the fabric is from metro textiles, purchased back in the fall with daughter fish, maddie and wanett, a fantastic meetup day that i never blogged about. it's actually criminal that i didn't blog about it. the balmy weather, silky fabric and missed hollerin' opportunities have got me thinking about all sorts of criminal activity. par example: i have close to ten garments made since late summer 2012 that i have yet to blog about. stuff i'd really like to show you. disclaimer: some of the garments may be considered criminal to put up on teh interwebs. depends on your point of view.
why haven't i blogged about these? i dunno. looking back through kalkatroona, i clicked through five pages of posts before i found anything other than my monthly MSN makes. really?! that can't be right, but there it is. there are three reasons i can think of for this:
1. the one-garment-a-month is taking more time than i thought
2. my other fabric pales in comparison
3. it's just fun at mood, y'all.
they're all true and untrue. 1: my monthly MSN make would probably not take so long if it weren't an MSN make. something about the network makes me want to step up my game, and actually i think that's a great thing. the company i get to play with is exceedingly talented, and experienced, and i want my sewing to be on their level (since, as you may already know, I LIKE TO WIN). 2: i have a lot of cheap fabric in my stash, and it pales. i'm not talking inexpensive (par example, i just bought four yards of exquisite lavender wool at "it's a material world" for FOUR BUCKS A YARD) i'm talking cheap stuff i don't know the content of, stuff i bought before i walked into a store with aisles and bolts clearly marked. and i find i'm not as interested in sewing with mystery fabric anymore. (unless it's really, really pretty.) 3. well, number three is just true. i really like the people there. i have such a good time there, i end up spending money outside of my allowance. happily. the only un-fun time i've ever had was when project runway descended, kicked everyone out, and didn't even recognize that THE WINNER OF ALL PROJECT RUNWAY EVER WAS STANDING RIGHT IN THE CHECKOUT LINE. (ahem. that was pre-msn, by the way, most peeps at mood have no clue who i am, at least not till i yell about it in a loud voice.)
reasoning aside, i really don't want one garment a month to reflect my sewing life. to be honest, that's why i gave up "oona does it!". it was too hard to be told what to sew once a week. no, i'm sorry, let me rephrase: it's too hard to drive an eighteen wheeler tractor trailer, or deliver for ups, or deliver a FRIGGIN BABY. sewing is NOT HARD. sewing is FUN. being told what to sew is less fun.
that's what i love about MSN. i'm told to make one garment per month, but i'm given free reign over the thousands of bolts in the store, and what i want to make from it. but what i've unwittingly not been sharing, in my tunnel vision on making these MSN garments as perfect as i can, are the things i've been making alongside those garments, from mood fabric, and paron's, and chic, and 21st century, and my stash...
cause i make a lot of stuff, yo. keeps me sane. on average, i think i make about five pieces a month. hell, five pieces in a three day weekend if i hit the sweet spot in the cycle. what about you? what would you say your output is? (no right or wrong answer, of course, i think the main thing is, what makes you happy.)
cause i make a lot of stuff, yo. keeps me sane. on average, i think i make about five pieces a month. hell, five pieces in a three day weekend if i hit the sweet spot in the cycle. what about you? what would you say your output is? (no right or wrong answer, of course, i think the main thing is, what makes you happy.)
I would love to see all those unblogged pieces. It takes time to blog everything though, and with five pieces a month...I understand why some go unrecognized. Maybe do a monthly round-up post? I make about 3-4 pieces a month on a good month. Some for me, some for others.
ReplyDeleteSeconding the wish to see some of these unblogged things! My output varies-- I was averaging 2-3 pieces a month before last year, in which I barely managed an average of 1 item per month because work was just too busy for me to sew during an entire season, and suddenly there was a guy in my life. It also depends on how complicated a project I'm setting for myself...you know, like that dress I've been working on exclusively for the last 4 months straight.
ReplyDeletei think you get a pass there. it is, after all, The Dress.
DeleteI'd also love to see the unblogged items. I'd love working on 4-5 pieces a month but working full time leaves me very little time to sew, sadly. That's why I'm trying to do a little every day. At least that way I feel like I'm making progress.
ReplyDeleteI let myself off the hook for not blogging everything I make. I do a lot of costumes so if I make a t-shirt, I don't really feel like blogging about it. I'm usually sewing something every week, or at least prepping for sewing. Having a something made up every week is addictive and some weeks getting a posh wristlet may be all I get done but it still suffices.
ReplyDeleteOMG Guiltaroona! I feel like NEVER blog my FOs and I am lucky if I finish ONE thing a month! GAhhhhhh!
ReplyDeleteah! no! let me be enableroona.
DeleteI try and blog everything. Even the boring stuff. I average two garments a month. Sometimes I'm super profilifc and other times things slow down. But, on average, two a month :)
ReplyDeletei just unpacked my brand new sewing machine (so freaking excited i can scream and cry and sing all at once), and as i feel at this very moment - i plan to sew something new every fucking day (until the day i leave everything and go somewhere to dig up prehistoric skeletones, of course).. we'll see how that goes
ReplyDeleteplease make that a promise...
