time to dust that sewing machine

It is that time of year again when I have the urge to sew. Every year I plan to sew myself something nice to wear and end up not doing it. I do have a busy life, I know, but my main problem is inertia and an inability to make decisions. Skirt? Dress? Blouse? Shorts? No, definitely not shorts. A winter coat? I fancy that, I really do. Egg yolk yellow tweedy wool with a patterned lining. I am not sewing bee finalist material but I can follow a pattern if someone helps me with the measurements. It is not easy to measure yourself without moving the measuring tape to a part of your waist that is narrower (but technically not the waist anymore). As for the hips, I tend to measure those at knee height to make me feel better. I should maybe get one of those sewing dummies that can be size adjusted but it is probably not worth it for the amount of sewing I actually do. It would look nice on blog photos though, wouldn't it? Or in my (imagined) studio. 

Anyway, it is always good to ease yourself back in any activity gently when you had a bit of a break. No point starting with the chiffon blouse or the neoprene frock, is there? Ever since we got Jack I have been tut-tutting about the random poop bags and crumbly dog treats in all my pockets. Wouldn't it be much neater to have a small zippered pouch to keep it all in? Yesterday, I had another free morning with James still being off school and I still didn't fancy doing my English homework (I did make some progress since last time though, not to worry). With James tucked up on the sofa, Jack snuggled up by his side, I got my box of fabrics out and searched for my butterfly cotton for the lining. I really wanted to make a top with this but there is not enough of it and it is no longer available. I also had some jeans cut-offs for the outside and a red zip. Perfect. There are many lined zipper pouch tutorial online, I used this one. Zip pouches are not all that tricky to make but I do get muddled up with inside and outside and zipper orientation and it is easier to follow a step by step guide and not end up with a pouch in which the zip pull is on the inside of the pouch and the lining on the outside, wrong side out. It didn't take long to make the pouch, an hour maybe. I nonchalantly inserted the zip, pretending that I sew in zips all the time and don't find it scary at all. I do actually. It just shows that I have too much time at hand, worrying about zippers and the likes. I get a rather unproportional sense of pride every time a insert a zipper. 

 

Now I have a lovely little pouch for all the dog bits and pieces. It fits in both of my two handbags, and also into my coat pockets. Perfect. Next I want to make a boxy pouch for my lady stuff. Kristie made one the other day and I really liked it. I am thinking of buying some iron-on vinyl to make a leak proof pouch. I had no idea that such a thing was available but noticed it when I was looking for interfacing. How amazing is that?

 

Did you see how neat and tidy my thread box is? I spent some time sorting it yesterday. It is so very therapeutic. I even secured the loose ends with sellotape :-)

And now if you will excuse me please, I really need to get some work done, I have a backlog to clear. Have a lovely end of the week.