Less calm

We have been really spoiled. Good weather,  a fab awning (one of our best ever impulse purchases), it has been a pleasure to sit in the garden recently.

Today, Saturday, ita slightly less calm.   We've had lots of planes coming in to land,   some helicopters, and the Red Arrows (RA).  The RA were fab. 

There is at least one adult football match going on, and it sounds well attended.      Next doors are busy, and the kids are home.  

Someone is drilling.   

For once, our Girls are  not adding to the cacophony.    I put the table shade up for them,  it casts a good shadow on the grass,  and they  are all sitting around.

I tried to take a pic,  and several of them got up and ambled off to have a snack. I waited for some to come back, but more wandered off...oh well. here's a small group.

I'm drinking some eyewatweringly expensive cordial  that was a relative bargain. It was short dated, and  so was being sold at  70% off. It was still £7 a bottle.   I don't like things too sweet so I'm getting a lot of drinks out of it.   No alcohol.

The next warm day

I decided yesterday - pre Gloria - that today  I would do the other coops.    I decided to carry on and do them, as they really do need doing.

Being so busy was actually helpful in mentally dealing with Gloria's death.

First thing - the coops were dismantled and brushed out, and jet washed.  This took a surprising amount of time.     I left them to dry in the sun while DH and I did an exercise class.

Then I went out and sprayed everything,  and then I came in for breakfast while everything dried for a second time.

After breakfast,  I powdered everyhting (with Stalosan powder disinfectant and Diatom),  filled the nestboxes and lined the poo trays  with Aubiose, and then put everything back together.   I was caked in stuff.

I didn't finish until lunchtime, and I was so happy to get in that shower and wash my hair.

Meanwhile, the Girls have been creating mayhem  They couldn't use their preferred nest boxes, and of course they couldn't possibly use any of the other 6 nest boxes.    When everything was put back together,  there was a scramble (ha ha) to get in.   

No one would share.   No one would hurry up.   There was a queue to lay, and those in the queue were loudly vocalising their annoyance.    Those in the nest boxes were loudly vocalising how much they didn't care, and that they weren't going to hurry    Those that had laid, were announcing that fact.  Those that weren't  queueing, were vocalsing how they wished that everyone else would shut up.

I had to message my neighbour to apologise. I'm sure wshe had seen the bits of coop strewn around the garden, and she couldn't have missed the pressure washer.   I did want her to know that I know it's an unacceptable amount of noise,  and that there was a reason for it. 

She was lovely about it.

I've done just over 8000 steps this morning, and I'm ready to for a break.

An un-Gloria-ous day

Gloria (Or Gorgeous Gloriana, to give her my gorgeous girl her full name) died today.

Her death was not unexpected.    She's slowed down a lot recently,  and I knew a couple of days ago that she was getting ready to go.   I had time to tell her how much she was loved, and how she would be missed.

She was just short of her 10th birthday, and was one of 8 girls that we hatched from a dozen Castle Farm's Welsh Black Eggs. These are a cross between an Indian Game and an Australorp, and they had the best characteristics of both breeds. 

 She is survived by her hatchmates Poppy and Katy.

All the girls from that hatch were very robust.  We had planned to keep one girl here (either Poppy or Gloria) along with the single female exchequer leghorn chick, Lotti; we also planned to keep a couple of girls for the allotment.  The other girls would join the boys as dinner chickens.

In the end it was Poppy that stayed in the garden, and Gloria was one of the two girls earmarked as keepers for the allotment. 

For whatever reason,  we decided to keep all 7 of the allotment girls.  The other 6 were named after the wives of Henry VIII, and we kept one of the boys, Henry, as well.    They were all strong, gentle, determined, higly intelligent,  easy-to-do chickens.

When we lost all our Garden Girls bar Poppy to a fox, we brought Gloria back from the allotment to keep her company.  I was so happy to have her back in the garden, she was such a lovely girl to have around.   I'd said from the moment she went to the allotment, that I'd bring her back of we had a space.

The first of the 8 to go died at 5 years old,  already a reasonable age for a chicken.  The next died aged  6 and a half, and the next 2 were just under 8 when they went.  They really were a fantastic strain of bird, and I wish David was still selling eggs.

Gloria (L) and Poppy

Gloria was Number 1 chook from the day she came back.  When new girls were introduced, Gloria never had to assert herself, she was always automatically number 1.

She learned jumpy uppy, she knew her name and would come when called, she tolerated being picked up and stroked,  and she was just a lovely calm girl.

Her feathering was amazing.  Like all 8 Welsh Blacks,  she had Australorp eyes and she had shiny black feathers which had a green and purple irridescence which is impossible to catch on camera.  They were incredibly soft to touch. 

Her death was expected,  for those of her age (and older, like Nora),  "any time now" is likely.   She had a really happy life,  and a peaceful death.   It really helps me to know that.

