totchipanda

Weekend flew by. I don't remember what I did on Friday besides have chips for dinner. Saturday I put the skirt on Josephine and marked it for hemming. Some edges were a whole 2" longer than the on-grain sections! I'll add the rest of the pattern next time I cut it. And on a bigger table too. Then I started adding seam lace, which took two full packages and the last yard or so of a third, none of which matched. But since I was a silly goose who had not even pressed it, I didn't want to unpin it to machine it first and then hand-stitch, and I def didn't want to hand-stitch the hem TWICE (both edges of the lace). So, off it came and it got pressed before turned under and stitched. I then wore it around the house for 20 minutes lol.

I also set up the printer! I put it on the sideboard by the front door, which has a plug behind it though it's not the *ideal* location. The sideboard has a flat back which means the plug doesn't have anywhere to go so it's currently sticking out a bit. (I want to get a flat-plugged power bar/extension cord, to also have a laptop set up next to it.) Couldn't remember my old laptop's password, so on a lark I plugged in the Chromebook, which set it up in literally the blink of an eye! I test ran a pattern page through it, the ONE corner I was missing, and it seems to be good, aside from not centering the diagram on the page despite showing it that way in preview. Annoyingly, mobile-app-Adobe doesn't let you use layers OR print, apparently (they want $13 canadian dollarbucks a month for that privilege so I'll try it once through chrome itself rather than the default opening program, even though the menus look the same, and if that's not good then I am on the hunt for a mobile-capable printing app. Or remembering my password.

Yesterday was a lump day. I had printed out the new pattern I bought in the sale and assembled it (to the best of my ability, see lack of layers and top-left-corner printing), and decided that of all three of my remaining invisible zips, one of them just happened to be the perfect colour for that turquoise lawn I got last week. So I cut it out! haha! But I don't have any blues that match, so no sewing happened. I took a nap, did some dishes, and finally cleaned the cat's water filter (it was so nasty).

Today I was feeling ok until boss ruined it before it had barely started. ( Documentation ) I still need to get out and do my shopping for the cats and get some thread and gas as I did not take myself for a lil drive like I thought.

M sent me an IG reel this morning that one of the OG Hamilton cast members is returning for a couple months later this year. Not much would get me across the border right now, but that is VERY VERY VERY tempting.

ETA: I have met the new person who got the role I was going to apply for. I think I would not have gotten it anyway, she has more experience and is much more of a go-getter than I feel like right now!

Got home last night and started sewing the skirt! It went together really fast. I did a lot of the steps out of order (doing the zipper while the back was still flat, pleating the waist before the sides, etc.) but oh gosh, it is SO cute. Paused when it was time to press seams because it was just after 6 and by golly I was going to make dinner tonight! Also it was time to do the waistband and I hadn't cut it out yet.

Pan of dishes washed (bc the pan I needed was still dirty), dinner made (sliced cremini mushrooms in jarred garlic alfredo sauce over GF pasta), waistband cut and interfaced (and defended from Calcifer). Got that all attached and I think I stretched the waist of the skirt a bit when pinning bc I didn't get nearly the intended overlap. Probably should have fixed that before stitching, definitely before seaming the waistband down, which I did by hand. My poor fingies are not used to pushing a needle anymore! And I must have made myself a travel sewing kit bc neither the packet of needles nor my two! good thimbles were in the regular one. Heck if I know where that is right now, I would have last used it in November. I even stitched a hook and bar on bc that baggie was in the sewing kit. And then -- and then!!! -- I tried it on.

I also put the Honor Roll top on just to see how they work together and OH MY GOODNESS they are both so cute. A+ decision past me, well done. Definitely need to shorten the chest length on the top, when I tried it on last week with a proper bra, the bust darts seemed to low, and last night I wasn't wearing one at all and it looked better.

The skirt is now hanging in the closet to let the hem stretch. You could absolutely make this in one day if not for that pesky detail. And if you have less helpful creatures with foot-knives, and more layout space for the massive skirt pieces, and fully formed pattern pieces. I WILL be making more.

I watched enough of Gertie's sewing tutorials to feel comfortable attempting the lapped zipper, and there was a moment of "omg is this going to work??" as I got to work on the upper part, but it did and this is probably the neatest zipper I have sewn in my life EVER. EVER EVER EVER. Need to get more zippers now, as that was my last black one. I have two white ones, one separating zipper, and a whole bunch of zipper tape and pulls but in a size better suited to outerwear and bag making.

What am I gonna do tonight without that to look forward to??

