I Had Sewing Issues

Yesterday was sunny and quite windy. The high got to 12C. This morning it is clear and 6C. Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I spent the morning in the kitchen. My first job was to clean the fridge. I had to toss a few items that had gone bad and then I gave it a good cleaning and polished the outside. I then moved on to the microwave and cleaned it thoroughly. Next was the stove. The glass top got cleaned thoroughly and I pulled it out and cleaned the sides. I also polished it. Last I polished the dishwasher which I had cleaned earlier. I stood back and looked at the shining appliances and enjoyed them. I then scrubbed the counter tops. My last job of the morning was to vacuum the floor and mop it. It wasn't as dirty as I had thought. I did thank Rosie for keeping it clean. It was a productive morning. 

While I was working in the kitchen, I looked in the top cupboards. All the doors need cleaning but only two need cleaning on the inside. The rest are clean. I took that as a win and will get that done as soon as I can get to it; maybe tomorrow. Once that is done, I can wash the walls.

Sewing

I decided to start sewing the vest for the Gotz dolls. I am using the left over fabric from the apron and placemats and there is lots of it. I cut out the pattern which consists of smallish pieces. 

I sewed the pieces together like a jigsaw puzzle. It is always fun to sew this designer's patterns. When I got to the neckline, I stalled. I could not figure out how to do it. I struggled and I finally got it to where I was happy. I trimmed the seam allowance and lo and behold I had cut the facing at the fold line. I took the facing strip off and stitched where the sewing line was. 

I stopped for the day as the room was getting dark even with the lights on. Sewing dark fabric is hard with the lighting I have. 

I have thought on it overnight and I will cut out the pattern and sew it again. It isn't a hard pattern to sew. And I did figure out the neckline issue. 

Knitting

I did knit last night and got 6 rows done. No picture of my progress but the ball of yarn is getting smaller each night. It covers my thighs and will certainly keep me warm this winter. 

Thoughts

    It was nice to be back in my old routine yesterday. It was nice to have the morning to work on the kitchen and I was surprised at how fast the time flew by. I was relaxed and happy even if the chores were not my favourite ones. 

    The wind blew all day long. It brought in some lovely fall weather. It will soon be time to turn on the heat though it may not be this week. I almost did it yesterday but I didn't. 

Today

I have to grocery shop this morning and do food prep for the next couple of days. Once done, I will start on the doll's vest again. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. I am hoping for another quiet day. 

Until the next time...................................................................

The Tote Is Finished

 Yesterday was a wet day with passing showers going through. The high got to 18C. This morning it is partly cloudy and 7C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 14C. 

Lifestyle

I was out to physio and it was a brutal session. I can do things I couldn't do but my SI joint was not seated and some muscles were tight enough to play drums on. The therapist started with pressure to release the tightness in the muscles. When she started to work on the SI joint we did well. When she lifted my leg to put my heel toward my butt, my muscles started to cramp. We had to stop several times and I finally had to stand and do them holding on to the bed. It worked. I did the gym exercises and had the current and heat therapy. I felt better. 

I headed down to the community hall to pick up the containers we put everything into. I thought the ladies would be gone but they weren't. I helped them finish up and load the car. My SI joint didn't like it but it didn't rebel to bad as I caught it early and put heat on it at home. I also did my exercises which was helped a lot. 

Mid morning, I realized my body was exhausted from physio. I didn't want to do a thing but forced myself to get up and move. I spent most of the day doing that. I knew sitting on the couch wasn't the answer nor was having a nap. I knew I had to move around. 

Sewing

I made myself go down to sew on the bag. The getting up and moving around while sewing is good for me. 

I started off changing the thread to white and sewing the little strap for the lobster clasp. I had cut it back to 5.5". I threaded the clasp on and sewed the ends together so it wouldn't move about. 

Next I put the lining into the bag. I shoved it up under the turned down piece of the outer bag and clipped it in place. I then played with the lining and decided to trim 1/4" off the top of the lining. When I was happy with the fit, I clipped the lining into place and attached the claps. I sewed around the bag and when I picked up to admire it, the claps fell into my lap. I had to pick back an opening and sew it in. 

