red_swirl

I made these on the last day of Golden Week at Tokyu Hands, Shinjuku. I'd walked past late the day before, seen people making their own shoes, and made sure to come back.

Apparently Tokyu Hands has been doing this in Golden Week for 25 years (although they had a 4 year break). They have people who come back each year to make new shoes for the holidays. I know why, it was really fun!

They said next time they might consider having extra-large size wooden soles ... the largest size fit me, but was to small for my husband. There were Japanese men making shoes for their female partners (I suspect their feet were too big, too). It was also nice to see an elderly man with rather swollen feet carefully making shoes to fit (I often wonder whether less-able-bodied people get left behind in the Tokyo rush). Oh, and we weren't the only Westerners making shoes, either.

It wasn't difficult, at all. First you cut the 3cm (I think) wide strips of leather, sticky tape the strip in place whilst trying the shoe on, and then duplicate it for the other side/other foot. Then you hammer the studs in place, voilà, shoes. They smell lovely, because of the wood.

The sticky tape was the only problem, I think I was too thorough and it made a mark when I tried t remove it. Oh, and the test drive. It's hard to go down stairs, but doable. I walked a block to the local shop, which was fine. But after a 10 minute walk I needed bandaids on both feet! In retrospect, I think the Tokyu Hands guy might have tried to tell me they were a bit tight, but I didn't want them to slip off, you

Posted by red swirl at 15:12 | Permalink | Comments (1)

I'm kinda serious actually, I've even looked at towel fabric to see what the colour range is ;) Seen in Seibu Loft, Shibuya.

Posted by red swirl at 20:03 | Permalink | Comments (0)

But I'm not talking my body type, I'm talking what I'd need to wear here in Tokyo to fit in. Which I don't, I'm reminded everyday - the guys in the sewing machine shop knew immediately which machine I'd come to pay for, even though I've never seen them before ... wonder what the description of me was? ... foreign, obviously. And I agree with L you can see a foreign face in most big crowds, true, but just the one.

Anyway, in Tokyo I should restrict myself to black, beige, white and navy. Perhaps some grey or pink.

There's a lot of colours I'd wear without thinking that I don't see much here, like red, green, purple ... and a number of fashion colours I was surprised not to see more of, like yellow, cobalt and purple (again).

And I should have:
- a beige or white trench, maybe with bows on the cuffs;
- a jeans jacket, with fancy top stitching;
- suits, boring ones, no extreme burda-style cuts;
- jeans, several;
- lots of tops for layering;
- leggings, preferably with lace edging;
- funky lacy sockettes to wear in my sandals;
- fluttery tunic/short dresses in coordinating small floral prints with off-white lace (see photo from CanCam).

I'd like to make the last item for myself, in a shape appropriate to my body type. But I probably can't use my carefully collected and much-thumbed burdas for it - there are also no plunging necklines in Tokyo, indeed necklines I felt were modest work-wear in Sydney look positively scandalous here. And no knits, most, like 90% , of clothes are wovens ... and not close-fit.

So even if I'd sewed what I wanted before I got here, I'd have to re-sew it again anyhow.

Posted by red swirl at 13:28 | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Where you been? Haven't seen you in ages."

"Sewing-land" (sighs heavily, hand tremors)

"Bad, was it?"

(nods) "Bad like you wouldn't believe" (drinks deeply) "Ah, that's better!" "Yeah, real bad, but I survived!!! I made it through the dark forest of topstiching, the swamps of non-stick interfacing and finally I fought the dreaded zipper-toothed dragon".

Yes, I've really and truly completed my first sewn garment. Burda 7947, view C, I think I should have chosen something easier ... not a 3 out of 4 dot effort. Also, I made it needlessly difficult for myself deciding to do mock flat-fell seams. Yes, of course, I see all the imperfections ... the interfacing is too stiff (but firmly stuck!). There's some problem or other across the front at hip level, same issue I often have with RTW clothes. And it's really too big for me, who knew tape measures were so subjective?

Out of interest, I scrolled back to when I first got interested in sewing, it's about a year of reading, thinking, dreaming ...

Posted by red swirl at 09:41 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I've realised I blogged very few finished projects last year. Yup, you guessed right, I hardly finished anything. I started quite a bit, but really, do you want to read about the 3 half scarves I made with the same wool? Hmm. Actually, I'm thinking I'd have more to say if I wrote that sort of stuff...

