Always Forward.

I had actually had the majority of a top 5 post written up but decided to delete it instead. I gotta say, love reading everyone else's reflections on the past year, though.

To keep this post from being overly wordy and/or boring, I'm throwing in some unblogged garments I've made. Fair warning--some of the picture quality is shite. Deal with it.

Linden sweatshirt. Sized down to a four (Much more flattering). Arms pieced together (so I have enough fabric for another). Fuzzy-backed poly knit (i.e. it actually keeps me warm), with ponte bands.

What made me delete the post? Well, I read these two posts (here and here), and, in a lot of ways, they have summed up how I've been feeling about the sewing community we are in lately. When I first started sewing and reading blogs, I was so impressed by how supportive the community seemed. I would comment and e-mail people, and, if I was lucky, get a response, but that was it. Not much reciprocation.

Cotton jersey Hemlock, for a friend.

With every link round-up, every pattern testing round-up, every guest blogger, and every comment, it was beginning to feel more like a "cool girls club", which I clearly was not a part of. The same bloggers would be showcased across the web over and over. What happened to the "we support everyone" mentality that was supposed to exist? Why do I feel like I am back in high school?

Kwik Sew 4172, drastically altered, for a friend. Navy rayon jersey. In-seam pockets. EXTRA swishy.

As a blogger, you start to equate your blog with yourself. After all, isn't this little piece of web a reflection of yourself? Why aren't people following my blog? I make stuff too! It can be nice. Maybe it's not from the hottest indie pattern? Maybe they don't like my writing? Maybe I'm not posting fast enough? Maybe it is not interesting enough to comment on? Let's enter this contest so I can get more people to like my stuff! I'll make this indie design and then send them a link with the hopes that they will maybe put me on their Pinterest board if they feel I'm relevant enough. As one of the posts I link to above state, you start to equate likes and follows to self-worth, and for me that is a weird feeling because even in high school I just accepted my weird self and did whatever I wanted.

Terrible quality! But, you can see the bands used instead of lining it.

When I read those two posts, they really resonated with me. Why the f*ck do I keep doing this? In an effort to seem "relevant" I would buy patterns from indie companies that I knew would look like shit on my body type. I overlooked terrible drafting, instead thinking that if I just did enough adjustments, the garment would fit right and that it was somehow my problem it didn't. And when I knew that something had been drafted carelessly and then proceeded to contacted the designer to point it out, I just assumed that the designer was too busy to respond when she didn't. It's as though, in some ways, the online sewing community is a bad boyfriend, you just keep on making excuses for them, secretly lying to yourself about the fact that deep down, you know it's not a healthy relationship.

SWISH SWISH!

I started sewing because I needed a creative outlet where I could work with my hands to physically do something. I wanted to create unique garments that fit me better in styles that weren't readily available. I wanted to blog to be able to share the experience and to connect with others who have similar interests in a meaningful way. More than this, I wanted to have a positive impact on the environment and stop pretending that a $20 dress from H&M didn't exploit a worker in another part of the world.

Scout wearable muslin in crappy suit fabric. I don't remember the size and you can't make me go upstairs to find out.

I remember when sewing blogs used to be critical, honest, and slow, focusing on the process over the product. I want to get back to that here. I work full-time. I have a husband and a dog and friends and family and a house that all need my attention. I simply can't churn out garments at the same pace as many other bloggers are doing--at the same rate as fast fashion is doing. So I won't. If you can't stick around because of that, cool. If you can, awesome. So, how do I move forward from here?

First of all, I purged my Bloglovin' reader. No more people giving uncritical pattern reviews for freebies, no more "cool girls club". There are a select few people on my reader that are genuinely kind, who are actually interested in having a conversation, and those are the types of people I would like to be around in real life, so they stay (Thank you for being actual human beings who are genuinely lovely to talk to! You know who you are! xoxo). There are a few other blogs I've kept who don't really reciprocate too much, but who are always an endless source of inspiration, and hey, at least they don't mindlessly promote, promote, promote. After that, it is time for me to make some legitimate goals to work towards for the new year.