DeleteI complain to myself endlessly about my sad lack of sewing productivity, but unless I'm wrestling with a difficult make (doing a tailored jacket right now, which has taken me weeks) I can usually crank out an item (or two) every week. If I make a stack of same somethings, that's usually a one-week thing, with more than one garment to show.
ReplyDeleteAnd I still think of myself as lazy and entirely too slow. :p
Wow, it really depends on how long and involved my projects are and how much else (eg: work travel) I have going on, but 1.5 a month is probably average for me. I really do marvel at those who are uber productive, but I find that the longer I sew, the more invested I am in better techniques and finishes and really making each garment my own. You know, all of the little extras that take a little extra time here and there.
ReplyDeleteI would write my own answer, but it would sound a lot like yours! And I agree with Oona, too, that the mystery stash fabric frankly just looks a bit crap compared to my more recent and purposeful buys...
DeleteThat's funny, I feel like I have to slow down my sewing now because I'm getting so many remarks about the speed in which I churn this stuff out. Which, I mean, I'm not slave-driving myself over the sewing machine or blowing off social interactions for weeks at a time just to get in an extra garment... I just sew a lot! I just like sewing!! OK!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about my stash, though - now that I have a Mooooood allowance, I just want to get all my fabric from there! Above and beyond the allowance, even! I JUST WANT IT ALL.
Also, I want to see those un-blogged makes. Do it, do it! Or I'm just going to personally weasel myself into your closet and you may end up missing some stuff...
huh? peeps are on your case about your rate of production? sounds like a cate of the hates, baby. SEWSEWSEWSEWSEW.
DeleteWhat a great post, many of my same thoughts exactly. I try to blog everything, more of a sewing record for me. Also, a couple of my daughters look at my blog and they enjoy it, too.
ReplyDeleteSo glad it is warming up for you! You do have a high output, I think 5 things a month is pretty darn good. I seem to be a 2-3 or less per month maker, sometimes my weekends get away from me and I don't feel like clearing off the kitchen table to cut something out.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to do a full-on blog post for each piece. You could always just do a round-up, as has been mentioned upthread. I'd love to see your wackier makes.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am with you on the fabric business. I intern for Mood and spend my days touching the most amazing fabric swatches. Now I look around at my, erm, less luxurious buys and they all pale in comparison. Sigh.
we are ruined!!!
DeleteI've made exactly 1 thing in the last 2 months. I MISS MY GODDAM SEWING MACHINE. Move, be over. BE. OVER. You should just do a big ol post of all your unblogged shit if it's not all up to detail snuff. Just save a little something something back since I'm working on my something something very soon...
ReplyDeleteoh you know i am girl.
DeleteI sew alot for the same reason as you - sanity. I have a pretty demanding day job and my weekends are dedicated to sewing to add some balance back into my life. Normally I sew between 4-6 items a month based upon the complexity of the items and if I've scheduled a few days off to sew - again for sanity's sake! Oh and I only make 1 maybe 2 Mood items a month. Girl you've seen the pictures of my stash...you KNOW I'm sewing from it too! As well as buying more from other sources, cause seriously, does a drunk pass up a chance to spend some quality time at the bar? Then this fabricaholic is going to fabric shop in more than one place!
ReplyDelete"cause seriously, does a drunk pass up a chance to spend some quality time at the bar?"
Deleteno, my friend. NO SHE DOES NOT. :)))
My output varies, some weeks I can roll out two or three items and some weeks I either can't bring myself to look at my sewing machine or uni work takes over. I've found making things in stages works best for me now; cutting out the pattern when I get it, then later on when I have the fabric cutting it out one night (or even cutting out a whole load of things one night), constructing as soon as I can and finally finishing another night. There is the odd occasion that I'm really inspired and end up doing it all in the one night. I understand your fabric buying/using dilemma, I work in a fabric shop and feel guilty for looking in other stores and (sometimes if I'm feeling like a rebel) buying fabrics elsewhere! Oh and I'd love to see your unblogged items, especially if they're as awesome as your blogged ones!
ReplyDeleteI think I would like to blog everything I make as a record for me, but I make no where near as much as the other sewing bloggers:)
ReplyDeleteFirst, do they have more of this winning $4 a yard fabric???
ReplyDeleteSecond, I used to blog everything right away. But, as I'd like relatively nice pics, I've been waiting and now I have 5 or 6 unblogged makes.
Third, I think it's awesome that you want to sew to the highest caliber for your Mood makes, but we all like to see whatever you make!!
I'm the same with my sewing output. I go through droughts and then BAM I'll make five things in a row.
last time i checked they did! right inside the front door, it's delicious...
DeleteKnow what you mean about the stash situation. Recently I actually went through and organized all my fabric, and put all my mystery fabric into a pile for making muslins (and tossed out anything that was just completely hopeless). Now when I want to make something, I can immediately see my actual fabric options.
ReplyDeleteOooooooh, that fabric is way fun! Excited to see the Darts That Are Not Darts! I'm with you-- MSN makes me WAY step up my game since all of y'all are so damn gifted and talented!
