Spooky Basket: The Simple Fit Dressform, and Simplicity Sidewinder

If there's one thing that's true in a sewist... no matter how much you've been distracted by other things, maybe even other projects... the ones for ourselves seem to come back and haunt us with an unearthly strength.

The planning stage is always the best part... it's the preparation that becomes the obstacle to overcome. I begin the drafting and revisions, and it's about halfway through that point that I lose my steam. I've been lucky (in the sense that I didn't have to think about it) that since August I've been preoccupied with other obligations... but with my Christmas and New Years break, I have found I have no more obligations left but to my own self. Those unfinished garment patterns waving at me from the shelf.

With a day left to my break, I have finally sat down and started on the one closest to being finished, armed with new equipment to make revisions with much more ease.

One of those items is a new dress form that I could actually pin on and adjust.
I don't even remember if I wrote about this... but back in August, my boss and I made an agreement that if I was to sew costumes for her daughter, her daughter's husband, and her son's companion for their Halloween in Disney trip, that I would get a dress form and a large table top omnigrid mat in return. Sufficed to say, I spent many hours under the light of my sewing machine and got it all done just in time.

But I greatly digress...

I haven't looked twice at the dress form since receiving it, because in the following months I've been knee deep in other such projects for work and loved ones. Since the rekindling of my garment creations, I have been able to acquaint myself properly with this new piece of equipment, and I have found one crippling flaw.

Dritz's dress form to the left, my DIY dress form to the right

Perfect Fit Dress Form by Dritz

I consider my body to be well enough into the average spectrum that dress form selection is quite abundant; my dress form back in Canada was a size or two larger, but proportionally correct... and I bought it from the thrift store. I should have known there would be a major flaw, since Dritz has offered nothing but disappointment lately... but the promise of added features blindsided me. As you can see, the bust apex's are extremely different and cannot be adjusted. To give perspective, I included the line that represents the highest point of the hip where they both seem to match up well enough. I scratched my head at how low the bust is... in my experience, I have never worked with anyone who had these similar proportions to have such a low standing bust. That's not to say it doesn't exist, but it's definitely not average for youth. This shape reminds me of a mature figure-- I feel like that should've been mentioned somewhere, as it's a make or break kind of detail in tailoring for the obvious reasons.

It would seem Frankiestein cannot be retired just yet, even though she's had just about enough...

Simplicity Sidewinder

With my "new" machine, I just couldn't get the hang of winding a good and proper bobbin on it, so I flipped flopped from machines just to wind bobbins... it was tedious and I had enough after the 30'th bobbin winding floundering.
I bought the Simplicity Sidewinder.

I never gave this thing enough thought until my machine family grew by one, and then I've come to heavily rely on this little piece of gadgetry. I had a weird hiccup where it just seemed to sputter and completely stop working... but after some tinkering it's back to working order. I still don't know what the heck happened, it's almost like it wasn't taking the juice from the A/C plug. With batteries it worked fine albeit it a little slower, but I don't like the idea of constantly buying batteries. I took out one of the two batteries and tried the adapter again, and that's when it worked once more at full speed. It hasn't done that since, but then again, I haven't removed the sole battery.

It wasn't meant to take from large cones of thread, but a little ingenuity goes a long way-- it doesn't have to be a hindrance. A little wood, a little glue, and some hardware and I remedied this minor dilemma.

It also doesn't have a cutter of it's own, and I'm a chronic misplacer of scissors...
Then I remembered that I bought an adhesive cutter for my singer, since it was also lacking one.

Pretty cool, eh? And yet another problem is solved.

I haven't stuck it on yet, as I am still trying to find a comfortable position for it. Between the extra bobbin holders seems logical, so it won't get knocked off when I pack it up.

With the time spent winding one bobbin perfectly on a sewing machine, I can wind 2 even 3 perfectly in that time.

And now I have perfect bobbins every time, at the drop of a pin.

Fashioning My Cyber Microcosm: On The Doorstep To The New Year

I can't even believe the new year is literally days away.

Franny kicked off Bat Fit 2015 on the 23rd, and as usual I am "fashionably" late to the party.

