tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13162231460453996762024-03-14T01:32:44.344-07:00Sewlseekerfiresheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-23992347701346985932016-01-23T15:15:00.000-08:002016-01-23T15:15:27.282-08:00Space Race 2016!ESK Yarnathon 2016<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNbIIyQdAaknPJ3aU_KuZSmP5lXIfLn71R3bebBtohkhWE9VO9gTtm_Cgl9061ijeYZfcr5jROfdUP3TtzSs_B8oiFZ2UuLARVvXIG5_dL2DO0NNCUWgfMfJ430aDPUYwWTMqFVv8NqDp/s1600/Ravatar_St_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNbIIyQdAaknPJ3aU_KuZSmP5lXIfLn71R3bebBtohkhWE9VO9gTtm_Cgl9061ijeYZfcr5jROfdUP3TtzSs_B8oiFZ2UuLARVvXIG5_dL2DO0NNCUWgfMfJ430aDPUYwWTMqFVv8NqDp/s1600/Ravatar_St_1.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eat.sleep.knit/">Eat.sleep.knit</a> has outdone themselves this year with a SPACE theme! I went from being a Fleecy Fox to a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/eatsleepknitters/3345139/" target="_blank">StarSheep</a> (which thankfully matches my <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> handle of "firesheep67!"). Now, instead of running a race measured in kilometers and yards, you reach planets. I'm already up to the Sun (welcome packet level) from participating in the weekly trivia questions (ten per quarter, 50 yards credit per), the first KAL (<a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/cshop/spiralcowl/" target="_blank">Spiral Cowl - January</a>) and one purchase.<br />
<br />
Last year, I reached the Gold level in the <a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/cshop/booster/" target="_blank">Boosterclub</a> (which, as I mentioned last time, functions like badges one would earn in the Girl Scouts). Last year's Gold level prize options included a year of free shipping, which is what I chose. So, for all of 2016, I have free shipping. Could prove to be good or bad, time will tell! Without free shipping, I've been tempted to fill my cart to get free shipping (which means, buying $100 at a time)... with free shipping, I'm thinking more along the lines of project oriented purchases, so my first purchase of the year was needles that I didn't have and two skeins of <a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/cshop/product/Madelinetosh-Dandelion/11658/" target="_blank">Madeline Tosh Dandelion</a> in Farmhouse White for <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/drawingstraws" target="_blank">DrawingStraws</a>. I don't intend to abuse the free shipping (just read on Ravelry that some people would buy skeins of yarn, in the store, one at a time to get one lotto ticket per purchase - that's outrageous and sad!).<br />
<br />
I also am still a member of the 10k club (once you're in, you're a member for life). This year, 10k club members get two lotto tickets per order, which is supremely awesome!<br />
<br />
The yarnathon offers a little of everything to all who participate - not only do you have the camaraderie of your team, but also the fun of KALs, and sense of accomplishment from earning the badges which can help you stay out of a project rut and encourage you to try new things or approach your knitting from another perspective. I have to admit, I love a good prize and the badge system has really served to keep me engaged and motivated! This year, one of the Gold level prize options will be the <a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/cshop/booster/" target="_blank">sling style tote bag</a> (image on the middle lower right) which I earned last year for Silver. This bag is just brilliant (hope to copy the shape and sew my own some day!) It will be offered in a different color, which remains to be revealed.<br />
<br />
There's another aspect to the Yarnathon, which is earning stars for your team - this can be done through a combination of activities, from KAL participation, to earning badges in the Boosterclub to making purchases. So, once again, ESK offers a way to let you play along without always having to buy more, which is quite generous of them! At the end of the year, members of the team with the most stars will all receive a store credit.<br />
<br />
Even if you have an awesome LYS, let ESK fill in the gaps! No one yarn store can be everything for everybody, which is why ESK will always be one of my long-distance LYSs!firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-4877014636496533152015-09-20T15:40:00.000-07:002015-09-20T15:40:36.298-07:00ESK Yarnathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv5__Yb137gQq1ue3S-pJVBZ0rdrciN8bZHF0-YnWkjv9K0b3AUFqQ18FB_HdN5lC6WfUdOk0xjIXUMFfd695dEf6b2VbmGxVUf_4UTtZpS2V6Rkz7_uo7YzAMiHSCYXJcLqQ-7SQnz2a/s1600/Badge_FleecyFoxes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv5__Yb137gQq1ue3S-pJVBZ0rdrciN8bZHF0-YnWkjv9K0b3AUFqQ18FB_HdN5lC6WfUdOk0xjIXUMFfd695dEf6b2VbmGxVUf_4UTtZpS2V6Rkz7_uo7YzAMiHSCYXJcLqQ-7SQnz2a/s1600/Badge_FleecyFoxes.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I've bought yarn from <a href="http://www.eatsleepknit.com/" target="_blank">ESK</a> on and off starting in 2010 when I first learned of the "mad"ness that is Madeline Tosh yarn. Back then, finding a good supply of the various colorways in MadTosh was challenging and ESK most certainly had one of, if not THE largest, selections. One year, I made it into the 10k club, after which I became a lifetime member, which means: I have special access to sales announcements, can log on one hour earlier for Black Friday, and just recently the Sunday Stash (one yarn, offered at an extra 15% discount).<br />
<br />
ESK continues to be one of my favorite online LYSs. From the speedy shipping, to the added bonus of the Yarnathon, to the wonderful Yarn Lotto tickets (one is included in each order and you can win up to $100 store credit, among other things) - it's truly a fun, although virtual (for me, in California), LYS. I've won a $50 store credit, and just recently $20. Quite often, I picked up $5 store credits here and there, which I saved and sent in together. (You do have to physically send in the tickets to redeem them.)<br />
<br />
This is the second year that the Yarnathon has assigned me to a team. First year, I was a Stitchosaur and this year, I'm a Fleecy Fox. Last year, I didn't participate. I started on one of the KALs (New to you), but just lost interest. This year, I followed along for a bit and answered most of the weekly trivia questions (which earn you 50 yards per question, 10 questions per quarter) and then really found myself drawn to earning the badges - especially to reach the silver level and earn the tote bag. Once I saw the tote bag prize, I found myself obsessed with it! So, rather late in the year, I'm now throwing most (if not all) of my knitting effort into EARNING SILVER!<br />
