The Other One

Hi finally I have finished the other jacket fog my son. A bomber jacket in green denim with a knit lining.

Back view

Lining

The Happy recipient

This pattern is a great style of jacket my son loves both jackets.

I am pleased to have them finished with the help from my carer who has done all the hand sewing for me.

Happy Sewing 😊

Sue

A long time coming.

Hi there, I started making a pair of bomber jackets for my son last year . My hands were working a bit better then and I was making use of both machines the industrial and domestic. Over time I realised that I could no longer do hand sewing in a satisfying time frame. It takes me weeks for something that previously could be done in a day.

I have finished 1 jacket so far . With the help of my carer who comes a few days a week to assist me. She does any cutting or hand sewing work for me. My time limit to work on my sewing is about 2 hrs that’s all I can do before my hands pack it in.

This jacket is made from moleskin remnant from the sewing basket and also black denim I had in my stash. The lining is silk from my stash . The elastic I had and buttons as well .

Moleskin

Silk for the lining

Front

Back

Lining

The denim remnant I used in this jacket hadn’t been pre washed unlike the silk and the moleskin. I always prewash natural fibres to be on the safe side. They can shrink . The colour was coming off the black denim onto our hands as we worked with it . So we washed the jacket after it was finished.

The jacket fits well and I think will be worn a lot when the weather cools down.

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂

A little alteration!

I recently was able to go to the Eras concert in Sydney.

I had discussed my options with my daughter and she suggested that the alteration of this dress into a top would be ideal.

The original make

Changing it into a top would fit with one of the dress styles worn by Taylor Swift . I cut it up to hip length and using the extra fabric I added wide sleeves to the short sleeves on the dress. I also added a frill to the front edge , the good thing about embroidered mesh is it doesn’t fray.

The Top

Both of us ready.

The top was easy to make and comfortable to wear for the time we were there. I also made the pants I am wearing, they are double layer pink silk chiffon. I used the same elastic waist pants pattern that I have used recently. V1914

This is the pant pattern

I am pictured in my electric wheelchair this enables me to get around safely now . It is faster than my scooter and more supportive so I tend to use it most of the time. It does mean that I now need special transport to go anywhere not local . But it is good.

My life is all about compromising now in so many ways .

Happy Sewing ,

Sue 🙂

Not again !!!

What is one question you hate to be asked? Explain.

The question I struggle with is how did you find out you had MND / ALS ?

Having to explain the devastating facts of my illness repeatedly is incredibly difficult. Reliving the devastation of that makes control hard to maintain.

The expectation is that I will be stoic and even tempered upbeat because I have always been that way . That is so tiring .

Some days I don’t have the energy to be cheerful. Because I am looking fairly healthy people are always assuming that I am fine they have no concept of my life each day . I now have carers six days a week. To help me .

I listened to a podcast recently , the neurologist that I will be seeing is interviewed and this is the best way to hear about the reality of my life .

The podcast is called “Let’s talk MND “

https://open.spotify.com/episode/59sgjb6O7AcvmUBJZvB4UU?si=g_JfZ919RJOjScLTI0xpgg&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A4WmtdSBhyuFX4ZB1Auzq2O

I hope you find it informative.

Take care

Sue 🙂

My love affair with Fabric

I have always loved fabric ,the texture, the variations I dream of fabrics and what they can become. Over the course of my life I have often added to my stash fabrics I just needed to own but had no clue what they would become. One such fabric is this silk embroidered organza . I first saw it in 2018 on a roll in a local fabric store that is now gone ,a Covid casualty. I kept looking at it until there was only 1 metre left then I had to have it .

Gorgeous green silk

I decided that since I only had a little over 1 metre I would try to use it all . I used French seams . I made a self drafted top with making use of the width of the fabric. I also used one of the embroidery flowers to hold the front .

The finished piece

I made this top about 4 years ago and have never worn it. Now with all the changes in my body from my disease I never will. So I am giving it to my daughter to pass onto her friend. As a thank you for her generosity. I am very happy to pass on my creations to others now that I can’t use them .

The reality of my life is that I need to pivot. With each change or new challenge I reassess my approach going forward. Inspiration is all around.

Don’t you just love when something sparks your interest makes you want to try and do whatever it takes to realise your idea.

I still try to create but the limitations my body places on me is a real buzz kill. Not enough time before fatigue, so everything takes ages to do .

Chipping away at each project .

I hope you have an amazing creative week.

Happy Sewing

Sue 🙂

A little fun

I was fortunate last year that a dear friend took me to The sewing Basket at Newington. I bought lots of fabric ,there and one of my favourites was this printed cotton.

