Tag: 2014

Posted on

5 Goals for 2015

It’s been a fun week for me, and I hope not an annoying one for you, with my multitude of posts!

But I have thought long and hard about these goals, since my year may prove to be crazy, with another possible move, the beginning of research for my master’s degree, and more.

So here we go!

1. Make more pieces for subtle cosplay that would work in my daily life.

For instance, I just finished up my Hatter Archer shirt, which I’ll be posting soon. I also have plans to make a jacket from Stargate Atlantis’ later years, though that may take longer. But really, I love wearing any clothing I’ve made, but especially when I feel like I’m getting away with something. Like wearing something made to resemble a character or character’s outfit, without it being outlandish, in regular life with people who have no idea that it means something. Is that weird?

2. Make at least three quilts this year.

I got my sewing start with quilting, and all throughout middle and high school I made a lot of quilts, probably around 50. I fell off the bandwagon in college, when I didn’t bring my sewing machine, but recently I’ve caught the bug again. I’ve got two kits, which should provide me with some quick works, and I’ve got enough fabric to make most of another, but that one will take some real imagination on my part. So I’d like to make more, if possible, but I’ll stick with my goal of three.

3. Make mostly from stash.

Limitations often bug me, especially when it comes to my stash, but I think its time. Last year it didn’t work out, which may have been because I had two stashes, my home stash and my college stash, and I always left the fabric I wanted in the wrong place. But now I think it would be prudent to pare down when possible. So I’m thinking for every two finished projects from the stash, I can allow myself one fabric for a new one. This is going to count projects that are still on my in progress pile (as well as my new Archer, because I can), but not reworking of old projects.

4. Try to use my serger more, as well as my other more specialized crafting.

I have this wondrous serger that is only sometimes broken, but I rarely use it because it seriously sounds like a train. So I’ve been restricting it to use only when my roommates aren’t home, and pretty much only daylight hours. But I rarely get inspired during that time, so I don’t pull out these tools often. Same with my leatherworking tools, which I’d also like to use more.

5. Emphasize materials and fit.

When I do buy fabric, I want it to be at least pretty good quality. I started doing that for my yarn projects this summer, and now I use the socks and cowl all the time. Maybe that’ll help in sewing too. And when I make a garment, I want to know that it fits, so after the first (real, not blog pic) wearing, I’ll decide whether to fix or to leave each project, or donate if its horrible. That should help with my meh feelings on some of my me mades.

Well, it has been a lovely week, and a nice roundup for me.

I’ll be back next week to start running through my list of finished but not blogged projects. I also will have a series of posts related to my TARDIS costume, and hopefully some more subtle cosplay stuff showing up!

See you next week!

Posted on

Top 5 Reflections of 2014

Happy New Year! Cue the confetti!

Reflecting on last year seems appropriate, no?

(And I’m really glad that the goals are for tomorrow, because I still haven’t thought about it!)

1. I’m happier with the finished product when I love the fabric.

Some discount fabric stores draw me in with low prices that make me buy things I think I want (like a cute pattern in a polyester) , until I make something with it. Like with my Peanut Butter Cup Nettie, I thought the fabric was great, even though it was most certainly polyester and cheap feeling, but when I went to wear the bodysuit it was sticky and got smelly too soon, and in general just isn’t comfy.

2. Others’ generosity is why I have a fantastic stash.

Over half of my stash is gifted fabric. Whether its destash from my boss, or free lace that my mom stumbled upon when a home-ec program was dissolved, or bags of fabric from freecycle-type websites, I’m lucky to have had such great sources of fabric. My notions stash is predominately vintage, and (not that I like my family getting too old to sew) most of the growth of it is from family destashing, or neighbors of family destashing, etc.

3. I like solid colors. I prefer solid colors. Solid colors are my thing.

Patterns tend not to get worn. I’ve got some RTW stripey sweaters, and a few dresses that have tiny patterns. I just noticed that three of my misses involved larger patterns. Now, I’ve got plenty of fabric with patterns, and I have no intention of not making them up when the need arrives, but if I’m going for clothes that I’ll wear again and again, it should be solid. But I love textures in my fabric. Lace, velvet, textured knits, those are fantastic for me.

