Instead of cutting wool, we're eating Yogurt. Day 32.

Still feeling bummed about frogging the entire panel of Ramon's sweater, I haven't gotten to cutting the wool, or going to the fabric store for the lining yet. Instead, I am contemplating something Ramon said last night, and little kitty and I are sharing some yogurt.



During dinner Ramon commented that I may have greater needs than my sewing machine can fulfill. What!?! *Still* waiting to get it back, he suggested that when I go in, I talk to the people there, since they are actually nice AND helpful, and get their opinion about my machine and its abilities to meet my great sewing needs. Ramon said to tell them about the project, and "really how much sewing you are, and are going to be doing over the next year. Julie, you may want to trade it in while it is still less than a year old, and in perfect working order. You may need something more robust."

Why does that make me feel about as sad as frogging his sweater?

Knit. Frog. Repeat. Day 31.

Looks like I dove back in too quickly, and should have taken a break.

So, with the in-between sweater that I finished on Monday night, looks like the gauge swatch that I made for "The Sweater I Hope Ramon Will Wear," is no longer accurate. Instead of the width being 20", as my gauge swatch, now cat toy, indicated, with the in-between project something changed, and now it is almost 23". Well, double that, as there is a front and a back, and 46" is WAY to big for Ramon. So, you know what that means:



I had just started on the second hank turned ball of yarn about 8 rows back. The bad news is: the entire panel must be frogged, and I have to start over. The good news—yes, there is some—i figured it out now, and not when the sweater was done. I fretted and fretted over the size of the last sweater, following the gauge swatch, but it turned out perfectly.

Lesson learned: Do gauge swatch ONLY right before beginning a project. Then, don't start a project in the middle.



16.5 inches and 250 yards of yarn out and equals how many inches of progress???

In other news, I finished my trial wool-blend skirt today, and I mostly love it. I do not love the double inverted kick-pleat, but a finer fabric may have fixed that. In the end for the final run, that part is out. Tomorrow I will begin cutting my wool for the McQueen skirt, and I need to acquire lining fabric, too. Still at a loss with no sewing machine, I will try to head into the lab to see if I can make any stitching progress. Speaking of which, I made friends with one of the Industrial Juki sewing machines in the lab today. Though, apparently everyone else had, too, because they kept trying to move my things to use the machine while I was at the ironing station. Back-off bitches! Let see if I can snag the same one tomorrow. I might have to knit some boxing gloves.

Jury Duty: Part 1 of ?. Day 30.

I've spilled the Trefethen. At least it was only a little.

Quite a busy one today, I did have to report for Jury Duty, and dutifully worked on my knitting while waiting for Panel 5 to be called, only to learn that this four day trial is two days this week, and two days the week I start my contract. Feeling reluctant, and a little guilty, I asked to be deffered. I could tell this would have been an interesting case to "jur" on.

While waiting at the court-house—forever, mind you—I made a fair amount of progress on the next knitting project. The lovely older woman who was sitting next to me, patiently reading her book was extremely excited about my knitting. She is an avid knitter, and currently has three knitting irons in the fire. Sounds familiar. She says that she didn't even think about bringing her knitting in. I told her I figured that if TSA lets you through security with wooden or plastic needles—I have never had the nerve to try metal ones—then the court security should allow it, too. Assuming that she wound up being selected for the trial, she will be bringing her knitting in with her, tomorrow.

I brought Ramon and Thomas lunch from the "Wing Stop"—there is such a thing?—because they have more Bimmers there than in Germany right now, and that is what they requested. I was very happy when Ramon reported that another customer that he hasn't seen in years came in, and mentioned the new website as well as some of the content on the new website. Yes, it is true that they may have needed to come in anyway, but the *knew* about it! So, in my book, that means that it's working.

Upon returning home, I hand-stitched in the lining to the skirt I have been working on. With no machine, I thought it best to try to develop some of my hand sewing skills. I have completely stitched together the lining, and I sewed it to the invisible zipper seam. Now I have no excuse for not getting the rest of the skirt done tomorrow in the sewing lab.

From the outside:


From the inside:


I miss my sewing machine. I shall drown my sorrows with more of this very fine '06 Napa Cab.

Running with Scissors. Day 29.

There was an episode of Sex and the City in which Miranda is upset because she has gotten stood-up on a first date, only to learn that her date had a heart-attack and died. Hence, a no-show. She feels dumb, selfish, and guilty upon learning of the true reason for his absence. Have you ever felt that?

I was bummed last week when my new acquaintance from school didn't come to class. I know that she may not be all that satisfied with the curriculum as previous experience and expectation often lead you down a different road. I didn't get her contact information, and, to be perfectly honest, was feeling pretty sorry for myself when I didn't see her.

Well, she did come to class today. Reason for the absence? She was attacked by a sexual-predator while jogging! Wait, this stuff happens in real life? Apparently yes! Thank GOD she is OK. She started screaming at the top of her lungs, and he ran away. I remember the day that I was followed home by the guy that wound up banging on my door (yes, I should have noticed him, I was overworked and this was the day of a product launch). I can't say that the experience is the same, but you still feel horrified, terrified, and violated. A good reminder to all the ladies, and fella's, to keep an eye on your surroundings. My new friend has since signed up for the gym. Staring at the wall may be boring, but being attacked is worth looking at eggshell paint. Besides, that is what streaming Netflix on the iPad is for!

I have also been feeling badly that my friend who works at EDD hasn't called me back. Again, miss-sulk-ie-poo, needs to think twice before sporting pouty lip. I talked to my mom today, and while our friend was riding home from work on his motorcycle, in San Francisco, he got hit by a car that turned right in front of him. I didn't even know he road bikes, and he is not one of my motorcycle industry friends, so this just shocked me. He is doing "OK," many shattered things in his right lower leg, and a punctured lung. Very sad and upsetting news. He will be in the hospital for a while, and a trip to visit will be arranged shortly.

I really hate all of this bad news.

However, there is some good news. The sweater I have been working on is almost done.I only have the ribbing in the collar left, and of-course the finishing, which always takes a few hours. No point in spending that much time on something to take short-cuts with the finishing.

I took a brief break tonight to help Ramon make dinner, during which I watched a shun knife bounce off of my left middle finger ... leaving quite a mark on the nail, but amazingly no-where else. I really, really hate cutting slick things like onions and apples with the shun. I don't mind the dull things, or meat, but when it comes to slick, i strongly prefer my exacto knife, which sadly can't be applied to produce.

So, today has really been sort of a doozie. Though, finishing this sweater, while not part of Project Hallway, meaning I am even more behind, but still being very important, I have had some time to think and reflect over the quiet afternoon in our air-conditioned apartment.

