Things That I Would Tell My Younger Self...

 As I get toward the end of my life, there are things that I can look back on and say "Wish I had...".  Here is my list:

1.  Spent more quality time with my husband, children, and family. 

2.   Worked harder at maintaining my weight.  

3.  Spent more time doing strength exercises and stretches.

4.  Tried harder to eat a healthy which would have helped with item 2

You might ask, how does this relate to sewing?  Well, item 1 is a blessed life thing.  Quality time can never be regretted.  Really who cares if the house is perfect.  As for the other 3 items, they affect your sewing.  All affect fitting ability.  The more curves the harder it is to fit in my opinion and I have plenty of curves.  The strength exercises and stretches help keep things inline.  You got a tilted waist (I do), you have weak abdominals and gluts.  Your shoulders rotating forward.  You can bet that there is a muscle or two or three that need to be worked on.  

I have been to physical therapy three times in the past five years.  That is a lot of time and money.  Believe it or not all of it have been the same leg from the ankle to the knee to the hip.   Therapy for the ankle had exercises and stretches all the way up the leg.  Therapy for the hip had exercises for the abs, the glutes, the leg muscles.  Therapy for the knee had exercises for the entire leg along with the abs and glutes (admittedly, I had a fractured kneecap and braces slow you down a little bit).  

So, I am going to work harder to lose the weight.  At 20, I weighted about 115 pounds.  I do not necessarily want to be at that weight again but 120 to 125 would be good.  Just to give you an example of not maintaining weight.  If you gain two pounds a year, at 60 I would have weighted 195.  Two pounds does not sound like much of a weight gain but two pounds a year for forty years is a lot of weight gain.  I am not saying that is how much I weight but you can see in my pictures that I do not weight 115 lbs anymore.  I was one of those people who gained weight while I was pregnant and could not get it to go away.  I honestly gained too much weight while I was pregnant. 

I am going to start working on exercising again.  Moving half way across country stopped my daily exercise routine.  I could not find a gym that I liked working out at.  Even though it terrifies me to get on my knees, I am going to start doing my yoga and stretching routines again.  I will visit some gyms again and see if I can find some where that has machine availability.  The last gym I joined I could not find a time when machines were available.  There did not seem to be a limit on how long some one could use a machine and frankly, I can walk and ride a bike at home.  I like doing a circuit.  Now, you have seen my excuses let's see if I can get started working out.

Happy Stitching!

A Little Indulgence...

 A couple of weeks ago, I made an inspiration post regarding a knit dress.  I really liked this dress and kept going back to look it.  I finally decided that I was going to buy it instead of an attempted recreation.  I ordered the dress with the hope that it would fit fairly well and hoping it was not too short.  Well, I was pleasantly surprise.  I ordered the blue version of the dress.

The fabric on the dress is very interesting.  Unfortunately, this is already sold out of four colors.  For me, this will be an every day type dress or going to church.  However, I think it would work well in an office environment as well.  

I do not tend to wear as many dresses in the winter as I do in the summer but I will be wearing them.  I miss getting dressed up to go to work.  So now, I dress up for me and my husband who I think deserves to see me looking somewhat nice from time to time.

 Happy Stitching!

New Sewing Toys...

 I will admit that I enjoy collecting feet for my sewing machines.  In the last year of so, Juki released new feet for the MCS-1500.  I would love to have gotten all of the new items for the machine but they are mostly very expensive.  So, I selected the one I thought would be the used most.  

This is the Coverstitch Clear Presser Foot.  It will be replaced the metal one most likely for all sewing.  I can not express how happy I am about this foot.

The next item that I purchased was for my Bernette B77.  This machine is very limited on the feet that comes with it so I was happy that new feet were released.  I purchased a collection of feet:

This is the Decoration Presser Foot Set.  I was beginning to think that I would never find this set but I finally did.  It includes the following items: 

• universal presser foot holder
• ribbon couching foot
• binder attachment
• beading and sequin foot
• pintuck foot
• embroidery foot with clear sole
• piping foot
• zigzag foot with guide
• roller foot

I admit that some of these feet I am more excited about than others.  The instructions are really lacking for this set but I will figure them out.

Do you like purchasing new accessories for your machines?  

Happy Stitching!

Inspiration...V-Neck Blouse

 I really like the print mixing in this blouse:

This is the Pretty V-Neck Blouse by Boden.  Price Tag: $120.00.  Details:  pop-over styling, long blouson sleeves gathered into a cuff, viscose fabric, oversized, finishes at low hip.  

Love, love the mix of prints on this.  The styling of the neckline reminds me very much of the Love Notions Vivace Dolman neckline.  However, you might be able to get a similar look using the Love Notions Rhapsody Blouse.  

If anyone has seen a blouse like the inspiration, please let me know who produces it.

Happy Stitching!

Itch To Stitch Taroko Skirt Muslin...

 Back in July, I decided to indulge in another pattern.  It was the Itch to Stitch Taroko Skirt pdf pattern.  It seemed like a good basic skirt to have in the collection.  Here is the line drawing:

It is a basic a-line skirt with front princess seams.  You can make it with or without the pockets and with or without the belt loops.  My version will be made without the belt loops.  This skirt sits at the natural waist and it has been a long time since I have made a skirt that sits that high.  Here is what I did:

1.  Printed a straight size 18.  

2.  Added 2-inches of length.

3.  Added 1/2-inch of play room at the side seams.

I am proud to say that I found a piece of fabric that was just large enough to cut out this skirt with the changes that I am making.  Sometimes, the stash delivers.  The fabric is a dark khaki twill and should be a good basic.  Here are the results:

Overall, I am very happy with this skirt.  I did press it before the picture but I think it needs a trip through the washer/dryer and pressed again.  I hope the fold lines come out.  I suppose it is possible that it was folded too long in the stash.  

As far as the changes to the pattern, #3 was not needed.  This surprised me as I thought I would need a bit more room in the waist.  As far as #2, I think I may have added a little too much length for this skirt.  I will probably leave it when I make a skirt for winter as I can wear tall boots with it happily.  

I think this is the last of my summer sewing. I had another top that I wanted to make but by the time I get a muslin done the warm weather may be gone.  It is time to start fall/winter sewing.

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Happy Stitching!