Been a heckin busy morning! Coworker is at training today so I'm covering for her, but we're also doling out new access cards and some people need photos but I can't do the photos much bc I'm by myself and (scream)

Saturday I kinda lumped around the house a bit and then said to myself "I said I would go out, so I'm gonna go out!" and got dressed and went out! I went to the fabric store, a local independent chain, which I haven't been to since pre-COVID, I'm pretty sure, and definitely not since they took over another bay in their building. It was nice! They have a huge selection of apparel fabrics, specialty stuff, linens and linen blends (limited colours, and about $30/m for pure linen, but not a terrible option all things considered) an entire room just for quilting cottons, another entire room for specialty home decor fabrics like tablecloth and vinyl. More notions than you can shake a stick at, tons of ribbons and other trims (include pre-made printed cotton bias tape by the metre), on and on and on! They had a small selection of Big 4 patterns, not on great sales but at least some amount so I picked up a Gertie Simplicity shirt pattern. I really just needed a zipper, so I got that (I should have gotten a longer one but i was being cheap) and also 1.3m of lawn in a GORGEOUS turquoise. I'm not counting it towards my whole30 lol.

Then since I was sort of in the area, I went to a larger grocery store than I normally hit up, which was nice just to have a larger selection of items. There were sales galore. Then I went to the drive in just a block away for a milkshake and took myself home, where I had a nap.

In the evening, while it was still light out, I inserted my zipper at last! Stitched in the sleeve and pressed up the hem and then tried it on. I don't *love* it. I think it's fitting as intended with the recommended amounts of ease, but it seems fussy to me. I didn't want to stitch the hem until I have the darts sorted out, and I think I do want to move and deepen them a bit yet. I think I still need to take maybe 1/2" out of the chest and maybe a bit more from the shoulder, it feels a bit long and wide there still. This is why I started with the rayon, I have like 10m and this one top only used 1.4m. Next one will be even better bc it IS really cute.

Sunday, I cleaned off my kitchen table from the fabric piles that were sort of "left over" from the stash cataloguing. I'm not done yet, maybe halfway (one more small bin, then a few boxes) but I'd like to sew something to get pumped for more fabric-related joy so this felt necessary. Yessssss nice CLEAN and EMPTY table. I wiped it down and then used a bit of a furniture polish in one small area to see what it was like, as it occurred to me that this table has been in my orbit for close to 20 years and I would put money on it not having been treated like the heirloom piece it is. And then I responded to a Facebook Marketplace ad about a printer, and arranged to meet the guy around noon, which would give me enough time to get across the city and then hit the highway to my friend's house, plus be late enough that it was likely she'd be awake.

She was awake but I didn't stay long. She sent me home with a bucket of pockets to sew up and we discussed some other items. She thinks I should go on stress leave and we can make up the shortfall between leave pay and my regular pay with the sewing stuff. IDK about that yet.

Printer, of course, so I can print off patterns as and when I want to at home instead of waiting to get to work. It's an old model not supported anymore, but eh. It was $35 and had toner left, so not exactly a huge expense.

Laid out my fabric to cut a skirt, but Calcifer decided it needed to be held down and first sat on it, and then took a bath, so I did not do it. Probably just as well, I can't decide what I want! Do I want a regular sort of skirt (like one I already have) or one with more exposed pockets but a button-front (sort of like the scout dress)?! If it matters, it's a brown, dark brown and grey houndstooth wool. I kinda like the "suit" angle of the second option. It also has a bodice option for a jumperskirt sort of look. Did I want to add that in too? Argh why am I like this lol.

Tonight's plan will be laundry and we'll leave it at that. Anything else is a bonus.

I am so tired today, and just generally avoiding work. Bleh.

Started making a list of all of my me-made modern wardrobe pieces. Had a notion to pull them all out and hang them in one place (first thought was on the salesman rack that's folded up in the closet, but that would just be an invitation for the kittens to try and climb it all lol), but you know, the horrors etc, so for now it's just a list.

Dresses:
Davenport
Nicks
Not-Wilder
Orchidee
Shay
Scout

Tops:
Bruyere
Elsie
Honor Roll
Not-Regalia
Patina (green)
Patina (black)
Sagebrush
Sorbetto

Bottoms:
McCall's skirt
Mitchell trousers
1950s mail order skirt (currently unhemmed)
Pietra pants (linen; warm weather)

I also have a cute red skirt from Torrid, which I did not make so have not included here. I do not like how the wide-leg Pietra pants fit and will not wear them. I also did not include the Thurlow shorts I made, bc they are not work-appropriate without some other kind of leg covering lol.

A part of me is surprised I have so few pieces? Like what have I been doing for the last few years? (A lot of historical, but also not bc I have barely sewn anything historical in the past 2 years too!) Welp, can only go upwards from here, I guess.

