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In seeing all of the wrap-up posts on Instagram, I realized I did not have NEARLY the creative year I wanted to have, and also realized that that's ok. I spent a lot more time protecting my time and energy which was so needed with all of the uncertainty from February to September. One of my local peeps wrote out a list of everything she'd made in the year, and that inspired me to do the same. I made 26 things between knitting and sewing, only four of which was costume-related. I am proudest of the fitting I did on a dress that still needs buttons, and of the bras which solved another fit issue I was experiencing. My most worn make is the Orchidee dress out of floral poly and rayon, it's so floaty and doesn't cling and I love it!
Today marks an anual challenge hosted by one of my author follows, which is "Begin as you mean to go on", spend 15 minutes doing something you want to do more of in the coming year. Last year I chose spinning which went precisely nowhere, but this year I am choosing reading. There's about 8 other things i also want to spend 15 minutes on with intentions of building habits, but one thing at a time lol.
More challenges I've tasked myself with: self striping socks to be finished before the end of February, and 12 pairs of socks in a year, 1 per month. This was always something I could have taken on, people are always posting about this, but I found a yarn dyer hosting one and decided that this is the year. I have SO MUCH SOCK YARN, it's time to start using it and having the cosiest feet ever. I have exactly two sets of self-striping, both of which have already been made into socks, so I think im going to sit on those for a bit. I need to get another 40" sock needle because I foolishly left the WIP unattended on the couch, and Calcifer chewed on the cable. Thankflly I also have a 32" one that is fine for legs and feet, but tighter than I'd like, and is supremely not useful for turning heels.
Also want to finish up some WIPs. I wrote all of them down on little pieces of paper and I will find a pretty jar to put them in and take one out whenever I feel like I want to work on one/have nothing else to do. (actually that's another great item for the 15 mins/day) It's just time to get them out of my life and off my mind. One of my ravelry groups used to host a challenge for this, work on WIP a week and don't work on anything else, but at the end of that week put it down and pick up the next one. I like that too.
If you follow me on Instagram, I posted my newest sewing machine acquisition, an 1891 Singer fiddle bed vibrating shuttle no. 2! I had seen it on Facebook marketplace at least a day before, and when it popped up again, I told myself at least reach out, it may not be available! But the seller responded right away, said can you come tonight? So we made a plan and off I went, and it came home! I paid $80 for it and its table, which has seen slightly better days, the coffin case is missing but the shuttle was still inside, WITH a bobbin. The guy told me that he has a vintage rental company and the machine was just never in demand, and I thought that had carried over to its sale because I saw it at least 24 hours apart. I never see them locally, and what ones I have seen have been listed for sale at at least $150. These are one of those machines that is OBVIOUSLY an antique, the fiddle bed is just not common compared to all the 27s and 201s. I am very pleased with my acquisition and i promise there is not many more that I want! (priority given to a Featherweight for less than $100 and mid-century green machines, and bra sewing with the modern machine makes me want to have a vintage zigzag-capable one.)
I hope everyone had the new year's celebrations the enjoyed the most, and that the coming year brings comfort and joy. And go write your elected officials for a ceasefire.
Today marks an anual challenge hosted by one of my author follows, which is "Begin as you mean to go on", spend 15 minutes doing something you want to do more of in the coming year. Last year I chose spinning which went precisely nowhere, but this year I am choosing reading. There's about 8 other things i also want to spend 15 minutes on with intentions of building habits, but one thing at a time lol.
More challenges I've tasked myself with: self striping socks to be finished before the end of February, and 12 pairs of socks in a year, 1 per month. This was always something I could have taken on, people are always posting about this, but I found a yarn dyer hosting one and decided that this is the year. I have SO MUCH SOCK YARN, it's time to start using it and having the cosiest feet ever. I have exactly two sets of self-striping, both of which have already been made into socks, so I think im going to sit on those for a bit. I need to get another 40" sock needle because I foolishly left the WIP unattended on the couch, and Calcifer chewed on the cable. Thankflly I also have a 32" one that is fine for legs and feet, but tighter than I'd like, and is supremely not useful for turning heels.
Also want to finish up some WIPs. I wrote all of them down on little pieces of paper and I will find a pretty jar to put them in and take one out whenever I feel like I want to work on one/have nothing else to do. (actually that's another great item for the 15 mins/day) It's just time to get them out of my life and off my mind. One of my ravelry groups used to host a challenge for this, work on WIP a week and don't work on anything else, but at the end of that week put it down and pick up the next one. I like that too.
If you follow me on Instagram, I posted my newest sewing machine acquisition, an 1891 Singer fiddle bed vibrating shuttle no. 2! I had seen it on Facebook marketplace at least a day before, and when it popped up again, I told myself at least reach out, it may not be available! But the seller responded right away, said can you come tonight? So we made a plan and off I went, and it came home! I paid $80 for it and its table, which has seen slightly better days, the coffin case is missing but the shuttle was still inside, WITH a bobbin. The guy told me that he has a vintage rental company and the machine was just never in demand, and I thought that had carried over to its sale because I saw it at least 24 hours apart. I never see them locally, and what ones I have seen have been listed for sale at at least $150. These are one of those machines that is OBVIOUSLY an antique, the fiddle bed is just not common compared to all the 27s and 201s. I am very pleased with my acquisition and i promise there is not many more that I want! (priority given to a Featherweight for less than $100 and mid-century green machines, and bra sewing with the modern machine makes me want to have a vintage zigzag-capable one.)
I hope everyone had the new year's celebrations the enjoyed the most, and that the coming year brings comfort and joy. And go write your elected officials for a ceasefire.
