Sewing, mostly

[kate_schaefer]

I set a fine little cargo pocket on the left sleeve of the jacket I'm making -- I love pockets on sleeves, though I almost never put anything into them -- and then utterly botched setting the sleeve itself. Ripped out the mistake and set the whole thing aside until tomorrow; once I start making mistakes, it's time to do something else

Comments

[athenais]

That is part of why it is delightful when you do post. Hello! I'm glad you're sewing, sorry about the sleeve. I am thinking of hauling my sewing machine upstairs once I find a proper table for it. It's been far too long and I might as well relearn two old skills as one.

[kate_schaefer]

Thanks! The sleeve is now nicely set and awaiting its companion on the other side.

Yeah, a proper sewing table makes a big difference. In my youth, I used a card table, but a) the machine made it shake, and b) I am way too old and structurally unstable to sew at the wrong height now.

The great thing about sewing is that when you're done with the process, you have a Thing. It might even look good and fit well.

[scarlettina]

I understand that "once I start making mistakes" thing. Often, I won't start beading if it's past 8 PM; I'm too prone to get tired and careless. If I start before then I can bead on past that time, but I've learned my patterns--like yours: mistakes? Done for now. Art is important. Doing it well is important.

[kate_schaefer]

In this case, it's not so much art as craft. I'm making this sensible winter jacket rather than buying one because I can't find a jacket that fits. In either case (art or craft), knowing when to stop is an important skill. It took me years to acquire it.

Maybe this year Glenn and I will be less hermit-like than last year, and we'll see you more than twice? We had that great dinner last summer, but I can't remember seeing you at all since then.

[scarlettina]

I would love to see you both. How about this: Come over to my place for dinner sometime in February? I don't think you've ever been here. Would the cats be a deterrent?

[kate_schaefer]

Gah! I never answered this. It would be great to have dinner together, but yes, two cats is more than I can manage at the moment. Not this weekend, but perhaps the following?

[lintninja]

Ah yes, the moment when you realize you need to bak away slowly from the project. I am all too familiar with that one.

[kate_schaefer]

Have successfully reset the sleeve, though I haven't topstitched it yet. I'll do that after I set the other sleeve. I hate my fabric; it's a coated ripstop nylon, so it shows holes, slides around like charmeuse, and is impossible to square. It was a big remnant I picked up at Seattle Fabrics more than ten years ago for under $2 a yard, which means I can go ahead and make the damn jacket with whatever mistakes I'm going to make and call the whole thing a learning experience if I have to.

The pockets are good, anyway, and I can still make a tidy welt.

[lcohen]

but it's good to see you when you do!