Blog Goals:
1. Be more critical. If I try a pattern and I think it sucks, I will say so. Sorry I've sugar coated a bit more than I should have in the past.

2. Post whenever I damn well feel like it. If this means I post two times in 2017, so be it. I don't want to pressure myself to produce more, more, more (!), when I could be taking my time with a higher quality instead.

Sewing Goals:
1. Take my time to really plan, fit, and sew my wardrobe. I want to focus more on creating a timeless wardrobe that works well together and that will last me a long time in fabrics that are natural and sustainably sourced. This one may take a few years to get to though, and you may think that I gave up on the sustainably sourced fabrics part, but I want to use what is in the stash first. More than anything, when I pick out fabrics and patterns to try, I want to do so because they work well for me, not because I think it is the newest trend and it will get me noticed.

2. That brings me to #2, no more fabric. I was actually mostly good about this this past year. There were four new additions (a linen knit, some wool coating, a small piece of quilting cotton [in a dog print, I mean come on!], and some tencel denim), that I actually purchased. I used a giftcard for another purchase of cotton sateen, and any other purchases were purely for other people's projects. Everything else I used was from the stash. Now that I have the wool for my coat, I hope that I can more or less make it through the year without more.

3. Make a quilt. This will likely be the only exception to #2. Ever since we adopted Sweet Dee, I've wanted to make a quilt for the local humane society to raffle off as a way of saying thank you. I think I found the perfect pattern. I hope to have this finished by the end of the summer.

4. Incorporate embroidery into a design. I really like the idea of being able to take all that time to embroider something and then be able to wear it afterwards. I have a few ideas for things that I may like to try. This one may end up on the back burner, but what are goals if not a starting place?

5. Finish a coat. I've put this off for a few years, but my current coat won't last another year so there's not much choice here. Not after the money I spent on my wool, anyway.

6. More sewing time, less Pinterest/Bloglovin' time. I think that the purge will help this one out. I just find that I spend WAY too much time eyeballing what I could be making instead of actually freaking making it.

And that is it really. Sorry if this came off as a bummer of a post, it wasn't really meant to be that way. I've just been repressing these feelings for a long time and now that others have put it into words, I have been able to state much more clearly how I have been feeling.

I am breaking up with my bad boyfriend because I deserve amazing, quality, comfortable, hand-made garments that suit my style and body without feeling pressure to get more likes and follows from people I don't know.

It's over.

And you know what, it's not me, it's you.

xx

Rebel, rebel.

Suggested fabrics. I never did like a suggestion, preferring instead to go the non-traditional route. Sometimes it has worked out brilliantly. Other times, well....it seems like there have been more "other times" as of late.

I have never been known to not be stubborn. It is just a thing. Once I get something in my head, that's it. I need to see it to the end. Even if that means a spectacular fail.

I really, really like ponte knit. And after wearing the $%^& out of my two ponte Hot Cocoa Sweaters, my thought process probably went something a little like this:

I wish I could wear these all year....wait! I know! I will make t-shirts out of this delicious fabric so I CAN! At which point I went out and bought copious amounts of ponte knit fabrics in my favourite colours and patterns.

This brings us my last me-made, the Bronte t-shirt, again, made out of ponte. Don't get me wrong. I like the shirt and I wear it. But I don't love it. It bunches up and it is too hot to wear in the summer and I have to constantly move my bra straps from showing. In the end, not a spectacular fail, but not a win either (And to add insult to injury, the skirt that I made to go with it, my meta circle skirt, though cute, definitely should not have been made out of a quilting cotton, even one as drapey as that. It just sits weird and feels too thin).

So here I am with the shirt that FINALLY made me realize that maybe I should forego my non-traditional route and start paying attention to suggestions. Just a little.

I had seen a ton of tees on Pinterest that I loved such as the following:

Source

I just love that loose shape that is flowy without making the wearer look "wide". I love that the sleeves seem to fall at the perfect point, I love the sleeve cuffs, and I really like the high-low hem, especially the curved one. I had watched this "easy video" on copying clothes. I figured, what the hell, let's give it a shot.