I can't even recall the goals I set for '14. Though I'm fairly certain it was along the lines of attempting to lose weight... I did, and for a while things were fairly predictable in a good way. Then we moved and lived in a hotel for about a month, and it was stressful, and all I ate was take out. Then we got the house we wanted to buy, and I began cooking again... but then I got a job at Albertsons, and I began having anxiety attacks that stopped me from functioning. I worked there for a month, and when things were beginning to look very dreary, I was offered the best job I could ever hope for-- at a local fabric store, working with some exceptionally fantastic ladies whom have known each other for years and years.

It was beginning to feel like the pieces of my life were just falling into place and gaining purpose-- something I felt I was lacking for so long. I was happy, and people commented on how happy I seemed-- life felt so good, and for a moment I felt impenetrable to bad news and negative energy.
Of course, as things go, it doesn't shine nor rain everyday, and with the news of my mother's diagnosis I was immediately plummeted back to reality.

So now we wait. Still hopeful for what lies ahead in 2015.

Like most wise people, my mother says making goals is important, even if they're small-- the idea that you've accomplished something you set out to do carries the same weight in your mind, whether it is solving a global issue or just helping a neighbor out.

And so, here are my goals for 2015 Bat Fit.

1. Organize my time better. I used to procrastinate so much, but now it feels like I'm trying to shove too much into my life. I need to find a balance again.
2. Read more. I used to read everyday, and now I find I can barely sit through one article without thinking about what I am going to do next.
3. Teach my mother to sew or knit.
4. Put more into rainy day funds. Seems pessimistic, but it's better to know you have a net below when you might fall, then to endure the complete hardship that follows. 

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Crafty Release

Peekaboo.

I know, I need to stop disappearing. After dropping news like the last, it would seem prudent to stay on top of updates. I have a horrid tendency to withdraw from anything social when the seas get a little rough in the mental ocean... this includes social media of any type.

I have been spending large amounts of time in my sewing room; it sounds unhealthy to lock away and avoid contact if at all possible, but I truly feel it's a necessary part of the way I can cope with reality. I understand the difficulty involved for people to deal with the likes of me... but we were simply wired differently.

In any case, I want you all to know you have my greatest, deepest and most profound gratitude for all the well wishes and prayers even if I may not always show it or say it-- it's important for you to understand how much you've all moved me.

If it's not too much to ask, I'd love for them to continue as my mother continues on her journey to recovery. The surgery went well and she's in good spirits. We're all anxious for her to get better and hear more good news on that front.

One good thing that has come from my seclusion, is that I was able to successfully complete the impossible: a handmade Christmas... they said it was impossible, but I proved them wrong.

I have made a total of 26 gifts this season. 7 are still North bound because I didn't make the post office in time before I left for Phoenix to see the hubby's side of the family.

I also don't have all the photographic proof of this endeavor, however... my camera is practically broken, and will only turn on a quarter of the time, even with a fresh battery.

It would seem this year my hubby's Christmas was pretty much all from a galaxy far far away...

I made him a case for his external hard drive, a case for his DS and charger, and a drawstring backpack to carry it all in.

This wasn't enough, of course. I made him some shorts to sport (which he isn't currently because he was absent and I felt like writing).

Since I am lacking the proof needed, other than my own word here's a list of everything else I made for people... sans the ones still waiting to be sent-- they're a surprise.

Mother-in-law:

• Hanging toiletry case
• Matching flat iron case, complete with heat resistant fabric to be able to place a hot iron in
• Matching shoe bag for traveling with expensive/cherished footwear

Stepfather-in-law:

• Cowboys shorts
• Cowboys fleece blanket, double sided

Sister-in-law:

• Knit slytherin tapestry to go with her Gryffindor one
• Kindle/tablet case

Brother-in-law:

• Kindle/tablet case

BIL's Girlfriend:

• Flat iron case

Best Friend:

• Two teddy bears, one for her girl one for her boy
• Two doubled sided minky blankets, one for her girl one for her boy

Hubby's Best friend:

• US Marine corps double sided blanket
• Hot chocolate kit

Hubby's Best friend's Girlfriend:

• Monogrammed flat iron case
• Hot chocolate kit

Like I said, not everyone on my list is mentioned because that would mean spoiling surprises... but as you can see-- my crafting therapy has benefited not only my mental health, but a few people.

On a personal note, I have 2 weeks off of work and while I welcome the time off, it's a little inopportune because I need the money much more, especially with a trip up North in the near future... but it's unfortunately not a choice I have. We'll see how it all pans out.

