All my plans
on starting new sewing projects almost came to a halt 3 weeks ago when my
Achilles tendonitis flared up and I had to wear my walking boot day and night,
which meant I couldn’t stand and cut fabric. If you’ve ever worn one, you know
it has a curved bottom and rocks so you can’t stand up straight for long. If
you lean over, you take the chance of losing your balance. It also kills your
back and hips.
So I moped
about feeling sorry for myself a few days but didn’t waste any time in planning
my projects, which were all over the place.
High on my
list was a costume from the Outlander series. This was something different for
me, since I mainly do pretty things but I wanted to be a little more rustic
this time. I now have my wool tartan, a blue linen, and a shawl made for me by
a friend, which at the time was totally NOT for this but how perfect?
Since I
couldn’t stand and cut this out, I started with something small: the bum pad
from the Simplicity 8162 Outlander accessories pattern. It looks a bit fluffy and stiff on my dress
form but it’s not.
And then a
couple days ago my friend Aylwen in Australia asked on her Jane Austen Festival
site for any help from the members to make reticules to give as gifts for their
presenters. Hey, I had quite a few small pieces of leftover silks and such, and
a cute pattern for a reticule from LaMode Bagatelle, that I could make some
from. And it could all be cut out on my sewing table whilst sitting down. So I
pulled out my scraps and began cutting. I ended up with 15 cut out, then had to
cut out the same of lining fabrics. Since I planned on sewing these on my
assembly line method I figured they’d all be done rather quickly. But it got
boring sewing seam after seam, without having a finished one to gloat over. But
I soldiered on. I finally got to where I had one I could run the ribbons
through and finish. Tah dah! This took
me about 4 days to get them all done. Some of these will go to Australia, and
the rest to our costumer’s swap meet next month to sell.
The mini
project theme continued with planning a pocket for my Outlander costume. While
searching for an embroidery design for mine, I remembered I had a pattern
already for making one, Wingeo 202, and it has embroidery designs with it. I
have the linen for it, and will be getting embroidery floss together for that
soon.
I just got
my white linen in the mail from F&S Fabrics for the chemise and got that
cut out yesterday. So that’s my next sewing project starting today on Labor Day.
A couple
weeks ago I had started cutting out my rose “mystery polyester” fabric for the
Edwardian Rose 1912 dress when this cursed Achilles tendonitis struck me, so I
will try to finish that up shortly. It’s out of my comfort zone and complicated
to sew but I want to give it a shot.
I had two
bolts of cotton voile fabrics sitting off to the side waiting to be cut into
something. I keep looking at them, and they keep looking back. I can’t decide
if I want a bustle dress or a tiered 1850s dress. This time of year when it’s
so hot, these are what I want to work on. But by the time I start working on
them, it will be cooler. And that hairy green and pink thing there? It used to
be a tennis ball and is one of Chloe’s crazy toys.
As the
weather starts cooling off I may go back to that Folkwear #508 outfit I wanted
to make using either my maroon or navy blue linen blend I bought last March to
make it from. I have hats for both already so I really need to make a dress for
them.
As
usual, my brain is all over the place of projects but that’s what keeps me from
getting bored.
~~~Val~~~
How frustrating to have the tendonitis flare up again. I'm glad you've been able to find an outlet for your creativity, despite the difficulty.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ista. It has forced me to focus on small things lately. Just as the Achilles tendonitis was clearing up, I unintentionally caused my plantar faciitis to flare up. So it was back into the boot, and much more pain this time trying to walk, since you're putting all your weight onto the bottom of your foot. But I'm getting a bunch of little things made at least. No dust is collecting under me, no siree.
DeleteVal
Dear Val,
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel picture was the first to show in my feed, and how I laughed! It's so, so apt...
Gee, hope you heal up soon. Things with -itis in them can be a serious drag, and no, I don't love those boot things, either. Gah. You have my sympathy!
I'll be honest -- only made it through one Outlander book before finding it a bit out of my league, and we don't have cable so I've never see the program, and until now have been underwhelmed by the costuming. But then, darn it, you showed that picture of whatshername in knits and plaids and I swooned. With a tweak here and there, it's modern wear! 1993 grunge with romance. Must. Get. Brown. Plaid. And knit something. It'll be garter stitch, though, because that's all I am capable of without too much cussing, and for the children's sake we can't have that :}
Your other projects look nifty, especially the late teens Folkwear outfit. It's dandy.
Very best, and again, may the foot heal soon!
Natalie
Hi Natalie, thank you. I too wasn't impressed with the book the first time I tried to read it, in fact I found out later it was a little known more x-rated version that I had. I gave up after a few chapters just thinking it was another bodice ripper. Years later after constantly hearing one of my friends rave about the whole series of books (and she being very religious) I gave it another chance. I saw the first episode on Amazon Prime, then decided to read the book first. I don't know if my mindset was different but this time I really enjoyed it and got hooked. Yes, there's a lot of lovely sex in it, but the characters and the stories really catch you up. I just finished the 3rd book recently but have yet to see the 2nd season on Prime. I'm hoping before season 3 comes out they have it season 2 for free like they did last time.
DeleteNow if the weather here would just get cold enough to bundle up in lovely tartans and knits. :)
Take care, Val