duck bucket sewing

I made a dress! With the new sewing machine! Wheee! And not to bury the lede, but: We went to Japan for two weeks, and I completely fell in love with the clothing—especially Nani IRO and their amazing fabrics. I'm hooked. We tracked down the atelier in Osaka. ( Here's my review on PR .) They wouldn't let me take photos of the shop but said it was OK to take pictures of the fabrics. Lots of linen, cotton gauze and sateen in bright colors, as well as buttons and notions, an archive (I wasn't sure if it was possible to buy any of the archived fabrics), and jewelry. I bought some lovely blue linen with an asymmetrical print: And the book—the English translation had just been released. And it was signed! (I have a picture, can't seem to post it, sry.) So anyway. I couldn't stop reading the book—you know when you get really really obsessed with a pattern book? Like that. As soon as I got home, I decided to try out the pocket dress. Here'...

Hi! Lots going on around here lately. Thing One: I bought a new sewing machine! This is my new Bernina 480 , purchased from Sew Creative in Beverly, which recently closed. Sorry I don't have a better picture. I love this thing—it's fancy! I'm still learning my way around it. Thing Two: I was supposed to have another article in Vogue Patterns Magazine, but it folded! Bummer. It's on lighting for sewists, and if you want a copy, feel free to contact me on le social and I'll send it to you. I interviewed the gadget person from the Carroll Center for the Blind, and he recommended a lot of great stuff. (Really going to miss Vogue Patterns—it was my favorite sewing magazine! RIP.) And finally, Thing Three: I completed an Alabama Chanin Classic Jacket, from their Sewing Patterns book. The backstory is that I really wanted a nice reversible travel jacket in nice AC organic cotton for an upcoming trip to Japan. (This is after ordering an expensive travel hood...

It's been a while, I know. Wish I had an epic things-I-sewed-this-year post, but honestly, I didn't do that much. Here's the list: 1. Plain red Alabama Chanin Factory Dress 2. Reverse applique Alabama Chanin fitted dress 3. Rachel Comey Vogue Patterns 1585 popcorn dress (not finished; posted on Instagram ) I don't love it, but still really like the design and would like to try again, maybe not in mixed fabrics this time. 4. Fixing and finishing of t-shirts using AC fabric: I found out that Eloflex works great for constructing knit seams. Will definitely be using that again! It's been a tough year, but two bright spots were 1) finding a great group of sewists to hang out with (hi, New England Stitchers!), and 2) stitching with my niece. I got her a sewing machine for Christmas, and she's already cranking out bags. Awesome. I don't have a huge list of resewlutions for 2019—I actually wound up buying RTW clothes this year for various reasons...