Getting Started, Again...

 Like the title says...

Actually, I wanted to get back to this a while ago but couldn't remember where I set up my blog.  I had finally decided to just create a new blog.  My daughter recommended that I use Google Blogger, and when I logged in, I found my old blog.  Ha, ha, ha.

So, we'll see how it goes this time.

My Next Projects

This next week, if all goes well, I hope to complete a skirt for each of my daughters and a top for myself.

The skirts are going to be made from a diagonally printed black, grey and white plaid on a very soft, woven polyester - probably not the greatest quality, but they both loved it, it was very inexpensive, and I plan to make very simple skirts, so they can enjoy them as long as they last.

The plan is to make a flared skirt (as flared as I can get, out of the width of the fabric) on a lycra yoke. It'll be my first time drafting a pattern from scratch, but I don't anticipate too many problems. How hard can a skirt like this be? (Oh no, have I just tempted the gods?) If I can get out a 1-seam pattern, that'll be great; otherwise I'll do 2 side seams. The material is in the dryer now after pre-washing and I hope to draft the patterns tomorrow night.

For myself, I plan on making a top from Diana Moden (No. 16 - Model 27D).

I think the raglan sleeves are a good style as I'm losing weight. Anyway, I've seen a number of shirts like this in the new fall collections, so I'll be right in style.

I'll make it first in a black jersey (pre-washed and ready to go), with an alteration for *big* hips and stomach, and possible FBA. That will be my muslin (hopefully wearable). Then I'd like a couple more - red and aqua - both *my* colors.

Getting Started

Here I am, with my brand-new blog (first ever) and not quite sure how to start.

Why did I set up a blog?

OK, that's pretty easy. Since retiring two years ago and finishing our house renovation (inside and out) this summer, I'm starting to get around to doing some of the things on my pre-retirement list - the list I posted on the fridge when I was making my final decision about whether or not the time had come to give my notice at work. I was really worried that I wouldn't have enough to do. Ha, ha, ha, ha. It's amazing how I manage to fill my days without any effort.

Anyway... One of the things at the top of my list is to start sewing again. Now that we've more or less finished the renovation and putting everything back in place, I have the time. I have lots of patterns, Burda and other magazines, etc. and a fair amount of fabric. I'm sewing for myself and my two daughters (17 and 22) and this seemed like a good way to get myself organized.

So far, I've made the following things:

1. Long, black wrap-around skirt for my daughter (pattern made from an existing skirt of hers)
2. 3 tops for myself from Knitwit #3300 - short-sleeved, drop sleeve knit shirt
3. Collarless blouse and 8-gore, elastic-waist skirt from the KwikSew patterns included with "Easy Sewing the Kwik Sew Way." I was a little disappointed in the fit of the blouse. I made it before I studied up on FBA and the fit through the shoulders is terrible. I realize now that I should have made it in a medium or even small and done the FBA. When I have the energy, I think I'll take it apart of see if I can fix it (otherwise, it'll be a wadder).

I'm working hard at losing weight and getting into shape (9.5 kilos lost since 12 August) and initially didn't plan on making anything new for myself at this point. Then my husband said that it didn't matter if I would only wear something for a few months before it was too big. He's tired of me wearing shlumpy, worn-out clothes and even helped me to pick out fabric that he liked.

I have to admit that I haven't been able to bring myself to make up any of the fabric we bought together - it's just too pretty. But, I have a fair amount of jersey in my stash, and decided that I'd start making myself some tops, a few at a time, every 5 kilos or so, as I lose weight. That way, I'll have some new things that fit reasonably well, every month or so. I have 2 skirts that just started to fit (purchased last summer just a little bit too small) and 4 more that will fit me in another 5 kilos or so.

I don't want to invest too much time in fitting and altering patterns for clothes that I'll only wear for a short time, and simple, knit tops seem to be the best way to go.

In any case, my daughters have enough requests to keep me busy during the winter.