I hope you all had a blessed Yule with family and good food.

Fashioning My Cyber Microcosm: The Road Ahead.

I'm sure you are all used to me disappearing for days by now, and I wish that I could say it's because I was up to some fun and exciting project.

Fact is, I've been coming to terms with some news I have been given about two weeks ago, though as rocky as it may have been at points and still is, I feel like I am ready to head it on, and speak about it.

About a month ago my mother found a lump in her breast, we have managed to remain cautiously optimistic that it was likely nothing as doctors and friends have told us that majority of lumps discovered are not actually cancerous. A close friend told me she even has lumps but they were merely cysts...

Two weeks ago she got the results of the biopsy confirming that it was cancerous. She spoke to the physician and we now know that it's stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma. My mother has opted for a double mastectomy.

I wasn't so much sad as I was angry at the world; on top of her having to deal with another restrictive disease, we now have to confront one of the biggest ones of all. I felt like the tears wouldn't stop flowing.

As the surgery date gets closer, the concerns and worries feel insurmountable and the distance between us makes me feel largely helpless and isolated. I know that as a grown woman, I must live my path... but the guilt has never left my side, knowing there was and are a million reasons why I should've stayed closer to home. My mother is my life line, and the decision to move so far away was my own-- I must live with that.

I do have plans to go up and help for however long I can, but due to monetary restrictions ( I want to save up in case she may need a large chunk of help in regards to bills and such), I have to aim for the time when she receives chemo, as we heard that, that is the toughest stretch towards remission, and when she'll need me most.

In the meantime, the post-surgery attire is expensive and not covered by her insurance. I was planning on designing and constructing those garments in a fashionable manner. It seems kind of silly to consider the fashionable aspect, as my mother is much more reclusive than I, and has reminded me that she does not like "going out"... but I want her to not look upon these garments as you would a hospital-- sterile and lacking the "life" that it gives back. I want her garments to be a reminder of the hope we should always keep.

On another note, it's a very good thing that my last purchase was another machine, because if not... then my plans might've been dashed by the return of my brother sewing machine-- who did not make the journey back to me. The "repair" people sent it back in far worse condition than I sent it. They tossed it into a plastic sack with the embroidery arm rubber banded to the machine, put it in a box that wasn't labeled fragile or 'this side up' and used expanding foam on the sides alone. To add insult to injury, they managed to "misplace" the power cord and pedal I sent along with it-- they claimed I should not have sent those with it, but no where did we find in the shipping instructions they emailed us did it say to omit those.

We will fight this tooth and nail, but it's wal-mart's extended warranty plan... so I am unsure of the outcome; whether they will claim responsibility for such carelessness, and replace the machine.

Despite everything else, I am continuing to keep busy and attempting with all my strength to remain as positive as I can-- if not for me than for my mother.

Spooky Basket: Blasting Off With The Singer Rocketeer. (Image Level:Extreme)

Oh dear readers, it has finally happened for me.

I recently acquired a vintage Singer.
Bam! To the point.

Yess'm, this is a momentous occasion... so big, that I was/am heavily debating creating a Youtube channel based on this latest and greatest endeavor of mine. I don't know why, it's just a very loud and not easily ignored inclination that likely won't come to fruition due to my lack of confidence.

The first photo on the first day it set foot into my sewing room

Meet my newest obsession and love affair, the Singer 503A Slant-o-matic (also known as the Rocketeer).
My hubs purchased it for me after I was having a bout of the blues for having no way of finishing my projects while my Brother SE400 is away for repairs. He called it my late Hallowe'en/early Christmas present.

Some of you may remember me making a wishlist on my blog some time ago, and it included the Singer Featherweight. Well, a close runner up in popularity to the featherweight are the machines in the 500 series. These, the featherweights, and the 400's rank as some of the best Singer ever had to offer in function and aesthetic.

You can clearly see why, for the looks portion anyway... I read that it gets the Rocketeer nickname for it's "futuristic vintage" sleekness; the Jetsons comes to mind, hehe.

I remember seeing it at an antique shop in town and mistaking it for the 401A-- the older sister. I didn't take a closer look, because it would've just left with me that day... but it stuck in my head since then.

My hubby and I went back a few days ago, and there it still was, as if it was just waiting for me to finally come pick it up. It was destiny. The owner included the wood cabinet, and various original accessories.

