Lots of Pink Quilt

A couple of months ago I was sorting through my quilting fabrics and rearranging them when I noticed I have a lot of pink fabric.  Perfect for some string piecing -- one of my favorite piecing methods.

I laid the fabric on the back of the sewing table and used son #2's papers he brings home on Fridays to cut some squares to piece on to.  Every once in a while or in the evenings when I can only manage to sew a straight line, I stitched the blocks together.

Now I have a really pink baby quilt and a lot less pink fabric.

To contain all that crazy pink I'm going to border it in hot pink mitered strips about three inches wide.  That should be enough.

Singer 99K

I was given this Singer 99K.  Honestly, I don't want another sewing machine...I've run out of room.  When Peter once remarked about not having the room mentally for more machines, I knew exactly what he meant.  No room there either.  Yet, the 99 is a nice little machine - but with some flaws on this particular one.

I think this 99 was kept in one of those rickety wooden garages that sits out by itself.  Dampness crept in.  The enamel on the upper machine is bubbly looking --that's not good from an aesthetic point of view.  The bed is undamaged though.  Also the enamel has been chipped off in a couple of spots.  I gave it a basic cleaning and the light rust came off the plates and other metal parts.

I'm not even bothering with this foot controller.  I have some that are in much better shape that will replace it.

I have the 99 in running condition and it sounds nice but I can't sew with it yet because the tension spring is broken.  Those are easily available.  I probably won't do anything with it until summer though.  I found the 99 (and 66's) are unlike other Singers which can be set down on a table and used.  The 99's mechanisms underneath have to be up off the table to move; therefore, it must have a case or box.

Despite the flaws and not needing another machine I rather like this little 3/4 size heavyweight.  I think if I had more room for the 99 I would put the buttonholer on it and leave it as a buttonhole machine -- maybe someday.  At the moment it's sitting on the bottoms shelf in my sewing area with a dust cover on (at least it's not a damp garage).

Here's something interesting:

There is a repossessed tag on the underside edge of this sewing machine.  Which leads to all sorts of questions!  What happened?  Did someone not have the money to pay for their sewing machine?  How sad!  Was it taken away?  Even sadder.

Middle Age and New Muslins

I'm 45.  I don't have a problem with it.  (Except for maybe that shoulder pain issue.)  But last spring I noticed something  -- skirts I had worn for years, like my denim pencil skirt and the khaki one, were a little snug.  Just enough to be uncomfortable and get pulled out of the closet.  My favorite short sleeve fitted white shirt was snug too.  For the first time in two decades (other than those pregnancies) my size changed.  I found a scale -which I rarely use - and, yes, five new pounds.  Enough to make me get rid of several outfits.  Not really a problem...

...until it came to sewing.  I didn't make many tops last year if you noticed.  I did make two blouses - but I usually wear them unbuttoned over a tank top.  I can wear them buttoned, but...just a smidgen too tight in the armhole area.  Remember that green flowered 60's dress I made that I took the sleeves out of last spring so I could have more room to move?  It was too tight in the arm area.  It bound in the front and pulled in the back plus I couldn't lift my arms without the whole thing riding up on my boobs.  Quite uncomfortable and unflattering -- since when I put my arms down my dress was still sitting up above my boobs and I had to pull it down!  I made a shirtwaist dress I never showed you that had short sleeves that again I had to take the sleeves out of to salvage it since it was too binding and uncomfortable with them. 

Yes, I basted a zipper into my muslin

But I want to wear sleeves!!!  So I've been measuring and making muslins and getting confused/frustrated.  The sloper I worked on last winter isn't quite right anymore.  I have broad shoulders...I knew that.  They're also more forward than I realized.  Ok.  I have a low bust -- again, not news to me.  But then the dreadful realization...I might be looking at doing some FBA's.  Oh, no.  Not that.  I should have known; especially after buying all new bras last year.  My overly full B somewhat C cup has become an overly full C somewhat D.

I decided to find out if an FBA is my solution.  I have S2648 which is one of those patterns with A-D cup sizes included.  I made it with the C cup.  Not quite an amazing fit.  I made it with the D cup.  Better.  Using Fit For Real People,  I also learned how to move the fullness in the bust on a princess seam down.  A better fit but it still pulls some in the back under the back of the armhole when I put my arms out in front.  The wrinkles all point to the back armpit area.

I make notes on my muslins -esp. since I'll keep this for reference

At the moment I'm quite tired of reading about the armscye.  Add to the back, remove from the front.  Don't have it too high or too low under the arm.

Sigh...I'm working on it.  I'm getting closer.  I will soon be able to make clothes with sleeves that I can move comfortably in.