eff you, too, sewing machine

My cousin was in the hospital for breathing issues. The power went out for 18 hours. The car battery died. I cashed out all the coins in the house for $60 but then had to spend it on food and diapers. It was a harsh week. But the thing that chewed my biscuit was my sewing machine.

Most of the damage sustained by sewing machines is probably hammer-related. Repair shops very likely have garages in the back for body work. When I take my machine in, I want it back with sparkle paint and flames.

YES

The damned thing snarled up my sewing into a big rat's nest, gnawed the fabric into pulp in spots, and made pissy clunking noises, rocking back and forth like an old Ford Ranger. I took it apart, cleaned it, rethreaded everything, and it rewarded me with silent, perfect, gliding stitches - causing a surge of wonderment and joy - and then GNAW GNAW CLUNK, it was a clattering mess of balled up thread again.

My main purpose in sewing is to achieve that mental in-the-nowness that results from concentration on a skilled task. And this still managed to fulfill that goal. I was wholly present in the moment, and the moment was wholly filled with growling and banging and fleeing cats.

After a general appeal to my betters on facecrack, I got the cussed thing to work long enough to finish my projects, which I here present in the manner of serene mom-blogger. Oh this little thing? I just sewed it up while she was napping, lalala.

BEHOLD MY SEWING PROWESS

My first attempt at smocking went pretty well. Except when I was done, someone said something about how neat it was that I did it without a "pleater", leading me to suspect I have once again learned something by doing it the unnecessarily hard way. Research? Pfft, I am a librarian. I can look it up when I am mid-way through completely fucking it up. 

McCalls 3573

The best thing about this design is that it will fit for YEARS. The long sleeves turn to half sleeves, and the hem lets out 3". I love you, practical-children's-clothing era.

I have a problem with sewing clothes out of non-garment fabric. Pillowcase dresses look like pillowcases to me. Quilt fabric screams OH HI I'M HOMEMADE (not that it's stopped me). But gauze is cheap and airy and looks good. I bought a lot of it. So I made a little sundress out of my remnants from the smock-top.

Simplicity 1921

In a fit of broke-assedness, I bought the digital pattern and then had to print it out. I used my mother's printer. Now it is out of ink. Nobody tell her.

I didn't make the bloomers. Was too mad at my machine by then.

While all this trying-on was going on, I tested Zenny's annoyance levels with the knitting I made for her last fall.

stop now

I just need a u-pick and some refurbished thrift store furniture, and I'll be on my way.