There's something about freshly washed linen that's a mood booster. I'm talking about plain fabric here, and not fitted sheets or shams. Rumpled and textured and oh-so-soft, when I look at these, I pretend I live in the French countryside in a charming villa painted a dusty bleu-grey, overlooking fields of lavender. I can practically hear a baby goat bleating nearby. I have plans for these beauties. But because I've noticed that I categorically avoid making the things I declare as part of …
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Imaginary Sewing
I do this thing, this thing that often starts with a discovery of a new book (or two), usually of the Japanese variety. I flip through the pages and daydream and plan and think, "oooh, I'll make this top from this book..." "Or this comfy looking one from this book..." And before I know it, I'm carrying the books out of the store, my checking account slightly depleted, but my spirits buoyed. I scroll through my mental fabric stash inventory and gleefully anticipate wearing my new …
How to Make Clothes That Fit and Flatter
Oof. I've been struck down by the bug that's going around, and I was utterly useless yesterday. As I floundered about, I realized that the pile of books by my bed is out of control. There are about 30 assorted books, of which I'm currently reading 10 at once. I don't normally do that, but I feel like my focus has been scattered, so I keep finding myself picking up one book and reading a couple of pages, then reaching for another book for a couple pages. It's a bit of a schizophrenic way to read, …
Minimalist Sewing for K
After receiving even more new-to-K clothes from our neighbor last week, we went through K's entire closet and all of her dresser drawers to take stock of her clothing situation. It is, in a word, crazytown. I know there's a whole lot of capsule wardrobe talk going around the interwebs, and I so admire the concept, but as we sorted through hundreds of items that I've made for K, it was time to admit that we've crossed over into the opposite of capsule: hoarder territory. "We have to get rid …
My Little Sewing Space Part 3
I covered in detail all the within-arm's-reach items on and in my sewing table a couple of days ago, and today, we move onto the cutting table and ironing station. I purchased the cutting table from Jo-Ann's about four years ago, and I have to admit that I'm not happy with it. The screws keep falling out, and the surface is badly scuffed and portions of the MDF coating are peeling (I have a piece of packing tape on those portions, which I've cleverly hidden under the cutting mat). But …