Lessons learned:

1. Read way ahead in the pattern, not just your next step. Meaning: Anticipate what is next, and be aware of your surroundings.

2. The skills that I am learning may appear complicated and scary, but they're really not. They just take some patience, and practice. Meaning: I can totally do this.



I am happy that all of my friends are, or will hopefully soon be OK.

Wine Festival. Day 28.

I spent all weekend pouring wine for Big Basin Vineyards at the Saratoga Art and Wine Festival. Good wine and even better people-watching and made for a great time. Yesterday Ramon came and helped out as well, today it was just Jeff and I. Of course this meant that I got no sewing in, which isn't a big surprise given that I am down one sewing machine at the moment, and with the 95°+ dry weather, no one wants to be fumbling around with wooliness, just chilled wine-iness. So no knitting either.

I was very surprised at how little traffic the overall festival had. Yesterday was busier, but still quite slow. Saratoga is an absolutely beautiful setting, and there were lots of great vendors, including the bay-area woman who makes her own shoes, complete with 5-week old kitten in-tow.

One of my favorite people to meet was a police officer, on duty for the event, who has a serious passion for wine. While he might be on the SWAT team, and scream profanities at you while beating you with is night-club, he would prefer to do it with a complex Syrah in hand. My next favorite was this sweet old man, who happily let me take a picture of him and his pup. They were out in the morning, enjoying the art and the the wine at 10 am, before the heat of the afternoon:



Yesterday I wore jeans, and a tank-top, but it was way to hat for that. Today I wore some shorts that I made during the summer, from a pattern that I created, of course, and I got a surprising number of comments and compliments on them! I should take some pictures and post them here. They are the only pair of shorts that I own AND wear.

And then there was this guy. By the way, 1982 wants its shirt back:



I also called in for my Jury Duty information, and it looks like I may not be needed after all. To be honest, I can't say that I am not a little disappointed. I was thinking it could be quite interesting, and certainly a change of pace. So, assuming that this all stays true tomorrow when I have to call back, between 11 and noon, I am really, really looking forward to getting into the sewing lab tomorrow, when I know that the machines will be as free.

More Snake-Print Success. Day 26.

The afternoon at the sewing lab was a total bust. Every single machine had a sewer, so, sadly, I turned around and went home for the afternoon. I decided to spend some time getting to knew my serger a little better. I am bad. I only use it to finish edges that I have already stitched with the Bernina. Why? Because I always wind up making mistakes and having to rip out seams. Not so easy to rip out seams on knits though.

Putting down my knitting, I picked up the black stretch knit that I picked up in San Francisco on wool journey on Tuesday. I drafted a pattern for leggings, as for this look I need to make a brown pair:



The black pair that I made required a few adjustments in the pattern. Then I made the brown pair (as in the picture above).

Then I made these:



Now, I haven't done the hems, because I need to acquire a blind hemmer foot for the serger, and I have no idea how to do it. So my brown and snake-print leggings aren't quite done, but close. And, so far they have been 100% successful! Granted, knit is stretchy, and the snake-print isn't as stretchy as it needed to be, so my ass-crack may show when I sit in those leggings, but 1. They're leggings so the top/waist will often be covered with something and 2. They're snake-print, so isn't ass-crack more rocker? Ok, maybe not, so we'll just go with #1.

Do you know what this means??? This is the FIRST project where I haven't had to rip out a seam!!! Yes, it is an extremely simple project, but you have to start somewhere, right?

I'd also like to note that this time, for all you whiners out there, I smiled in the hallway picture. I would also like to apologize for recycling a pair of shoes in a hallway picture so early. The brass-square-toe McQueens just absolutely amazing shoes. I'll spice it up with something new next time.

Back to the Beginning, Again. Day 26.

Yeah. Hooray! Well, I knit myself back up to the point that I had to start frogging yesterday. I still have another inch to go before I can start knitting the arms into the body. For some reason I thought that I could get this sweater done in a week. I think this was contributing to my disappointment and lack of feeling inspired last night. This pattern is more tough than any other that I have followed—while it is easier than the pink sweater, as I created that pattern—so why am I setting really, really unrealistic expectations on myself? I mean, setting un-realistic expectations is normal for me, but lets try to use at least a little common sense here.

With the sewing machine gone, I will have all weekend to work on this sweater, and maybe get it done. (There, that is more realistic).



So, what happened to the sewing machine? Ramon was kind enough to spend an hour looking at it with great intensity, even after having one margarita at the Mexican place down the street. When you walk in, and they place your Margarita order for you, correctly, before you even get seated at your table, you can't say no! Ramon concluded that there was a "Timing Issue" with the bobbin assembly and the needle. No Mom, it does not have a timing belt. Apparently it has no timing. So, I asked Ramon how it could be fixed, and he said "By using its warranty" with a sad face.



Well, the place I bought the machine from is full of rude sales people who, after buying my machine, insult it and say it is not a "real Bernina," because it is part of the Bernette Series. So, I did not want to go back there. Instead I followed Nicole's advice and went to a different place.

You know that sinking feeling you get when you realize that you have made a huge mistake? Well, that is the feeling I got when I walked into the new sewing machine shop. I realized that I should have bought my machine from them. Man, were they nice, helpful, and knowledgeable. They quickly moved my machine into triage, and the sewing machine surgeon came out, and identified that the problem is, in-fact, a timing issue (now you must imagine Ramon grinning like the Cheshire Cat). Upon explaining that I bought the machine on May 31st of 2010, the sewing machine doc reacted in pure shock. I guess this is uncommon for a machine that is so new. Silver lining?

And, most importantly, how long will it take to get the machine back? I was speculating 6-8 weeks, because what do I know. Ramon looked at me like I am crazy when I said this. The sewing machine guy said ... drum roll please ... by the end of the week!

By the end of the week, does that mean this week, or next week? The last time I was in a similar situation was when I pre-ordered my iPad+3g at the beginning of the year. As April began, Apple updated my online order to say it would ship at the "End of April." On Thursday, April 29th, I called Apple to inform them that my order said it would ship at the "End of April," and that it was in-fact the "End of April," and that I was just extremely excited, could I please have my iPad? I got it the next day.

So, with the sewing machine out of commission I headed into the sewing lab for a while yesterday afternoon. I finished, and submitted my homework to my professor, who had completely forgotten our conversation from the day before when I explained that I may have Jury Duty next week, and wanted to turn in my homework early. She also used this as an opportunity to ask me if I had an previous sewing experience. I told her about my BFA from the Academy of Art, and that I taught there. She just started pointing with a European siren like "Ah" noise coming from her mouth.

