Y'all have some DOPE spinning options out there! I'd recommend hitting ravelry to see if anyone has any reqs (we get most of ours from new zealand and italy), but if you're up for spinning shetland, all of the shetland we use comes via the UK.
OK SO It turns out I slightly fucked up the last tunic. The second time I reset the sleeves I cut about a half inch out of both armscyes because the fabric was fraying out from being stitched and ripped out so much. Then we went to check the fit and it was just about an inch too tight across the shoulders. Of course. So I took the rest of the fabric from the project (I over bought by a little bit, and am glad I did because the first project took just over two yards, and this one I made work with just under the same amount.) It’s a little bit simpler, less appliqué, slightly less visual interest, so much easier to put together, and I don’t feel like I’m putting myself at huge expense to give it to him for free. He’s already paid for the fabric, and he paid a lot more than I asked for labor on the last tunic. I also put about four inches of slack in every dimension, instead of my usual 2.5 for French seams and loose fit. So if this bastard doesn’t fit him I’m selling it on Etsy and putting the money into making him something really fucking nice. This is one of my oldest friends that I fucked up a project for and I feel terrible about it. Spoiler: Almost forgot. Here’s the new tunic.
Guys! My student made her first project! It's got a couple minor cosmetic defects, but is structurally sound and looks fantastic on.
My page made another project! It’s a belt pouch made from old scrap fabric. Scrap fabric from the first thing I ever made, back in 2011. The fabric hadn’t been unfolded between when I finished the project in winter 2011 and she picked it out of my stash today, just moved in a little square from scrap bin to scrap bin, and the folds were fucking carved into the fabric.
My page is making a tunic for an 11 year old who plays at our larp. I sewed together the mock up because I have the working sewing machine and she had to go home. I keep holding up the tiny little mock up fit to the kid’s measurements and going “that isn’t going to fit a human being. There’s no way this is going to fit anyone.” I’ll report back whether we measured right the first time or not.
Buns have had winter coats removed. I'm currently in the process of carding (and packaging) all this fluff. It's sooo soft but this poses. Some problems. 1) it wants to fly away everywhere and 2) it does NOT want to roll up into a nice little rolag off my carding brushes. And there's so much of it. My arm hurts. Fake update: also I think I might be getting a blister
SPACE IS GAY (all of space is gay) Next words in this thread: It's rayon rather than cotton, which is why it's so shiny.
cross posting from farm thread: our bunny babies from this year And two of the three sheepy boys we're going to be bringing home in a little bit more than a month! Don't have a pic of number 3 yet because there's two of them to pick from and we're going to see which one develops the better wool.
a r r i v e The grey will be a scarf for a friend of mine and two mini scarves for her little daughters. The yellow will be this:
stumbled across this very good documentary that might interest folks here: goes over the discovery of the oldest pair of trousers ever found and analyzes how they were constructed. it goes into detail about how the yarn was spun and the different techniques used for weaving and it's generally just really interesting!
Yesterday, I finished this batch of singles for a project I've been dreaming about for a long time! My nephew is finally mature enough to be a fun and workable spinning buddy, so I'm looking forward to having him "help" more. These were spun from rolags I blended, about 66% Manx Loaghtan wool/33% peduncle silk, spun long draw with a LOT of intentional texture. Once it's 2plied, I'm hoping it will be enough for this shawl pattern. Next project - spinning for a baby sweater for one of my high school friends' kid!
i made a dress!!! i started this project back in may, i think the 10th or 11th? i've had a couple (other) sewing projects rattling around my brain, but i've been putting them off because i don't have any convenient way of setting up my sewing machine. (irl people are like "is it really so much trouble to set up and take down your sewing machine?" yes. yes, it is, it is kinda an insurmountable hurdle; we do technically have our dining table, but it would mean having no dining table until i got around to taking it down again, and it's not actually enough room anyway) i've thought about expanding my hand sewing (beyond "well, i can repair my sheets and pillows, and lost buttons") but all of the current projects are more complicated than i wanted to dick around with THEN we went to jo-anns and i saw this fabric (it is... not actually clothing fabric, lmao. the lining i sewed into the inside is!) and i was like, you know what, i want to make a fake chiton so i did! Spoiler: LORGE photos i'm not sure i love how the poof is sitting over the belt. i made some decisions when i was cutting this out to have the back be both narrower and shorter because i knew (from having worn similar "greek inspired" modern dresses) that the extra fabric on the back would annoy me. i'm probably going to go back and add a couple more hidden stitches on the inside and try to pleat it a little, to get it to lay a little bit nicer... but i'm going to take at least a week from messing with it and just wear it and actually see if there's anything wrong with it or if i'm just being overly critical also! i left gaps in the side seams on both sides, so i can go back and add in pockets! i do not feel like dealing with this right now! (i would like to move on to something new and give my brain a break and new stimulation in one but) the opportunity is there! very proud of myself for that
