Losing my Mayake Mojo

I am ashamed to say I have had a UFO on the go since Christmas.

The last time it happened, I chucked everything in a cupboard, never to see the light of day again. I can't do it this time as Lisa of the fabulous White Tree Fabric has generously given me the fabric and pattern and given me the chance to document the process.

I have sewn and unsewn seams, re-arranged my fabric and still ended up with a mess. Let's rewind and give you the back story.

In September, I wrote briefly of my amazement at being given a chance to sew an Issey Mayake pattern with some beautiful cotton lawn. As is usual with Issey Mayake patterns (I was an avid Mayake sewing fan in the early Eighties) an enthusiasm and origami mind processes are required.

Several cut rectangles later, I was ready. I was good, I read the sizes on the back of the envelope and  cut it size 12-14. Then I got flu. Then I got flu again and before I knew it, it was Christmas. So over Christmas, with the aim of making the top for New Year's Eve, I got cracking. 

The pattern is made up of 5 rectangles with a lot of spare fabric - I did end up using some of this, but I will explain that later!

The large rectangle has to be carefully marked and then cut down the middle between 2 points. Easy if you mark it correctly - I have been using Frixion pens recently, as the marks disappear when ironed (but always test - not everyone is happy using them) so this was a grab-your-ruler-and draw-that-line kind of moment. And this is where the origami fun begins. If you do not mark ALL the pattern markings onto your fabric, you are on a road to nowhere (hmm, I think that would make a great song title, don't you?).

Hmm, did that small rectangle really go there? This is supposed to be a size 12-14 but barely fit my 18 year old skinny-minny round the hips.

I grabbed the seam ripper and started again - fold left front across the....what? Put the zip where?

You really need either a live model to make this on or a tailor's dummy, so I bought myself a tailor's dummy (good excuse, huh?) as one daughter headed back to Uni and the other got her head down for A Levels. 

Ooh, now this was better - I sewed the side panel in and then the side seam and......hang on, where does that bit go? The side pieces were too small to make a flattering side panel - too short on one side, not wide enough on the other. I even checked the pattern pieces for sizing, to make sure I had cut correctly - I had, so this was another mystery.

Needless to say, it all ended up back in pieces and draped on my tailor's dummy before my epiphany moment - but that is for next time!

Catching Up

Is it really 6 months since I last wrote something? Doesn't time fly!

I won't bore you with what has been made but I think I will start over with current mumblings and projects.

I have been visiting my Mum a lot more recently and, apart from the usual clothes etc, have not been carrying crafty projects as I am never organised enough to remember everything to take.

I have a bionic gear bag, but it is a permanent project organiser on my sewing table and moving it would be wrong - it also contains things I don't often need to take anywhere. For example, my supply of sewing machine and hand sewing needles, basting safety pins, my Scissor Sistas labels that get sewn into items I make for the shop, spare unpickers and snips - the list goes on!

I could make myself another one but as it is only for occasional use, I want to be able to leave things in whatever I make, stash it in a drawer and grab when needed.

I made my Mum a pen roll at Christmas - she has been doing some of the adult colouring (very addictive if you were an avid colourer-inner when you were little) and this was to keep her pencils in. I should be able to do similar for sewing I thought. And then I saw reference to a hussif, which was a sewing roll carried by, amongst many, soldiers to patch up their kit - this is a very interesting page I found describing them in great detail https://regencyredingote.wordpress.com/2011/03/18/the-pocket-housewife/ ).

It would need a pocket or 2, somewhere to store needles and a few pins along with thread and scissors. So I have made one and am trying it out - after 12 hours there are a few things I would change when making another and will document them in a week or so, when I have used the hussif a bit more.

So, my cup of tea won't drink itself - see you next time!