keelysews... sometimes

A New Year means it's my blogiversary. Looking back over the past two years worth of posts shows how life has changed. I've gone from working part-time to studying at university full-time, finally graduated, and my kids have grown so much. Sewing has been put on the backburner more than I'd like as I concentrate on studying. Some days all I want to do is sew, others I'm too tired to do more than look through magazines. Hopefully this year I can squeeze out a bit more sewing time. 'Cos I'm going to be so much more organised this year. Snort, yeah right! :) A new year also means time for a new stash stats counter. I don't really make New Year's resolutions (well, not ones I keep anyway), but this time I've decided I really must do better on the whole buying vs sewing thing. In the last two years I've added 55.35 metres to my fabric stash. Whoops. Obviously this is proof that I don't actually have to be working in a fabric shop to add fabric. ...

Sewing time has been scarce as the semester winds down with the subsequent increase in assignments due and then exams. However, only three weeks to go. I'm still checking in at Spotlight to see if the melton goes on special, but no luck so far. Wish they'd get a move on because I do like that purple, although I've found it will fray a bit. I might have to think about finishing the edges. Meanwhile, I've succumbed to the joys of Trademe and bought fabric, plus I've visited Spotlight a few times ... - which I really don't need with the way my stash stats are going for the year! I will have to do some serious sewing in November and December to even this out a bit. Something stash consuming.... like bedsheets. Or a tent. Or a cover for the house. That should use up a bit, lol. I bought 3 pieces of knit off Trademe as a test to see what the quality and service were like. I'd have to say thumbs up! Reasonable prices, very quick service ( I bought on the Tuesday, p...

The only sewing that has gone on in my house recently is a baby blanket and mending. Not very exciting I'll admit. (Although the fact I have a new nephew is quite exciting.) The lack of blogging comes with the usual excuses.... life, university courses, etc etc. You know how it goes. That doesn't mean that sewing is far from my mind. I'm still grabbing quick chances to read blogs, although I may not always comment if I'm pressed for time - sorry. I'm also working on a personal goal to use sewing as an example in every one of my courses. ;) I've mentioned the online sewing community for my sociology paper and am currently working the act of 'sewing a garment' into the Research methods paper as an example of quantitative research: I hypothesise that this jacket pattern will not fit straight from the envelope, test with a muslin, hypothesis correct, modify hypothesis for new experiment 'I hypothesise that making larger darts will help it fit better'...

I've been terribly neglectful of my blog. Uni has been keeping me busy, but I've now handed in my (42 page!) research report. I'm slowly recovering from the effects of typing that much (RSI and, ahem, the effects of all the nibbles necessary for such an undertaking) and now I've just got a couple of exams to go this year. Then it's 8 weeks holidays, so I'll be getting some sewing done then. :) Because I can't wait to do something sewing, I've been busy stimulating the economy. First up, I decided to get those Ottobre magazines I've been thinking about before the dollar dropped too far. Winging their way to me are: 4/06 1/08 and 4/08 So when they arrive I'll have no excuse not to be inspired. But it's not just magazines I've been buying. ;) Yesterday, I 'forced' myself to head along to Spotlight's 20% off sale and liberated some fabric. (There goes the stash stats!) Brigitte brown/stars jersey knit; Sweethearts jersey Blue k...

There's an alarming trend in my stash stats. After that dent from clearing all the baby fabrics to Judy they were quite pleasingly in the negative for the year. Well, we all know how it goes - when you clear a gap, it just begs to be filled again. My downfall this time was a closing down sale for a local knitwear and clothing company. I have had some beautiful quality fabric from them in the past, so of course I had to check it out (although, showing some restraint I waited a week before I went). Imagine my pleasure when I walked in to see large boxes of knits to sort through and all fabric priced at $15 kg. Yep, by weight. These knits are all excellent quality too. Sigh, heaven is digging through boxes of fabric. So my stash stats took a major dent. Here's the haul: The colours are off a bit. From left to right, Top row - There are two different pinks at the top, each one big enough to make my youngest DD a cardy. Middle row - a soft navy lighter knit (this has merino in I th...

Or how to score Mommy points..... Yesterday I handed in the last assignment of the semester. As I dropped the last week of my life through the slot I felt like celebrating. Naturally there's only one way to do that - I went shopping! No surprises when I say for fabric, lol. I actually went to Spotlight for a specific piece - some parka nylon to make some quick curtains for the bathroom windows. When you combine dark mornings requiring lights on, the screening shrubs having been cut down over summer and neighbours potentially going past whilst people are having showers....... Some curtains are in order! I was happily minding my own business walking to the corner I needed, when this fabric screamed out "Look at me! I'd be perfect for (DD2's ) disco tonight! Buy me, buy me, buy me...." (Well, you all know how the refrain goes.) I didn't even hum and ha for long. One metre of spotty fabric had to come home with me. It insisted. :-) There was only one problem. By t...

