rose_griffes

siljamus said: Day of your choice - What do you love about sewing?

I think I'll be ruthlessly frank about how much sewing I do and what I like about it. So:

1. I love theoretical sewing. It's enjoyable to imagine things to sew. Do I actually sew those things? Not very often. But the whole "What fabric would I use? Is there a shape I want to create? What would be a flattering dress for my body type that uses this new trend?" part is fun.

It's like that stage of fic-writing where you just go through your idea for the fun of it. In fact, I'd guess it's the same part of my brain that gets all giddy about it.

(I would probably sew more if I lived in an area with less access to well-stocked and inexpensive thrift stores. I would also own less fabric, given that some of my fabric stash is in the form of thrifted items that are made of fabric that I view as re-usable.)

2. I like to take existing garments and tweak them just a bit so that they work better for me. Sometimes that's as simple as inserting some elastic inside a waistband--thank you, women's garments, with your tube-like waistbands that allow for that possibility. I've shortened sleeves (ugh, 3/4 sleeves look terrible on me and bunch up inside jackets), altered hemlines, adjusted darts, slimmed down wide-legged, trousers, made buttonholes for tops that would otherwise be too low for wearing in front of teenagers... a whole variety of things. If I take something that I stopped wearing and make it more wearable again? Or I find something at the thrift store that is almost just right, and can be turned into just right? Yeah, that's pretty cool.

3. There's something amazing about taking a flat paper pattern--whether it's one I've bought or something that I've traced from an existing garment that I like, or whatever--and a flat length of fabric, and turning that into a three-dimensional garment for my 3D body.

4. Speaking of that body: if I sew something for myself, I can make adjustments to the fit as I go. Going by that fruit classification of female body shapes (pfft) I have that classic "pear" shape. When I sew, I change the seam lines from the waist through the hips to allow my not-lying hips to fit.

(If 'full' hips are the kind that don't lie, does that mean that my very petite bustline DOES lie? Lying or not, I can also do adjustments to take away some of the excess fabric at the bustline when I sew. It's a pain to figure out, but the end result looks better.)

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Like a lot of women from her generation, my mother grew up with a sewing machine in the house. Her mother made garments from feed sacks--that was a Depression-era staple. The first sewing machine I ever used was a treadle machine; she saved it from the dump, I believe. It was good for learning to sew because it went slooooowly compared to an electric machine.

My sister has taught her children to sew: boys and girls alike. They've made some great projects for each other for Christmas over the years.

Hi! *waves* Alternating between "Yeah, things are fine" and "Bleh, depression is the worst" lately. But I have done some TV-watching, so here's a quick update on that:

( Sleepy Hollow )

( Jane the Virgin )

Person of Interest has fallen in the ranks. It's now a show I watch while multi-tasking. It hasn't fallen to the 'grading papers' category, but I've been browsing Tumblr or Facebook while watching the last two episodes. *sigh* Hard to believe that this is the same show that interested me enough to write a multi-chapter fic.

I accidentally gave up watching The Flash. Turns out I somehow recorded the not-HD versions of recent episodes, and so far I haven't cared quite enough to hunt those episodes online. Maybe I'll catch up this summer. I do like the actors playing the leads, Grant Gustin and Candice Patton. Mostly I like seeing them looking pretty and smiling, which I can do by looking at Tumblr while watching Person of Interest.

Still watching Elementary and Brooklyn Nine Nine.

Other stuff! I like button-front blouses, but so many of them that have sleeves (I do like sleeves) have long sleeves, or worse, three-quarter sleeves. From Friday night until today, I've altered the sleeves of four shirts and one dress. They all have short sleeves now, with some variation to them.

Coming up next in the sewing department: I need to finish my little project for the kiddos I teach in Sunday School, and I need to try a different pattern for a blouse I want to make. Trial run garment first, because I don't want to waste my pretty pretty fabric. I already did one trial run garment (over Christmas break)... and it was a good thing, too, since that pattern didn't work for me. :(

Hi! *waves* I've been feeling a bit swamped with the new school year, but my brain has been nicer about it than last year, so that's a plus. In other words, some of the depression-related stuff is not so bad right now, in spite of stressful situations. Which is good.

At some point last spring I declared that I was going to alter at least five items of clothing in May. Pretty sure I missed doing that before the end of May, but I did do several sewing-related things over the summer: sliding elastic inside the waistband of a few jeans and trousers, fixing some tears and hems, etc. I even sewed a couple of new shirts, using a really simple pattern. The second one turned out quite cute, if I say so myself. (And it was made from a curtain panel and men's XL tee-shirt, whic makes it weird unique.) I haven't done any pics yet because my current camera doesn't take good pics when I use the timer. Maybe I should dig out the older camera and try that instead.

Anyway. Media stuff now:

Finished reading The Gift of Asher Lev, and I'm not sure what I think. I sort of knew how the end was going to work out, and I don't know if I like it or not. Potok's writing style is catchy, which makes me want to take my current stuck-on-this-and-can't-finish fic idea and rewrite the whole thing in first person present tense.

Maybe that's why I'm so stuck on the fic, come to think of it. Heh. (I really don't plan to rewrite it in first person present tense.)

Reading Potok's work so soon after The Poisonwood Bible was an exercise in frustration at times, because PB had the voices of four women alternating throughout the story. Asher Lev only had Asher's voice. I wanted to know what the other characters were thinking and feeling, especially Asher's wife and mother.