Love the print.

There was maybe 1 metre in the piece but it was wide enough for me to get a top out of it . No shoulder seams I folded the fabric in half and cut out the neckline. I cut the sleeve shape and used the excess for the sides it was a zero waste make.

Fold over elastic finished

I used striped fold over elastic on the neck and sleeves.

It is easy to wear

It is a popover style so easy on and off. A little bit of colour to wear.

Another thing that works for me. Slowly getting there. My scooter is my way to get around ,my legs . Now my dressing is all about easy .

I am slowly getting more options..

Life is slower and my sewing is really slow these days my hands arms and legs fatigue so I always need to stop before I have finished, this is a really annoying part of my disease.

My life

The interesting part of the MND path is that there are no cures or treatments so there is no real communication between patient and Dr . They can’t help so they see you once a year to track your decline.

Life is no longer how it was . My days are somewhat regimented as my supplements and vitamins and protein intake to keep my body functioning take up lots of time. Standing is win , walking the small amount I can do is a win . I need to take them where I can . I day at a time.

Changes are inevitable and terrifying . One day at a time.

I hope you can enjoy your creativity in whatever way possible.

Happy Sewing ,

Sue 🙂

These days ,

Hi there,

Hope you have had an opportunity to enjoy some creative fun. Whatever that may be ?

This is so true

I saw this and thought it worth noting. I find my days mapped out depending on the energy I need to expend. Breakfast then shower needs recovery time. If I go to do some sewing then I need to ensure I don’t get to fatigued or standing up from my chair becomes an issue and if no one is with me I need to call somebody to help.

I am currently working on some jackets for my son for his birthday and some stuff for myself for my birthday later on this year. I can only do a few hours at a time which means just when I am making progress I have to stop , leave and rest .

It is very slow going but I get assistance from a carer twice a week who wants to learn to sew so that’s a big help.

Today she cut out a sequin jacket for me . That will be a pain to sew but we will get it done in time for May . I will post pictures when it’s done.

I hope you’re able to do whatever makes you happy.

Take care

Sue 🙂

Let’s have Another 2 piece outfit

Hi there,

Happy New Year 2024 , wow , at least we are still here, I hope you had a creative and wonderful festive season.

I made another 2 piece outfit in the pyjama style .

Top is from the Style Arc Archie pattern.

I used this pant pattern but again deleted side seams

My 2 piece set

The fabric was from The Sewing basket

Bottom band

This time when making the set I changed the top slightly , I added a band to the hem of the top to add length . I treated it the same as the sleeve band .

I haven’t worn it yet but it’s still ready .

The silk feels amazing , and I love grey and silver so it won’t be long until I wear it. I will put up a picture.

I hope you are able to be creative,

Happy Sewing,

Sue 🙂

Merry Christmas Everyone

I will be sewing when I can over Christmas, my carer will still come and I am staying home for the foreseeable future.

I saw this poem on Facebook and it really spoke to me ;

So very true

I am looking forward to spending time with family and friends over the festive season . Hopefully I will remain stable for a while.

I hope you can create and have a wonderful time with your tribe whoever they may be .

Sending love ❤️

Sue🙂

A New Approach

Hi there, I have finally worked out a style of dressing that is easy and comfortable and looks as good as it feels.

I had bought some navy and white spotted linen last year from Pitt Trading. My initial thought was to make a dress but that really is not practical anymore. So I hopped on the trend of what I call pyjama dressing matching button up top and pull on elastic waist pants.

The linen

I used at pattern for the top that I have made before it’s the Style Arc Archie shirt .

Fits really well

I have a dear friend who visits me and she offered to cut out my fabric. Then she returned with her machine and helped me to sew as well. Together we got all the interfacing done and the pants together and the top partially sewn.

This is the pant pattern

I got her to cut the pants on the fold so I had only the inside leg seam to do. I had sewn everything but the button holes and when my carer came on Tuesday I got her to help me by sewing on the buttons and pressing the outfit.

I wore it to a book club outing we went to the Sydney opera house to see the dictionary of lost words it was wonderful.

Me about to leave

Book club before the show

We had a lovely day and my friends were wonderful in helping me to manage it all .

My new normal means that I am now unable to stand from my wheelchair . So assistance is needed, I am unable to use the disabled bathroom by myself now so I need someone to help me if I am not home. A change that is very disappointing.

I have also got this exact outfit cut out ,but in silk ,so hopefully I can get it done this week.

I hope you are able to be creative,

Sue🙂