The last thing I wanted to do was add a bottom piece to the bag. I watched this video by Tamara's Joy. I measured the bottom of the bag (5" x 14"). I wasn't going out to Dollarama to see if I could find a cutting board like she showed so I dug deep into my interfacing and stabilizer drawer and found a heavy stabilizer like shown in the video. I cut two layers of it and a layer of fusible fleece. I got it all to stick together but I would recommend you stitch it together a good 1/4 to 3/8" from the edge. After a couple of mistakes, I made the cover and yes it is two fabrics sewn together. I followed the instructions to make the tube, stuffed in the bottom piece I had made and sewed it shut. Then I had a moment of panic. Would it fit? It did after I worked the corners into the corners of the bag. 

Here is the bag which is a prototype. 

I really quite like the bag a lot. The pocket on the front is neat and I would make the next one more contrasting. The inside is a story of mistakes but it works and looks fine. 

Did I learn anything? I did. I need to make sure I measure the pieces carefully before I cut. I learned that I can take a mistake and make it into a designer feature when I think about it. I love the handles having webbing inside them. I had stopped using webbing when I couldn't get the colours I needed for my bags. This is a game changer for me. I also like the bottom insert and need to figure out what I can get to make them. The stabilizer I used is very expensive and I need something cheaper. 

Will I make this bag again? Absolutely yes. I plan on making one for the field trial auction next September and fill it with items that people can use there. It will be a breeder's emergency bag. I may make a couple more for me to use as some of my reusable grocery bags need to be retired after 15 years of regular use. 

And before I left the sewing room, I cleaned it up. All the thread put away and the cutting table cleaned off. I can now think about the next project. 

Knitting

I picked up the afghan and knit another 6 rows on it last night. It is slowly growing and it keeps my hands busy in the evenings. 

Thoughts

    I am hoping that this week will be quieter than the past few weeks. I am looking forward to doing things around the house once again. I am also looking forward to my old routine which I do enjoy. Though I keep busy, I find what I do enjoyable and relaxing. 

    I am deciding on the next project to make. I am leaning towards doll clothes as I would like to make something small. What I have chosen should be small enough to use left over fabric from the apron and placemats I made. I looked at my scrap bin and need to figure out what I am going to do with it. 

Today

My goal today is to clean appliances. Mainly the fridge and microwave though I will make sure the stove and dishwasher are clean. I want to print out and start cutting out the doll clothes I plan to make. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. An at home day for me. 

Until the next time..............................................................

Ready For Physio

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 18C. This morning it is raining lightly and 11C. Today is supposed to be wet with a high of 18C.

Lifestyle

I started yesterday morning doing the balance sheet. Somehow between me and the website I had paid my bills twice the day before. After a phone call and some thinking I have decided to make one other call and then have a credit on two other bills. I did do the balance sheet and put everything away. 

The next job was to fry the chicken I had marinated so I can have dinner for two nights. Once it was done, I did the dishes and tidied up the kitchen. My last job of the morning was to fold laundry and put it away. By that time it was noon. 

After lunch I loaded the car with sandwich making stuff and headed to family's. When I arrived there were 2 cars parked in their driveway and a tow truck on the side of the road. I was parking at the lower level and was out of the way. I talked to son and the cars belonged to a lady and her sister. She had a flat tire which was letting out air faster than son could put it in with his compressor. The tow truck driver changed her tire as there were no shops open yesterday. 

I went inside and started prepping the fillings. Son arrived talking on his phone. He said there were no lights in one area of the basement and he found the breaker that had tripped. We talked for a bit as I kept doing the fillings. I worked without a break and was done in 90 minutes. At that point I had a short break, loaded the car, and headed to the hall to put it into the fridge for this morning. I then headed for home. I was tired and sore. As I sat down with a drink, I had a movement in my SI joint and the pain was almost gone. Every muscle was tired and complaining. I sat on heat and moved around at regular intervals. 

I was in bed early last night as I was exhausted. The pain is wearing me down and when it goes away, my body goes into recovery mode. I will know more this morning when I have physio.

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday as I was too tired. I did look at the bag for a couple of minutes in the morning and am wanting to finish it so I can see how it looks. 

Knitting

I did knit 8 rows last night. The afghan is about 18" long. It is now long enough to keep my thighs warm. 