Even the box they came in was original. The manual was an original-- everything was pretty much pristine! It filled my stitched heart with so much joy.

The only disappointing thing is that this one had its general purpose foot lost in the waves of time spent in that antique shop. Luckily, it was that one and not one of the ones shown in the photo... a slant general purpose foot is really easily located on Ebay, and I did... along with a couple other little trinkets for this machine...

I know, I'm crazy. It has just barely been a complete week since first receiving this machine, and already I am going loco with the extra trimmings.

Other things that were included in my nice little bundle are things like an extremely intimidating looking buttonholer.

I haven't even begun to read the manual on how to operate this... looks a lot like my mom's old electric razor... heh. It seems to be missing one of those plates, but I can't be entirely certain.

This Singer is all metal, and is strictly gear driven; not a single belt in there. As these things tend to go, they require an extra step in maintenance; whoever owned this in the past must've loved it deeply, there doesn't seem to be anything even superficially wrong with this machine. Even as it sat in the antique shop for god knows how long, it was still running.

It came with an original can and tube of lubricant and oil; yes, this machine does require both, for the very reason it's gear driven. I didn't want to use anymore of the old stuff, because it's a really cute display on my shelf... I'm a vintage sewing addict, what can I say?

I bought a tube and bottle of the new stuff... my how the times have changed the packaging...
I wouldn't know if it's any different in quality... but it doesn't look, sound or smell different; I mean, how much change can be done in a petroleum product? <insert naivety>

After some tune up done by yours truly, it runs like a dream. It doesn't even clank loudly as someone might expect a brute like this to do-- perhaps that's the gears?

Because of the nature of the mechanics, this machine utilizes these things called fashion discs (or cams) to create the different kinds of stitches, including a zig zag

You snap one into the top and set the width. Without one of these cams, this machine will only give you a straight stitch. The different patterns on the rims of these cams forces the inner mechanics to form the stitch. No programming in this machine, and I find that soooo cool.

Pops into this hole at the top

It came with its original 9 cams, but there are additional ones that, of course, I already purchased on ebay and eagerly await their arrival-- there's a total of 21 cams to this machine and they're all mine! All mine... Muahahah!

I haven't completed any projects on it... yet, but that will quickly change.

This won't be just another pretty face in my sewing room. 

It'll be used as it was always intended to be.

Mortem's Tricks or Treats: Coffin Rests, and Prototype Pumpkins

So, now that you all know I am trying to decorate my creative laboratory around a Halloween theme... I suppose it's time to let you in on all the things I am currently in the process of creating for myself, the self titled Spooky Seamstress-- could be a name for a new blog??

Anyway.

I'm going to post them as I finish them (or in this one case, days after), so I won't make this long... again... it might happen regardless...


This is merely a prototype; I say this because it technically doesn't function as it was meant... but the idea is still materialized... roughly.

BEHOLD!

Normal, and then spookified!

It's a pumpkin pincushion with a bat emery attached to it. I know, it needs work.
It's not actually filled with emery or sawdust, so that's why I said doesn't actually work as per its name...
I repeat, it's a prototype!

When I buy myself some emery and sawdust or crushed walnuts, this little creation might look a lot smoother and will also be a functioning member of my sewing society.

Bonus!

It's not enough to just post one photo... here we go again.
No really, I promise this'll be good.

If you're a sewist like me, then you have a ton of tools right beside your machine that constantly roll off the table. I did have a bowl, but that only worked for so long until I needed to spruce it up, make it spooky.

I had a few of these little wood coffins from Micheal's lying around, and they're just the right size! So a-painting I did go!

Here we have the bunch all together! How lovely. I put a ribbon on the lid to the base to keep the lid looking awesome, because the back (front)...

Has a little bat with button eyes and a web that kinda looks like it turned to stitching... kinda...

But wait! There's more!

It wasn't enough that I had a pumpkin pincushion with bat emery, and a coffin holder!

Nailed it.

I needed a skeleton hand holding it all, too.

Spook ya later!

Fashioning My Cyber Microcosm: The Seamstress of Spooky Things.

For many of us, Hallowe'en is an important time.

It's sometimes as simple as the time of year to deck out or pads with things that will remain up for the rest of the year.
For me, it's a little bit of spiritual, a little bit of decorative flair, and lots of fun!

