when did making clothing by hand become the path of least resistance in my life?
Each Wednesday, I take stock of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.
The main “making activity” of my week has been wet blocking Shawl Geometry swatches – which is turning into a rather large project.
Normally, this wouldn’t be such an endeavor. I’d block them on my bed, and it would probably take two or three round to get all the swatches wet blocked, but then that would be that.
However, I’m currently subletting and rather than sticking a whole bunch of pins into a mattress that is not mine – I’m blocking on a cork-board.
This has the added benefit of being able to block swatches overnight (the main drawback of blocking on a mattress is not being able to leave it overnight), but the downside is that I can only block a handful of swatches at a time. So, the whole process is taking a while. Le sigh.
So, I’ve been distracting myself by planning an infusion of summery clothing into my wardrobe.
But of course, when I was packing up the clothing I wasn’t taking on my trip with me, I didn’t really think this far ahead. I was more concerned about maximizing space efficiency over ease of unpacking. So everything is packed in vacuum seal bags, and nothing is packed by season.
So rather than going on a clothes hunting mission in my storage unit, which could very possibly be fruitless and just might end in tears – I’m planning an easy and breezy handmade summer wardrobe infusion.
Sort of like an extended Me-Made-May, or a truncated Self-Made Wardrobe Project, either way, a not “normal” way of adding clothing to your wardrobe.
And I’m sitting here wondering, when (for me) did making clothing by hand become the path of least resistance?!
Also! I scored the jackpot on recycled pattern paper – old theatrical lighting plots. Because of course, all my patterns are also in an unknown box in my storage unit…
Oh and! I am not forgetting about my laceweight sweater – it is sitting right next to me on my desk and getting a couple rounds added at a time. Luckily I’m working on the sleeves – so the rounds are short, and a couple rounds at a time for the past couple weeks, has resulted in getting about halfway down the second sleeve!
looking forward to photos, graphics, and a wardrobe infusion
Each Wednesday, I take stock of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.
There are a lot of swatches currently sitting on my desk. I’m not quite sure if their quantity is more impressive stacked up or spread across the entirety of two bookshelves – but impressive either way.
The words for the Shawl Geometry books update are written. Writing that feels a little bit terrifyingly final, and yet, it is true. Now it’s on to taking a ton of photos and making a ton of graphics, before delving into an editing palooza.
Outside NYC is finally fully embracing sprint, and I’ve begin mulling over a wardrobe infusion – because I doubt that the suitcase I packed in December will be able to take me through an NYC summer with any grace.
steam blocked swatches, dark theaters, and storage units
Each Wednesday, I take stock of the projects I’m working on, and where my brain is at.
While I spent an unexpectedly large amount of time this week working in a dark theater, I did manage to take an afternoon to dig out the original round of Shawl Geometry swatches. Naturally they were in a box at the very back of my storage unit, but I found them just the same.
One of the things I’m adding into the update of the Shawl Geometry Books, is information on how blocking effects the shape of your shawl.
My personally preferred method of blocking my shawls would put a medieval torturer to shame. But before I stretch these particular swatches on the rack, I steam blocked them all, so I could photograph and write about how steam blocking and wet blocking influence the shaping.
(side note: how the heck have I only written about blocking here, and here before?!)
On the writing words front – all of the knitting instructions are finally written. I have more techniques and explanations to write, (and tons more editing…) but all of the cast on -> bind off words are written. Whew.
This week, my hope is to re-swatch a couple swatches that ended up far out of proportion to all the others, photograph this round of swatches, and maybe possibly if the stars align, compile the first draft.
(And maybe also put in an evening or two on my neglected sweater, but that might be pushing it…)