Anyway, I have been sewing, I now have 3 unfinished practice garments. All highly unflattering, so I'm not showing.

A Shari, after which I decided the style isn't for me: the narrow V neck and wide skirt succeed in hiding my best features. A Celestina, which definitely needs a FBA, which I've been avoiding learning how to do. I'm not sure why I feel self-conscious about needing one, actually I feel a bit embarrassed I need any pattern changes.

And a BWOF 2007-01-111 skirt. It's a good style for me, or so I reckon after spending a day trying on but not buying skirts in the sales. But I'm not a size 44 (currently). There aren't any side seems, so I tried to short-cut and just add an inch centre front & back, but when I sewed it up, it was obviously dodgy. Hmm. So I'm stuck with what to do next.

If I were in a Pollyanna-mood, the title of this post would have been "Feel the fear but ... or whatever the crappy* slogan is". On the plus side, my machine can sew a double layer of upholstery fabric (pictured). Which I had kinda doubted seeing as it is a beginner-ill-informed-purchase Singer. And my topstitching is slowly improving. And I did retrieve the situation after jamming the needle in the down position so hard I had to cut the fabric free, take the metal bobbin casing out, wiggle the needle out down through the bobbin area, and remove the other metal bit that makes the needle's thread go round (red in the animation here) and put it all back together and fix all the tension issues this created. Which is actually rather a minus, not a plus? But I'm including it so another total beginner can read it in a few month's time and be inspired by how far I've progressed ;)

*Crappy: every time an ad comes on during the cricket or tennis, I tell Big Sis "don't bother watching this, it's just a crappy ad. They only have ads for things people don't normally want to buy". She's now asking me "Is this a crappy ad, Mum?" And she's right, at 2 and a half.

Posted by red swirl at 15:24 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Anyway, despite not having made Christmas presents since school, this year I've planned a few. Two (I hope) are easy knit toys. The other, well its a dolls' house. Of course, I could buy a dolls' house, but I want it easily portable and appropriate for a 2 year old ... so I'm going to make it sort of like a soft toy: wish me luck!

I told you blogs are a bad influence: I've not felt stressed about Christmas presents before!

Posted by red swirl at 09:53 | Permalink | Comments (2)

So far, it's been an easy knit, I really can't say much more ... purling, knitting, ribbing. Lots of ribbing ... about half done.

The only minor challenge has been (hah!) fitting. I've measured a few of my pre-pregnancy jumpers*, and I've taken my current measurements - I'm still breastfeeding Miss Moon, you see. There's about 5cm / 2 inches' difference. I cast on a couple of different sizes whilst mulling this over, but I've now settled on knitting the average of the 2 measurements, assuming zero ease. Hope it works, but I won't know until after Miss Moon turns one ;)

As you can see from the photo, I've been doing a lot of sewing planning, clothes both for me and the kids. Oh, and I finally got some Burda tracing paper, so perhaps I'll be able to show off some sewing in the near future ...

NB: * The word "jumper" seems to have entirely different connotations in the USA. Here (in Australia) it means a hand or machine knit garment, covering the torso. Either short or long sleeves, with few or no buttons, zips or other closures. Would it be called a sweater in the USA, I wonder? Or a pullover ... sounds rather British?

Posted by red swirl at 13:05 | Permalink | Comments (2)

I started playing with fd's flickr mosaic tool a few posts ago. Which sparked an idea.

So, I've been photographing my fabrics and my patterns, and putting them together in mosaics. This way, I can remember ideas and try out new combinations, changing my ideas as often as I like;) Of course, what I'd really like is a sewing ravelry ...

Won't you join me at http://www.flickr.com/groups/plan_to_sew/ so we can be inspired by each other's ideas?

Posted by red swirl at 13:42 | Permalink | Comments (1)

So thinking isn't dangerous, just ... annoying. Because it causes me to change my mind. And waste time ... re-knitting. I was going to knit Devan for Miss Squiggle, but she received so many jackets from Nonna and Oma this Winter that I think I'd better knit a vest instead. Pity, I had a sleeve and most of the back done. Squiggle's refusing to wear jackets anyway in 7C weather, so perhaps a vest will tempt her?

