Wednesday 27 March 2024

I can't make my mind up.

I was thinking I might make a dress or a pair of trousers whilst on holiday. I have some cute fabric in my dressmaking stash and I'd really like to use some of it up. The problem is I can't make up my mind what I want to make or which fabric I want to use. I'm also aware I have several projects on the go which I want to get finished so I'm even more stressed trying to make a decision. Do I do some dressmaking or get on with some quilting. The main thrust of my argument with myself is that I can make a dress easily in a day, or two if I don't want to sew all day. That means I'll still have time to finish most of my March plans by next Sunday. On the other hand I haven't made a plan for April yet so I could do the dressmaking the following week and factor it into my months plan. The silly thing is, I could have just got on with it and it would be part finished by now. Do you dither about what to do and end up doing nothing or very little?

On a positive note I got on with the mystery quilt from The Good Hope Quilters guild. I had put together 4 of the blocks but still had five to complete. By the end of Monday I had made all 9 blocks.


So now I have to make another decision, do I want to add sashing or not? If I add sashing I will need to check my fabric to see if I've got anything suitable and if not I'd need to buy some. Why does everything require decisions? 

Having started to write this post on Monday, I made a decision on whether to do some dressmaking. I decided to have a go at making a pair of trousers. I own jeans but only one pair of proper trousers and sometimes I want my outfit to look a little more dressy than jeans. Anyway I had a pattern and some grey fabric that has been lurking in my dressmaking stash for some time. I checked all the measurements including the crotch length and rise as I don't want the seat area to be too tight or too loose. That took a little time as I needed a helper to get my measurements right.  Fast forward and I almost have a pair of completed trousers. I need to add the waist band and do the hem. However I have decided to take in the legs a little as I feel there is too much fabric. I'll tack them first and then check what the mirror says before asking the family. These should be finished in the next 24 hours. Photo of me wearing them to follow.

The last couple of evenings I have done some work on the countryside scene. There is still a fair way to go but I think this should be finished by the end of the month. That gives me 5 evenings of stitching.


In between knitting, sewing and embroidery I also finished the puzzle John and I started. This is a panoramic view and so the puzzle is long and thin. The problem with putting it together is that the detail on the puzzle is fairly small and there is a lot of foliage which is all of similar colours. It was fun to do but annoyingly there was one piece missing when we finished it. We are always careful not to drop pieces and never leave any loose piece out of the box when we stop working on the puzzle. Oddly Richard had made a puzzle recently and there was also one piece missing.


Although I am on holiday, I interviewed for work yesterday. It was online so travel involved. For the rest of this week my time is now fully my own. My plans for today include my regular dental checkup, finishing making my trousers and if I have time starting cutting the fabric for the rings quilt. I have been reading the instructions very carefully and all the hints and tips for sewing the curves. This quilt is really going to tax my ability but I do love a challenge. I am also not in a rush to get this quilt finished so there is no stress involved (except the curves)


Ok so lets get this day on the move. Lots to do and I'll start by walking Missy. I had to take her to the vet yesterday as her one ear was causing her pain. She now has heavy duty antibiotics and also strong pain relief. She is a much happier dog. She needs to stay on her lead until her ear is better so no walks on the common. Being a water dog she tends to roll in puddles etc and the water tends to get in her ears and occasionally they get infected. 

Take care

Lyndsey