Then, I did the unthinkable. I used the incredibly frightening industrial sewing machine to finish sewing the lining for my wool-blend test skirt. The very lining that broke my Bernina. Cheating? No. Scary. Yes! There are 22 steps to thread these son-of-bitches, and once you get them threaded properly they can still cause you a world of hurt in a fraction of a second. They have the ability to go really, really fast. The pedal is huge, and not very well modulated. In-fact, the pedal is VERY much like Ramon's s54ti throttle pedal right now. Nothing happens in the first 90 percent, but in the last 10 it is incredible sensitive. These machines go so fast that if you are not careful they will break your spool and bobbin thread, break the needle and tear your fabric. Sounds like fun, huh?

Somehow I managed to make it through the lining with great success. Maybe it had to do with me being slightly less caffeinated for the experience and the afternoon. I planned ahead.

On the returning, and buying of fabric. Day 25.

Oh my God, Big Kitty just farted on me. Isn't that just typical for how the day has gone.

Well, maybe it's not, maybe I am just being overly pessimistic. I have had quite a number of successes for the day, so what is the problem in my current feeling of completely at a lack of inspiration? It could be that, even though I finished both sleeves of the sweater I am knitting, I realized I had other big problems. Remember two inches frogged and one inch knit equals three inches of progress? Turns out that I still hadn't read the pattern carefully enough. The size that I am working on is somewhere in the middle of the sizing for the pattern which can get confusing, and on-top of that reading knitting patterns can be a confusing as it is. I often feel how perhaps the opposing forces felt when trying to decrypt the Navajo language that the US was using to send secret messages during WWII. So, two inches frogged again, I am feeling a little down, despite the fact that now I am almost back to wear I started.

On Sunday I returned fabric. I know. I know.

This was a first (and perhaps once) in a lifetime experience. I bought three yards of this great animal print, but upon getting it home realized that it wasn't as great as I originally mused. Because it was three yards, I didn't feel badly about taking it back, three yards is enough to include back into the bolt, and I have bough enough fabric from them that even if they lost the money from this return, they still come out ahead. Not knowing the procedure for the return, I checked with the gal at the counter. She informed me I needed to take my receipt and my fabric back to the cutting counter to have my honesty measured (the fabric re-measured). Upon doing so, the fellow at the cutting table informed me that my fabric was 1" short of 3 yards. So, I told him that I had not even taken it out of the bag since I got it home. To which he responded, "Well, it is not 3 yards," and I replied, "Well, if it is 1" short, maybe you all need to have a cutting lesson, because the only reason it would be short is because you all don't know how to cut fabric." He finalized the return after that. What the hell am I going to do with 1" of Lycra, stretch it so thin it wraps around the earth's equator, and then use it to find my way? And why would I buy three yards to steal 1" just to return it.

Lesson learned: Unless you need to return the fabric save yourself the hassle, and unless you need the fabric, don't buy it.

This started a great internal debate about the wool needed for the black McQueen suit that I am working on. I have almost finished the wool-blend test skirt, but with the sewing machine out of commission—don't worry, I'll get to that part—haven't completed. I don't want to make really nice garments out of shitty fabric, so I decided to go to San Francisco on Tuesday morning to buy the wool that I need for the entire suit. This was no easy feat. The driving there was simple, I even found a free two-hour street parking spot, half a block from the store I was going to. I wore boots, so walking and standing were also no problem. The staff, as usual, was polite and helpful in their San Francisco way. So what was the hard part? Once I got there, I carried that beautiful bolt of black wool around that store for an hour. An entire hour. I know, because I set an alarm on my phone, just in case this should happen. I thought that, like Project Runway, I should set a time-limit, and then head for the cutting-counter—don't get things I don't need, only the things that I do.

I had never paid this much for any fabric. Granted that $25 a yard for pure, fine wool is not expensive by any stretch of the imagination, for me, it was. The entire time I was in the store I felt anxious, "is this the right thing to do?" I decided, yes, this is the right thing to do, because this is what I want to do. THIS is the entire point of this project: to learn, to push my limits, to do new things, to experiment and be creative. I didn't go overboard. I bought the wool, and a few yards of really, really cheap black knit to practice on. I also bought an embroidery hoop—no, I am not striving to become a hand embroidery goddess or something—some floss, and a thimble—granted, this is needed regardless of the project—because I want to work on my hand stitching skills, and I thought that learning and practicing some embroidery would be a good way to go. (More below the images)

The Goods:


The Shocking Total:


I felt a lot better after I had bought the wool, maybe it is like ripping off the band-aid. It stings, but after you've done it, you can see that things are looking a lot better than they felt.

There were other successes today, but for now with the sewing machine now in the shop for repair—more of this story, and others to come—I return to knitting for the evening. Big Kitty really enjoys the knitting, as she finds it a good time to snuggle with her personal heater.

Big Kitty just farted again. Maybe, I am on the right track after-all.

Caption Below

Big Kitty likes the knitting so much, that she sleeps on the knitting bag even though it is not comfortable (it has books and knitting needles inside).

How to decide when you're done with the project for the day. Day 24.

When the sewing machine breaks. Probably a good time to stop.

Ok, I honestly don't know what happened. I was sewing the lining of a skirt, and it is thin, as lining often is. Well, the corner got sucked into the feed dogs, and I pulled back out, and now the needle loop doesn't pick up the thread from the bobbin (or as Ramon refers it is, with a faux German accent, the "boobin"). I called Ramon, and asked him to take a look at it tonight when he gets home. He says, "Well, you've sewed the shit out of that thing! You have put more than 30 years worth of fabric through that thing since you bought it four months ago." Fair point. It is under warranty, so the call will be made tonight on whether Ramon can fix it, or it goes into sewing-machine repair land.

Oh sad day. I guess it is back to knitting for now.

Pictured: Where the problem in lays:

Pop-Tart. Day 22.

Ramon brought home dinner and a bottle of wine. Shortly after he got the grill going he popped the cork. We mused over each-other's day while I worked on knitting my sweater sleeve, since it was time to put the sewing projects away. My sewing, drafting and cutting table is also our kitchen table, and a cat play-toy.

As soon as he tasted the Zin, he inquired, "Is this Zin or a Pop-Tart?"

Dinner delicous, and not whining about the wine I asked at the end of dinner, "So, do you think I can make it through the rest of this sleeve tonight?"

"Well, how much pop-tart have you had?" Quizzically looking at my glass.

Needless to say, it is not this sleeve's night, tonight. Wa wa wa waaaaaaaaa. At least I made some progress on it today. A sleeve a day? Not today :(

Cutting (in) Class. Day 22.

I can't believe it. I have only two things left to do for Ramon and Nicole's new website, and then I will be done with my first major website where I have done all of the coding (properly enough) with javascript and css. The two things I have left are: 1. The About Nicole written section, and 2. Blog entries for the Projects, Custom Tools and "Blog" sections. Wow, what a lot of work, but so much I have learned!