I copied the body and sleeves of one of my looser tees and the scoop neck of another. I used the ponte leftover from my Bronte (which, I guess, is leftover from my mom's and MIL's mother's day gifts from last year), and the sleeves and pocket is leftover from Harley's/now Sweet Dee's bed. I am really happy with how my top stitching is on this. I guess that is something?

I like the pocket, but without the extra stitching. Unfortunately, the inner row of stitching is what is keeping the pocket fabric from fraying like cray-cray. I should have just zig-zagged before top-stitching. Womp womp.

The sleeves are too tight and the top is definitely not flowy on me, so, although I finished the top (to the donate pile!), I didn't bother hemming the bottom of the top, instead putting some bartacks at the sides and leaving it as it. I think it works.

Oh, and the armpits are pinching in all gross-like. Ugh.

So what the gosh darn mommy fudger happened?! Well, wrong fabric choice is the biggest culprit here, obviously. I have since done a thorough search of patterns that I like and that--*gasp*--actually call for ponte knit. I have narrowed things down to driftless, axel, and morris. I also have Linden at the printers and, of course, there is always my trusty hot cocoa (I won't lie, I've also mentally added coco to the list as I have the perfect black and white stripe ponte sitting in my stash, however, I've seen people make linden sweatshirt dresses--top left--and that may end up being what happens).

At the same time, I've actually bought some nice jerseys for tee making--another *gasp*! I finished a project for a friend and had a ton of leftover drapey lucious rayon jersey, and I picked up some of this linen jersey when mood had it on sale a few months ago.

My second big mistake is cheaping out when it comes to a pattern. I just need to suck it up and buy one...no more DIY. I've since been on the hunt for a great tee pattern and have decided I like all of Grainline's, but can't decided which one. I think I like penny the best but worry it won't look nice tucked in to a skirt (also, practically no one online has made one?!). I was leaning towards the lark, until I saw all the knit scouts online (here). Scout it is.

All in all, I have decided to stop rebelling and give in (well, I suppose with the exception of scout ;)). I'm going to stop half-assing things and start full-assing them. Full-ass all the way. Because a tight weird tee with pinchy armpits sucks when you have limited sewing time before school starts up again in September. And even moreso when the rest of your wardrobe is literally falling apart and threadbare.

Go free wee one! Find a new home through the Salvation Army! Godspeed.

What about you? What sewing blunders have you had to learn from? What is your favourite tee pattern and why? (Let me learn from your mistakes lol)

{Rebel, rebel.}

The weirdest thing sewing has ever done to me.

Hey! Happy Easter! Hope you are enjoying this fantastic long weekend. I sure am!

This is going to be a short post. I'm currently working on two very long-term projects, so there will be more in-progress posts (less finished projects posts), upcoming and at a slower rate than what I've been able to do these past few months. That's okay though, as both of these projects will be challenging and exciting in their own way.

But I'm actually here to talk about something really, really weird. I went to the dentist this past week.

No cavities, awww yeah!

My teeth are fine but, one thing that has been happening for the past few years is I have had some sensitivity. I've known it was because my gums have receded a bit in the back but never knew why my gums have done that. Well, this trip in the dentist chair, my dental hygienist asked if I grind or clench my teeth.

Well, here's the thing folks, I've noticed recently that I clench my teeth. While sewing. A lot. I do it usually when I have to cut out fabric or snip seam allowances. Sometimes I do it when I am just thinking about what I am doing while sewing, or placing pattern pieces, or anything really! I am a sewing teeth clencher.

Well, according to my dental hygienist, clenching your teeth, besides other things, can lead to gum recession. I've had pretty sensitive teeth for about three or so years. I started sewing about three or so years ago. So yes, what I am saying is that sewing can lead to tooth sensitivity. Weird. I know. But worth mentioning. Next time you are sewing, it would be worth paying attention to whether or not you are clenching your teeth, because, you know, tooth sensitivity sucks.

That's all I really wanted to say. But, I do have to ask: do you have any bad sewing-related habits? I can't be the only one!

{Smile}

Well, hello there, 2014!