<br />
Best of all, even if you are cutting back on buying yarn, you can still have fun in the Yarnathon and help out your team - so there's something for everyone, no matter what stage of yarn acquisition you're in. (Note: the team assignments are random.)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/eatsleepknitters" target="_blank">ESK Ravelry Group</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/eatsleepknitters/3128459/351-375#357" target="_blank">Silver Level Prize</a> not my photo - the prize is the tote bag pictured along with the pins/badges earned to datefiresheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-55760047008559090172013-08-11T16:30:00.001-07:002014-12-12T19:42:07.112-08:00A wearable muslin!!! Go me!<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9488106195/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3821/9488106195_752f51448c.jpg" height="320" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"></span></div>
Finally! Going to wear this to tonight's Seam Allowance meeting. Thoughts off the top of my head:<br />
1. Neckline - do a different one from the Craftsy course or elsewhere<br />
2. Vented sleeves...needed to hem at the top of the vent - hemmed too close to the sleeve edge. The bar tack is sloppy - not even on both sides and is ultimately too long. Used Swedish tracking paper under the bar tacks for reinforcement. Need to study how to figure out bar tack placement.<br />
3. Top stitching around the armholes is a tad inconsistent and wonky.<br />
4. Underarm doesn't meet perfectly on one side (but it's in the armpit, so who will know?)<br />
5. When I was sewing this up - I noticed that my cutting of the fabric was CHOPPY! Ugh! Need to go back to the pattern and ensure that the seams match up - and smooth this out on the next version.<br />
6. LOVE the length!<br />
7. Pattern fits me quite well and love the vented sleeve detail, even if the execution leaves something to be desired.<br />
<br />
<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9487890087/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7455/9487890087_9b39f56788.jpg" height="320" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="240" /></a></div>
</div>
I'm holding up bits of fabric that I trimmed from the shirt. Could still use a few passes on the inside, but wanted to eat some lunch and get on the road.<br />
<br />
I will update this post with linkage and details on the pattern later.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-69695265514481348462013-07-27T18:13:00.001-07:002013-07-29T15:35:57.474-07:00muslin time *sigh*<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9381699158/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3705/9381699158_6c94dbe748.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="240" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9381699158/">muslin time</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
Thoughts while I worked on muslin #1:<br />
1. The fabric is plasticky and see through - this is not a wearable muslin, why am I still reluctant to write on it?<br />
2. Must find better way of sewing knits. Tested straight stitch and pulled seams. They all popped. Switched to zig zag, but was too big, so could see "teeth" in the seams.<br />
3. Stick to using the walking foot. Use the more narrow twin needle (must find the sizes). The wider twin needle created a huge tunnel between the stitches.<br />
4. Neckline - while I did an impressive* job of stitching and easing, it was too tight for the design, so in the end, both fronts are pulling the side seams in. I examined a garment that is similar and the neckline is not a separate piece, it's just folded over and stitched down with presumably an elastic tape inside.<br />
<br />
Muslin #2:<br />
1. Will use a 1" seam on the neckline, folded over at 1/2" with elastic tape inside.<br />
2. Front panel must be hemmed before sewing side seams.<br />
3. Finish watching <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?B=486420&U=832795&M=29190&urllink=" target="_blank">The Ultimate T-Shirt: Fitting & Construction</a> on Craftsy and put the tips and tricks to use. Just watching how the knit fabric can be fed through the sewing machine with minimal use of pins has already helped enormously. Considering that the Ottobre pattern directions are minimalist, it's really good to bone up on how to construct a knit t-shirt. Even though this garment is a wrap front, 90% of the sewing tips and instructions still apply. I got my class on sale and it came with a pattern, <a href="http://voguepatterns.mccall.com/v8793-products-16435.php?page_id=866" target="_blank">Vogue 8793</a>, which I have yet to take out of the envelope.<br />
4. Will baste the side seams before final sewing. Very important when trying to get the wrap tight enough to cross over without gaping, but not so tight that it pulls the sides in.<br />
5. I started cutting muslin #2 on Sunday, 7/28, but after I cut the back, I realized that I already didn't follow my own modified directions - that is, to include a 1" seam allowance on the neckline. Hope that there's enough fabric to cut a sleeve from the back. Also realized that my rotary cutting technique could use some improvement, so off to search for tips. Must also change the blade on the cutter. Don't know how long the blade has been on there, and technically haven't cut much with it, but think it might be a bit dull.<br />
6. Before sewing, need to do another clean out of the sewing machine. While sewing muslin #1, the machine coughed up a greasy lint hairball which was subsequently sewn down into the sleeve seam. I have no idea where it came from, as I had recently cleaned (as far as I know) everything out. Very strange. Thank god the muslin wasn't anything I had hoped to wear. Will also see if I can clean the grease spot, for science. Just in case it happens when I'm sewing my good fabric.<br />
7. Hemming of sleeves and bottom - not until side seams are sewn up. Follow the tips in the class re: pressing the hems while still flat.<br />
<br />
