Doing things

Yes, I’ve been doing things lately. Apparently being inspired to post is not one of them. But it’s come to my attention that sometimes people read this thing, so here’s what’s been going on in my world.

I still like my new job. I’ve been there a little over a month now, and I still think of it as my “new” job. People there are under the impression that I’m interesting. I’m trying to figure out how to live up to that – it’s definitely a step up from just being considered kooky, but it’s new territory to navigate. In other work news, I screwed up on a big project (I wish I could say that was new too). Fortunately my mistake was caught early, I owned up and brought it to others’ attention, and there’s time for me to go back and fix it, which I know how to do. I’m not in trouble for it. I’m busy all the time most days, and that’s good, but it’s quite an adjustment after my previous workplace.

I designed and made a skirt. I don’t have photos yet (I promise I will, and they’ll go up on Wardrobe Refashion too). I drew a pattern, sewed a muslin – actually sewed it out of an old bedsheet ’cause I didn’t have enough actual muslin – and then cut up the sheet-skirt in a long spiral and used that as a pattern. I made the actual skirt out of brown denim, which I had huge amounts of even before learning of the Brown Dress thing. It turned out great; fits me perfectly. I’m going to have to do a little remedial flat-felling on parts of the seam, and I do hope it gets softer with repeated washings, but I’m really pleased with it.

Today, since I received my first real paycheck (it has four digits! Oh yeah, it has to last me all month), I treated myself to some thrift shopping. Totally inspired by these tops, I picked up some sweaters for felting and cutting up. They’re in the dryer right now. One in particular that I thought would stay nicely big has already come out of the washer tiny. I’m thinking the lot of them will end up being fewer finished products than I’d originally planned. At least the colors will work together.

Also at the thrift store I scored a Vogue fitting shell pattern, printed in 1985, still in factory folds (I hear that’s a prestigious thing in vintage-pattern circles), and incidentally my size. I really hope it doesn’t actually include measuring for the gigantic shoulder pads the illustration on the package appears to be wearing.

I then hit the fabric store for a few miscellaneous supplies, though I didn’t find the other pattern I was hoping for. I noticed something there today: Nearly all the other shoppers in there were plus-sized as well. Are we fat girls (and guys – there was at least one there) all just dropping out and tuning into making our own clothes lately? Is there an opportunity here to take over the world and subvert the dominant paradigm? Or will we all just be too busy sewing as fashion marches on without us?

I almost forgot – I’m going to be participating in a fiber art show. It opens next Friday, August 4. More details to follow – but if you’re in Denver and into doing the First Friday thing, save the date.

Oh, and my Union Label fabric finally arrived today. I must think of something fabulous to make with it.