Red Cedar
More apocalypse, less angst
Post #2052: Not quite a superhero cape, but nevertheless….
My Woodland Stroll Cape is finished!
I didn’t quite attach the closures properly (I realized too late that there should have been some overlap), and I couldn’t figure out how to line up the outer fabric and lining the stitch through the shoulder seams. I *did* topstitch around the entire edge which took out some of the puffy edges that I saw in other people’s finished items around the web – and I’m pleased with that.
Besides the instruction to attach the lining at the shoulders – this pattern is easy to follow, and well-described. Because this garment is so straightforward, it lends itself to embellishment – embroidery or beadwork all the way along the bottom edge, for example, would work very well.
The fabric I chose for this project is perfect – a vintage piece of wool (likely from the sixties) and a mid-weight shiny/slippery lining. The lining is quite visible on this piece, so co-ordinating is important.
This is the second Liesl+S pattern that I’ve made and I really appreciate the clear instructions and pictures. These are some of the best indie patterns I have worked with (don’t get me started on the worst!) – and I really recommend them for any skill level.
I don’t have a good shot of me wearing it, but here’s an attempt at a selfie in the sewing room mirror.
I quite love the fabric, and my sewing isn’t bad either (if you don’t look too close) – but I’ve never worn a garment quite like this so it’ll take the right outfit to pull it off. I’m thinking long-sleeve black sweater underneath, pair of jeans, black high heels. Perhaps to the symphony this Friday night.
Post #2051: In which I devise a plan to be myself
I would like to be honest here and admit that I am in a bit of a slump at the moment. It’s been building for the past couple of weeks, but only yesterday did I admit how much in the trough I have been feeling. It’s work-related mainly. My current work is boring, undirected, and leaves me without the capacity to lead that I so thrive on – it’s also at a pretty high pay grade which is why I joined this project in the first place. When I took it on I knew that it wouldn’t be the most thrilling work for me, but I hadn’t realized how much I didn’t want to go back to this type of web project management. The truth that I’ve discovered is that I don’t want to do this kind of work anymore even though I’m very good at it. But I’ve got an assignment to fulfill, and if I want to go onto something better for me, I can’t just abandon the team midway through – so I’m toughing it out for now and acknowledging that it’s just one of those times when I don’t feel great about my working life.
Unfortunately, because my identity is so wrapped up in work, this has a spillover effect of making me question/dislike/nitpick about every part of myself. As though a single job assignment is just proof of how boring, inept, slow, uninspiring a person that I am. Of course it isn’t, but I notice those thoughts creeping in to all other aspects of my life and it’s really wrecking what could otherwise be a good time. You know how that is?
In any case, I’ve got a strategy that I’m hoping will help. This includes focusing in on my strengths (ideas, action, leadership, energy) and trying to carry out some tasks each day on another project (which is off the side of my desk, not my main job) which has some great interest potential for me, and is highly relevant to a greater community.
I am also doubling down on my meditation and creativity paths right now – while dialing back on social stuff for a little bit. Which is not to say that I’m refusing social engagements – but I’m not going out of my way to organize them either. I’m also doing some gratitude work with Brian, which I find helps put things into perspective. And rather than feeling bad about not going to the gym, I’m making sure that I walk a lot and am going to make an effort to get out hiking a bit while the weather is still amenable to it.
It’s interesting how just thinking about this course of action creates an immediate feeling of ease – a plan to conserve a bit of my outward energy for use inward, and replenish that through the being state which is coming naturally to me right now. This, rather than push and rail against this aspect of life that I am obliged to fulfill. Knowing also that this state will pass sooner than later and be replaced with I’m not sure what comes next.
Post #2049: Work in progress
My in-progress shots from this week. The featured image above is my first ever knit sweater project – pattern is Paulie by Isabell Kramer. All I can really say is so far, so good. It appears that it will fit me, and my stockinette stitch is getting less bumpy the further on I go. It will definitely look like a learning piece at the end – but that’s what it is! I’ve already got two more Isabell Kramer designs picked out for my next sweater projects – I love her aesthetic.