Thoughts on muslins in general: apparently Kenneth King states that you should sew at least two muslins before proceding to cut the fashion fabric. Reluctantly, I concede that this makes perfect sense. If you want something truly wearable, you must put in the time and effort to do it right. Think about it - you pull a pattern from the envelope, and regardless of how close it may be to your measurements, more likely than not, it wasn't custom drafted for you. You'll need to make fitting alterations and perhaps even figure out how best to sew it - thus muslin #1. But, after figuring out what to keep and what to change, including order of construction, you should test the next round on muslin #2. You don't know what the outcome of the changes from muslin #1 are going to give you. Only after sewing a successful, i.e. potentially wearable muslin #2, can you proceed with confidence to the final garment. Thank god I really am a process sewer (knitter) or I would have already torn out every last strand of my short hair in frustration!<br />
<br />
*I don't normally brag about my sewing...but considering I only watched the Ultimate T-Shirt video and had never sewn a neckline, and that this is my fifth garment (including muslins), the neckline looks awesome.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-78338261757748515142013-07-19T09:38:00.001-07:002013-07-19T22:49:46.981-07:00The siren of advertising calling across the years (Viking)<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9322718878/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2859/9322718878_3ca1226a59.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9322718878/">viking sewing machine ad 1956</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser/>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I came across this ad online in the last year (and if you're
the one who posted it, please let me know so I can give you credit!). Since it
can be hard to read depending on your monitor and eyesight, I will take the
liberty of retyping the ad before I comment...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Text from the ad:</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just sit, set and let VIKING sew!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">NOW!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Viking</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">the world's most <b><i>completely</i></b> jam proof
automatic sewing machines</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Viking the world's most completely automatic sewing machine,
is also the easiest to use! Made of fine Swedish Steel by the craftsmen of
Sweden's celebrated Husqvarna, where superior engineering has been a tradition
for over 250 years! VIKING is a <b><i>real</i></b> automatic!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just sit, set and let VIKING sew with an ease you've never
before known!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">See it today!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Try it today!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">VIKING automatic features you'll love...</span></span></div>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">exclusive
JAM-PROOF HOOK makes it <i>absolutely impossible </i>for the thread to
tangle or jam with or without fabric in the machine.</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">exclusive
MAGI-STAC permits you to change stitches with a flick of the fingers <i>without
stopping the machine!</i> </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="color: purple;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">exclusive
SPEED REDUCER for s-l-o-w sewing when working on intricate patterns.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: purple;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="color: purple;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">plus...</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">20 more
features never before offered in any one machine!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I LOVE a good ad! Even better I love to dissect the messages long after the target audience is no longer around. This ad is so good, that 57 years later, I still fall for it. Granted, I didn't see the ad until AFTER I found my Viking 21A, but boy, this ad makes me want to use my vintage machine more than any other I own. First off, according to the copy, my machine will sew by itself - no need for me to do anything other than watch it (like a TV?). One thing that still holds true to this day is the lure of the JAM-PROOF HOOK! That's actually what drove me into the arms of a vintage machine. I wasn't sewing on my Brother because of bobbin nesting. I spent more time angry and frustrated and troubleshooting rather than sewing. The JAM-PROOF HOOK promised salvation, and it has delivered, I'm happy to report :) The copy for the MAGI-STAC is hilarious. The "magi-stac" is now commonly referred to as a pattern cam, and I most certainly would not "change stitches with the flick of a finger" while the machine was going. (Mostly out of fear that I'll break an internal part that is NLA - no longer available.) The "exclusive SPEED REDUCER" is nice, but I rarely use it as I prefer to control sewing speed with the remarkably still responsive original controller. Note that "Swedish Steel" is capitalized...it's not just any steel. I'm not sure what the "20 more features" could be...hmmm...it's green (no - the Elna Grasshopper is green, and I suppose color is not considered a feature). Free-arm must be one...detachable sewing table...as for the rest? Being of Swedish descent and a huge Abba fan, Viking is my brand.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I will admit to cheating on my Viking 21A...with another Viking (a pair of them) - the Viking #1. Because of course, being #1 means it has to be even better than 21, right? ;)</span></div>
</div>
firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-88681593031797673722013-07-15T10:38:00.001-07:002013-07-15T20:12:13.575-07:00Hemming and hawing<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9287328239/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3737/9287328239_d9d97fbe24.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9287328239/">seam allowance year one</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span><br />
<br />
It's no secret that I'm slow. I've come to accept it (must be why I
loved driving fast on the Autobahn). When it comes to sewing (and
knitting, cross stitching, embroidery and crochet...) I am deliberate
and fairly methodical. "Fairly" because in many other areas of life,
developing a methodical approach has not come naturally. When I sew, I
like to think of the act of sewing as an organic chemistry experiment.