Oh dear. I was let loose in Spotlight for my Mother's Day pressie. I didn't buy too much - just some brown Bengaline for trousers and a large remnant of a knit for a top. Pretty restrained I thought. But over the last few days I've been thinking..... and that can be dangerous to the stash figures. Anyway I thought it might be nice to have a jacket as well, so I popped back today and bought another few metres of the Bengaline. I think I have way too much now, at least I hope so. :) As Judy pointed out, I'm not really a suit person but something about it appeals. Besides, it might be handy to have a 'suit' of sorts. One day I'll finish studying and I'll need a job. At the rate I'm sewing this might even be finished by then, lol. While I was there I also found some chocolate Valencia, the same fabric as my red Ottobre tee. I love this fabric, it is so soft and comfortable. This will be..... well, I'm not sure which exact pattern, but I have it for w...

Phew, it's been a while since I posted. I've been head down struggling with motivation to write an assignment on, of all things, motivation. Ironic, huh? :) I have another couple of assignments due in quick succession before a few days breather so I'll probably be a bit quiet for another week or two on the sewing front. I am really hanging out to sew something ! Even a wheatbag is looking good, especially with the cold snap forecast for the weekend. I had the shock of my life the other day when my 2 DD's brought up the possibility of them sharing a room so I could have a 'study' (hmmm.... I'm sure my sewing desk would fit in too...). I'm keen to get that done before they change their minds. I've wanted a sewing room study for a while now. I think they're a bit tired of being kicked out of the rumpus room so I can work so I'll have to make sure I need to work in there a lot until I get those rooms changed. (wicked laughs) And just for someth...

I'm still here, just been snowed under with 'stuff'. On a good note, at long last the stash stats are going in the right direction! :) and I am finally in the negatives for the year. Friday, I took the day off to get a bit of sewing done. I had planned to make myself another top, or two. Unfortunately 'mommy guilt' kicked in and the sight of my youngest in trousers that were threatening to become capris was enough to change the focus. All up, I made 3 pairs of trousers and 2 long-sleeved tees. Trousers #1 - Burda 9867 , sized up to a size 8, in purple polycotton sweatshirt fleece. Top #1 - Kwik Sew 2893 , size M (7-8), view A. This is the last of the knit that I used to line the hood of DD's jacket in January. I lettuce edged the cuffs, hems and neck binding with hot pink. Top #2 - also Kwik Sew 2893. This time view B. I shortened the short sleeves and made a false long sleeve to attach underneath. Trousers #2 - Burda 9867, green velour with 'mock coverstit...

I, *ahem* bought more fabric (the other lace). I know, I know. You're all saying 'big surprise'. Admittedly, it'd be a bigger surprise if I sewed some..... The blecch black top is still just sitting waiting. I'm torn between the thought that sewing time is precious and do I want to spend it fixing things, or the other spin -that sewing time is precious so I don't want the time I've already invested to have been a waste so it is worth fixing. If I do have a another go at it then the general consensus seems to be to take in the side seams. Thank you all for the suggestions. Dawn asked So is Ottobre like Burda? The patterns and directions are in it already? Ottobre is a magazine like Burda, complete with the scary patternsheets that you trace the patterns from and brief, but adequate, instructions. It may look scary but it's really not that hard. Just trace off the pattern pieces you want in the size you want. Some actual sewing next week, I promise. Alth...

Yesterday morning we woke to this - Quite aside from the portent of bad weather, there is something that just fills you with awe at such a sky. Everything was glowing pink. This photo was taken about halfway thru as it started fading. Of course, hubby was carrying on about a red dawn meaning blood would be spilt this day. Men! Following on from my last post, I had a think about my "wardrobe plan" ( snort, such as it is ). It still needs work i.e. I still need to do an actual plan, but I've started thinking about it which is, at least, a start. :) So far I've come up with brown and teal/blues for the new pieces. I've also let myself be persuaded by Aless who thought I should go get the lace. It didn't take much arm-twisting. Today I went to Fabric Barn to see if it was still there. If it was, I planned to buy 2 - 2.5 metres. There was a much-depleted roll and when I nervously took it to the counter, heart pounding, palms sweating, there was just over 2 metres...

I had to pop into the fabric store the other day and of course something had to keep me company on the way home. (Obviously my DD wasn't with me, lol) Looking at these I realise that I need to look at doing a SWAP. Or at least go through and plan my wardrobe a bit better. I haven't narrowed down colours or made a plan. Unless you count 'black' with other colour. At Uni I tend to wear jeans or black trousers and a top -one of my Ottobre tees or one of the few RTW shirts I have. The most obvious gap is in the top layer - cardies, jacket etc. They're all black. Yep, I have a uniform. I think I will have to take some time and work out what I have and what I need and maybe introduce a bit of variation. On that note, I still haven't been back to get that lace. I like it. I really do like it. But I slept on it and have decided that it could wait a week or so. I only had a vague idea what I could do with it and I'd have been buying it for the lifestyle I want rathe...