And here is the cape effort from last night: All lining cut out, interfacing attached, lining and cape exterior assembled. When I get back from the cabin I will sew the lining and cape together and then work on the finishing. By the end of the weekend, or Monday at the latest, I should have a finished garment:
Happy Friday everyone!
Post #2048: The start of the new
Now that the sewing room re-do is almost complete (once I get the final furniture pieces I’ll post proper photos here) – I’ve got a tidy and very clean work space to inspire me again. And one of the things I am most happy about in the new configuration is a table that I can stand upright at for cutting out patterns. Back when I lived on the Sunshine Coast I had this set-up (I lived on my own in 1700 square feet so there was plenty of space) but for the last several years I have made do with the dining room table. As I have increasingly made garments in the past few years, it means hauling yards of fabric into the dining room, pinning, and cutting – while trying not to disrupt the use of the space or dinner being served! A dedicated cutting and work table feels like real privilege to me.
I finished the dorm room quilt on Monday (it was delivered the next afternoon), and by Tuesday night I was hauling out fabric and yarn for new projects – I took the photo above after I had decided on my makes:
The Woodland Stroll Cape has been in my project queue for about two years- and I’m still not sure about the making of it. I have had a piece of vintage teal wool in mind for this project sitting in my closet for ages – but capes make me hesitant. I love the idea of a cape for fall wear, but I’m not sure about how practical it is, and I worry that I will look like I am wearing a blanket. I don’t have enough of the wool to make a jacket or coat, however, and I can’t really imagine a skirt this scratchy – so I’ve decided to commit to the idea in my head, and just see how it goes. I taped the pattern together and cut it out on Tuesday, and then yesterday picked up a lining and findings for it on my lunch break.
I’m pretty committed at this point, and I do like the fact that the side buttons do provide some minimal shaping (unlike lots of capes and ponchos which just billow around). I chose to start this one first because it seemed the most straight forward and also, there is a short window for wearing such a garment. Once it gets cold and wet, it won’t be nearly enough to keep the elements at bay. This strikes me as much more an autumn garment, which means it has to get done before autumn is over.
My next project following up on that is the Cappuccino Dress, also by Liesl + co. I have now made this pattern twice – once as a dress and once as a blouse – and I have to confess, it’s a bit shapeless for me. On the other hand, I wear the dress version of it all the time at home. It make a great house dress with big pockets for holding things, and a very comfy garment for meditation. Because I am heading to a week-long meditation retreat in November, in a place that is often quite chilly, I’ve decided to make a version in black chambray that I can layer a long sleeve shirt and leggings under. Definitely not a garment with a lot of sex appeal, but truly a very practical item – which is I suppose what meditation garments should be – a bit boring but wearable. This pattern is a dream to follow and I’ve already transferred it to swedish tracing paper, so I expect a quick make (in time for the start of an intensified fall meditation period).
And finally, the Beacon Shawl – which I fell in love with as soon as I saw a picture of it. As a new knitter, I figured it would be something straightforward that I could probably make, and so I ordered the yarn mid-summer. Because I had two (or more) other projects on needles at the time, I’ve been patiently waiting to break out the pattern and start knitting. On Monday night, alongside my quilt finish, I also managed to finish Brian’s winter scarf project which I finally handed to him this morning after unpinning it from blocking:
The Beacon Shawl was cast-on Tuesday, and it’s my current “bus” knitting project – something small enough that I can knit it in transit (unlike the sweater I am in the middle of). I don’t have much to show at the moment, so that will wait for another day, but I’m happy to have something new on the needles.
My afterwork plan for tonight is a drink with workmates and then straight home to work on the cape – once that’s underway, I’ll cut out the dress. And then after that I’m thinking about Purl Soho’s Quilted Vest and a new skirt – but that’s getting far too ahead of myself and I have unfinished objects that are calling me too.
Red Cedar 