So, in that spirit, I am tackling the hem on my wrap skirt.<br />
<br />
Update
on the skirt: I "finished" it - that is, everything is sewn together
and there is the beginning of a hem. I even wore it to last night's <a href="http://www.averbforkeepingwarm.com/blogs/seam-allowance-take-the-pledge-and-make-your-own-clothing" target="_blank">Seam Allowance</a>
meeting. Yet, the waistband ties need a touch of resewing to neaten up
the seam on the edge and the hem is not yet done. I think I will add a <a href="http://thecuttingclass.com/post/6032490884/hook-and-bar-closures" target="_blank">hook and bar closure</a>
to secure the waist, as the ties can worm themselves undone. I had to
admit that the piece I wanted to be the back (that is, the original
front), insisted on being the front, so I am wrapping the skirt to the back
and tying it almost in the middle on the front. To really turn the skirt
around, the waistband pieces for the ties would need to be lengthened
before cutting so you can tie on the side. I folded under the hem and
pressed at 1/4" with the Dritz Ezy Hem. It took a while to neatly and
evenly press the hem (30 minutes?). I was aiming for the 1/8" edge
stitching recommended by Doris Anderson in Lesson 7 of "<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Simplified+Systems+of+Sewing+Styling+by+Doris+Anderson&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#q=Simplified+Systems+of+Sewing+Styling+by+Doris+Anderson&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&tbs=vw:l&tbm=shop&ei=QSrkUZvjHcqTiAKArYCADg&start=0&sa=N&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.cGE&fp=b480577e6bded0b9&biw=1040&bih=818" target="_blank">Simplified Systems of Sewing</a>." I stitched the hem at 1/8", but was working with the 1/4", which I will trim down before the final hemming.<br />
<br />
Which
leads me to...the final hem. I actually like the current length, but
originally had intended on a hem of 1.5 inches or so. Also, the current
hem provides no heft, but I think if I want to leave it at this length, a
woven ribbon or <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/t-Tapes-and-Trims-Glossary.aspx" target="_blank">hem tape</a> secured by hand stitching over the raw edge could help with that. So, I am now researching hemming techniques.<br />
<br />
Thanks <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/people/Beadnit" target="_blank">Beadknit</a> for the photo! </div>
firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-39667042388568251682013-07-07T19:35:00.001-07:002013-07-15T23:06:02.296-07:00Tracing and cutting (avoiding the waist on my wrap skirt)<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9235861284/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" height="320" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5442/9235861284_2a49104f6f.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="240" /></a></div>
I can't resist the promise of Ottobre magazine. I have all but three (?) issues and am convinced that the garments are flattering and must be easy to sew. So I started tracing the wrap blouse from the Fall 2008 magazine, model #17, at yesterday's Seam Allowance studio time. I finished the tracing today and started cutting the fabric for a muslin. I've had the fabric for about five years, purchased from FabricMart for practically nothing. Well, this was before I started carefully bagging each piece of fabric and this one has tiny marks that look like ink spots. Fortunately, the yardage is sufficient and I can simply cut around the spots. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/7483494534/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" height="149" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8168/7483494534_d6ff0c06aa.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the fabric in question...it's quite slippery and when cut, sheds tiny fibers everywhere. I figure if I can sew a muslin from this, then the final garment will be a breeze.</span></span>firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-81009029528681645772013-06-30T12:43:00.001-07:002013-06-30T12:50:46.249-07:00Action shot<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9169285762/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/9169285762_dbaa8befb1.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9169285762/">action shot</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small; margin-top: 0px;">Rather than making a second muslin or ripping and reassembling the
first, I decided based on where the side seams fall, to eliminate 1" from
the front panel (which I will deliberately use as the back) - thus 1/2"
from each side and I lengthened the skirt by 1 3/4". I made these
modifications to the tissue pattern and gasp! cut the fabric on 6/29, in
my last class of the latest five class run at SM&D. No turning
back now... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; margin-top: 0px;">At first I thought I would attempt to match the pattern at the seams, but come on, this is such a minor concern with a huge pattern and since this will officially be my first wearable garment, I just threw caution to the wind. As I was packing up the pieces I so carefully cut out, I was dismayed to see that I now have a large target on my butt (center of the back panel). Just what I had hoped to avoid. Thank god it's not on my crotch...I can just hear Michael Kors now! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small; margin-top: 0px;">Fabric is Kaffe Fassett Targets - Pastel - still available <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/sewing/fabric/KaffeFassett/Targets.asp?showLarge=true&specPCVID=32218" target="_blank">here</a>. (I bought this four or even five years ago.)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-17182758259990035482013-06-22T22:36:00.001-07:002013-06-30T12:43:56.961-07:00back in the saddle<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9063020104/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5523/9063020104_5b93531805.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/9063020104/">back in the saddle</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span></div>