I know, I know, I always say it: things are crazy around here. You must be sick of hearing about it. I don't blame you.

September was fairly relaxing, we had two weeks off before supply teaching started off. It was nice to spend time with the hubs just sort of "gettin' 'er done". Then, Trev got shingles. Supply work was busy, but I could manage the cooking and cleaning (okay, just the cooking), alone while he recuperated.

Gotta hand-stitch that waistband down.

Then, he had an interview. There goes our weekend. ("What three items do you think exemplify what makes you an excellent teacher?")

Then I had an interview. And I got it. (Gotta hand-stitch that waistband down.) Flipping awesome. But whoa. A lot of work. New students, new classes, new school. Starting all over. Gotta prove myself to the administration. That's okay, I don't mind. Trevor is feeling better (Gotta hand-stitch that waistband down.), so I can help him with some of the cooking and cleaning.

Week two. On my prep period getting ready for my last class. (Gotta hand-stitch that waistband down.) I get a call from the ambulance. Trevor is headed to the ER with pain, he is assuming he has kidney stones. Rush back to Niagara. CAT scan.

Yup. Kidney stones.

Need to take care of Trevor again. While he is recuperating, he is preparing for, yup, another interview.

("Tell me, how do you assess your students?")

Cooking, trying to clean enough to make the next meal ("How do you plan a unit?"), while prepping the hubs for the big interview. Not to mention planning for the classes. (His interview was successful, btw.)

Wake up at 5:45, get ready (Gotta hem the skirt.), go to work, come home, clean enough pots and pans, get dinner ready, make sure Trev is okay, eat (Gotta hem the skirt), plan, pass out by 9 (If I'm lucky enough to have everything done by then). Repeat.

What's that? Trev has another interview? Well at least they told him three hours before hand. No time to prep for that.

Plan a semi-formal for 54 students. Plan a field trip for 54 students in the same week. (Whose bright idea was that?)

Get coughed in the face at least 5 times each day.

SIGH.

"What's that? It's Christmas break, you say? Tomorrow is your first official full 24 hours off, you say? Well, here, have a cold. Merry Christmas."

.......

So much has happened in the past six months that I have not even remotely had a chance to share with you. I hope that you can be patient, because some of these things are quite exciting (to me at least).

But more than all this (I'm not complaining, just being factual), I want to wish every one of you a safe and fabulous two thousand fourteen. I hope you sew that dress, make that quilt, pick up that new skill. I hope you plant a fabulous fresh garden. I hope you live lots of adventures, laugh lots, and love even more.

Happy New Year :)

{Just see it.}

Holy macanaw!

So life has been more than a little crazy lately. For the past two months, Trevor has been finding a way to collect all sorts of old man illnesses, from shingles to kidney stones. We have been renovating our bathroom (only to find out that we will need to renovate our upstairs bathroom because, hey, the overflow on the bathtub ISN'T CONNECTED TO ANYTHING. I love a good waterfall in my kitchen.), refinishing furniture, try to organize and decorate our house for an upcoming Christmas party, oh, and did I mention, I've got a maternity cover until the end of January? Huzzah!

My house has exploded with things all over. Everything is covered in drywalling dust. I fall asleep at 9pm during the week and 6pm on Fridays. SIX PM ON FRIDAYS.

But somehow, since August, a little something is in the works. Care for a sneak peek? Just promise you won't judge the explosion in the background.

I don't care about pattern placement. Yeah, I'm a rebel.

{Stuck}

RANT: Underwear

Okay. Can I share something with you guys? Something that has been really bothering me lately?

Alright.

So, I have a problem with women's underwear.

There. I've said it.

Now, I know you are probably looking at the computer screen right now all squinty-eyed like, "Okay....now where are you going with this, Carlee...."

Okay, so I don't have a problem with ALL women's underwear, just most of them.

My problem is this: I like pretty underwear. Now, I know, I know, we've been fed all this crud by society all about how we women NEED pretty underwear in order to feel pretty, thus we NEED to go out and buy said pretty underwear. Consumerism, blah, blah, blah. I get it. I do. But really, I don't buy clothes, I don't buy "stuff" for the sake of being cool, feeling like I need it to be of worth, so let me have my underwear.