Early musings about my goals: wear at least one me-made per week. Make one new piece per week. Evaluate fit and how I FEEL -- does this fabric feel good, does this style cause some gender feels good or bad, do I like how I look in the mirror -- and destash anything that doesn't suit me. Add in more accessory-type things like cardigans and sweaters, particularly for office wear.

Some things I want to do before May:
I want another slip-dress to go underneath the Nicks dress, currently I only have a thin jersey one with super scratchy elastic. Dreams of an "everyday" petticoat. Thigh protection that doesn't come up to my ribs.

OK Self, we can do this. Let's make the things!

About the only thing I did yesterday was try on the blouse. It is so stinkin' cute, I will definitely be making more. I need to make the sleeves and try them on, but I think they'll be OK. I also think I'd like to try making a version without a collar and in a more stable fabric before I attempt to finish the rayon one, make sure I really get those points solid before hacking away at them.

A part of me wants to be so mean to myself for not doing anything when I get home, but the more rational part is reminding me that I am currently labouring through a passively hostile work environment. I am currently surviving and if that means murder documentaries and phone games, so be it.

Next week I have another counselling session to go with the debt insolvency. This next session goes into rebuilding my credit, which is also something I want to do so I'm looking forward to discussing that. I have determined that I really do need a separate account (or two) to be able to save any money. If I have it, it's gone. This is how I ended up here in the first place, "oh I'll just make it up next time" NO! The money will be gone next time too! Especially if I want to start working for myself, I need to build up some savings before I go haring off into the wilds.

I'm so mad. I PURPOSELY made enough dinner last night so that I could take it for lunch today, and then totally forgot all about it until I'd already been here for 10 mins! Booooo self!

It was still snowing this morning, and the accumulation was over my boots. Very lovely, and I got to be the first person to break through the pristine blanket in front of my apartment, but hoooo boy today is gonna be LONG bc there will be NOTHING TO DO. Why are we not allowed to have snow days, huh?? (bc capitalism and the horrors)

Evening plans derailed by a short lil nap. I was watching a sewing video and missed all the talking parts, only coming up out of a doze to hear more sewing. By the time I was awake again it was 7:30, where I decided to do a pan of dishes and then make dinner (I made a vegetarian/non-alcoholic version of a scampi, and it was *delicious* -- zucchini instead of mushrooms, four cloves of garlic, chicken broth instead of wine, and served over pasta). Then it was 9pm, so I took myself to bed to watch more pottery throw down and do crosswords. And then... I was awake until almost 3 because lights out after midnight, read a fanfic for 2 hours, and then spent another hour trying to settle my brain enough to sleep again.

Oh well. It was a good fanfic, and the brain settling was everything to do with more fanfic and not about politics or emotional terrorism at all so.

Right before settling in my room for the evening, I tried on the other two pairs of bottoms I had made in the last couple years, the recent Mitchell trousers from Closet Core and Thurlow shorts from Sewaholic. Mitchell was fitted recently, by which I mean like a year ago, and sewn in the fall. While they're a little big now too they aren't horrible. The Thurlows I made in early lock down and I have no idea if I posted about my mods on here or if its lost to the sands of my memory. (I suspect the latter. ETA: I was wrong!) I know I have some notes about what I was doing but uhhhhh no idea where that notebook is right now. IIRC, I started with a size 12, added 2" of height to the body above the crotch, and some minor changes to the crotch area like deepening and squaring off the seams? These shorts are ALSO too big through the waist now, but still a cute length and I think I can get away with minimal fitting.

I had pulled those two out because they need closures but especially after trying on the Meriams again, I wanted an idea of fit. While I was lumping around my office yesterday, I thought about all of the trouser patterns I have, and had a hare about doing "The Great (Canadian) Trouser-Off". I made a spreadsheet of the companies and patterns I currently have/have access to, and their finished measurements and corresponding sizes where available. Charm, for example, doesn't have charts on their patreon list and I can't access the individual pages without being signed in -- not happening at work.

I don't know if I'll ever pursue that idea fully. It seems like a lot of work, but it could be an interesting experiment. There are so many more patterns I would consider adding to the list for my own personal journey, and a whoooooole bunch that would not be candidates at all. And of course I also think "hmm maybe I should try drafting a pattern again". Slow down there, cowboy (gn). Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Zippy thoughts: taking yarn to my aunt's house on the weekend for her birthday party. Need to come up with a dish to bring. She is celiac, and I really only do GF meals these days, but do you think I can think of *anything* to make? Of course not.

Sunday at friend's house will be whatever she throws at me. En-trouser-ing will have to wait.