Finally liberated the patterns from this book, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sew-Everything-Workshop-Step-Step/dp/0761139737" target="_blank">Sew Everything Workshop</a> by Diana Rupp, that I bought about five years ago...decided I would make the wrap skirt and the muslin is well under way this weekend, yet I am supremely annoyed at the directions for the waistband. Let's just say that they are sketchy at best and the tiny diagrams that accompany the text are fairly worthless.<br />
<br />
As I am still puzzling my way through the instructions, I'm not yet ready to post my solution, so watch this space!<br />
<br />
ETA: It dawned on me that despite reading the directions several times...in my mind, the single panel (front) was the BACK, because, who wraps a skirt to the back?? Even though the book says you can mix it up by wearing it wrapped to the front or back, I would never wear a wrap skirt with the wrapped panels covering the rear view. Subsequently, when I sewed on the waistband, I'm pretty sure I attached it upside down, which would explain why it was virtually impossible to cleanly match the side seams of the skirt panels with the side seams of the waistband.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-24532420365420102872012-10-23T12:55:00.001-07:002013-07-15T11:00:12.132-07:00Marking a path<div style="padding: 3px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/8116931748/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8192/8116931748_832682cc37.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" width="299" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/8116931748/">Lisette souvenir in progress</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span></div>
I went to my first sewing class at <a href="http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/sewing-classes.htm" target="_blank">Stonemountain and Daughter</a> in Berkeley this weekend. The instructor immediately figured out why my muslin didn't fit through the shoulders; I needed to remove about 1.5 inches from the center top of the front yoke (which would not have occured to me). On to cutting the "fashion fabric," a blue-grey cotton voile from Freespirit, purchased at <a href="http://www.averbforkeepingwarm.com/" target="_blank">AVFKW</a>. I pinned what I could in class, took it all home, finished the pinning and then cut everything on Sunday. I have yet to transfer the markings, as I am not sure which method to go with. To test the white Chacopy, I made a few marks on a piece of scrap fabric which I then washed by hand with Fels Naptha soap. I can still see one of the marks - although, it's quite faint and it was the heaviest mark I made. I need to do more tests before I commit. Will try the water soluble marker (but it's blue, so I don't expect it to be easy to see) and the other Chacopy (pink) as well as the Dritz white tailor's chalk. In the end, I only need to make marks for where the yoke joins the sleeves (circles) and where to gather the front. Perhaps I'll just thread trace my way. In the meantime, I am not to sew the garment until the next class. Strange how being "forbidden" to work on it makes me feel impatient to sew!<br />
<br />
More on this garment in an upcoming post.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-78422746708661246542012-10-11T10:55:00.000-07:002012-10-12T13:40:04.001-07:00Ambition<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bi3Pso1xpU_7Z5tm4sL4XugfvY8lhtFYtb9qYqrMuKj22Qq3ALpyYeDUwfbpfMImHg72Wpsc0AyFcVs7J06rv0ZcmxwlJteWudJW2e4CQ0Eln5R801b01FXmDwtABOwV2ZzpYWtbSnb-/s1600/Hot+Patterns+1118.GIF" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imagine this in red leather...(image from HP site)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.hotpatterns.com/hp-1118-metropolitan-agostini-moto-jacket/" target="_blank">Hot Patterns 1118</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Now that I've sewn my first muslin, I'm dreaming of a red leather jacket. There's an enormous gap between the current level of my sewing skills and experience and my ambition. How did I come to fixate on a red leather jacket as a future project? Let's trace the steps...<br />
<br />
Yesterday, I (for the second time) stumbled across the <a href="http://selfishseamstress.wordpress.com/">Selfish Seamstress's blog</a> and was admiring her leggings/pants <a href="http://selfishseamstress.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/the-villain-at-home-helmut-lang-inspired-pants/" target="_blank">here</a>. Then I wondered about stretch leather. Poked around on the internet. Circled back to <a href="http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Gorgeous Fabrics</a> where I came across this<a href="http://www.gorgeousfabrics.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=14068" target="_blank"> lambskin</a>. Suggested pattern was <a href="http://www.hotpatterns.com/hp-1118-metropolitan-agostini-moto-jacket/" target="_blank">Hot Patterns 1118, Metropolitan Agostini Moto Jacket</a>. As I'm not a fan of "natural" colors and the quantity of skins in stock would have made a size that is too small for me, I didn't remotely entertain buying these skins. BUT the pattern really struck a chord. I kept thinking of it. Later in the evening, I deliberately went back to the Selfish Seamstress, intending to catch up on past posts. Was reminded of <a href="http://www.fabricmartfabrics.com/" target="_blank">Fabric Mart Fabrics</a> and went there to look for leather. At first I found some black lambskin and I thought of buying it to make the jacket. Then it occurred to me that I don't really need to replace my black leather jacket (but it could use a re-dye). When I looked at the black leather skins, I saw that they came in red too. A deep, bluish red. My favorite kind. There were only three in stock. I popped them in the cart (along with two other cuts of fabric), fought with myself about how ridiculous it is to buy leather for a project that I'm not yet capable of sewing, then I viewed current leather jackets for sale online, closed the computer and immediately went to bed.<br />
<br />
Today, on my way in to work, the universe was tempting me with that same red along with jackets in that style. I logged back into Fabric Mart Fabrics, rebuilt my shopping cart, looked for discount coupons, found one and checked out. That's it.<br />
<br />
I now have a wardrobe of unsewn and unknit projects. Pants, shirts, sweaters, socks, coats, and even potential underwear. The only supplies I lack are to make bras (which I hope to tackle using <a href="http://makebra.com/">makebra.com</a>).<br />
