Why not?

I love a challenge. And since I won't be doing "Self Stitched September" I might as well be getting my fall wardrobe on.

More to come....




Peace!

Peer Pressure!

Peace Y’all,

I don’t usually fall victim to peer pressure but I’m going to just this 1 time….

Y’all are all posting your fall plans. And as sad as I am that the year is waning and the autumnal equinox will be upon us shortly, I suppose the time has come to make some plans. Phooey! Luckily in GA, my plans can come slow. This is what I’ve got planned so far…

Let me start with what I have….
B5569

I’m planning View B in denim

I am also planning to freestyle an A-line beige corduroy skirt to match an existing jacket.

I need to finish B5464.

I can wear this probably until after Thanksgiving.

I also have M5972 that I plan to do in an African print.

My plan includes wearing this with a sweater, belt and boots. And not the view with the ruffles! View B.

There is a black and white Simplicity tunic I’m working on. Well maybe working is the wrong word for it. The pattern is cut. I can still wear this when the weather begins to cool.

I have M5523

I’m planning to do a red skirt with that.


What I am adding to the mix for Fall/Winter sewing is

V1254

B5673

And I’m seriously lacking grown woman blouses. I hit the big “I ain’t telling.” I really need to come down off Old Navy tees at work. It ain’t cute no more. I'm thinking about the blouses with pouffy sleeves and pussy bows (love that phrase, heehee!!!!).

What I want for fall that I see in the magazines are: color blocked dresses in fuscia/black, and one in brown/cream. Something lacy, heeled oxfords in brown and heel black MaryJanes. Ohhh…. And some black riding boots for my bornday.

I have some blue pinstriped suiting. Not enough for a suit, but plenty for a skirt and matching beret. And I need something lace. Hmm….. Lace without looking slutty….. And I’m GOING to learn how to make gloves. I love gloves. I don’t know why I’m tripping. I just have to wait for a glove pattern to go on sale, but I want to do this freestyle. I must be crazy. I told y’all this peer pressure sucks….



Peace

The Sewing Room Bermuda Triangle

Peace.

This is the end of my ironing board. It is the place where projects go to die. If something gets laid here, it is doomed to become a UFO. SMH. I don’t care what my intentions are. This is what happens.

My current UFOs are a baby quilt, a pink sleeveless B5464 blouse and a OOP Simplicity white dress. You do realize that it is almost Labor Day and I won’t get any wear out of said items? Well! I’m off Thursday, I’m always off on Fridays and I intend to work on my UFOs until they are wearable garments or a wadders.


Peace

Missing pieces of the wardrobe....

Peace.

Do you know what? I am missing a HUGE chunk of my wardrobe. Oh, I have the basics, but what I don't have are certain incidentals. Let me explain.....

I don't have any lingerie/lounge wear. Now for the longest this wasn't a concern. I have been single a long time. My 1st husband died in 2003. It was a terrible experience that I still have to deal with and I suppose I will always have to deal with it. I didn't expect to ever think that I'd ever have another man and lo and behold I have one!. The God and I have been adding on for 2.5 years.

I was in my 20's with my 1st husband. You don't have to try in your 20's. Things just happen. But at my age, I recognize that maybe walking around butt nekid is not as hot as it one was. Also, I'm in a different place mentally (and physically). I want to feel prettier.... I need some new lingerie, damnit! And I'm not just talking for nice nice purposes. I want lounge wear and pretty slips and camis. I just want to O.D. on the girly factor.

So... I suppose... While I'm waiting for my mojo to kick in on fall sewing, I will patch over with some lingerie sewing. I already have robes. For some reason I have acquired a cute robe to wear in each season. I've had them for years and I checked them out. They are still in good condition.

Anybody have any suggestions?



Peace

Non-Sewers

Peace,

I went fabric shopping on Saturday. I know I said I wasn’t going to make anymore clothes for a while, but…. Whatever! A non-sewing friend of mine went with me. She kind of made the comment about much cheaper it is to sew than to shop at the malls. It just so happened that McCalls was on sale for 99 cents and most of the fabric at this spot was 30% off. Myself, the cutter and a colored woman standing behind us looked at her like she just pooped herself. Sewing is NOT cheaper than buying. IT IS NOT!!!!