I've started watching Scandal--through episode 2.03 so far--and I'm certain that the way I appreciate it is NOT what the show creators intended. It's a soap opera/procedural, and Olivia Pope is the center of the show. She's been labeled (by herself and others) as a white hat, but I don't believe it. She's trying to do the right thing (I think? by her definition of it, anyway), but at this point I find myself rooting for (former) district attorney dude to find out all the laws she's broken and bring her to justice.

Also, the show's favorite couple is my anti-couple, the pair I find completely ridiculous to the point of actually yelling at my TV screen when they're together. Hee!

It really is fun in a sudsy, over the top way. What makes it perfect, though, is that enough of the information is verbal that I can grade papers while 'watching'. Which is why I'm moving forward with it instead of deleting it from my Netflix queue.

Scandal has edged out Longmire and Nikita in recent viewing for the simple reason that I actually like the other two enough to watch, and I haven't had time lately.

Hm, I haven't done a good clothing rant in a while, have I? And that's about all I feel like talking about--at least in a public post. So here goes!

I just received a clothing order from Lands' End. (Yes, the apostrophe is wrong--it's been wrong since they started their business and a publisher messed it up on some of their earliest printed material.) I've been ordering clothes from them since... hm, maybe while I was still in college? They had swimwear that didn't have those high-cut legs back when that was all anyone else had, so it's been a very long time. I've grown--gained weight, I should say--since then. But the size I order for trousers and skirts is still the same number. And today I found that I can't keep any of the shirts I ordered because they're too big.

UGH, I hate vanity sizing. Lands' End isn't even the worst offender. With some brands I actually wear a smaller size than when I was in college. How is that even possible when my waist is two inches bigger?! It makes me wonder if I'll eventually have to buy sizes in the negative numbers while weighing even more. I know I'm slender for an American woman*, but THIS IS RIDICULOUS. (I don't think size inflation is a problem in Europe, but I could be wrong.)

Not really ranty, but remember those adorable Clark's ankle boots that I loved? They've already been imitated by Old Navy. Three and a half inch heels and faux suede? I'm glad I ordered the Clark's boots**, even though they cost a whole lot more. I can't wait for cooler weather so I can wear them.

Scratch that. I just can't wait for cooler weather. IT'S TOO HOT.

On to non-ranty clothing stuff. Possibly my next sewing project: making a knock-off of this sweater. No need for boiled wool, though. I'd just use a grey tee-shirt and slice it up the front, then use more grey jersey fabric for the detailing. Oh, and add in some darts to make it more fitted.

I'm also thinking about this gorgeous stenciled skirt. Wouldn't something like that be lovely with a black skirt and red flowers? I'd probably just use acrylic paints with fabric medium mixed in, rather than buying the fabric ink recommended in that post. I already own the paints and fabric medium, so I just need to choose the right skirt.

I do have some sewing and craft projects I've finished recently, but 1) I'm too lazy to post them here right now and 2) I'm considering starting a separate blog for sewing and craft stuff anyway. Livejournal really isn't the cool hang-out for the sewing crowd. Heh.

*The NHLBI says I'm in the average range, for whatever that's worth.

**The ankle boots are cheaper with Amazon.com than anywhere else I've found, at least in black suede.

I am sitting here feeling generally pleased with life. I think it's a temporary high induced by "Yay, tomorrow is Friday" plus knowing that I get to go fabric-shopping this weekend! Wooohoooo!

Yes, this has to be rationed out. Much like the urge to buy all the clothing ever (especially at the thrift store). But I'm allowed to shop when I have a plan and there are sales.

What plan, I hear you ask? (Okay, not really. But I'm going to tell you anyway.) Look at this blouse. I have been admiring brocade and sari fabrics for years, but I've never had a feasible plan for a garment that I would actually wear. I'd wear a version of this blouse, and I already have that pattern.

Also, I want to make a black skirt, and I need some lace tape to finish the red skirt that's almost done. (Again.)

As for non-sewing stuff:

1) what would happen if Three (D'Anna Biers) met Ten (the Tenth Doctor)? I am wildly curious about your opinion.

2) I love love love "Bright Morning Stars," the new album by the Wailin' Jennys. Three-part harmony by amazingly capable female vocalists!

3) Time to rewatch episode 1.04 of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. My turn to (co-)write a recap this weekend.

daybreak asked me some questions about sewing, and I thought I'd just write a short(ish) post to talk about it.

( sewing and me )

Battlestar Galactica fic rec: shah_of_blah has written another gorgeous Kara/Lee story, in four parts. The Breath Between. AU from the end of season three, but a very convincing reworking of what could have happened if one thing was different at the beginning of season four... Go read it! It's complete, and each chapter has a link to the next at the bottom.

I can't stop bookmarking webpages about sewing. There are so many fantastic sites! Individual blogs about sewing, crafting tutorials, etc. My new favorite has to be The Selfish Seamstress, just for the humor factor. As for the tutorials, look at this adorable shrug! One old tee and a bit of ribbon plus five minutes of sewing. I'm trying that as soon as I decide what kind of ribbon to use for the tie.

Ugh, I'm trying to decide on a new cell phone. Somebody tell me what to buy and put me out of my misery! I went to the local AT&T store and after looking at five different phones I decided I was in sensory overload. Blargh. (QWERTY keyboard appreciated but not necessary, 'cause I rarely text. Touch screen okay, but also not necessary. Internet access... well. It would be nice to be able to get to things like Google maps, but on the other hand, I spend too much time online anyway. Not having internet on my phone might be better. Notice a theme here? Indecision, that's the theme. How am I supposed to decide on a phone when I don't even know which features I really want?)

I had something else I was going to say. Talking about cell phones has driven the idea out of my head.

eta: Hah, I remembered! ( awesome outfit seen at church yesterday )