Thoughts

    After 5 days of being on the go for sandwiches, I am hoping we don't have to do it again this week. I need some time at home doing what I need to do. I have kept up with the basics but really want to get more fall cleaning done. Especially the windows while it is still warm enough to do them. 

    It is nice to have a bit of rain again today. The new seeding is doing well and having rain and cooler weather is perfect for it. I am hoping that the lawn looks a lot better next summer. The big bare area really bothered me this summer but there was nothing I could do about it. 

Today

I am out for physio this morning and then will be going to the hall to pick up the containers I put the sandwich fillings into. Once home, I will sit on heat for a bit and do a couple of things in the kitchen. This afternoon I would like to finish the bag and I want to knit tonight. 

Until the next time.......................................................................

The Outer Bag Completed

 Yesterday was sunny with a high of 18C. This morning it is clear and 5C. The fog rolled in at 7:30 am is quite thick.  Today is supposed to be sunny this morning with it becoming cloudy this afternoon. The high is to get to 17C.

Lifestyle

I was out to make sandwiches and there were only 3 of us there to make them. One person didn't show. I made sandwiches when I could and cut and arranged them on trays. The other ladies had to make most of the sandwiches. When we were almost done, I turned quickly and I had huge pain in my bad side. It was a muscle rebelling on me. We finished up and I headed home. 

I sat on heat for 40 minutes to help ease the muscle pain but knew my SI joint had tightened up once again. It was going to be a fun session shopping which I got done mid morning. Once home, I cooked eggs for sandwiches. While they were cooking I got chicken cut into chunks and marinated. 

I was out to family's to take bread out of the freezer and visit with son. His back has improved greatly. It is just tired and in recovery mode. He had been shopping as he was going to make salsa. 

I did my exercises on the couch and it did help my SI joint feel better. No crack though which can happen. Later on, I laid on the bed to do other exercises and when I was moving to lie down, I had a deep movement in my right side. No pain after that happened. I did the exercise and when I got up I was fine. My body was tired from all the pain I had been having. 

Sewing

I did sew for a couple of hours. I made the tube for the 2nd handle and got it sewn on. I attached the top part to the bottom and topped stitched it in place. Before I knew it, I had the sides sewn up and the bag corners boxed. 

I am pretty happy with it as it is a prototype. My next job is to pin the lining it but I ran out of time. 

I did cut the fabric and pressed it ready to make a key holder. Instead of it being 1" wide, mine is 3/4" wide to accommodate what I could find. 

I now need to change the thread on the machine to white to finish the bag. My final part will be to make an insert to fit into the bottom of the bag so it won't sag. 

Knitting

I knit 8 rows and started on the 9th row last night. The big ball of yarn is slowly getting smaller and the afghan is getting longer. 

 

Thoughts

    I read that we made it through September without a hurricane warning. I guess that doesn't happen very often with the last time being just over 30 years ago. Also Oct 2 was one of the warmest days on record. The coldest was -1.7C. And the most rain that fell on that day was 44.6 mm which is 1.75 inches. 

    I am hoping that this week will be quieter. I would love to have nothing on the agenda except for things I want to do rather than making sandwiches. We all need a break from it as it has consumed our lives for the past 5 weeks. 

Today

I want to do the balance sheet first thing, then I have to do a few small chores which need to be done. After lunch I have to go over to family's and prep the sandwich fillings and get everything over to the hall for Monday. I have to make dinner for the next two days and I do hope to knit on the afghan tonight. If I get to sew it will be a bonus. 

Until the next time....................................................................

I Pushed Myself

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds. This high got to 26C (humidex 32C). This morning it is cloudy and 12C. Today is supposed to be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 18C. 

Lifestyle

I was tired yesterday as I had slept poorly the night before. I knew I had to push myself to get things done but also knew I had to rest or I would be sore and cranky. 

I did put a load of laundry into the washer and dryer in the morning. It is still there waiting for me to fold. Maybe today. 

I was out to get items to make sandwiches and it was then that I noticed how humid it was getting. When I got home, I put the heat pump on to dehumidifier to help remove the excess humidity and to cool off the house. 