Speaking of learning, I am not sure that my pattern-making class is all that I had hoped for. See, I thought that pattern-making and pattern-drafting were the same thing, but I may have been confused. My pattern-making class doesn't actually go over any actual drafting. We merely take existing, correctly made pattern block sets, trace and , cut them out, and manipulate them. Granted this is extremely useful stuff to know, I just hoped their would be a little more meet to the class, like Gaga's dress: a big fat steak to-go hat and everything. I don't want to learn to just manipulate, I want to make! I guess any teenage girl knows that both are useful skills. I think I missed that step. Where was I? Oh, I think I was making things.

So, maybe my having taught drafting classes at a college level before isn't helping me either. The fact that I can get through the entire week's worth of homework every week, in just under and hour, while everyone else is struggling to do it in 8, says something. Are my expectations to high? Am I used to the Academy of Art's rigorous training programs? (While it might be easy to get into, it's awfully hard to stay there). So, as Jury Duty approaches next week, followed by my upcoming contract, I may have some decisions to make.

Out of respect for Lee McQueen, and his memorial service today, I wore my McQueen brass square-toe, patten leather, pink leather bottomed pumps to class today. An act which was lost on just about everyone there, though I got, I dare say, a lot of looks. Come on fashion students!! You should be able to name the designer, name the season, and name the collection, all while knowing which other designers were influeced by THESE VERY SHOES, and what seasons they came out with their interpretations!!! Again, maybe my expectations are just too high.

Though, I am startled and surprised—in a good way—about a few of my class-mates, one in particular. She's from the UK and is interested in making childrens' garments. OH HOW LOVELY, and what a task. Those rolly-polly little suckers do a lot of squirming around. Seems like it would be hard to get measurements off of them, but I think that once you did, you'd be set for a least a month, or maybe three-weeks, until they grow again. My class-mate has a particular toddler sweater that she loves from J. Crew. Well, after a quick search through one of my favorite websites, ravelry.com, I came across a pattern that is quite similar, though sized for a baby, and not a child. Would be pretty simple to change, oh, and I found the book, and the pattern, on Amazon.com, too. Thank you very much "Look Inside" feature!







Ok, ok. I guess I should get cracking on the website so that I can get back to sewing. I am dieing to get two pairs of leggings drafted and made ASAP. (Insert laughing at, not with, here).

Memorial. Day 22.

Nipping at the heels of New York Fashion Week, a memorial service was held in London for Alexander McQueen today. Loved and Lovely ones alike, as you can imagine, dressed in raven black, plumes and, most importantly, McQueen.

Here is an article about the event in the New York Times.

I learned something from the New York Times article, one of which surprised me, and I am not sure why:

"The London Community Gospel Choir performed “Amazing Grace” as a collection was taken to benefit, among other charities, the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home; several speakers referred to Mr. McQueen’s fondness for animals, in particular his three dogs."

I didn't know he has such a fondness for animals. I guess, even with his deeply complex nature he too enjoyed some of the simple comforts our silent companions provide.




A tribute to the man who knew that fashion could be more about ideas, passion, and expanding the limits, than just making nice things. Dark and complicated as he was, we love him.

F* You One-Step-Button-Hole Feature. Day 21.

I bet you have some sort of idea how my afternoon went.

You know, I have been wondering for years, why when you buy a nice article of clothing, or a winter jacket the buttons always come off. The Gap hasn't been able to sew a button—or in recently much of anything else—in years. I bought a great wool coat from H&M in 2008, and in New York in 2009 all the buttons came off, and I was left in the snow—ok, fine, rain—freezing my ass off. Well, I think I have figured out the answer to this great riddle. The automatic button-hole feature doesn't work, and then sewing on the actual buttons takes forever! Who wants to do that? Maybe the real quality of a garment can be determined by looking at how many buttons it has on it, and how hard you have to pull to get them off.

When I bought the machine, it seemed so magical that you could just press one button and create a perfect button-hole. Well, like they always say, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. My Bernina came with lots of new bells and whistles that I did have on my (previously my mother's) 30 year old Singer. Only problem with the Singer was that it wouldn't actually sew anymore. So, out it went, after a month riding around in my trunk because I felt to guilty about donating my mother's old sewing machine to actually do the deed. My mother of course said, "Why do you still have that old thing? Get rid of it already!"

Well, any new feature takes a while to get used to. The automatic needle threader, well, that took a while. But now, it happens with the greatest of ease. (So many sewing puns I want to make, seams, seems, ease, oh the list goes on). The one-step-button-hole feature has yet to have all of the kinks worked out. I have made over 100 button holes with the thing, almost all in scrap fabric, and tried many different ways of approaching the button-hole feature, like following the instructions for the first 75, and then experimenting for the last 25. Well, I though I had that little sucker all figured out. Three button holes into the second tailored shirt of the week, I ruined it. Ok, Ramon convinced me to keep going, but I will never feel the same about that shirt. And the thing about a button-hole is that you can't just bust out the seam ripper.

So, then comes sewing on the actual buttons. I had a slight slip and watched as my gleaming sharp needle went underneath my thumb nail, and into the flesh. Ew, but more importantly OUCH. I said to Ramon that it would probably be a good idea to squish some hydrogen-peroxide down in there. To which he replied, "It couldn't hurt, I mean ... um .. probably not a bad idea." So after doing the "I pierced the inside of my fingernail with a sharp needle, then put hydrogen-peroxide in it, and now it really fucking stings" dance for a few minutes, I got back to the task at hand.

I think it is time for a thimble.

Pictured: The three tailored shirts I have finished. The purple one is from before Project Hallway, from a pattern I heavily altered. The black and white shirts were both completed this week, from custom patterns that were derived from the purple shirt.


Pictured: Thumbs down for needle injuries.


Pictured: The button-hole that almost made me loose it.

One step forward, two steps back & finding my McQueen in the morning paper. Day. 21.

Each week, I get the Sunday edition of the New York Times delivered to my door, usually in a heavy thud as the paper boy slings it up the stairs with all the force he can muster, the hurling mass heavy enough to knock someone unconscious, or, as the case may be, bring me to consciousnesses through deep sleep. Given my current economic state, I really should just read it online, but I like the smell, and the discovery of the unknown while flipping through the pages, my fingers collecting soot from the ink, as I drink my coffee and eat my glutten free toast. Seldom do I read the official "news" portion, reserving my energy and eyes for the style, arts, books, and travel sections. This morning two things in particular caught my eye. The first was a story about figure-8 car racing in the Sports section, and the second was McQueen in the Style section in Bill Cunningham's photographs from Fashion Week.

