Getting Reaquainted with your Mother's 10+ year old Serger is Not Easy...

But, at least I'm not afraid of it like I was when I was 13. When she first purchased it, I remember being amazed by what it could do. I didn't know the first bit about truly sewing. But, I knew about playing with machines and fabric, much to my mother's chagrin.

Fast forward to now. The serger was sitting a box, lonely and forlorn. My mother had long since moved on from her interest in sewing. There left only me and my desire to overcome my discomfort of the complicated machine.

I kept visualizing the finished edges and how pretty they would look. Then, I became determined to do it. I followed the color guides on the machine, followed the illustrations in the manual and finally - after all of these years - did it!

The reason why I was so interested in fixing the serger?

There's a project that I discovered on Presser Foot: Inspiration Anthro : Catch and Release Scarf . I won't get into details yet - as I'm doing a few reviews this week on the different projects I've been working on. But, I'm inspired by how I've taught myself how to use elastic thread to gather fabric, based on the tutorial.

Most importantly, I've fixed the Singer serger so that I do not have to do annoying pressed rolled hems to finish the edges!

More updates to come soon!  Until then, check out my new cooking blog, The Farmer, Cook and Spoon.

Sew: Mashup Fail= Simplicity 3503 halter bodice with Simplicity 2580 waist and skirt combo.

One look at Simplicity 3503's halter style and I was in sewing love. Reminding me of my favorite American Apparel Cotton Spandex Jersey Bandeau Dress, I love how halters create a fantastic bust line with a good shaping bra and waist line drape.

However, what I didn't like about 3503 was the gathers at the midriff front. Nor, did I like the midriff design. But, I did like Simplicity 2580. And they are such similar patterns...

So, what's a good sewer to do? Why, a mashup, of course!

........Until you realize that you are utterly sick of the color red, the halter hits too high, the center seam is ugly and you want to throw it in all into the fireplace and burn it while drinking a glass of wine.

In the Process: "Purple Haze", Second Block of Purple

I'm really enjoying the shorten version of my scarf pattern. I'm halfing it based on my usual, generously wide scarf cast on width and making it longer.  While I was at favorite local Starbucks tonight, enjoying a warm cocoa cappuccino, one of the friendly baristas asked about my knitting board. The same thing happened when I walked with it at the Santa Monica Plaza food court yesterday. It's so fun showing people how it works!

Yes, I walked around with a knitting board in Santa Monica. Why? Because I wanted to knit before attending Wine Riot LA 2011 (which was fantastic, by the way. Great chance to volunteer during set up and then enjoy fantastic wines) and I'm cool like that. Besides, who wouldn't want to knit while sitting and overlooking glimpses of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean?

Duh, winning!

Reflections... and a New Pattern: Butterick 5030

I consider this more of an online journal of my creativity and collected information that may be helpful to others than an endeavor to rack of page views and make tons of internet cash. To that effect, I'm pretty happy with my goal.

Within the past week, I've made a blog that is visually pleasing to me and written posts about the creative objects that I've crated and appreciate. My creativity is love expressed through my fingers and into the physical manipulation of objects, fabrics, patterns and crafts to create something beautiful.

The joy of finding a pattern, grading it to fit my body perfectly, cutting it out, sewing and wearing it is fun. Using a 50% off coupon at JoAnn's is like butter cream icing on a birthday cake.

Speaking of JoAnn's and coupons, I purchased a new pattern today - Butterick 5030.

In the Process: "Purple Haze" on the Knitting Board

 

And so the process begins again. The beginning steps toward another scarf. 

Creative Footsteps

Patterns and Pins.	Rough sketch of a new scarf.
A yet to be used skein of dark heather gray atop of various sewing reading materials.	Red thread loaded and ready to go.

Hitting A Creative Wall & Going Around It

You've just completed a beautiful strapless dress. You taught yourself boning, used your rotary cutters perfectly and selected a classic and timeless fabric and pattern combination that makes you feel sophisticated and sensual at the same time. You've taken your customary photographs of you wearing the garment, your face beaming in accomplished pride. In love with the patterns and comments from friends, you gun ho decide to not only do the pattern again - but do two views at the same time!

The vision is set. The new fabrics have been sourced. Cutting and creative assembly begins.  However, somewhere between the first stitch and the final hemming, you suddenly cannot stand to look at the two projects and would rather do everything in your power to avoid even a small glance in their direction.

Welcome to the last few days of my life.

One of the most frustrating parts of a project is visualizing a fantastic final piece, beginning your work with a heart full of gusto - and then, just when the end is in sight, getting unavoidably stuck. It's like a wall of unease has been built around the pieces I once enjoyed. One that I can't forcibly penetrate beyond just waiting it out.