Mood: Cute, Miss Moon just learnt to pass pieces of paper from hand to hand.

Posted by red swirl at 15:51 | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've been wondering why I've stalled so long on this sewing adventure. Partly, of course, it's all the exams and assessments I've just done; but partly it's that light cotton fabrics just can't inspire me when the temperature's less than 10C each night and the rain & wind are howling; and partly, yes, apprehension about actually sewing ... I guess everyone moving towards self-sufficiency / sustainability feels a bit this way.

However, I've got myself some strong Winter fabrics from Tan Hung Fabrics and Jonathon Enterprises, Marrickville and Spotlight, Bondi Junction. I've copied 2 Burda World of Fashion patterns and I'm sitting here now slowly, cautiously, grading it up to the next size; slowly, carefully, adding seam allowances; and slowly, worriedly, reading the instructions. Expect a calico (test) version of either this jacket or this skirt in the next few days ... if my elf-bribes work ;)

Posted by red swirl at 17:20 | Permalink | Comments (0)

But. (You knew there'd be a 'but', didn't you?) But the magazine is from 2005, and the distributor can't / won't get any more issues, maybe because it's no longer published. And I'm having a tough time finding any recent information about the magazine online, making me think the distributor's right. The only possibility is this, it looks like a totally-French-language version, reasonably recent. Is it worth ordering it all the way from France, I wonder... sight unseen?

Mood: Sometimes I like German more than English. Although 'schade' covers a somewhat different range of meaning than 'pity', I think. 'Pity' is more sentimental, 'schade' can also relate to damage.

Posted by red swirl at 15:50 | Permalink | Comments (1)

So, there is some slow progress towards sewing here ... although it revealed a lack of progress in other areas, like getting back to my pre-pregnancy shape. Hrumpf. I'm kinda hoping the dressform doesn't prove very durable, I'd like to need to make another smaller one soon ;)

Posted by red swirl at 18:11 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Mood: I plan on writing slightly different entries for the Wardrobe Refashion blog: So if you want, check out both!

Posted by red swirl at 14:30 | Permalink | Comments (0)

But no, the real problem's not technical - the real reason I've been going slow is I don't like the fabric and pattern. So I've been dawdling on this 'muslin' (practice calico). The pattern itself is fine, or will be once I've done a 'full-bust adjustment' - Simplicity 4170. And I like the black spot fabric (below). Just not the combination. I realised this looking at Pins and Needles' review of the new Vogue sewing patterns. Vogue 2960 is much closer to the retro look I imagine for the black spot, and still breast-feeding friendly ;)

Phew! Almost sorted. Now I've just got to worry about how many 'adjustments' a 50s style dress will require ... I'm not sure my body shape is particularly 50s, but you never know ... Oh, and I'll have to find a new fabric for the Simplicity 4170 - something like Denyse Schmidt's D1411-300 would be nice, but do I dare sew such nice fabric with my beginner machine skills?

Mood: *Please remember I've only ever had a 30 minute sewing lesson, followed by 30 minute's sewing practice. Machine sewing, that is. I was sick the week we did sewing in Art at school, and my school didn't have Home Ec or whatever it's called ... my high school had lots of good things, but not sewing. I learnt hand sewing from Mum, that's how I have (impatiently) sewn everything up 'till now.

Posted by red swirl at 08:13 | Permalink | Comments (2)

So why start sewing? Because I'd like clothes. Now. That I could wear now, even (as it then was) in the middle of Summer. Something other than maternity clothes, perhaps? Those 3 tops; 1 trouser; and 1 skirt I wore and washed again and again? Oh, and no, not my gardening clothes either ... that's what the rest of my (small) wardrobe has turned into now, developing too many holes after years of wear.

So. I'd like clothes - new, stylish, flattering, fitted ... perhaps in interesting shapes, a little 'fashion forward' ... oh, and ideal for breastfeeding. Yup, I'd better start learning to sew for myself ;)

Posted by red swirl at 23:52 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Oh, you can hear someone muttering in the background about using what they have and not having any decent black fabric paint or decent black pens? Yeah, i dunno who's muttering either.
Look, it's Autumn colours, ok? It's Autumn here now and it hasn't rained in days.