Both articles reflect the same idea, as aptly phrased by the NYTimes, "No Room for Hesitation." Ramon grew up around the figure-8 dirt track, his father racing a stock-car at the local-speedway. While the dirt-track Ramon frequented at a child now only runs as an oval—I can only assume for fatality's sake—the excitement still gleams in his eyes when we occasionally spectate. Even if it is a "red-neck" activity, anyone who goes will feel it too.

But, Is the rush and thrill of the adrenaline not great enough when you just go in a circle, or wind your way around a road-course? While it is pretty clear how in figure-8 racing hesitation becomes weakness— a pile-up of metal—in Fashion, hesitation becomes message lost. Voice disappears in inconsistency. You must believe in your own work in order for people to buy-into the idea, and later buy the garment. Hesitation is something that I never recall seeing in any of McQueen's collections, in-fact, I would say it was exactly the opposite. He never played it safe. In fact, I don't think he ever "played-it," at all. Looking at many of the minimalistic shapes coming out of Fashion Week I feel left without inspiration and wonder. I feel bored. Many of these garments are trying to dress women, but I feel that I miss a story, a perspective, and a point. Perhaps I am short-sighted, and perhaps it is just my style. McQueen did more than just dress women, in fact, while I think that women were his muses, his inspiration and vision came only from within—an extremely rarity—and his artwork finding form in the physical world on women, not for them.

Ramon and I have been watching Season 2 of Project Runway on DVD from the library. I feel that I am hearing a lot about how Santinto can make interesting garments, he doesn't know how to design for women. Upon hearing this, I realize that there is quite a disparity between the two. Designing for a woman includes considering her movement, shape and needs, not just making something that is unique, interesting, or beautiful. On Friday, while having the background noise of the E! channel on, I heard Heidi Klum discussing her clothing line for pregnant women, describing that she knows how a pregnant woman feels, and thus how to design for her. Well, I certainly wouldn't agree with you, Heidi. You pull of pregnancy and fashion in an elegant way, and after having four children, I trust that you know better than I do how a pregnant woman feels, and feels in particular types of clothing. You have worn many.

So, where does this put McQueen? Clearly he was creating artwork, but did he also create his artwork for women? I cannot know undoubtedly, but I think that the answer lays in his ability to create and sew. Coming from a tailoring background learning how things fit and why is extremely important in making your clients happy, and as a Master Tailor, I think he was qualified with knowledge about how to make garments fit, move and work on a woman's body. A lot of things he created for the runway didn't make it back to fashion week on the guests because of their elaborate qualities. Honestly, I think that guests showing up to our most recent New York Fashion Week in McQueen's runway looks would have put current designers' collections to shame.

McQueen garments are not always easy to wear as subtlety within them is infrequently found. I applaud the women who did show up in his ready to wear. From the few images that I saw of the guests there were two, both wearing the futuristic prints from McQueen's Spring 2009 collection.

Getting back to my own work, yesterday was one step forward and two steps back. Well, really it was one inch circularly knitted forward, and two inches frogged by the end of the day. To my great dismay, I discovered that even though I had followed my pattern to a T, the pattern was wrong. Why I didn't stop to think about it, and add up the stitches while I was working, I can only chalk up to trust, or laziness, but at least I have learned something here, always do the math. Realizing that four extra stitches equated to an additional inch with this particular gauge and pattern, Ramon voted for going back the two inches necessary to finish the mistake. He is usually not one for the frogging, but made a strong case for it this time, and I couldn't argue. Why spend so much time to get it wrong, when you can spend a little extra time in the middle repairing the damage. Ramon says, "One inch in, and two inches out equals 3 inches of progress." I think this is a dose of optimism that I need.

I almost completed a second tailored shirt yesterday when I ran out of white thread. This seems to be a more common occurrence recently than ever before. Up until I this summer I have never, ever run out of thread on the spool. I hope to finish the tailored shirt by the end of the day after a trip to the fabric store, finishing my English homework, getting progress made on Ramon's website, and calling back my dear friend who works for the EDD. I am hoping to have time for the Farmer's Market too, but the way things are going ... I think I may have a time management issue.





The racing story can be found here: Danger and Excitement Intersect at Figure Eight Racing

The racing story can be found here: On the Street by Bill Cunningham

Round and Round. Day 19.

Round and round the circular knitting goes, where the knitting then frogging stops, nobody knows. I have to say that I am not 100% happy with my current knitting project, but I think it is really just my mood, and the sweater is fine. I went to my local and lovely yarn shop today to ask for help in picking out and using a new knitting tool. I have tried a lot of different activities in my life, and thus, frequented a lot of specialty shops, even if only for a short while. The women at the knitting store are always friendly and helpful, which I actually find surprising. Recently I have been looking for an invisible zipper foot for my Bernina sewing machine, and ever sewing/vacuum (because they always go together) store that I go into, the sales person has to act like a douche, insult my machine, and then somehow still expects me to buy something. Really? Why am I going to give you money if you insult something that I love. Next! The invisible zipper foot can wait for a better attitude. However, it is never like this at the yarn store. Granted, some yarn stores that I have been to have been snotty, but not this one. The shop-keepers are genuinely happy to see you AND help you, regardless of how little or new to the subject you are.

Besides getting the new knitting tool, today seemed, yet again, like a Project Hallway waste. I had lunch with Ramon at the shop, and I made some amazing progress on the Java Script Gallery on his new website, but other than that I just felt like it was about as grey as the clouds outside. By the way, what is up with the rain in Northern California in September?

This weekend will hopefully be more productive. I have a list of things that I want to get done. I think that part of my problem is actual "real-life" responsibilities, and also not having a proper sewing area set up. I have to clean up every thread and put everything away any time I am not actively—meaning, right that second—sewing, and if I want to cut anything ... well maybe I should just get a mop for the kitchen floor. Ramon has been so busy with the car that I haven't been able to enlist him in helping to set-up my sewing room/guest room, but, I could really use the help. I would really love a dedicated area. I think it would make all of the difference, or maybe I am just feeling grumpy today, and tomorrow will be a new day, hopefully bringing a new attitude.

So, I leave with a bit of inspiration of a different type: Old guys having a blast in a creative, though I am sure embarrassing, and a pushing-the-comfort-limits sort of way.

The copy in this thing is fucking spot-on. Good work dads, even though you are apparently from a church.

Dad Life from Church on the Move on Vimeo.