After lunch, I headed out to family's to get the filling ready for today. When I arrived, the in-law suite was humid and I noticed the dehumidifier was full. First job was to empty it. Son hobbled downstairs to talk to me and turned on the heat pump to cool off the space. His back/SI joint is really sore and he is struggling with it. I know how he feels and encouraged him to do his stretching exercises. 

I set about chopping vegetables, mashing eggs, chopping chicken, dried, cranberries, and getting the cream cheese filling made. I washed dishes, cleaned counters, and spent just about 90 minutes doing what needed doing. I then loaded the car and took everything to the community hall. I got it all put into the fridge for today. 

Once home, I crashed on the couch. I was tired and somewhat sore. The humidity and dropping barometric pressure was getting to me. The house was cool so I sat and enjoyed it. I did nothing but drink fluids and watch TV. 

I was in bed at 8 pm and didn't wake up until 4:30 am. I then fell asleep and woke up when the alarm went off. I do feel better this morning. I should as I got 8.5 hours of sleep. 

Sewing

I didn't sew yesterday but did think about it briefly. I bought this pattern for the Gotz dolls at the end of September. 

I am slowly building up patterns for these dolls. This one I would love to make in a print and knit a sweater for them to wear under it. I probably have both fabric and yarn in the stash. 

It is good to hear that you are back sewing Marianne. I did look at the video you linked and may make some of those bags later on. 

Knitting

None done last night as I was too tired to even think about knitting. 

Thoughts

    Mother Nature certainly surprised us with the heat and humidity yesterday. By the time I went to bed, the humidity was gone and it is lovely outside this morning. Crisp like fall should be. It did rain overnight which was nice. We are going to be back to normal fall temperatures. 

    I was worried about doing the prep work for the sandwiches but it went better than I had thought. I will know today if I need to adjust anything but I doubt it. I do this again for sandwiches on Monday. 

Today

I am out to make sandwiches this morning. After I get home, I have to go get some groceries for more sandwiches. I want to do cook the eggs this morning also. This afternoon I would love to sew the bag and I want to knit tonight. 

Until the next time....................................................................

Progress On The Bag

 Yesterday was a mix of sun and clouds which ranged from being sunny for a while and then full cloud coverage. The high got to 21C (humidex 25C). This morning it is cloudy and 17C (low got to 14C). Today is supposed to be sunny with a high of 25C (humidex 28C).

Lifestyle

Yesterday I headed to New Minas to grocery shop. I got the items we needed for making sandwiches plus did a big grocery shopping for me. I went to Walmart to get everything as it is cheaper than the main grocery stores. I had looked at Giant Tiger's sale flyer and there was nothing I wanted in it. They did have a few items cheaper than Walmart. 

Once home, I put my groceries away and then headed to family's to put the sandwich items away and get the eggs. The door to the in-law suite wouldn't open for me and I had to go in through the main house. We are not sure why it wouldn't work but did figure out a way for me to make the door unlock. 

While making dinner, I boiled the eggs and took the shells off them. They are in the fridge ready to be mashed today. I did make a lovely dinner for last night and tonight. While I was cleaning up, I got a phone call to say we had to make sandwiches on Monday. That means I mix fillings today, make sandwiches and shop tomorrow, and mix fillings on Sunday. I don't make sandwiches on Monday as I have physio at 8 am. 

Sewing

I did sew more on the purse. I covered one handle. Turning over 50" of tube is not what I call fun. I threaded the webbing through the tube and top stitched it in place. Next I put fusible fleece onto the print leaving 2" at the top. I put fusible interfacing on it. I turned down the top 2" so I have a 1" hem. Repeated for the other side. I also put fusible fleece on the purple bottom part of the bag. 

 I laid out one of the top parts of the bag and pinned the pocket on and stitched it down. I then measured where the handle was to go and pinned it in place. I stitched it down. I then sewed the bottom onto the top and top stitched it in place. One front was completed. 

I now need to make the tube for the second handle and attach it. Then I can finish the bag which should take a couple of hours. 

Knitting

I did knit l2 rows last night. I finished the ball of yarn and attached a new ball to finish the pattern. 