She's my April entry for A Month of Softies. She's a proof-of-concept doll. The concept is graphix girl, number 19 on my to-do list. Yes, I think the concept is proven, I'll make graphix girl one day ... but not in May, I'm working on back-tack!!!

And just to show you even prototypes have their prototype:

Posted by red swirl at 20:19 | Permalink | Comments (1)

And yes, the experiment was successful, thank you for asking. I've recently had this radical idea that pinning the pattern to the fabric would be better than trying to follow wobbly fabric marker lines. And yes, it was. Shhhh, stop sniggering at beginner sewers!! ;D

Posted by red swirl at 21:38 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Participation
1+ participate in Illustration Friday most weeks;
2+ participate in A Month of Softies most months;
should I add ... participate in whiplash? I'm interested to see what whiplash's going to be like ;D

Practical
3+ knit at least one hoodie for Squiggle;
4+ knit "blu" for Squiggle;
5+ a pencil case for me (felt?);
6+ make some covered boxes for Lster to keep all his stuff in;
7+ make a Roman blind / curtain;
8+ a necklace like I learnt to make when I was a teenager (see photo);

Learning from other's patterns
9+ a rag doll (not too country-fied, I may have found the pattern);
10+ Doo Ka Ta;
11+ a Wee Wonderfuls pointy kitty (a punky one, made from Lster's old jeans??);
12+ the penguin;
13+ a Jess Hutch bunny or Kate;
14+ a Camilla Engman bear from The Happy Hooker;
15+ a Nekomimi or Dachshund by Runo;
16+ a sock doll or monkey or bird;

Softie characters in my head
17+ Miss Priss (needle felting), maybe even her boyfriend;
18+ 'facture' duck or hen, probably duck;
19+ ocean girl or graphix girl;
20+ finish Mr February;
21+ amigurumi alien (I have the wool);
22+ amigurumi dog;
23+ Japanese fan cat (moulded felt);
24+ tattoo girl/boy;
25+ make a softie or series of softies, consciously thinking about the design;

Challenges
26+ knit socks (and find a decent pattern);
27+ learn more Japanese by making something from a Japanese book or magazine;
28+ knit and felt a bag or slippers (from this book);
29+ try painting with oils (I never have);
30+ sew something on my Mum's sewing machine (the Roman blind, perhaps?);
31+ knit something aran or intarsia;
32+ learn a fancy crochet stitch, like a leaf or flower;
33+ make a Fimo doll.

Well, that should keep me busy!!

Posted by red swirl at 18:12 | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (1)

Well, if you'd've asked me 5 minutes ago whether I've done any craft since high school, I'd've said no, not really.

However, I just went through my making things box, and found 2 orange/red scalves (one knit, one crochet, nearly done), 1 red jumper (barely started), wool for 2 baby jumpers, 2 tapestries (maybe a third done), 1 cross stitch and a half-sewn skirt. Crochet needles in various sizes with single balls of wool for practice, and two size 10 knitting needles. Oops!

Plenty of things to keep me going, but perhaps I am just procrastinating in making Mr. February? I've cut out his pattern, knitted all the felted fabric parts ... time to start cutting and sewing!!

P.S. Guess my favourite colours?

Mood: hot, it's 31C here.

Posted by red swirl at 12:48 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Or do I mean the bit about nothing new under the sun?

Looking further into the blogs at the side, I found these robots: 1,2 and 3. Exactly the look and cuteness balance I was going for, only how could I hope Mr. February would turn out so well? Swear I didn't see them before I designed him. It's so hard to think new thoughts ...

Well, I'll make Mr. February anyway. Perhaps he'll somehow look a bit like me or there'll be an interesting accident or something ?!?

Mood: hmm

Posted by red swirl at 20:51 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Introducing Mr. February.

At least, I hope he will come into existence soon. He's my answer to a "Heart-shaped Box". A big, boxy robot with heart-shaped ears and a heart-shaped pocket filled with pens and glasses. A nerdy valentine perhaps?

Seriously, it was interesting coming up with him. Got me thinking about whether a softie could portray questions about masculinity/femininity ... and even work/life balance. Originally his colour theme was to be business grey and feminine pink, but when I went looking for fabric today, it was blue and pink I found - equally appropriate I think.

Mood: calm, happy.

Posted by red swirl at 23:35 | Permalink | Comments (0)