Unfortunately this year I feel like I haven't lived up to the "Halloweenie" title that has been bestowed upon me by my family and coworkers.

I haven't bought anything but Hallowe'en fabric this year, and the decorations that are up (the meager ones at that) were very last minute with a very small budget-- we're talking $20 at Dollartree, kinda budget. I didn't even get a pumpkin to carve...

I was working on a pretty exciting costume that I likely wasn't ever going to wear; first because I've never in my life been invited to the kind of gatherings that require dressing up, secondly I don't think there is a place in this new town that actually does something adult friendly that I could just waltz into.

Regardless of all those things, I was very excited to be working on a costume for once, but my machine had other plans... plans of not working properly anymore. I was forced to stop, pack 'er up and ship it away to get repaired. Thankfully it's only costing me the price of packing supplies, as it is still under the extended warranty.

So, I wanted to participate in Professor Z's monthly assignment, but the only place that is Halloweenie in my home is my creative laboratory, and even that is a work in progress.
Without further ado, I welcome you to my newest lab of excitements...

Here we have the view as you walk in. You might notice that I have the crappiest curtains ever to befall a place of creativity... that's going to change when my machine gets back to tip top shape. The only thing helping those awful curtains is the paper bat I purchased at Target, and some spooky windchimes I got at Dollar General.

Turning to the left you'll see my nook where my fabric, ironing station, scraps and other miscellaneous are kept.

You're quite lucky to be observing a closer look, because I've only just recently bolted all my fabric up and organized it by theme. I fear that if it had stayed in its past chaos the impact might not have made an impression. Each bolt carries an average of 2.5 yards-- the most holding 12 yards. I worry that one day that shelf will collapse under the weight of all that fabric... and this is a baby stash by many seamtress' standards. The taller bolts are shoved into the left cranny which cannot be seen clearly from this point of view. The boxes on the right carry more fabric, but are the ones that have very little use for my daily purposes. I ran out of bolts before I could finish the rest, thus the very top shelf is just neatly folded into meticulous piles, averaging about a 1 yard a bundle.

Most of it is, as you might've guessed, Hallowe'en themed.

Turning to the right wall, we can see my small stash of patterns, my various wood pressing aids, and a mini altar. It may sound like I'm bragging, but a genuine "trouble" (if you can call it that) of mine is my persistent flow of ideas, I have to temper it with meditation, thus I light an incense on my altar to create a sense of peace and focus whenever I am in there, because it is all too easy to get overwhelmed by all the things I want to make. Upon the altar there is various part of a deer (antler, vertebrae, skull) that were collected for me; to me the deer represents wisdom and tranquility. There is also a small jar of black riverstones that represent temperance and patience. It might not be the right representations, but they instill that within me and ultimately that's all that matters. I had all these in the past, but it never until moving here occurred to me to build an altar in my creative laboratory-- the place where it seems to make the most sense!

Moving along the wall, past my machine(s) table, we have the other side of the wall shelf. There is no altar upon this wall, but in some respects not any less special to me. Many of the trinkets and items were small gifts from friends and family all together adorning the shelves that hold many of my tools of the trade. You see that dalamation plush at the top there? That's Charlie, and he's as old as I am, and he still barks after all this time-- I can remember talking to Charlie as a child, whispering my wishes into his ear. I still do, from time to time.

To the right again, we see my handmade scissor shelf. sporting a few of the things that I bought/made/have been given. Below it, is a pegboard I framed in order to hang my bountiful array of rulers... but neglected to take a good photo of.

Next we pan out to see the right side of the room, which isn't much to discuss as it it simply a shelf for stabilizers, paddings, and whatnots. A shelf for all my sewing books, and of course my cutting table (which is really my dinning table that has been recently confiscated by me). You can't really tell but those lights lining it are litte purple bat lights.

You can see the lights just a tiny bit better from this photo-- these were given to me by my good friend from back in AZ. But you do get a good shot of two of my recent decorative purchases, the jack o'lantern rug procured in Target and the bat towel on my chair from K-mart. I put my knit hood onto the chair to make it that more batty... the material of the chair made it impossible to be comfortable, so that's really why I covered it all over.

Now that I've made this sufficiently long and windy... I think I'll end this post here, and hope that your Hallowe'en was a fabulous one!