No Time for the VMAs. Day 18

It never ceases to amaze me just how busy I am, now that I am not working. There is an endless list of errands, projects, lunches, resume building, etc. that seems to occur, and I feel like I can't ever seem to get anything done. That being said, I finished one custom tailored shirt this week. Well, one might be asking, "Why is Julie working on that? That's not a McQueen project?" No, it is not, however, I have picked up a contract job in October. It is a two-week gig with some folks from my tiny, niche industry, so it is a great opportunity. The dress-code for the contract is business. Well, this is a problem. My closet is flamboyant. So, I need to alter that. I thought that making some tailored shirts would be a good idea because I know I stand to learn a lot from the cotton, as it is stiff and not very mailable, apparently, unlike my schedule, because I have only gotten one done in a week! This contract also gives me an opportunity to make some skirts that are all work and no play, but solves my dilemma from Sunday: What do I do next, bite the bullet and get the good fabric? Or make some less expensive versions first.

After finally receiving my yarn on Monday, Ramon and I headed up to the track on Tuesday afternoon. I was relieved from DMV duties, as I discovered that Ramon's registration was actually still valid from last year. The time at the track was productive, and quite a work-out for Ramon as the car is a real handful at this time, as no tuning has been done. This car, however, was not made for the street. On our return from the track, passing over a bit of freeway near downtown Oakland where the concrete is in big blocks, the car bucked from front to back wildly more than Vern the 17.3 hand Dutch Warmblood that gave me such a concussion that kept me from working back in 2008. Note to self: do not knit in the dark in a race-car, on a shitty freeway.



So, in addition to the one shirt that I have finished, I received my yarn, and with help from Thunder, I have started Ramon's sweater. I am only a few inches in, but I am very happy with the texture of the yarn.

Today, I have a media kit I really need to finish for a friend, and the next Tuesday I am launch Ramon and Nicole's new work website that I have been plugging away on for weeks. So, when can I get to the McQueen? Perhaps my priorities are not in order here. Oh, no, no. I think that they are. I just feel frustrated that I have spent so much time running around in the past week, and so little time sewing.

Ramon finishing the race-car is a huge step though. I know that I mentioned before, but he's been working on this project for a year-and-a-half. It seems easy to take on the big, overwhelming project, because at the beginning it is all optimism and hope. You think to yourself, "I can totally do this, it will be easy, I have a year!" But then, as they say, life happens, right? I think I am still in the honey-moon phase of the project, because I think I still have so much time to do all of this stuff, but do I? I am going to start posting the Day number in the title, as a reminder to myself of how much time I have left. Hopefully this will help keep me on track, and motivated, not frustrated. Time shall tell.

For further inspiration, while I may have missed watching the VMAs because of my busy schedule, I certainly did not miss my fashion hero—but please not that my hair has been platinum, and straight longer than hers—looking absolutely stunning in McQueen:





And of course later, looking absolutely shocking in meat:



Oh the lovely courage to pull this off. This is why I admire her. Regardless of your, or even her opinion of how it looks, she did it. Could you?

Threads and Wires

It seems quite appropriate that the yarn that I ordered on August 31st, takes two weeks to be delivered. While I got standard shipping, as I didn't need to rush the order, it seems a little extreme that 5–7 business days means two weeks, no? Though I can just picture the large yarn warehouse with sweet old ladies receiving the hand-written order slip, putting their wee kittens down, and walking down long isles to find your treasured wooly delights, only to return to their chair to find that their kitten has made a delightful disaster out of their own project. So, then, they spend the next three days re-rolling their skeins of yarn instead of putting yours in a box with a shipping label.

Though, my yarn should arrive tomorrow, just in time for a DMV trip for Ramon. As he is finishing his huge race-car building project, I have offered to go to the DMV to see if I can acquire temporary registration for his now insanely fast beast—at least, insanely fast once he finishes it on Tuesday, we hope (both for Tuesday, and that it is actually insanely fast). Ramon has been working on his huge project for a year and a half, and I am so proud, and excited for him to have the car on the track. I remember when he was just at the very beginning of his project, where I am now, and he spent hours pulling out parts, and developing a new wiring harness.

Well, wires now threads, I need to come up with a better plan of attack for my own project, and I think that I might need to bite the bullet and buy some good fabric, instead of just "test" fabric, to actually start making garments. I have my straight skirt pattern figured out, and I have been working on drafting my template bodice pattern, based on my measurements, but I have no good materials to work with after I am done with the drafting. So, what do I do? Wool at the Fabric Discount Warehouse in the city is really nice quality, and starts at about $25 a yard, but I feel bad for even buying a $2 cup of coffee on unemployment. I want to get some cheap wool-like fabric to test further, but then, am I just throwing money down the drain? What if I get the wool, go for it, and it comes out like crap, even though I have made muslins? I don't want to be wasteful ... but which route leaves the smallest financial and material footprint?

Maybe I will find my answers tomorrow at the DMV ... though, not likely. I think I may put off the DMV until after I receive my yarn, because at least then I will have something to work on while waiting my life away in the infamous line.

Crappy Clothes for Kittens

Fashion's Night Out on Friday evening was a lot of fun. A girlfriend that I absolutely adore, and wish that I had the luck of knowing forever, instead of just becoming friends with her about a year and half ago, invited me to Nieman's big party. Louboutin was having a trunk show, and I have the good fortune of having Cinderella's shoe size for such events. While we both decided that the Mini-Yeti boots would be amazing, if I 1. believed in fur, 2. lived in New York, and 3. had $2,000 to drop on a pair of fabulous shoes right now. Alas, without a job, and a paycheck, I made no purchases. My girlfriend was only mildly obscene, nothing like last time, when she bought two pairs of salon shoes, two handbags and spent more than I spent on both my first, and second car purchases combined—they were used, I was in college.

Nieman's hosted what they called a "fashion-show," though, the title was a big stretch for the actual event. They had stylists come in and pick things off the racks, with tags, and dress their models. Poorly fitting, puckering garments with tags are not meant for the runway. Everyone and their handbag came to the second floor to watch, and no seats were left. Two gals were kind enough to offer my friend and I seats, as we were standing in 5" stilettos (mine were my McQueen brass square-toe patent pumps from the Spring 2008 season). One of the lovely ladies said, as they offered their seats, "At least YOU dressed for the event," put off by everyone else's lack of fashion. Well, that compliment made me feel quite spectacular. I wore my snake-print dress, which I shared a picture of on Friday. I mean, this is Nieman Marcus, if you cant' wear the crazy fashion you have in your closet to there, then where can you wear it?

Later that evening we went to a Sushi restaurant nearby. Upon walking in, I felt very overdressed, even though I was in a mini-dress. Jeans and sweatshirts in great abundance, this trendy fishy hot-spot was packed to the brim. Even thought he volume was loud I still heard the loud wack of a girl hit her boyfriend's shoulder quite hard, at her excitement about what I was wearing, trying to get him to turn around an look. I am not used to standing out, and I am not sure if her thump of attention was either surprise or delight, or disbelief at the "what was she wearing," but either way, I felt like I had the confidence from my garb to think and have the stance of, "well, what-of it? I am wearing Alexander Fucking McQueen (shoes at least) and you can suck-it. Stare all you want, I don't need your approval, because I am fabulous."

