duck bucket sewing

Are we sewing? MOM. Are we sewing? MOM.

I'm not a huge believer in New Year's resolutions, but I had an epiphany this week while rummaging through my sewing room. Which, unfortunately, is mostly closed these days, both because we have cats (and I don't want them stepping on or eating pins and random bits of thread) and because I just haven't had time to work on anything. (Okay, and because my sewing room also becomes the Christmas room in December -- the place where I stash presents, wrapping paper, empty Amazon boxes, etc. And it's a small room -- the size of a walk-in closet -- so it's not really fun to sew in there with all that stuff. The downside of having a small house, I guess.) So I was cleaning out the Christmas stuff and finding all this nifty fabric I'd forgotten about (look, green-and-black-striped sweater knit! Glazed linen! Ultrasuede!) and wishing I could instantly transmogrify it into wearable garments and going WHY CAN'T I JUST SEW ALREADY and I DON'T HAVE TIME TO TRAC...

Good. All is right with the world.

Our router went bonkers this week, so: belated MPB Day recap! This year, I went with my friend and former coworker Lisa. She wore her first make, a fabulous black-and-white floral dress made from (I think) a Simplicity pattern. She accidentally made it using scrubs fabric, which is kind of funny because we worked in a hospital. (I told her she should wear it down in the OR.) I work my Alabama Chanin skirt. (People recognized it!) We stayed at the Carlton Arms, my favorite almost-hostel. Front-desk kitty was disinclined to check us in. On Saturday, we decided to head over early for flea-marketing. We had breakfast at a Whole Foods "city picnic" on the way (free samples, score), then joined Peter & co. for the Chelsea flea. Lisa considered, but did not get, this Helmut Lang vest. I considered, but did not get, this wacky coat. I still have a minor case of not-buyer's remorse. When in doubt, always buy the wacky coat. Then...

Speaking of sewfails: This is a couple of years old, but here's what happens when you use a Burda pattern, not realizing that Burda doesn't provide seam allowances: The world's smallest messenger bag. Whoops.

After a lot of coaxing from friends and family, I finally broke down and bought an 11" Macbook Air. (Goodbye, ancient Dell laptop. I won't miss you and all of your various screens of death.) I love it, but it needs a case. Or, rather, I'd feel better if it had a case -- something small and padded that just fits the laptop. I really wanted something soft that didn't look like it came from Staples. I had visions of Alabama Chanin fabric and quilt batting and a picture of Antwerp's train station on the front. (Did I mention that Antwerp's train station is gorgeous? I miss it. Wonder if they're hiring.) (And yes, I need a new camera.) I scanned the Antwerp picture and printed it out on a fabric inkjet sheet. Then I stitched it to a piece of scrap AC jersey, and then made the case using ye olde potholder method: 1) lay cover right side up, 2) lay lining right side down, 3) layer batting on both, 4) stitch around, leaving an opening on the bottom, 5...

I'm SO SO SO excited about the new Vogue patterns, but I keep squeeing over cute work clothes and then remembering that I'm funemplo-- er, "transitioned." But still! These are on my shortlist: V1419 : Super-awesome Ralph Rucci space-age coatdress. Those sleeves! That collar! Those lines! I've never made a RR or advanced pattern ever, but I'd give this a shot. I can't decide on the color, though. For maximum space-ageosity, maybe a winter white. V1404 : Hard to see the lines with that fabric, but I love the quilted hem and pockets and it looks like it'd work on a short person like me. Now, if I can just find a job to wear it to. (Or not!) V1410 : Lynn Mizono. I'm intrigued by this -- especially the 3 lengths -- but not sure it would work on my body type. Either way, I'd like to try it because I love modular clothes. (More modular patterns, Vogue!)  V9037 : I overlooked this the first time, until I read Communing With ...