<br />
I've wondered over the years where my ambition went - it's there and wants to make a comeback in the form of creating my own wardrobe, on my terms. Even if only to experience the pleasure of wearing garments that fit, the way I want them to, in fabrics of my choosing - it's a healthy way to welcome home my wayward ambition. I can learn to sew leather!! (But will first go through MANY muslins...as I am a cautious type!)firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-76566014779386628732012-10-08T15:49:00.003-07:002012-10-08T15:56:33.553-07:00Lisette Souvenir Muslin<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/8068695033/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8035/8068695033_4f2dbea7a8.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/8068695033/"> </a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27966454@N02/">firesheep67</a>.</span></div><p>I FINALLY started sewing! It only took me approximately FOUR years. This weekend I traced off the Lisette blouse pattern onto Swedish tracing paper, then pinned out my traced pattern pieces to the muslin, cut, and then tried to transfer the markings. First I wanted to use the Dritz paper (must look up the name), but after owning it for approximately four years, it doesn't seem to work (or I was using it wrong). So I moved on to the Clover Chacopy, which worked fine, but may not be appropriate for the final version of the blouse.<br /><br />In the end, I got a muslin, albeit with not enough sleeve cap. I was able to figure out what I did wrong by studying some close-ups online. Essentially, I sewed the bias tape too far from the sleeve cap, then I trimmed 3/8" off the seam allowance, and then I proceeded to wrap the edge of the sleeve with the bias tape. WRONG WRONG WRONG!!! <br /><br />What I should have done was...(at step 10 I believe):<br />1. stitch the sleeve cap to the bias tape (right side to right side, using a 3/8" seam allowance<br />2. press the seam as written<br />3. trim the seam as written<br />4. stitch along the BIAS tape side edge (just like the inside edge of the yoke), through the seam<br />5. then stitch 1/2" in, along the sleeve cap, through the folded over bias tape, so that the bias tape is stabilizing the sleeve cap - NOT seen from the outside of the sleeve<br /><br />Since I didn't do this, I ended up cutting away the two circles, that are to be matched up when joining the sleeves to the yokes, and I was short approximately 3/8" of an inch where the sleeves meet the yoke - which you can clearly see in the photo.<br /><br />Next step is to cut two new sleeves, stitch them up and then check the sleeve cap fit. I get the impression that the sleeve cap is a bit too puffy for me and I most likely need to alter it. I also left this muslin unhemmed. Think I want to curve the hem, as I don't like the boxy look. Finally, I may alter the sleeve cuffs and put a small slit in them.</p>
Although I used the machine for the gathering stitches, on the final version, I will do this by hand to get a smoother, more fluid look. I also think this blouse is begging for embroidery on the yoke, but will do this on V2. Right now I just want to have a wearable garment. I'm spending time on sewing the muslin "correctly" because until now, most of the sewing I've done has just been practice bits, not an actual garment. I need to master the techniques, so will (for now) sew up the muslins with (almost) the same level of care I would use for the final garments.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-56452794856933558422012-07-11T21:31:00.000-07:002012-07-11T21:31:13.420-07:00Is this thing still on?I joined <a href="http://www.averbforkeepingwarm.com/blogs/seam-allowance-take-the-pledge-and-make-your-own-clothing">Seam Allowance</a> at A Verb for Keeping Warm and I've been using <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/firesheep67/seam-allowancehttp://">Ravelry</a> to log my activity thus far, but think I should step it up and dust off this blog :)firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-64090557123136926642010-05-02T13:01:00.000-07:002010-05-02T13:05:57.668-07:00You can't be serious!My idiotic neighbors apparently felt the dryer wasn't getting hot enough to dry a week's worth of clothing at a time, so they added a dryer with no vent. Needless to say, I called the landlord to report this fire hazard and if I don't hear from him or see some action by tomorrow, my next call will be to the fire marshall. How stupid can you be? Let the neighbors cram the dryer into their living space and endanger themselves. ARRRGGGHHH!firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-45830447891001896222009-11-20T16:39:00.001-08:002009-11-20T16:43:15.033-08:00Fujitsu Uncover the Possibilities<script type="text/javascript" src="http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4ad321346f3d69ae/4b0736b0ef48d72c/4ad3216f8c6eb1af/7887c3a1/widget.js"></script><br /><br />Why post this? Well, I've been a Fujitsu fan for years, starting with the P2040 and temporarily ending with the T4215. I say temporarily because my husband knocked tea into it, killing the machine. Sadly, it's not paid off! And the replacement machine, an HP TouchSmart tx2 is just not the same... :(firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-88896400463487117292009-09-16T09:36:00.000-07:002009-09-16T09:58:24.067-07:00Birthday Resolutions 2009Yesterday was my birthday and rather than having new year's resolutions, I thought this year I'd set birthday resolutions. Here we go!<br /><br />1. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Surroundings:</span> By next year - have apartment decluttered and MOVE OUT ready!<br /> Why? Our place may be small and falling apart (landlord doesn't believe in maintenance), but that doesn't mean we have to live in squalor. The other day, DH said he did everything possible to keep the Animal Control person from entering the apartment because he was embarrassed, and I completely understand. <br /> I have a vision of owning a home with a garden. A home where DH can cook, I can knit and sew with room to work and we have a garden to enjoy. Room to breathe!<br /><br /><br />2. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Finances:</span> Set up rapid debt repayment program (RDRP) and buy LESS<br /> Why? After I was laid off, I lived off of the severance pay, tax returns, inheritance from MIL and cash advances on my credit cards. I had been paying down the cards before the layoff, but once I was no longer working I felt like all my efforts had been in vain and I foolishly racked up even more debt than I previously had. WTF?<br /> As for buying less, I have all the tools and supplies I could possible want. I need to use them up or purge. There's no reason for me to own everything that catches my eye. <br /><br />3. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Learning:</span> My time - listen to Japanese tapes,listen to Russian podcasts<br /> On the job: 30 minutes every day for various software/hardware (Sharepoint, Indesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Blackberry) and 15 minutes every day to read executive/administrative assisting blogs<br /><br />4. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Create:</span> Knit, sew, cross stitch, crochet! Do something every day.<br /><br />5. <span style="font-weight:bold;">Relationships:</span> Take advantage of 9/80 Fridays and go on a day trip with DH (every other Friday). Return calls/emails/text messages - make the effort to stay in touch with friends and family.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-9791883060022685462009-03-16T14:05:00.000-07:002009-03-16T14:13:41.281-07:00The Worst Job I Ever HadOn the heels of reading other people's tales of woe, I thought I'd write up "my worst job." I believe it would be the week I spent staring at a blank wall cold calling people to subscribe to the LA Times. Occasionally I would hook a live one, and inevitably they lived in a rural area, where delivery wasn't available...and never would be. Excitedly they'd ask if delivery was now possible to their address in bum f*ck Egypt and dejectedly I'd answer, "No." Others would stay on the line long enough for me to pitch them from my long list of "reasons why one should subscribe." Way at the end of that list was the question, "Do you own a bird? Use the paper to line the birdcage." I'm certain I didn't sell a single subscription and picking up the phone to make those calls got harder and harder until I quit at the end of one week.<br /><br />Could this be why I hate using the phone?firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-81315603153554336802009-02-21T21:01:00.002-08:002009-02-22T11:14:56.308-08:00Destashing - Yarn and My Life!Recently I took the plunge and decided which yarns I could part with. Yesterday I sent off the first two boxes. I was having second thoughts about one, the Boysenberry London Tweed, after seeing one of <a href="http://myknittingisland.blogspot.com/2009/02/one-month-later.html">Svetlana's latest creations</a>. There, was, however, no way I would knit up all the London Tweed in my stash. And certainly no way I could tackle the sweater that Svetlana knit (Forestry - last sweater in the post linked to above). I'm a self-taught knitter (books and magazines) who, so far, has been able to knit the patterns I've taken a fancy to, but who also realizes when a pattern is above my current skill level (or beyond my patience and sustained attention). I consciously choose to work on patterns that I know I can knit now, while queuing up others that I will be able to knit at a later date. E.g. the latest <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spiring-2009/Diminishing-Rib-Cardigan.asp">IK cover sweater</a> (Spring 2009) - I read through the instructions and couldn't quite envision what one needs to do to knit this sweater, so as much as I like the sweater, it has to wait.<br /><br />So, rather than overwhelming myself with yarns I MUST knit up, I decided to let go of a few. It's rather strange to package up these yarns - yarns I couldn't wait to order, couldn't wait to swatch as soon as they arrived - and send them on to their new homes, new dreams, new projects. But OTOH I can't wait to see what they end up becoming...<br /><br />The destashing of yarn will soon extend to my stuff. Stuff that fills every corner of this 450 square foot apartment and the garage below. Starting small...with some magazines and books on <a href="http://myworld.ebay.com/cflemmer">eBay</a>. Then branching out into <a href="http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sss/">Craigslist</a>, <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Berkeley_CA_Freecycle/">Freecycle</a>, the library and then onto the Goodwill/Salvation Army. I did it once before (from the same apartment). Back at the end of 2002, I got the contents of the full garage down to a 6 foot by 3 foot stack of boxes. I vow this time NOT to let so much stuff* back into my life.<br /><br />*Stuff: Clothing I no longer wear, books I read and never let go of, multiples (several bluetooth headsets, several cell phones), Elliptical trainer (used for one week...at most), half-used toiletries, old linen, old files, miscellaneous doo-dads and knick-knacks...and on and on...ugh! =:Pfiresheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-31361580770579658882009-01-23T10:47:00.000-08:002009-01-23T10:57:23.086-08:00Apartment 2.0My (our) ideal apartment will have:<br />1. Separate mailbox<br />2. Off-street, covered parking<br />3. Address properly marked<br />4. Utilities included or separate meter<br />5. Insulation<br />6. Real windows that DON'T LEAK!<br />7. Intact roof - no leaking<br />8. No vermin burrowing around in the walls<br />9. Gutters and/or canopy over the door<br />10. Real door - i.e. can't open it with a swift, well-placed kick<br />11. Laundry<br />12. Range hood<br />13. Bedroom closet<br />14. Linen closet<br />15. Hallway closet<br />16. Stable floors - i.e. whole apartment doesn't sway when stepping on certain spots<br />17. Balcony, space to garden in or BOTH!! =:)<br />18. Place to air dry clothing (should I so desire)<br />19. No a$$hole neighbors<br /><br />As I think of more, I'll update the list above. Want to seize our ideal apartment when it presents itself, so I want to know what we're looking for!firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-18512515932201031852009-01-12T22:43:00.000-08:002009-02-22T11:28:56.634-08:00The Typhoid Mary Touch...with MagazinesLet me tally up the magazines I once subscribed to that went belly up (and some never returned my money!) - updated 2.22.09<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Craft Magazine</span> -> not officially belly up, but going to digital only. Bummer. I like having an actual magazine. =:(<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Organize</span> -> nice, but mostly a vehicle to sell more product. (Aren't all magazines about the ads?)