和 敬 西 洋

Well, took the Bernina in for service yesterday - it should be done by the middle of next week, since they said 7-10 days. They also said that for a 45+ year old machine, it was in showroom condition. Pretty sweet. (Seriously - it has all the parts and accessories, including the original outlet plug, presser feet, etc, and there are only two small chips in the enamel finish where metal parts fold up.) The guy was surprised - he thought the model was a good 20 years newer than I'd told him until I brought it in. Fun times. The best part is, the machine doesn't seem to need anything more than a good cleaning to get 15 years of dust out of it. The belts are still good, etc.

Since I have just the serger to tide me over (and I'm going to re-take the basic class on it, too), I did the Ceridwen method of making a dress - quarter-fold and cut using one that fits as the pattern. All that's left is Mom showing me how to use her machine so I can hem the sleeves and bottom edge (after I make one correction where the selvedge shows) and turn and hem the collar. Another 2-3 hours, max. Cutting and serging took all of 30 minutes, I think, not counting the need to press the fabric first because it was rumpled from the pre-wash.

I'm actually sad my sewing class is over Wednesday, because it's nice to have a place to go and sit and do nothing but sew for 3 hours twice a week; I get my creative Zen on, and there's someone who knows a TON about sewing at the front of the room to help me when I'm stuck (like commercial cutting layouts that mention the fold but the pattern piece doesn't SAY to cut on the fold - you don't unless the pattern piece itself says so, by the way).

Once I get my machine back from servicing, I'll be able to continue trying the Simplicity costume's Memoirs pattern - the kimono is only so-so on accuracy, but it comes with a vest that is worn underneath to simulate the under-kimono. And that vest, if I can follow the instructions and stitch it up properly, will make a perfect Tea vest. (And if the pattern works [my primary concern is L-over-R] , I'll be tracing it onto muslin and tallying up yardage, materials, and hours involved. It will not be cheap, even using broadcloth in solid colors.) It may require a bit of fudging, because the instructions right now show it as being off-centered in certain parts, which means it is designed to lap in a certain direction. I"m not so good with my left and right to figure out just what without actually sewing it out, first. We'll see. I may be scribbling on the inside with a marker so I know while I construct it.

Today started late, but at least things on my list are slowly getting done. (The camp dress? Only bought the fabric two years ago... Oy.)

Ugh. This week has left me feeling rather like I thought it was a good idea to climb into the Notre Dame bell tower and stick my head in one of the bells while it was being rung by Quasigollum. I'm exhausted and my head's spinning. Mucho suck-o. This is just further case-in-point about how I am not an extrovert. I get chatty (and a bit too profane, if you ask my mother) when I'm nervous or uncomfortable (my Native American name is Puts-Foot-In-Mouth), and coming off that nervous stint, I'm an absent-minded wreck (I'm at work right now in my house slippers... oops). Needless to say, I've been talkative and forgetful all last week and most of this one so far; I've got to unwind. I think I need to just dig out some old sewing project/experiments and work on them for a while after class tonight, with some music blasting and the door closed, to get some sense of center again. I have a yukata to let out and an okeiko vest to finish (and three more to make), so we'll see where that gets me. (I also have a 6-page paper to write sometime before the 29th, but the teacher has yet to give us what she wants formatting-wise, so I'm just going to worry about that next weekend, when I'm not housesitting. At least I have most of my sources gathered.)

Tea last night was nice, though - there was no gossip about the other teachers or other teachers' students, and there were two new-ish students who are my age, and we have tentative plans to go to Torrance and kimono-shop in the not-too-distant future. It was very much back to the way things where when I started, and reminded me why I was continuing despite the cost and time involved. I hope it stays this way for a while longer. (Note to self: Oseibo on December 8th - don't forget!) [Ro Koicha is going to KILL my legs, though. Oof. I just may have to dig out my Carmen Electra DVD and try and rebuild some muscle before long, to see if that helps at all.]

[Notes to self: look at interfacing types for a hanhaba-obi; brocades are really pretty, but flimsy on their own. Would a light canvas lining work better? Pricing. Also, pillow form and cotton print. Michaels - frames, magnets, modpodge items.]

I has a serger table!


Got the 4' table from Costco, thanks to L_S, and have the serger all set up on it, with the Bernina tucked off behind (because it takes WAY less effort to get set up) and L_S treated for two spools of Wooly, too, so I can make prii rolled hems. :D


Come payday, I'll go to Big!Lots and get a few more tupperware things, plus one of those three-drawer storage setups for all the different bits and bobs that go with the machines (like the many cones of thread...) so that everything is handy and sorted. I may re-arrange all my SCA items so that some of what's taking up multiple smaller bins is consolidated into one larger, and move the patterns somewhere else, etc, etc.

But FWEE! I can sew now! Without having to strain to make a straight line because of all the crap in the way. :D *bouncebounce*

I know how to thread my serger now, yupyup. ^_^ Which means I can now do more than hopehopehope whatever it's set to doesn't BREAK. o.o;


Which means I can actually do some serious SEWING now, instead of making goofy little pouches all the time because it's all I know.



Now all I need is a table. *elbows L_S* A nice, folding, el-cheap-o Costco table. *elbowelbowelbow*