4. Because I like solids, patterns should have “interesting design lines” or be suitably complicated, or exactly what I need before I’ll want/buy it.

For instance, the Hudson pants (which I’ll be posting on soon)… lounge pants with pockets? Sold! Or the Bronte top, which I had been wishing for and finally bought through a Perfect Pattern Parcel. That neckline! Or the Dandelion Dress and the Yellowtail Camisole from Seamster. Perfection! Actually, all of these I’ll be posting

5. A good balance of costuming and real life clothes is best, especially until I actually attend a con.

I started this blog and my journey in sewing clothes through costumes, but in order to keep my inspiration and sanity, a good mix of costuming is key. It helps with procrastinations. You know, when you procrastinate on one thing by working on another? Cleaning is always an option, but other projects are ideal.

Looking over this list, I think I’ve had plenty of soul searching this year, which often comes hand in hand with big life changes, but I like what I’ve learned, and I’m looking forward to incorporating it into my practices!

Posted on

Top 5 Highlights of 2014

Ah highlights. A good post for New Year’s Eve!

1. I graduated college!

It was nice to finally reach the end of my undergraduate career. Even if April was brutal, it allowed for a fantastic May!

2. I got into graduate school, and have now completed my first semester!

Pretty much forever I’ve wanted to be a scientist, and now I’m well on my way to reaching my dreams. And its warmer here than my undergraduate college. I think I chose well!

3. Moved into my first apartment!

This goes hand in hand with grad school, but after living at a completely residential college for my 4 years there, its nice to be able to light candles, and nearly burn things in the kitchen (and then catch them before its too late), and hang pictures on the walls without fear of campus safety or residential life, respectively.

4. I knitted my first successful socks!

Years and years have passed since I’ve started knitting, but I never got around to socks, until this year!

5. I haven’t bought new clothing since January!

Now, this isn’t counting thrift store shopping, since I have bought some used jeans. The last new thing I bought was some jeans off of Groupon that didn’t exactly fit, but I needed them when I couldn’t exactly thrift or make last semester. Now that I’ve thrifted some more jeans, I’ll be removing these ill-fitted jeans from my wardrobe, and then its like it never happened, right? Maybe not, but at least I know I won’t be needing to buy more anytime soon!

Happy New Year’s Eve!

Posted on

Top 5 Misses of 2014

So here’s my top 5 misses. And in reality, for sewing at least, it looks like there’s only 5! Pretty sweet, in my mind!

Front

1. Meshy mesh shirt

In reality, I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t wear t-shirts like this and mesh shirts aren’t my thing. Maybe it’ll work as a beach thing (and leave some weird tan lines), but I’m not sure of anything at this point.

frontcolor

2. Hybrid top

I thought this was going to be awesome, and part of the downfall was that it was my first time sewing knits, but it’s relegated to the Fix Me pile.

frontyel

3. Gold skirt

Major panty lines. And stomach bulge. Not bad for a stay at home skirt though, for doing home tasks and maybe taking out the trash. Especially in the heat of summer when all I want to do is die.

front

4. Peanut butter cup bodysuit

It was such a nice make, a slinky bodysuit for wearing with all my skirts. Except it doesn’t match any of my skirts. And it’s not comfy. It sticks to my belly too much. But it’ll hang around for at least a little. Maybe it’ll be better in spring?

cutefront

5. Sorbetto

Not the worst thing I’ve ever made, but it does require ironing. Every single time it comes out of the laundry. I’m not very big on ironing. So I’ve only worn it once after the initial wear and fix. Since I still haven’t ironed it.

The two misses I’ve made otherwise are my 3 year sweater, and my burgundy bliss shrug. Haven’t managed to wear them since posting. The 3 year sweater may be fixable, but we’ll see.

See you tomorrow!

Posted on

Top 5 Hits of 2014

Why hello there! Remember me?

It’s been over a month now, but finals and schoolwork got in the way. I did make some stuff, but that will be relegated to the new year.

But I’m back for the reflection on the 2014 year. I’ll be posting each of the sewing top 5 this week, one day at a time.

So first up: Hits!

