8/16/12

In just 40 minutes a day

Every weekday morning, I get 40 minutes in the sewing room.  That’s the time while Rob is walking the dog and taking his shower and before I need to start my own exercise and stretching. 

Every morning, in the few minutes between awake and alarm, I think about what I want to do that day.  On Monday, I worked on a quilt and on Tuesday, I worked on a different quilt and on Wednesday, I worked on my shirt muslin, making that last adjustment. 

I needed an extra half inch in the sleeve at the shirt front.  It took me a very long time to figure out what I needed and how I was going to accomplish it and then when it was done, I looked at the sleeve cap and thought “duh!”  That should have been much easier to figure out.

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This morning, I took the muslin apart and will use the pieces to transfer all my adjustments to the paper pattern and then, I can cut the actual shirt.  I’m taking a size 3XL shirt that I got for five bucks and cutting it down to a size L…and replacing the label with my own.

Now that the fitting is done, I’ll have my very own shirt pattern, fit to my very own body and I’ll be able to take large shirts or fresh fabric and make me a shirt out of it that fits me.  This particular pattern is mostly for resizing bought shirts because it’s a very common style that I readily find huge shirts made in.  This way I can use the existing front and sleeve button plackets, in case there’s not enough fabric to cut new ones.

So, watch for a new green and white plaid shirt in the next few days…but tomorrow, I have to work on a quilt again.  It’s for a show and the deadline looms.

This morning, I’m going to a parent orientation at the high school with Sydney.  She was at a camp there yesterday and today to prep for the new school and learn her way around.  This morning, there’s something for parents…not sure what. 

It’s not like it was in my day, when they just dropped you at the new school and you learned your way around, or you wandered, lost.  Or, if you were me, you had an Aunt Nita that worked at the high school and would fuss at any teacher that gave you a tardy and could escort you if you needed it…in case of bullies.

So, wish me luck.  I think we all know how I love rooms full of strangers.

Lane

3 comments:

Patricia said...

I am impressed with your quilting and now design ability. I absolutely HATE adjusting anything! My hats off to you. As far as school orientation goes---just smile---almost all parents feel the way you do---in the end, you will probably wonder what all the fuss was about. I sometimes think they have an "orientation" so the teachers don't have to spend time helping the students like they use to (I know I am a bit negative---hope to not offend anyone). Anyway-- have a great time!

Kath said...

wow, I am in awe of your cleverness Lane. I would love to have some made-to-measure patterns, but wouldn't know where to start.

I wonder if this would make a good class to offer? I'm sure there are many curvy ladies like me, who have trouble finding clothes that fit well. I'd love to do a class like this.

Coloradolady said...

Oh. Gosh. Kath has a great idea....TEACH this at the shop!!! Wonder what they would say at the prospect???

Good luck at the school...no it is very different today than when we grew up!!