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tweet(s) of the day
Apr. 12th, 2009 08:00 pm- 17:49 Watching presentations from Florence and realizing how very lucky I was to be able to go. Also hoping that they make it into a book someday.
Apr. 12th, 2009
the valley of suck
Apr. 12th, 2009 09:00 pmYesterday I met up with some local SCA people for my local shire's first (?) sewing circle. It was pretty cool - got to meet a couple of nice folks (hi ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
snarlingbadger) and bang brains together. I also got to help someone draft and make a pattern, the first time I've helped do this for someone other than myself :)
My sewing/constructing ability is one of the few things I can say without reservation that I'm good at. I'm not as good as some (and y'all KNOW who you are), but I'm better than many: I know my way around a sewing machine, I can read a commercial pattern and make some of my own, I can thread a serger (no small feat), do a fitting, tailor, do fair hand-finishing and usually choose the right fabric for the job.
This is largely because I've been doing this for almost 20 years. It startles me to type that because I realize I've been futzing with fabric that long and that my level of skill has taken twenty years to hone to the point that it's at.
I would likely have been further along by now had I pushed myself harder. As it was, I was almost 17 before I touched a sewing machine because I was so afraid my hands would go under the needle (!) When I did start taking lessons, my mother discouraged me from trying anything too difficult, and I don't blame her - I had a hellish temper as a teenager and avoiding broken plates was higher priority than my working with knits and zippers (which turned out to be pretty easy, despite my mother's nail-biting).
Even after getting a grip on my temper it wasn't until ~8 years or so ago that I had the nerve to try my hand at historic costume and pattern drafting - I had completely convinced myself that it was too hard to do, and probably wouldn't have tried it at all had I not got a fantastic deal on Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (call it new age fluffiness, I took that as A Sign :P)
With most things I always tried to do my best, but tried to choose projects and trajectories that ensured success. I shied away from anything I thought would be too stressful or difficult because it was the best way to keep sane. I think my real problem was (and still is) perfectionism.
But at long last I think I've finally reached a point where I'm confident enough to allow myself to suck for awhile - because all first efforts are subpar. I still have (and wear) my kirtle, and it's dreadful - lacing doesn't line up, and it's in the back so I can't even put it on myself. My only Regency is made out of nylon, fercrissakes :P
But I'm getting better.
Not just at sewing, but at everything I've had the guts to suck at for awhile :P
snarlingbadger) and bang brains together. I also got to help someone draft and make a pattern, the first time I've helped do this for someone other than myself :)My sewing/constructing ability is one of the few things I can say without reservation that I'm good at. I'm not as good as some (and y'all KNOW who you are), but I'm better than many: I know my way around a sewing machine, I can read a commercial pattern and make some of my own, I can thread a serger (no small feat), do a fitting, tailor, do fair hand-finishing and usually choose the right fabric for the job.
This is largely because I've been doing this for almost 20 years. It startles me to type that because I realize I've been futzing with fabric that long and that my level of skill has taken twenty years to hone to the point that it's at.
I would likely have been further along by now had I pushed myself harder. As it was, I was almost 17 before I touched a sewing machine because I was so afraid my hands would go under the needle (!) When I did start taking lessons, my mother discouraged me from trying anything too difficult, and I don't blame her - I had a hellish temper as a teenager and avoiding broken plates was higher priority than my working with knits and zippers (which turned out to be pretty easy, despite my mother's nail-biting).
Even after getting a grip on my temper it wasn't until ~8 years or so ago that I had the nerve to try my hand at historic costume and pattern drafting - I had completely convinced myself that it was too hard to do, and probably wouldn't have tried it at all had I not got a fantastic deal on Queen Elizabeth's Wardrobe Unlock'd (call it new age fluffiness, I took that as A Sign :P)
With most things I always tried to do my best, but tried to choose projects and trajectories that ensured success. I shied away from anything I thought would be too stressful or difficult because it was the best way to keep sane. I think my real problem was (and still is) perfectionism.
But at long last I think I've finally reached a point where I'm confident enough to allow myself to suck for awhile - because all first efforts are subpar. I still have (and wear) my kirtle, and it's dreadful - lacing doesn't line up, and it's in the back so I can't even put it on myself. My only Regency is made out of nylon, fercrissakes :P
But I'm getting better.
Not just at sewing, but at everything I've had the guts to suck at for awhile :P
the #amazonfail
Apr. 12th, 2009 11:22 pmYes, I'm aware of it, and displeased as hell - Amazon is a great source of those hard-to-impossible to find books, and the only place I can get socks, coffee, and books all in one order. If they don't get over their "adult materials policy" (more details here) I'll be sad to stop using them.
Like BeaucoupKevin, I'm giving 'em a week: this did blow up on Easter weekend and a corporation that big surely can't turn on a dime.
Like BeaucoupKevin, I'm giving 'em a week: this did blow up on Easter weekend and a corporation that big surely can't turn on a dime.