DSC01855

1. My graduation dress!

Now, I’ve only worn this once, and I have a feeling I won’t be wearing it much more but it was a fantastic learning experience and it was nice to know I was wearing me made during May, even on such a big day. As a plus, my mom and my grandmother loved it!

pockets

2. Jersey black dress

This simple staple is one of the most comfy things I own. Seriously. Perhaps one of the most comfy things I’ve ever owned. So much comfy. It doesn’t try to be things it isn’t, and it doesn’t ever fly up in the wind, and I don’t feel especially dressy when wearing it, but it feels at least a bit dressy. Maybe that’s a reason to make another!

front

3. Grey circle skirt

My first full circle skirt, made out of suiting fabric no less, and I wear it all the time. Sometimes I go looking for it and realize its in the wash. Because I’ve worn it twice since the last time it got washed.

whole

4. Knapsack

I didn’t spend much time on the post for this, but that was partly since I had already been using it for a few weeks. In reality, I designed it one day during class (oops!), and I went home and made it that weekend. I had planned for it to be a “wearable” muslin, to make it out of a paisley fabric later, but then I never wanted to pull it apart.

front

5. Comfy tee

Like the circle skirt, I’m continually looking to wear this. I’m embarrassed to admit, one day I wanted to wear it, and then I realized that not only had I worn it the day before, but also that I couldn’t find it since I was still wearing it.  That was most certainly a fun day.

Honorable mention goes to my knitted socks. I love them so much, but I can only wear them for a day or two between washes before they stretch out.

Secondary honorable mention to my rainforest purse. I use it weekly, and its also a great day trip bag since it both holds so much and rarely looks full.

So that wraps up my top 5 hits! See you tomorrow for the misses!

Posted on

My Most Comfy Tee Ever

This fabric is one of the softest I have ever worn. Especially for a jersey.

I want to live in this fabric. Forever!

Unfortunately, I only have a finite amount, since it’s a mystery fabric find from a discount fabric store in New England.

So knowing that I only had a bit to work with, I wanted to make sure I used it well!

And I made a Nettie. Not this Nettie, which I still love dearly, and should remember to wear more often, but a Nettie shirt.

front

After seeing Lauren’s Nettie shirts, I had a plan to make a few for layering shirts once winter showed up, so I’m glad I started early.

Knowing that I wanted to use the higher back, I printed out a new copy of the pattern, and glued it together. I’ve begun to glue-stick my patterns, so I can easily take them back apart for better storage. Gone are the days of folding bulky taped patterns, at least for future pattern buys!

For sizing, I ended up using a slightly odd combo. I sized up one (from my mid-back pattern) at the shoulders, and through the armscye, but cut the sleeves a little skinnier to my original size, and after the waist I swerved out to two or three sizes up. I cut the bottom off around where the front turns into the bodysuit, and I attempted elbow-length sleeves, which is what all my long sleeve shirts turn into anyway, after I push the sleeves up!. In the future versions, I might even lengthen it, but this is perfect for this version!

back

I sewed it up according to the directions, but I left both the bottom and the sleeves unhemmed. I’ve given myself a policy that if it doesn’t need a hem, it shouldn’t get a hem. Most people around me already know I make my own clothes, and those that don’t will mostly not even notice!

There might even be enough fabric to squeeze out a Yellowtail, in conjunction with some other fabric, so I’m quite pleased!

 

Posted on

Foodie Friday #9

Why hello again!

I’ve been making lots of food (cause I need to eat, of course), but only a few new things over the past couple of weeks.

Including some nice pizza crusts, for thin crust pizzas! I made a batch of this dough, divided it into four pizzas, so I’d have crusts that would fit in my trusty cast iron pan, which makes it so easy to come home, preheat the oven and stuff some toppings on the crust and stick the pizza in the oven for a couple of minutes basically until the cheese melts. Easy as pie, and a nice change of pace from having to make something each night, but the downside is having no leftovers for lunch.