That is just the thing about wearing these clothes, shoes, and the like, in public. While not doing it to gain attention, you do start to take on the personality of the design you are wearing. You have more confidence because you know people are, in-fact, looking at you, and you know that you own-it. The greatest part about it is that you don't have to say, or do anything. You do not need to be arrogant, snotty, or overly confident. The lines, balance, movement, and artistic splendor of the designer's vision manifests in you, and a new entity emerges.

Taking a break from fashion and sewing, my sister and I drove up to my Mom's this weekend to celebrate her birthday in style—meaning, with margaritas in hand. She lives in a small town of about 6,000, and she and her co-worker are currently fostering a litter of five snuggly five-week-old kittens that got stuck in a wall at work. While kittens are adorable and cute, they are also prickly, pokey, and a bit messy. Jeans and t-shirts have returned for the leg climbing crew, and I haven't made one stitch in a single garment all weekend. Back to home tonight, and back to work on Project Hallway tomorrow. I have lots to do, and less time than I realize, but after the confidence boost of Fashion's Night Out, I have more excitement and energy for the problem solving of the project, the things I hope to create, and curiosity over the looks I will receive in the future.

Warm for Winter

Well, I finished it. Mostly. I think more than that, I just really need the pink, open-weave McQ sweater to be done. I cannot even believe how many times I frogged that thing, but I have to say that in the end, I actually really like all of it, with the exception of the cowl neck, so I may go back and re-do it at some point, but for now it is done. The other half of this look—the leather pants—have not even been started, and I will most likely be saving the leather for last. I want to improve my skills before potentially ruining part of an animal. I just don't feel right about diving into the leather stuff until I know I can do the work properly. Leather is not forgiving, you only get one chance ...

I really learned a lot from this sweater, so honestly, I don't know what more i could ask for. Next time I attempt a knitting project without a pattern, which will be soon, more thought and specific planning will go into it before-hand.

Man, it is embarrassing and difficult to try to take pictures of yourself. Most of them got tossed into the digital garbage can. The bail of hay that I pulled out of the alpaca wool went into the real garbage can. I know no neighbors with bunnies. More embarrassing than taking the pictures is publishing them, but, here goes.



Please note Thunder in the background who also wants to model. Though she looks angry she is not front and center, or maybe she just wants a pink sweater, too. She is very skinny, very little body fat.

Also, this is the snake-print dress, which I will be wearing to a Neiman Marcus party this evening!

The Progress in Perfection

I am still working on finishing the snake-skin print dress, but noticed something when I tried it on again yesterday. I should have used black serger thread, instead of white, because with the knit fabric the serger thread shows through a little bit in the shoulders, because, as it turns out, I made them a wee bit too short, and so that area is stretched. So, what do I do now? As in all of my projects I am on a quest for perfection, which is a slippery slope. But it has always been this way. I am a commercial artist, which means that there are deadlines for things. I want, appreciate, and need the deadlines. I feel like that with a project, I can always continue to work on it, and make it better, but at some point it has to be finished. Am I just settling for good enough?

As I venture forward into sewing from Graphic Design, again I struggle with the same delema. With Graphic Design I have found ways to move through the process quickly, and fluidly, to get the project "done" sooner, so I do not have as many late nights or trips to the emergency room with an exact knife protruding from my thumb. I had a great conversation with my sister last night about these sorts of creative endeavors, and so I wonder, when are they ever really done?

I have a photo (reprint, of course) of Richard Avedon's, Dovima with Elephants, on my wall. When I saw the exhibit last year Ramon took a picture of me next to the real photo, set it to my phone number on his iPhone, and now looks at it fondly whenever I call. I look happy in the picture that Ramon took, because I feel like I am standing next to my favorite (if I had one) celebrity. Since the first moment that I saw that image, when I was 17 in the public library, in Richard Avedon's book "Evidence," it has moved me. I think of it as the epitome of beauty, and classic elegant grace, perfectly balanced. A few years ago I bought a second copy of the book just to carefully exacto knife out the image, and frame it.

What really gets me though, is that this image, that is my favorite photograph of all time, and one of my favorite pieces of modern art (top 3), Avedon always felt was a failure! How can this be? Well, Dovima's white sash, see it softly at an angle to her body? Well, he felt that it should have been blowing slightly more to the side.



And what about McQueen? Did he look at his own works of art and find failures? I am sure that he did. Clearly, he was a perfectionist too, but when did he decide done was done? When the models were stepping out onto the runway? His beautiful and sometimes extravagant works of art we see as beauty complete, and I am sure that he probably felt that some of there were that way, but not, impossibly, all. How did he know when to quit, and move onto the next thing? As I only have a very limited view into McQueen's public life, I can only speculate about his private and creative one. Genius as he was, he to worked by deadlines: Spring and Fall.

Maybe he never did quit, and that is why his garments were always art, not mere clothing. While the seasons defined a step, and shaped the journey, they also kept him searching for perfection, something which I don't think any type of artist can ever achieve. Oh McQueen, why did you have to leave us so soon? I was enjoying the show.

Back in my own show, I have a few routes that I can take with my snake-print dress.
1. Start over from scratch, and use black serger thread this time.
2. Cut out the shoulder seem, and use black serger thread to put in a 1" block, making the shoulder a little wider.
3. Decide that it is time to move onto the next project, get out a black sharpie, carefully color the thread, and finishing the bindings.

I think that we're going to go with #3. I think it is time to take what I have learned, and get started on the next thing. I mean, thanks to the bargain bin, this is a $3.00 dress after-all.

Raining Frogs

So, I finished the first sleeve of the pink sweater, and, I think it is too short. I made the cuff 6 inches, when originally I decided that I wanted to make it eight. Though, once I started knitting, i felt like my short fore-arm couldn't accommodate an 8-inch cuff. Well, now I think that the 6 inches looks funny, so I will be extending the cuff on the second sleeve two more inches, then opening up the weave for the rest of the sleeve before frogging the first sleeve. Looks like I got the raglan shape right though, that part I am happy with. Oh least there is that! However, the further I go, the more straw I find. What is with this little guy?

By the time I am done with this thing, I think I am going to need it. It's getting cold here already. I just had to close the big window in the living room because a huge gust of cold wind blew in, and not only blew the picture frames over, but the skinny gray cat, too! They all went flying right off the buffet into my knitting bag! The fur (and alpaca) went flying.

My goal is to be done with this thing by the 13th, when my next shipment of yarn is supposed to arrive.