(special post still incoming, I am just so tired and really trying to keep the ducks corralled into the same pond today)

I found the pink trousers! Woohoo! I had already made the buttonhole and attached a button, double woohoo! I tried them on again to assess fit and... much less woohoo. Now I remember why they were put into time out.

A: They are now too big. I could fit both fists at the back waist and there was room for kittens in the booty.
B: The front is like, pouchy, and not in an attractive way.
C: The pockets feel SO far back. They are where they are supposed to be but um. Not a fan.

Definitely am not going to be trying to parse those issues today. Some of it could be solved by a different size, I think; comparing my recently-taken measurements with their chart, I'm at least a full size smaller now. Why does this have to be so difficult!

As predicted, I did laundry and nothing else. While I was waiting for the load to finish, I was playing my sorting game and one of the items i tapped on was an avocado roll. Immediately I desperately wanted sushi. So I spent some time choosing a place to order from and treated myself! Then I even folded and put my laundry away while waiting for the delivery. I ended up eating so late, but it was SO GOOD and exactly what I wanted. Happy tummy.

Woke up a couple times in the night but only enough to check the time and then go right back to sleep. So I'm back to the "normal" level of tired instead of the severe "why am I even alive" tired.

Tonight's plan, such as it is, is to carry on carrying on. Hopefully sew a few things. I have two of the three bottoms wot need closures pulled out, and the Edwardian blouse that I pinned myself into when I needed it. I have marked the lace where it needs to be reattached (it missed getting stitched in the first place; things I would do differently if I had more time!) and at least half of the snaps are already attached.

Cataloging project: one bin (purple) is technically done, but I hadn't cut swatches and the list is digital only. There is one more small blue bin and 2 or 3 boxes. Nearly there.

Yesterday, I spent some time with the snipping tool and Publisher to create a moodboard of the patterns I've already picked for my spring "collection". It seems a little disjointed right now. And I also worry about "what if I hate ALL of this?!" and then remind myself that I've never been able (or focused enough) to DO this for myself before. I've always been choosing close-enough from RTW. So, you hear that self? It's ok for things to "not match" while we figure this out.

Another night of lumping around, but I did make myself dinner and washed a pan of dishes at least. Didn't play too many games actually, even leaving my phone running the one bc it needs to be active to complete three of the quests that I was "working" on (it's an idle game, but the quests were to collect coins from my food court, and those only get collected while the game is active). What time I spent with my phone on was largely reading sewing patterns.

Did not bother to attempt to see the eclipse. It started snowing around 8 am yesterday and it was only partially clear at 7am this morning. Of COURSE we had a weather event on the night of a fun sky-related event. Today it is brilliantly sunny, but cold. Not as cold as it could be, but cold compared to last week/earlier this week. Alas.

Yesterday during my afternoon whine of booooooored and why snooooooow, my love K suggested I plan a spring wardrobe. Brilliant idea! So I pulled out the craft notebook and started making a list. It actually helped bc then I could also visualize what the "collection" would look like, like if I made that mustard yellow shirt that's been on my list for ages, would I necessarily want to make something in like, hot pink, that wouldn't go with it?

The List (tm):
-Grey wool trousers
-Brown houndstooth skirt (I have 6m of this, this would allow me to have a matching jacket)
-Mustard yellow striped button-front shirt

Things I can mod to wear with this:
-Teal Sagebrush top (needs new cuffs)
-Black Poplina (also needs new cuffs)

Things I can finish to wear with this:
-Brown Mitchell trousers (just needs closures)
-Brown Scout dress (buttons and buttonholes, hem)

The PINK Meriam trousers also need closures, but as I said, they don't necessarily go with the other things, so that's less of a priority lol. Maybe just to GET 'ER DONE and feel satisfied to have that off the to-do list. And then I can try them on to see how they fit bc I made them almost two years ago and things have changed since then.

OK BACK TO THE LIST. I question my choices to add dresses and skirts to my wardrobe since I so rarely wear them. But that might just be bc all my dresses stopped fitting in the post-covid years (post here defined as "I went back to work" but shit was still VERY REAL) and I donated them all. For spring, it might be nice to have a lil extra air around my legs. Because I really liked the bodice I mocked up last weekend and it'd be really cute with a skirt bottom.

I've never really thought about curating a collection like this, and I'm not sure if my stash can support it. It's largely "ooh shiny!" lol. But this is a good exercise! It makes me happy to be working towards something so tangible.

Future considerations:
-A slip dress for under the silk Nicks dress
-A petticoat (not too floofy, just a lil somethin' somethin' for that extra oomph)
-Under shorts bc no way am I walking around in skirts without some protection against chub rub.