A coworker and I are taking the "Hems and Basic Alterations" class at Stitch Lounge. I have problems with fitted shirts because if they fit in the shoulders, they usually hang off me everywhere else, so I’m hoping to learn how to take in a shirt so that it fits properly (since I haven’t yet made that bold step forward to the shirt pattern from the Sew U book). In the first class we covered mostly hemming, but in the second class we will be bringing in clothes that we want to alter. Even though hemming seems like a really basic thing, I learned a few things from the first class: how to hem drastic curves by adding 1-2 basting lines inside the seam line (the same technique used for setting in sleeves, which has always intimidated me), and decorative hems using a twin needle. So I had to try that out for myself on this, Sew U skirt number nine:

(I missed catching the edge of the folded-over fabric off and on the first time, so I added another double row 1/4" in. As we say in the software business, "It’s a feature.")

The other exciting thing about this skirt (which, yes, is the same linen as the tote bag I made last weekend) is that it is my first big project using the brand new serger that E. bought me for my birthday (even though he couldn’t understand why I would choose a serger over a new iPhone). Here’s the inside view of the hem and side seam:

Isn’t that pretty? And it’s so much faster than pinking the seams or zig-zagging around the edges, or having to fold the hem under twice. I’m looking forward to trying out some patterns for knit fabrics, too.

I won’t show you the finished skirt because I don’t consider it finished yet: I’m looking at the clean lines of the plain linen fabric as a blank canvas, and planning on making use of some of the techniques in Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens to complete my masterpiece. Stay tuned…

E-commerce sites, gyms and other services that are based on a monthly or annual fee that comes automatically off your credit card know that once they have you signed up, the likelihood that you will cancel your membership is very low. This is why they try to get your credit card number as soon as possible, even when you’re signing up for a free trial: sure, you won’t be charged if you cancel before the end of the trial, but most people won’t cancel then, and many won’t cancel until well after they stop using the service, if ever.

Late last year E. and I began evaluating some of our monthly expenditures to see if we were getting value from them, and surprisingly enough, we found that the biggest culprit was not an unused gym membership (E. uses his every day), but rather almost all of our utilities. Like many modern US households, we had a phone line and DSL, cable, power, and cell phones. We had a 1000 minute family plan on our cell phones that included free long distance within the US, but because my family is in Canada we were paying extra on our land line for a long distance plan with reduced rates for out-of-country calling. We had a couple of movie channels on our cable connection because we liked some of the series on HBO and Showtime. It all seemed pretty usual and average, until we thought about how we used it.

Read more…

One of my favorite combinations is natural linen and red fabric. I bought these red and white quilting fabrics when I lived in Calgary. I think I was planning on a Log Cabin quilt in red and white. But I haven’t quilted in a while, and I’m trying to clean out my fabric stash, and I need a birthday present for my mom. So that’s where this fell out.

The structure of this bag isn’t much different than the grocery bags I made last year. I cut the bag rectangle 15 1/2" wide and 34" long, and sewed the gussets about 1 1/4" in from the corner. The big differences are that I lined this bag (I just made two bags, and sewed them together wrong-sides facing when I sewed on the handles) and added the red and white panels to the front and back.—nothing fancy, I just strip-pieced them and sewed them on top of the linen. I also ironed some medium-weight fusible interfacing to the lining to give the bag more body, since it turned out bigger than I was thinking when I started the project.

Originally I thought I would Gocco-screen something on the fabric, but I chickened out. However, I have quite a lot of this linen—it’s from my mom’s stash and it must have been on sale, or she was planning on making the entire family matching outfits, there are yards of it—so there will be many more opportunities.

My studio looks like a fabric tornado hit it, oy.

I can’t remember what prompted me to preorder Printing by Hand: A Modern Guide to Printing with Handmade Stamps, Stencils, and Silk Screens but I’m glad it did. I’ve been wanting to get more into block printing and Gocco printing, and this might just be the inspiration to get me going.

The book starts with an overview of the printing techniques it covers, and a couple of handy charts that explain the best types of artwork, inks and surfaces for each technique. It then steps through each method in turn, starting with having rubber stamps created from your own artwork and creating your own stamps from adhesive foam and plexiglass or carved rubber blocks, then moving on to several stenciling methods using freezer paper, contact paper and mylar, and finally to screen printing. Each technique has at least one project that demonstrates the steps with plenty of photographs. The book has an envelope in the back containing full-size patterns for each of the designs, and the projects range from simple rubber-stamped notecards and envelopes to tote bags, t-shirts, lamp shades, furniture and walls.

Most of the designs are simple but stylish, which suits the medium and is also nice for people like me who are intimidated by intricate drawing. The book talks about how to create and print repeating designs, but it doesn’t go into tight-registration printing (printing with multiple colors). It also skips the more technical aspects of photo emulsions for screen printing, suggesting instead that you pay to have them burned by a professional screen maker—though it does cover screen printing over a paper stencil and using drawing fluid and screen filler.

All in all this seems like a good beginner-to-intermediate resource, and one of those inspirational starting point kind of books that gives you the opportunity to try out a few techniques depending on your comfort level and interest, and then go off and explore them in greater depth.

The last few weeks have been incredibly busy, between work and school. I’ve only been able to grab little pieces of time for bookbinding: cutting boards, sanding, choosing and cutting cover paper. So over time my studio filled with little stacks of books to be, just waiting for a chance to sit down and finish everything.

Well, that was this weekend. Since Friday night I’ve assembled 12 accordion books (shown above) and seven Coptic-bound journals. I think I am booked out for a while. I feel like doing some sewing!