Rolling in the Hay

My Baby Alpaca has been rolling in the hay. No really! As I am knitting this absolutely amazingly soft baby alpaca yarn into my McQ sweater, I have been coming across more and more tiny, short straw particles. Carefully I am pulling them out, and I am discovering that this is going to be one warm sweater. Baby Alpaca: super soft, super snuggly, super warm. The good news is that the cuffs on both arms are completed and now I am working on shaping the raglan sleeves. Then, just the cowl left. Overall the yarn is a little less structured than I was hoping, but I picked it out when I was still a very (k)newbie knitter, so I didn't know that it was going to have a little personality of its own, but maybe that is a good thing. I am such a perfectionist, if it is not perfect, it just won't due. This sweater isn't going to be exactly like the picture because of the baby alpaca, but I think that that is actually OK. I think I am going to really like it anyway. I've worked so hard on it, I hope that I can just be proud of it when it is done.

So, even though I spent all day working on Ramon's new work website today, I still had a sewing success at the end of the day. I drafted a pattern, which I started at 5:30, and by 8 I had the final garment sewn! Ok, let me just say that this is like the most simple project ever, and I still have some of the finishing to do (hem, binding, etc), but I went from none to done in two and a half hours! It is a very simple lightweight knit dress with a racerback, and it is made out of the most amazing bargain bin fabric ever: blue gradient snakeskin print. Oh holy hotness, I love it. I made a test garment out of some horrible burgundy knit that I have had for an eon. I again had success with Ramon's measurement taking. I had to take into account the stretchiness of the knit, which I haven't ever done before. I did have to do some tailoring/adjusting after it was sewn. But the more I do, and then have to fix, the more I learn. All in all, I couldn't be happier.

Oh, and for the fist time ever, I did not have to rip out one single seam! I will post pictures of it as soon as I finish the finishing!

And lastly, as promised, pictures of the Gap Kids size large Sherpa jacket that I turned into a skirt:


My current drafting, pattern cutting, fabric cutting, sewing, and serging table:

First Pattern Drafted

Yesterday I thought I broke my serger, and I felt like giving up on the day all together. So I did, with the exception of starting, and then frogging the first sleeve of the McQ pink sweater.

Feeling overwhelmed, I needed to come up with a strategy of what to start with, and simple seems best. So, today, I finally got my drafting board out. Thoroughly cleaned with industrial automotive glass cleaner—because, what else would you use when you own no cleaning supplies except for the ones that come from your significant other's automotive shop—I began my first pattern drafting project, the basic straight skirt. Which actually lead to, you might not believe this, success! May not seem very exciting, but it is great to be in a place where I can experiment and learn, hopefully, without things going to astray.

Yesterday morning, before the serger incident, I persuaded Ramon to take all of my measurements based on what I learned in my pattern-making class. I tried to make myself as much like a model-form as possible, meaning, still, and with seams. This made the task much less exciting for Ramon, who, last time he graciously tried to help record my measurements, had the pleasure of doing it while I stood in underwear. Ramon decided that blue painter's masking tape—cut into 1/4" x 1/4" squares—was needed to make sure that things were lining up. Pretty inventive. He also measured my short pony legs like he measures a car's suspension, but I can't argue. With all of the blue tape, in the end I looked like an old cougar leaving the plastic surgeon's office with future corrections indicated. Lift. Tuck. Etc.

Well, as it turns out, Ramon did a great job! I had to alter the first drafted skirt pattern in a few spots after making the muslin. But I got the kinks worked out, and now it fits ... perfectly! Tomorrow I will finish drafting the complete skirt patterns for both of the following, and then I need to find fabric for both.




For the black skirt I am going to do a kick-pleat in the back, so I will need to figure out how to draft that. I can't see the back very well in any of the images that I can find, or the runway video, but I think that a small kick-pleat would work well.

Other successes include 1. fixing the serger, and 2. taking my Gap Kids sherpa jacket that I love, but never fit properly, cutting it up and turning it into a skirt in preparation for creating this skirt:


Pictures of the Gap Kids Sherpa jacket to come. For the rest of the evening I will be working on knitting my pink sleeves. I want to get this one done. The knitting and frogging is beginning to bore me.

First seam in. First seam out.

I just made a terrible skirt. Just terrible.I bought some blue linen on clearance a few months ago. I loved the color. But, since buying it I've been having a hard time figuring out what it would work well for. Well, as it turns out, there was a reason I couldn't see it fitting in anywhere: it needed to be thrown away.

The fabric, being 100% linen, is usually one of my favorite fibers to work with. This linen, however, was quite thick and a little rough—something I didn't really take notice of when purchasing it, because I was so giddy it was in the clearance bin. It pressed well, but that didn't help it once it found its way into my little paws. Before I started Project Hallway, I'd drafted the pattern which I used on this skirt (my first pattern drafting, and not just pattern creating, project). I thought that before I really got going that I should just finish this little puppy up. The muslin I made looked weird, but I often think that the muslin looks weird because muslin is crappy, and just doesn't drape or hang well. Muslin starts ugly, and is pretty determined to stay that way. However, as it does give an idea for how the garment I am ruining will fit, I still find it invaluable.

I should have known that there was going to be a huge problem when the first seam I put in the linen, I had to rip right back out. Something inside me said, "Julie, put down the seam ripper, and move on." But, I am not always a good listener. I kept going. I ripped the seam out. I started over. Then sewed all of the pleats, then held it up on me, in front of the mirror. Horror. But I'd already spent to much time on it, so why not try to fix it? Surely it can be fixed, it's Linen! Linen is so lovely to work with. So, I started moving things around, I tried making a bubble skirt. That seemed kind of cute, but not really. Better than the alternatives, so I moved onto problem solving the bubble. Bad. All bad. After wasting 2 more hours of my life, I decided to stop, instead of trying to keep fixing.

It's not all bad news, though, I did learn something, which, yes, I did already know, but this drove the point home: there is a very specific reason why designers always start out with a sketch, not with a heap of ugly, broke-ass fabric that might as well be acid wash denim. The other thing I learned: Don't listen to Hair Nation unless you want to create 80's garbage.

Over in the land of success—though not without struggles— I have finally, successfully finished the front and back of the McQ pink sweater. After finishing my pattern in Illustrator the other night, I finished both the front and the back in two nights, only to realize that my pattern didn't take into account the tremendous and growing weight of the yarn I am using. The arm-holes went from the 12 inches—which is I wanted—to over 18! So, after frogging both sides, yet again, to the base of the arm hole, I re-calculated and re-knit. Now, I am finally happy with it. Just the sleeves and cowl to go.

Time for the fabric store. Lets see what else I can ruin today.