ReplyDeleteAlso. Is it wrong that I'm seriously considering a new line of work mainly so I could have more time to sew? I dream up sewing projects allllllll throughout the workday, and I just want more time to bring these suckers to life!
That Tessuti top will make a great maxi - I wouldn't have thought of that! I am a little put out I don't get to see all your makes, because I always love what you share;) I think its hard to keep up, and I don't even work on projects consistently.
ReplyDeleteFive a month is amazing! I might do five every 10 months...
ReplyDeletePlease show us everything... We got to have our dose of onna
ReplyDeletea shot of oona. works on many levels... :)
DeleteI'm going to be contrary, and say just show us what you can, and what is the most fun to show. Trying to make things AND blog them is trying. I'm a very, veeeeeryyyyy slow sewist, and I know. So there.
ReplyDeletehana, you could never be contrary.
Deletei COMPLETELY understand the "sweet spot of five items in a weekend". i LIVE for those weekends. i had one of those this week, actually. i do still tend to blog everything straightaway because i am usually so excited not only to wear it and see how the garment really works but also because i genuinely have come to crave that interaction with our community.
ReplyDeleteit's a rough balance. we all have to do what is best for us, or it isn't fun any more! it would be like being told what to sew :-)
I'd love an output like that but I'm new to this game so the fact I made two items this month, and finished a long overdue one from last year, is makin me darn happy..... But thats not the reason I wanted to comment... I really just wanted to say I just clocked your number of followers at 666. Holy smokes!
ReplyDeletei know, right?! i had to cackle when i saw that.
DeleteI can't really comment because I have been MIA since November. I drag my feet when it comes to sewing. Especially now, all I want to do when I am home is curl up in a blanket and watch tv. However, I am knitting, so I am keeping my hands busy.
ReplyDeleteYou should still take pictures of your finished, but not blogged garments, and post them on your flickr account. So some of us stalkers can still drool. :-)
ha! they're coming. YOU get some shots up, lady! or some shots in. whichever feels better.
DeleteOoo I have that fabric! The yellow and magenta zig-zaggy one! I LOVE Metro Textiles, it's my absolute favorite place to shop in the garment district - Kashi is a fantastic salesman. What are you planning to make from it? I wanted to make Simplicity 1880 during the fall but that never happened...maybe for spring.
ReplyDeleteWHAT IS THIS STUFF?? i bought a poly and a silk, but really, i don't think either one is silk. kashi kinda drives me a little batty... i feel pressured to buy there, i can only take his square footage in groups. :))
Deletemine's going to be tessuti's valerie top... i've got 1880, great choice! if you do the wrap version, be careful of the neckline. it's too long and gapes like a mofo, of course i didn't muslin, i just took a few inches off the center waistline of the bodice and reattached to the skirt.
There is absolutely no consistency to my output whatsoever! My output depends on my confidence levels in required sewing skills (eg. I have limited to no fitting/grading skills - makes it difficult to sew for myself), the interference of my hardcore perfectionistic tendencies and varying energy levels. Once I start a project I get super task oriented and often don't stop until I'm finished. Once I've finished one project I've gained momentum and just keep going... but then it all grinds to a halt when I encounter a project that requires skills I'm not confident in or I completely run out of energy. I'd made 2 skirts, 2 tops and a dress in the last month and had everything laid out for my next dress... where it has sat on the floor for the past week. When work kicks me in the face all I end up doing is curling up on the couch and/or drinking/crying - not so much with the sewing! And that damn perfectionism - sewing IS fun - as long as I get it right!!
ReplyDeleteyou are, as always, funny as hell and YOU. NEED. A. BLOG. okay or better yet, because i know your work often kicks you in the face, get a tumbler! it won't help with the funny as hell part, but at least we'd have some photos...
DeleteI'm CLEARLY not technologically advanced... when I read "get a tumbler" my first thought was to some kind of cup to allow me to lie on the couch and drink alcohol. Because I'm not going to lie I have looked at the adaptive cup options from work, and failing that a CamelBak.
DeleteI will spare you the photos. I only have one facial expression in posed photos and it's a super awkward deer-in-headlights-oh-dear-God-let-this-be-over kind of grimace. For that reason my sewing photos uploaded to Facebook are headless. I don't think the Tumbler world is ready for a primarily headless portfolio.....and... I am still kind of guessing that Tumbler is a kind of photo website thing...
Oona darrrrllling how's about a collage of your fancy makes like you did for your yoga tights? I can only imagine being part of the sewing elite over at Mood being encouraging and motivating, I think you're doing a superb job. Keep up the excellent work. You. are. the. business.
ReplyDeleteAAAH! i need better kazz skillz for that! by the way, i just yesterday tried to leave you pretty much the same comment on your blog yesterday ("your family. IS MADE. OF AWESOME.") but it wouldn't let me comment :(
DeleteIt came through :) That's weird WP behaviour though, I'll look into it, thanks love.
DeleteI always think of you having multiple projects in the background and a sea of prints around you and what's here is just a taste. Just as with sewing, ya know, the blogging about it has to make you happy, too! I love your Mood stories. And I hope the spring weather stuck around for awhile!
ReplyDelete