I found a nice recipe for granola bars, which I’ve made twice now. The first time, I actually had some nuts, and I used crunchy peanut butter, so it felt like actual granola bar quality stuff, but it ended up being super crumbly. So the second time, I supplemented the oats with Rice Krispies, and added some more peanut butter, actually double the peanut butter, but it ended up being hard enough, but still crumbly, which I think was because the Rice Krispies fill up more air spaces than the nuts did, so I had more material to cover. I’ll be trying again sometime, once I actually get some more nuts.

The Kitchn had a nice recipe for ricotta spaetzle, which is probably going to be my go to meal every time ricotta is available to me. It was delicious and really easy to make! I need to work on some timing, though, so I’ll have nice fresh spaetzle as well as something to eat it with, because I’ve mostly been eating it with butter, since that’s the only thing available right after pulling them from the pot.

I ate the same potato and sweet potato for three days straight! The first day I had them straight from the oven with some cheese and salt, and some salt and sugar. The second day I cut them up to make something resembling a hash. And for dinner that night (and lunch and dinner the next) I included it in the next endeavor.

Have you ever watched a tv show, any tv show, and suddenly had a craving for whatever the characters (or people) were eating? I don’t know about you, but when I watch Supernatural I start to crave pie. This time, though I was watching the show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and the restaurant made the most delicious looking pot pie. And I thought to myself, I love pot pie and I have puff pastry in the freezer: I think its time to make pot pie! I kinda just went by feel and the loose directions given in the show… I made a roux, cut up a carrot, added in the potato hash, added a cup of chicken stock, put in some pork (since it was my meat of the week). I covered it with puff pastry, and set it in a 375* oven. I then fried up the remaining puff pastry and topped with cinnamon sugar while I waited. And after a half hour or so, the pot pie came out smelling wonderfully! Since everything had been cooked previously (except the carrot), I didn’t have to worry about eating raw food, I was more worried about the puff pastry baking, and all in all, it was a good experiment!

Are you obsessed with ginger? Because I’m obsessed with ginger, and therefore it was time to make candied ginger! I used this recipe, which worked perfectly and created the most addictive ginger. Next time I might make thin coins instead, though, since the slivers were inconvenient to sift out of the sugar, but I kept the ginger sugar, as well as the crystallized syrup left over from the candying. I’m thinking tea!

I even used some of the ginger sugar in a baked apple I made! I recently bought these ginormous apples, which were nearly twice as big as my small fist. So what better to make than a baked apple? I mixed together some salt, some ginger sugar, some cinammon sugar, some brown sugar, and some toasted oats, and then stuffed it in a basically cored apple at 400* for 25 minutes. So good!

And a long anticipated bread update! I’ve been pretty satisfied with my bread, so much that I’ve begun to forgo the recipe, and I’ve started to just play around a bit. This week, though, I switched it up and made rolls, and they are delicious! I’ll probably end up wasting less bread this way, since they’re the perfect size to keep in my freezer and pull out for a lunch, while my bread has been been a bit too big to stuff in the freezer, even sliced, so I always run into the end of the bread that is basically inedible without lots of chewing or turning it into croutons. But with rolls, this could be different!

What have you been making?

Posted on

Quiver – Part 2

My unfinished quiver sat around for over a month between the first part and todays, but it was mostly because I was trying to determine the best way to sew it up.

I thought I could maybe butt up the two sides so they would form a solid point… My leather was just a bit too floppy for this.

I thought maybe I could fold under and sew it up like a seam. My leather had just too much structure.

And then it became the lace versus waxed thread debate. And where would I even attach the belt?

So I waffled.

initial

But I knew that my TARDIS belt was going to be made of leather, and I have a policy for leather goods and myself, that I am not allowed to cut into leather if I’m still working on a different piece. So I had to finish the quiver.

stitching

Using my trusty awl, I punched holes every 1/4 inch both up the seam line and around the bottom, since I knew I’d be attaching a cap to the bottom.

Waxed thread was my “weapon of choice” in the end. I used a whip stitch, I guess, to sew up the seam, which seemed to hold it very stably.

inside

I had intentions of attaching the belt by running it through the quiver itself, but that didn’t pan out. For one, I only had as long as a partially used cow belly, which was not as long as I was expecting. Threading it through like that also made it really blocky and uncomfortable. Comfort is key in the costume game, especially since I’d already be wearing a corset, which is enough comfort-restraint.

top

So I ended up running a few loops of waxed threads to serve as attachments for the belt. It works well for now, but I’ll probably need to adjust it in the future.