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Domino</span> -> who knew that one of the few I decided NOT to renew would go belly up shortly afterward? (One could argue that my not renewing contributed to the downfall, but I will not take the blame. Domino had become nothing but another, "Let's let at the lifestyles of pretty, Hollywood people!!" Uh, no thanks.)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Yahoo! Internet Life</span> -> (believe I never saw my money again)<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Motto</span> -> remaining issues converted to Ode, haven't read a single issue since I started receiving. They're now imploring me to renew.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Blueprint</span> -> remaining issues converted to Martha Stewart Living. I enjoyed MSL, but ended up not subscribing. Felt too inferior. Have saved some recipes and ideas from the mag though.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">O at Home</span> -> come on, Oprah, are you going to roll over my $ to extend my sub to Oprah mag? (Also just re-upped my subscription literally the day AFTER the internets were abuzz that the magazine was to cease publication. I have great timing!!)<br />Got an offer...to roll my remaining issues over to Oprah mag (as if I don't subscribe already). Obviously, the subscription department hasn't figured out who was subscribing to both or they simply sent the same card to everyone. Must ensure that the credit will be rolled over so I don't end up with two copies of Oprah for the next however many months.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Adorn</span> -> according to the rumours on the internets this was to be converted to a Knit.1 subscription, but didn't hear anything. Going to check in on this one. I certainly got ripped off, since I had just started the subscription, only to hear that the magazine was DOA. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PC Magazine</span>-> they've gone digital and I let my subscription lapse. The only case where the end of the printed publication coincided with my payment (or lack thereof). I'm not a fan of digital magazines. I've tried many of them; none compare to the dead tree version. And I want to save the planet as much as the next guy...<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Quick & Easy Stitch & Craft</span> (a British Cross Stitch mag) -> converted to You Can Craft! Sad. I let that subscription limp to an end. You Can Craft! is for cardmaking with no cross stitch to speak of. I'm not interested in cardmaking, unless it's to mount a small cross stitch project. *sigh*<br /><br />I'm sure there are others...this list is by no means complete.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-670676616583547992009-01-07T12:44:00.000-08:002009-01-07T12:48:41.106-08:00Dharma and lots of glueI'm making <a href="http://cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/2022/03262/index.html">this</a>, which requires the patience of a saint, 10 hands and slatherings of glue. Pic to follow. (It's taking several days, since it needs to set between glueings.) When it's done, I will officially dedicate it to my search for a shiny new job.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-26538606986354444242009-01-02T23:27:00.000-08:002009-01-02T23:41:43.296-08:00Rediscovering old hardware...oh the joy!The fan on my newer Fujitsu, a T4215, purchased March 2007 has a problem - it runs nonstop and sounds like the computer is about to take flight. Of course, it's out of warranty and I don't want to keep running it, potentially causing the harddrive to melt down, so I've backed up my files and am getting ready to open it up to clean it out (in case there's an easily solved issue). If the diy route doesn't pan out, I'll have to take it in to an authorized Fujitsu repair center. Now is not the time to spend money on keeping my faster laptop going...so..I've pulled out...<br /><br />...my older Fujitsu, my first Fujitsu, a P2040. Its harddrive is tiny (just under 20G) and its processor is equally underpowered - a Transmeta Crusoe TM5800, running at 793 MHz with a grand total of 240 MB of RAM. Quite a step down... Only issue with this cute little machine are the two lines of green and blue pixels on the left of the screen, but other than that, it chugs along like a champ. Believe it was purchased in March 2002.firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-24551842754204227832008-12-22T21:36:00.000-08:002008-12-22T21:39:08.078-08:00Open Hearts?I can't be the only one who things that Jane Seymour's Open Heart design for Kay Jewelers looks like an ample bosom connected to an even bigger bottom...firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-1986480933540402512008-12-21T15:35:00.000-08:002008-12-21T15:44:13.589-08:00Free?!?Since I started <span style="font-style:italic;">ahem</span> collecting sewing, knitting and crochet patterns, I am constantly surprised by the quality of patterns offered for free. What motivates someone to release a pattern into the wild versus only offering it for money? And vice versa... I want all designers to make a buck. In fact, perhaps paying to use a design should be done via an honor system royalty fee paid directly to the designer. I.e. once you've made the item, you pay the designer. On the other hand, I've been occasionally disappointed when I pay for a pattern up front, only to find that it's not to my liking.<br /><br />Just rambling...firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1316223146045399676.post-79270654350507396362008-12-18T22:23:00.001-08:002008-12-18T22:25:44.505-08:00No Snow for meI miss living in Germany =:(. I actually LIKE snow! What I'd give for a Fackelwanderung in winter with Gluehwein offered at the checkpoints...firesheep67http://www.blogger.com/profile/05896771343627956370noreply@blogger.com0