BUT pretty underwear in the past 10 years has gone down hill, and, ahem, up butt. My problem is that pretty underwear is now made on the cheap: less material, less elastic (sometimes no elastic!), and hence, it has a tendency to travel up the rear and give you a major wedgie. Okay, give me a major wedgie. And I hate it.

I AM BLOODY WELL SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING A WEDGIE!

There. I got it off my chest.

Seriously, though. How does the industry expect us to wear this:

...and not get a wedgie? I mean, do you know anyone who could fit an entire bum cheek into that back portion and have their bum fully covered?

No? You mean you don't know anyone who have triangle shaped cheeks and thighs that leave their body at a forty five degree angle?

Really?

Yeah. That's what I thought. And that black stuff probably isn't even elastic.

I mean, check out this chick at this link (I promise it's safe, just Victoria's Secret).

I mean, one third of her bum is covered, one third is hanging out, and the last third is photo shopped out. You know that as soon as she moves, she might as well have worn a thong.

Now, check these out from etsy user EgrettaGarzetta:

Full. Butt. Coverage.

And check these ones out from ohhhlulu:

Gorgeous, non?

See that gray stuff around the leg holes that is creating gentle ruching? Yeah, that means that there is elastic there.

WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT!?

Part of me really wants to complain that the mainstream fashion industry cannot give us pretty underwear that actually covers my whole bum, that we shouldn't have to go searching online for underwear that does not wedgie. But, part of me is telling that other part of me that, really, I should not be in the least surprised, and really, it is probably a good thing that if I want quality underwear, I need to start going to support the little guy, and not slave labour.

Okay. One last mention. I know some of you might be thinking: "Dude! What about the Amerson? You sew, so like, duh!"

Alright, I know, I know. It has been saved to my desktop for some time now. But I have a quilt to make (still), and a dress to make, and curtains to make, all of which seem more pressing at the moment. And I've never sewn with stretchy fabrics. So there's that hurdle too. I'll get there soon, just not now.

Until then, I will purchase a bum covering, but very plain pair of undies, save up for some pretty ones (Ohhhlulu, I'm looking at you.), and learn how to make them myself once and for all.

And, oh yeah. Sorry about all the yelling. :)

I hope you have a wedgie-free week.

What are your feelings on undies? Do you have wedgie-rage too?

{HAHAHA what a terrible song.}

Friendly reminder

Just a quick reminder while I am waiting for the rain to stop so I may take pictures for the next post:

Google reader is shutting down on July 1st, so if you follow me there, make sure you switch over to a new reader! Maybe try Bloglovin'? I've been using it for a few months and love it.

In the meantime, enjoy your day whatever type of weather you might be having!

{:)}

Guess Who's Back?

Ever since I've thought of the name for this post, I've had Eminem stuck in my head. Not exactly my kind of music (well, maybe when I was in grade nine it was). Regardless, I thought I'd share with you.

So now that I've effectively fallen off the face of the blogosphere (and let's face it, the real world too) for one month, I figure I should do a quick update before I start getting caught up in posts (Grow Write Guild, ahem....). To say that April and May were crazy busy is an understatement. I was leaving the house before seven and getting home between ten and midnight on average. And the days that I was off, I was sewing for the play or painting/renovating/organizing my house. Like, non-stop. So, I'm pretty happy that I have some time off now.

Remember those eggs that I was using to grow tomato seeds in? Are you curious as to how well that is going?

 I'd say it is going rather well, non? Well, reality is that it is going even better than this. This was taken almost a month ago! They have since been planted in a project that I'll post sometime in the near future.

The other plant babies have done rather well for themselves also. Just a sneak peek:

The rest of the tomatoes one month ago.

Some beautiful-looking dill

My fav: sage.

Baby asparagus!

They too are currently in the ground outside.

Gardening hasn't been without its failures though. I tried to grow an advocado:

 

But I killed it when I failed to change the water out everyday. Whoops.

