Sewing

All sewn up

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I didn’t bring any of my 5 sewing machines out west. There was a limit to how much could fit in the car. It was my choice.

I was contemplating how to finish the napkin hems, without any fringe, by hand, when I read the Estes Valley Library has sewing machines and lots of other things to lend.

So today I got myself a visitor library card and took out a book and a sewing machine.

They had a wall filled with items you could sign out, including scanners, knitting kits, microscopes, telescopes (something else I left behind), trail cameras and more.

I chose a sewing machine. The kit included white and black thread, extra needles, a sharp pair of scissors (or sharp scissors) a beginner’s guide to sewing, instruction manual, and materials to sew a drawstring bag.

Napkins have been zig zagged, cut apart and washed. I’ll sew the hems after they dry.

Now I have to think about what I’d like to borrow next.

Chat GPT fail

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Due to all the hoopla, I occasionally turn to AI. I wrote a flowery essay about a concert that never happened. I was trying to duplicate a bogus essay our son, who is a college professor, received from a student. I came pretty close even though the performance didn’t occur.

I am making a cover for my hot tub. It doesn’t show up in this photo but the original cover is patched and looking grim. (In the middle of the project, my son told me I could have bought one for a third of the price)!

I wanted to spiff it up because it’s next to a fledgling wildflower garden. That’s another story because I think am growing a monoculture field.

I needed a 79” square to create the round piece for the top. I had 4 yards (144 inches) of 60” wide fabric. A quilting calculator told me how much fabric I needed.

I puzzled over how best to piece it so asked AI.

Cut two pieces 60” x 79”?! Impossible. I could get one piece that size and another 60” x 75”. I thought I might have missed something so asked for a diagram.

Someone was very confused and it wasn’t me.

I made it work.

Put it in writing

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The holidays are behind us.  The stockings, which were hung with care, are back in storage.

  
Attention turns to the New Year and our resolutions. Here’s mine.  In 2016 any additions to my wardrobe will be made by me.  That is not to say I will only wear handmade clothing but I have to make everything I would normally buy.  

Needless to say, I shopped at Victoria’s Secret and the Gap on December 30.

First on my list is a few silk camisoles.  Perhaps pajama pants from handwoven fabric.  My homemade bathing suit (sewn, not knit) is holding up just fine. I’m flush in hats, gloves, and slippers. I may need a wool coat. We’ll see what the New Year brings.

Sew old, sew new

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I used my new(ish) serger and my antique treadle sewing machine to make a portable toddler high chair. I found the pattern at Made by Marzipan. It won’t fit every chair but may fit most. I had something similar when my kids were babies and found it very useful.

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My next one may use a longer wrap to accommodate all chair shapes. I ‘ll see how this one works first.

There was a coyote in the field across the road this afternoon. I’m usually casual about leaving my cat, Loki, out when it’s light but saw this disturbing video today and rustled him inside. They’re howling outside as I write.

Flowers are blooming. I haven’t had the heart to pull off their pretty heads to create dye baths.

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Maybe next year. So far, I have only processed purple basil; there wereno flowers to sacrifice.

Aerobic crafts

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The new belt for my treadle sewing machine arrived and I was motivated to clean, oil and get her working. I even had a project in mind. A small zipper bag I found through pinterest.

It took two attempts to get the belt the right length. It ‘s probably still a little loose but I ‘ll give it a day or two before I shorten the leather belt again.

There’s definitely a learning curve to get the gears to spin in the right direction. That, coupled with thick fabric and a loose belt, made me treadle myself into a lather.

But I made a cute little bag and my machine shines.

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And I still went for a run later in the day.