Thoughts

    We are having a couple of days of warm weather due to a shift in the jet stream. It is pulling warm air up from the south. The wind has been from the south-west since late last night. This is giving us warmer than normal temperatures at the moment. The air is humid also as I had to empty the dehumidifier yesterday afternoon and have been running the heat pump on dehumidify since 4 pm yesterday. 

    The drive to New Minas was lovely. The trees are turning colours and when you look in some areas it is gorgeous. The mix of red, orange, yellow and green is spectacular. I truly enjoyed the trip both ways. It something that needs to be enjoyed before it is gone. 

    I was surprised at how many early shoppers there were at Walmart when I went in. By the time I left, it was quiet and I didn't have to wait in a long line to check out. I did a bit of price comparison while shopping and was surprised at how much we save when shopping there. Food prices are high in our grocery stores and people are out looking for lower prices. 

    I decided to do my glucose reading yesterday morning and it was 5.8. It scared me as I don't want it to go above 6.0. I did it again at noon and it was 5.4 which was much better. Between that and gaining weight, I took control of my eating once again. It is part of my October plan. I need to shift my thinking back to looking after myself once again. 

Today

I hope to do a bit of sewing this morning and then head out to do the sandwich fillings at family's house. I will take everything to the hall. I am going to rest if I have any spare time. If I have the energy, I will knit tonight but only a few rows. I am pacing myself as I have a lot to do this weekend. 

Until the next time................................................................

Sewing Room Cleaned and New Project Begun

 Yesterday was cloudy with a couple of showers.  We had a high of 16C. This morning it is mainly cloudy and 12C. Today is supposed to be mainly sunny and 21C. 

Lifestyle

I headed down to the sewing room first thing and spent the morning cleaning the room. It was in need of a cleaning. I put away all the thread I had been using, fabric put away neatly, and everything was cleaned. I even scrubbed the cutting mat which was quite dirty. I took the Dyson downstairs and vacuumed the floor twice as it had so much thread on it. I was pleased with how it turned out. Not perfect but a while lot cleaner. 

As I went upstairs, I could feel my creative juices flowing once again. 

I had a fairly pain free day. When I felt sore, I would straighten up, sit quietly, and relax. It really helped as I felt less pain almost immediately. I am hoping that this will continue as it feels great. 

Sewing

With my creative juices flowing I decided to tackle a new purse design from Tamara's Joy. I should have quit when the video was acting strange. It would play for 15 to 20 seconds and then go back to the start. I persisted and in my frustration I cut the lining too short. I said a few words to myself, sorted out the left over fabric. I added the left over outer fabric to the bottom. I am calling it a designer feature. I found out what I had done when I cut the interfacing 1/2" too short. That was an easy fix. 

Once the joys of the lining was fixed, I sew the lining together. It was really easy to do. Her instructions are clear and easy to follow (when the video is working properly). 

My next job was to make the pocket for the outside. I wanted to have a quilted block so decided to do a simple one that is 6.5" square when done. I had to add borders so the pocket piece was 7" wide by 7 3/4" long. I had to sew it to another piece to line it. By some miracle I got it right. 

The bottom border is wider as it needed a 1/2" seam allowance. 

I am ready to start work on the out fabric. I am planning on interfacing it with fusible fleece. That means I have to leave 2" at the top with no fusible fleece and add a strip of interfacing to it. I did this with the seagull bag. I am ready to start working on it when I have time. 

The purple fabric should have been folded in half as it will have the two print panels sewn on each end. I am hoping I have enough of the purple to cover the webbing I will use to make the handles. They will be pieced but I am okay with that. 

Knitting

I did knit 8 rows on the afghan last night. It is now almost 15" long. 

I will be done this ball of yarn in the next couple of nights. 

Thoughts

    September is done and it was a month of pain for me. Some of the pain was the weather, some was stress, and some was me doing too much. On a positive note, my hip has had very little pain since Sept. 21 which I am enjoying. 

    I have to do prep for sandwiches today and tomorrow as we make them on Saturday. I am hoping this will be it for a bit as we all need a break from it. I will be doing this on my own and am a bit nervous. I will get it done though. 

Today

I am out shopping this morning for both sandwiches and myself. Once home, I will boil the eggs and make one dressings. I hope to work on the bag this afternoon but it may not happen. Tonight I will knit on the afghan. 

Until the next time................................................................