And non sewers need to Know and Understand this. Maybe they will chill with the ‘homemade’ insults and all the insinuations that sewing is so damned easy. It’s not. It’s a skill and like with any acquired skill, one must ‘learn’ how to accomplish it.

It is not cheaper to make a dress vs. buying one. You have to purchase the fabric, patterns and notions. Then sit down and give your labor. I have yet to make something that took less than an hour from start to finish. I need some blouses, and I have the patterns, but by the time I cut out the patterns and then cut the fabric that usually does it for me for the evening. I have to find another day to sew it all up. I work a job that is not sewing related, so my sewing occurs in the evenings and on weekends.

Sewing is a hobby people. And just because I love to do it doesn’t mean I want to do your sewing for you. I am in the “Teach a man to fish” camp. I will teach you how to sew and do your own repairs, but I am annoyed when you ask me to make something for you and are unwilling to compensate me for my time, energy and supplies. Don’t just drop off your fabric and pattern with no bobbin, thread, buttons/zipper etc.

These non-sewers need to keep their mouths shut, because whenever they open them, they insert their foot right in the middle!


Peace

I'm done for a while....

Peace,

Yeah, I'm so done for a while in the sewing room. Kind of. I made a V1250 but haven't written it up because I'm just not ready to deal with the photo. I know.

I don't really have any pressing summer clothes needs so I'm not going to sew anything for a while. My eye has been on the fall and the plans I'm developing for the transitional weather clothes. If you can call what we get in GA transitional.

I need some blouses. I already knew this but this morning, again, I was faced with the reality. So I'm going to focus on making more blouses. Blouses and not the stretch tops. Those stretchy tops are usually made of polyester and itch and stink. So that is what I will focus on these days. A good selection of blouses can take me though the summer-fall sense. BUT.... Blouse patterns just don't inspire me!

Any blouse pattern suggestions?


Peace

Is my Refinement like your Refinement?

Peace Y’all,

I feels like blogging even though it’s a Sunday. I’m back obsessing over my 3/4ths again. I am uber curious about how other women do their modesty. I’m not necessarily trying to bite but every now and then I see something that makes me ponder. Earths in Allah’s 5% Nation of Gods and Earths don’t have such prescribed laws regarding our dress; just mind 3/4ths. Something tells me the 60’s and 70’s adherents were more concerned about drawing up Gods than how the women dressed. But 3/4ths does exist, and we can rock it however we cee it. And as long as we can show and prove, we should be fine. Still, I have to look…..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzniut This article describes how Jewish women do. Elbow to knee covered. No pants. Married women cover their heads. That’s how you know their married. Sometimes they accomplish this with wigs. There are some interesting points. Like kick pleats instead of slits and no bright colors.

http://jamaicanrastafarianlove.com/ Rastafarian women are essentially natural Afro centric Jewish women. They follow all the rules of the Old Testament so whatever the Levitical rules are, they follow them. But they do not adhere to the non color rule. Nope. They actually prefer African print. The women cover their heads as well. It’s not so easy to find a lot of good internet info regarding Rastas. Better to build with them in the physical.

http://mormon.lds.net/mormon-beliefs/mormons-and-modesty These are the Mormon rules for women. They have no special rules that would catch your eye. You probably wouldn’t be able to pick them out of a crowd of mid western white people. They really do blend in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab Our Muslim sisters cover everything but the face and hands. Some say no colors and only black, others rock all kinds of color combinations.

http://larp.com/jahavra/clothing.html Lately, I have been into Gypsies. Maybe it has something to do with the TLC program that has caught my attention… My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. According to that program these new Traveler women will wear damn near anything to catch a man. ANYTHING. And they are extremely suggestive in their activities. But the claim that they don’t act on all the suggestiveness. Okay. If they say so. But they do marry young. Some around 16 (28:40). So maybe they are telling the truth. It looks like a duck and walks like a duck, but it’s actually a gorilla. Anywho…. This link describes the more traditional what you think of when you think of a Gypsy woman kind of style.

Did I miss anybody?

And I’m back thinking about us Earths. We just have to cover ourselves with clothes as the planet does with water. It’s not so restrictive when you do the Knowledge. Other folks get dead or excommunicated if they don’t follow their rules. Us…. Not so much. So why do folks have such a problem with 3/4ths?

Insight y’all?


Peace