehow the right pocket must have rotated as i was sewing. ugh. truthfully, i didn’t notice it until i did the top-stitching at the center back but then it was super obvious. i can’t very well go around with one pocket all weird. so to the seam ripper i go.
i was hoping to get this out of the way so that i could work on a shirt when my new jalie pattern arrives in a couple days. depending on how many more times i screw this up, these jeans could potentially be done and wearable early next week.

no time

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:17:36 +0000

sadly, i wasted away my weekend enjoying the sun instead of sewing. I just can’t seem to find the time to get to work in my sewing room. i am really hoping to get some things finished before i head to seattle in two weeks, but it may be a pipe dream. I need to find the motivation to put other important things aside and make room for sewing.

wait a minute…

admin — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:43:32 +0000

it’s still february. why is it this nice out? not that i’m complaining, but the pull of the sunshine is stronger than my will to sew. i just can’t help myself, it’s outside time.

to hold you over

admin — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 23:57:08 +0000

my jeans muslin is cut out and waiting for me to find time to assemble. in the meantime, i persuaded dylan to take photos of the ombred silk with me in it.

shameless self promotion

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:37:20 +0000

i was surprised and flattered by being selected by a fellow blogger as one of their top picks for the week. my ombred silk blouse was featured here today. thanks!

up next

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:25:58 +0000

working on a jeans muslin with the jalie pattern and then i think i will move on to the gray mohair knit that i have sitting in my stash.

it’s done

admin — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:56:24 +0000

you get pictures on leelu instead of on me because i am sick and no one was home to take a picture for me, but here it is.

finally. it’s done. this one started as a copycat of this:

it wound up a fair bit different, which is fine with me. no sleeves, wider shoulder, no drawstring. also i need to take my serger in to get fixed/threaded so i had to hem the edges at the bottom which gave it a different look. this fabric was a pain to work with and whatever i make next will definitely be a nice wool or cotton. no more silk for a while.
in other news, our trip to NYC has been postponed because Dylan couldn’t get away from work. i am still going to work on busting my stash, but i may have to lift the fabric buying ban and acquire some nice denim to make jeans. projects that may be next: lovely gray knit, gray wool high-waisted pencil skirt, jeans with jalie pattern, work trousers, any distractions that may arise. now that i am not going to be out of town over spring break, i may have time to work on this list. four and a half weeks…not that i’m counting.

who has time to sew?

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:45:32 +0000

i went up to seattle last weekend to visit friends and family and had a wonderful time, but didn’t get any sewing done over the three day weekend. and wouldn’t you know it, nearly the minute i returned, i got sick. i worked yesterday, but took today off. maybe i will get some sewing done today, but for now i am sitting on my couch debating showering and getting dressed in order to do something about the lack of cereal in the house.