The great thing about teaching is summer. The downside to teaching is, summer ends. I've been up to here in learning Remedies and Civil Procedure and planning lessons re: same. Especially Remedies--this is basically a law school course that covers a piece of every area of substantive law: contracts, torts, real and personal property, intellectual property, construction law, environmental law, animal law, etc., plus arithmetic (it's about what relief successful plaintiffs can hope to recover in a civil action in court). It's a great course and I love it, but only the omniscient are truly prepared to teach it; me, I have to keep working at it.
But I have been sewing, just not very successfully. I took one more crack at Vogue 8508, taking in the side seams, shortening it by a foot, and installing double-ended vertical darts in the front and the back as suggested by Peg. Then I wore it to work (including cycling to and from) with a wide stretch belt around the high waist and declared it a success. In hindsight, I don't like the dress on the pattern envelope that much. What was I thinking?
I also made a bright orange Renfrew of performance knit which didn't turn out well. It rides up so I wind up with peaks rising from my shoulders in the direction of my ears. I should photograph it and show you so you could help me, but somehow taking a picture of myself in an ill-fitting tee so the world can see it keeps falling off the top of my to-do list. Meanwhile I'm turning out UFO's at a pretty good clip: a half-done Sencha of gauzy plaid shirting, a Simplicity 2520 skirt in grey double-knit that was looking good until I stitched down the yoke facing and it got all twisted. I need to try it again using a walking foot, I think, but first I have to remove all that in-the-ditch stitching holding it down.
I wish I had a sense of my own style, or even a little bit of good taste. I always have a theory when I start a garment, but even when I sew well I seem to end up with random bits of clothing that I can't wear. Or Vogue 8575 in polyester knits, which I wear almost every day.
But I have been thrifting with some success so most days I'm able to go to work fully clothed. I love this men's silk shirt I found yesterday (when all of my fellow shoppers at Goodwill were assembling Halloween costumes):
And a couple of skirts which I should shorten but for now I can say I'm up with the whole maxi-skirt trend:
Oh, and this Prada knock-off that ran me $2.70. But it's a really nice bag--nice suede leather, great color, sturdy. I always thought knock-offs were trash, but this is a very good purse--it's just not a Prada. I can live with that. It's not like it cost me $3000, 0r $300 or even $3!
So, thanks for checking on me The Perfect Nose and Far, and all you sweethearts! And thanks for the award,Amity--I'll get to it shortly and I'm loving your creepy Wedding posts!
Wow, you have been productive! And that, of course, is more important than blogging, if you have to choose. :)
ReplyDeleteWell hello there busy bee! Shams is right tho :) but u know your blog friends would love a dose of kc every now and again :D esp for me after dealing with a few wadders in the skirt variety.. :(
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree that productivity is more important (and rewarding) than blogging! But welcome back anyway :)
ReplyDeleteAlways an amusing joy to read your posts KC! I'm sorry the sewing gods (goddesses?) haven't been with you but they are certainly good fodder for your particular turn of phrase.
ReplyDeleteHey did I ever let you know my prize book arrived? In my mind I totally did but in reality, maybe not! Well anyway, thank you very much, and I now have just that wee bit more patience with hand-sewing details on clothing since it's oh-so-couture :)
Love your sense of humor! Sounds like you are enjoying the thrifting path like I do. Remaking something found is such a fun project and way to get a sense of what is YOU without much stress or cost. Luv those skirt fabrics!
ReplyDeleteI keep thinking about those skirts---could you wear them long as is with a simple longish black top worn on the outside? Something like Vogue 8669 should be easy to whip up, or if u want to go wilder u. Could try V1261 . Then u could play around with the vertical proportions and see if the skirt still needed shortened.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see you back, KC! Great thrifting scores! I never have much success with that. Either someone else gets all the good stuff or there's just no good stuff around here to start with. Also, the smell in my local Sally Ann is erm...a bit potent for me. Dust and BO. Delightful. However I did score some fabrics from a neighbour who is moving. Includes a whole bolt of pink baby rib knit and another of fairly flimsy white jersey. Must test their dyeing potential. Crossing my fingers for cotton. It all needs to be washed before being introduced into the studio too.
ReplyDeleteYay you're alive and well. I never find anything good in the op shops here. The hipsters alway pick em clean..
ReplyDeleteUgh remedies!! I feel your pain! Glad to have you back...and I'm glad you like the posts... good reason for me to keep doing them. I also have the same problem of my renfrew riding up...i dont feel like there is enough hip room...which is weird because they are supposed to be for pear shapes and I'm a figure 8 shape...hmmm....try adding more width at the hips, the waist to hip curve is just not enough in that pattern
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear from you again, and it sounds like you are being both busy and productive. My head was spinning with your course description, but I assume your students are listening attentively. Keep thrifting and sewing...
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