I also planted some really cool corn outside:

 

Called martian, it was supposed to have yellow kernels and a purple cob! Only one of them started to grow, and that one was killed by a nasty thunderstorm we had about two weeks ago. :(

In sewing news, I have done lots and nothing.

I've sewn a bunch of costumes for the musical that I put on at the end of May, but I have sewn nothing for myself. Hopefully soon something will be in the works though......

Hmmmm....with this maybe?

And finally, in cooking/baking news, I will be taking a little semi-break. I read a really great article by another Niagara blogger all about how food bloggers don't really test their grub anymore before they put it up online for all to see. I will still post recipes, but only after trying it out on numerous friends and family, so they will be smaller in quantity, but higher in quality. Which should be interesting because I'm going back off gluten for a while. Regardless, I'll be spending the most of these next two months gardening and sewing anyways.

And that's everything! Glad to be back. Things will still be a little busy, but definitely not like before, so you're stuck with me now. Sucker.

Now go out and enjoy this nice weather!

{OBSESSED with this}

Nerves: an Interlude

Do you get nervous? Like so nervous you feel like you are going to puke? And then you worry that you are going to puke in the situation that is making you nervous in the first place and that makes you even MORE nervous?

Tomorrow is making me nervous. I've got an interview in for my real job (re:not sewing, cooking, gardening related).

So my life is put on hold while I make sure I'm properly prepared.

So the blog is on hold.

Photo shoot for Mad Men Dress Challenge #2 is coming very soon.

I promise.

Maybe even tomorrow?

We'll see.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Harley immediately making himself comfortable on a pile of painting sheets. That dog always find the fluffiest spot in the room.

Please! Share! What makes you ridiculously nervous? Maybe it'll make me feel better, haha.

{I think I've posted this before, but I just find this song so darn calming!}

Grow Write Guild

Hey, did you know that Gayla Trail, over at You Grow Girl, is starting a Grow Write Guild? Gayla will be posting a writing prompt every two weeks, starting tomorrow, that has to do with gardening. Even if you don't have a blog, but you have a garden, it would be a great little exercise in reflecting on your growing successes and failures. I'm looking forward to it!

 When I first started gardening, Gayla's book, You Grow Girl! was the first (and only) gardening book I purchased, and it has made a world of difference in my love of gardening. Not only is she local (-ish, she is from Toronto, but she is still a Canuck!), but her book makes gardening ACCESSIBLE to young people. Because it is not just old retired ladies who enjoy growing stuff! I highly recommend it if you are thinking of growing something, in a pot, in a garden plot, fruits, veggies, flowers, whatever! And I also highly recommend you start growing something even if you aren't thinking about it already. This is always a good start.

I love gardening, but sometimes find it difficult to put things into words properly, so this will be a good exercise for me. If you enjoy gardening, you should join us!

Do you garden already? What do you grow?

{Ahhhhh spring....}

Vintage sewing deliciousness.

So the other day my cousin calls me up:

Susie: Hey Car, I just cleaned out a bunch of things from my closet and I wanted to know if you wanted any of it. Even if you just want some of it for fabric and then donate the rest, that's fine. I just thought you might get some more use out of it than if I just gave it away.
Me: Sure, that sounds cool, thanks, Susie.
Susie: I also have some ribbons and buttons and things that I am getting rid of, would you like to see those as well? I know that you are sewing and I thought you might use them.
Me: Buttons?! Heck yeah, I'll take your buttons!
Susie: Okay, I'll bring them over.

Check out the awesome vintage stash that she brought over for me!

How awesome, right?

From a bread company.

Wait for it......

That's right, it is a pack of needles!!! Wouldn't that be awesome if bread companies still did this?

Cute little buttons.

One of these hit paraders is from 1957, the other 1955!

The ads are awesome!

But this ad really caught my eye!

Thank GOODNESS for Tampax. Otherwise, how would I feel poised and dainty at that time of the month?

Some pretty pink lacey trim.

The most beautiful royal blue seam binding. I guess I'll need to learn how to use seam binding now!

I really can't wait to start to use all this!

{Why is this stuck in my head?}