Then I actually needed to make the belt.

belt

I wanted it to be something I could potentially wear, since I love the buckle so much. Isn’t it just the cutest shield ever? But I also knew the belt had to be long in order to cross my body like a messenger bag. So I made it as long as I could, and punched holes in various places, so I could wear it at my natural waist, or through jeans, or through the quiver. I cut a simple design using my swivel knife, just diagonal lines, and I tooled a few sections for some visual interest. It doesn’t show through the paint though, so I ended up painting a very subtle alteration between cream and ivory, based on my ability to mix paints well, which ended up with a more ivory batch right at the end of the painting cycle.

So that’s it for my quiver! Isn’t it purdy?

Posted on

Knapsack

At the beginning of the semester I ran into this problem…

whole

My trusty backpack that I’ve used since 8th grade was just a bit too big for what I needed to bring into grad school each day. You see, I have an office, or rather a cubicle in a shared office with three others. I’ve personalized it and everything. Most of my prop type things have migrated there. So I don’t have to carry around an entire world, since I’ve got plenty of space to stash stuff.

And my “laptop” bag was too small. I made it specifically to carry my old laptop, which was a smidgeon bigger than my current one, and one or two notebooks. I have managed to stuff up to 6 slim notebooks and the laptop, but I was constantly worried about it breaking. I am planning to use it as a “round campus” bag, though.

But I really needed an in-between bag.

So I made one to fit my laptop!

I cut the back to the approximate dimensions of my laptop, adding about an inch to the width, and a few to the height, which I later cut down to size. The width of the laptop segment was maybe 2 inches? I measured the depth of my laptop to be 1 inch, and I wanted some extra clearance room, since this was non-stretch upholstery weight fabric. I forgot, though, that my laptop has some curvy sides, which also ends up adding clearance room.

inside

The other bit of side is trapezoidal, made from an eyeballed width of fabric at the proper height, triangled, and sewn up. The front panel was just a longer version of the back. I added a top flap, which rarely seems to sit properly, but I like it. The straps were made up of scraps, and are actually comfy for being un-interfaced and un-padded.

It’s  unlined, but that’s more because I was lazy, and for the most part the seams are unfinished. All the pieces went through my serger, except the top flap, but the seams themselves aren’t backed up.

But it fits everything I need, is comfy, rather stylish at the moment, was free to me, since I was donated the fabric, and I know how to fix or remake, if the need arises.

back

Backpack crisis averted!

Posted on

Foodie Friday #8

Most of my ‘experiment’ cooking is relegated to weekends. There’s more time to sit and read a recipe or a technique. And you don’t have to be starving while you’re waiting for the food to cook because it’s been a long day and it’s already dinnertime because a class ran over and the bus was late and you’ve got a test tomorrow…

Those times are not conducive to experimenting.

A few weekends ago I was away at a symposium, so my cooking efforts has to be on Sunday. I made quinoa as my grain for the week, cooking it in chicken stock, which made it really easy to shove into a small lunch container with some peppers and pork for a lunch. So I ended up eating grain salads all that week.

The next week I was on math homework mode, so I don’t think I made anything special. My lunches ended up being tortillas and hummus, and my dinners were whatever I had left in the fridge…

The next week was worse. I don’t think I ate a vegetable for nearly a full week. Not my shining moment.

This week, though, I’ve finally had time to both make stuff and update you!

I made marzipan last week, and molded it into strawberries using this recipe. It made an awful lot and now I wish I had only turned half of it into the strawberry form… But when I brought them to a potluck, they were certainly eaten up!

A new batch of potstickers was also on the menu, using this recipe. When I ran out of wrappers I just cooked the rest through and have been eating it “plain”which is still quite tasty. I find the recipe to yield a product that is too liquidy and oily, though, so in the future I’m cutting back on the seasoning.

I also made my first risotto add my grain for the week. I used the Kitchn’s method, which is straightforward and easy. Mine needs a little more salt, but it’s quite good!

So that’s what I’ve been up to… made anything good yourself?