Knitting Cybrarian

Finished object!

I finished a lovely linen/rayon jacket tonight.  It's a jade leaning towards teal green.  I'll run it through the washer at least once tomorrow morning.  I will be spending lots of time with an iron sometime tomorrow night.

BTW, one of the lovely properties of linen is much like that of wool -- it can absorb quite a bit of water.  So, sewing was interesting at times.  I pray I don't have rippled seams when all is said and done.

And it's not even midnight!

It's hot, baby

Yup.  Right now it's 95 outside (at 8:19pm!) with a heat index of 102F.  I've been working on sewing a jacket off and on this afternoon.  Here's the rundown of the process:

• press pattern paper on low heat iron, no steam
• take break to wipe sweat from brow, repenish body with water
• press 4 yards of lovely linen/rayon with steam and water bottle
• take break to wipe sweat from brow, replenish water (took two short breaks during this pressing)
• cut pattern pieces out of fabric
• take break to wipe sweat...
• cut out appropriate pieces of interfacing
• press/fuse interfacing to pattern pieces, press up hem allowance
• take break to wipe sweat...

Yeah, and I've not started the actual sewing yet.  That should be a breeze compared to what's gone on so far.  Oh.  I forgot, though.  I'll need to press seams open, which means more heat and more sweat.  Ugh.

The air conditioning has run practically the whole day.  We have it set at 79 or 80, and it's not like we've been running in and out all day.  We've done some cleaning and sorting (in addition to the fabric work), but mostly stayed in. 

I'm supposed to travel mid-week and it looks as if this heat wave is going to continue.  My only consolation is that when the temps are around 95-100+, everyone is hot.  Everyone.

Oh, yesterday I splurged and got a manicure (no polish, please, really) and a pedicure (ah, heaven!) and learned a few Vietmanese words.  The young women were really tickled that I wanted to learn how to say thank you, very good, and you're welcome in their language.  Sometimes it's the little things that folks appreciate!  I feel like it's the least I can do, considering how they make me feel so wonderful!

Don't faint

Don't faint, but I actually got some sewing done today.  I took new measurements of myself (with Joel's help) and plotted out a simple half slip pattern.  I cut the fabric, sewed it together, including stitching down the seams, side slits, the hem and the waist allowance.  Then I realized what I thought was elastic was actually lace.

Slip is on hold until I buy some elastic for the waistband and some black ribbon for the trim.  It's a gauzy cotton fabric, hence the simple trim (in lieu of lace).  So knitting ahead for the evening!