I'm so lucky to have had her in my life at all,   and particularly having had her company for so many years.

Goodnight my Gorgeous Gloriana.  

 

 

 

Calm

Its's been quite quiet here.  There are very few aeroplanes, so the garden is peaceful. It really is lovely  

My gardening friends would be puzzled, I suspect, on how I can regard our garden as lovely.  We no longer have any borders to speak of. The grass is wild.  Our veg beds growing, but haphazard.     I miss the flowers,   but our garden is mainly just there to be green for us and to provide food and interest for the Girls.

This time of year, there is plenty of grass.  We only have 12 (soon to be 11) Girls, and the grass is growing fast enough to not get worn down by them.  It will be like this for a few more months - less, if the rain stops and the grass dies off of course.

I love sitting outside, just by the door, under the shade (the one we bought and installed as an emergency last year).  The Girls are mainly calm,  mainly get on,  and spend their days switching between grazing and then sitting in a "mothers meeting"  in bits of shade.

I think 12 is a good number.  Less than I'd like,  but not too much for us to eke out the grass in Autumn.  

We haven't hatched for 2 years now. The first year was because of the uncertainties around Covid.  Back then, Covid seemed to strike without warning,  it would confine people to their sick bed unable to get up for a week,  and was potentially fatal for people of our age and health.  It was entirely conceivable that both of us could catch it, and so both of us might be out of action at the same time, and both of us might even die.     Back then, we had a lot more chickens to worry about,  and they weren't one flock.   We brought some o fthe allotment girls home, so that the allotment chickens would have enought food and water for a week, should we both be laid up. 

Since then of course we had 4 hens stolen from the allotment,  we had to bring everyone else home and cull the boys (we couldn't find homes for them because of lockdown, and we couldn't risk leaving them on the allotment);     My brother received instructions on what to do if both of us died, which included which hens to cull and which hens got on with each other and so it might be OK to rehome (if such a thing were possible at the time).  We  had all the stress of the various flocks,  and then wen we realised it was going to be long term, we had to try and start merging them;    we had the fights  real fights - between Fleur and our oldest hen, Nora;  Two of the younger birds, Violet and Bott,  were complete thugs;   Sylvia, our baby silver laced barnevelder, died in an accident (Fleur wlked over her to get into the nest box and broke her neck).    This year,  Big Bird died of old age;   Ping had a heart attack; and Annie had to be put to sleep because of an egg laying problem.   Big Bird wasn't a suprise, but the other two were.  

I've got four girls who are very old and creaky, and I'm fully expecting them to go this year.  I fully expected them to go last year as well.  one of them, Gloria, is on her way.  I'm hoping she will be able to go quietly and peacefully and in her own time.... but if not, I'll have to help her. Or ask DH to.

We decided not to hatch this year.  We haven't decided what to do about our allotment.  It's being borrowed by another chicken keeper at the moment, while we see how we feel. 

Maybe next year. Hopefully next year.

Warm and Dry

A while ago I decided that on the next warm and dry day, I'd properly clean the coops.  Some of them, at least.

Today was the next Warm and Dry day.

When I was a little younger, I'd have been yup early, had all 4 coops disassembled, emptied, jetwashed, scrubbed and out drying before breakfast.  I'd then have my breakfast, and then go out and disinfect them,  and put them all back together again.    I'd then put everything away, have my shower, and be done by lunch.

Not so, today.

I got up very late (after a difficult night).  I had breakfast.    I decided to do only one coop,  the tattiest one which is in  the fruit cage. (Well, what was the fruit cage).   After I'd dismantled it and started jetwashing it, I decided to do the red GoUp  -  our emergency coop - as well. . That also resides in the fruit cage, now that we no longer have a garage, so it made sense to do it while I had the pressure washer over that side of the garden.

So, I took my time, and did both coops,  and all the gubbins associated with it.

Everything dried quickly in the sun, so I was able to get on with the the disinfectin of the coops as soon as I'd finished washing the bits,   and then disinfecting the bits as soon as I'd finished disinfecting the coops.  I managed to disinfect everything before the sprayer needed recharging, which was just as well.  

I plodded about putting stuff away, while waiting for the disinfectant to dry.  I'd found some topsoil in the shed, so I decided to make a fresh dustbath for the Girls in the run.  I had playsand and woodash, so it was quick and easy to do.  The sand was heavier than I expected thougg. Lifting it over the netting reminded me that I've been sub par all week. 

When I'd finished that, everything was dry enough to reassemble.  It didn't take long, and soon the coops were clean, fresh, and sporting fresh Aubiose,

I'm really pleased.    It was a lovely day to be messing about with water.  I missed having Miss Teen around to help, but actually it was just as quick on my own. 

 I'll do the other coops on another - not necessarily the next  - warm and dry day.

 

pillow talk

I finally got up the energy and enthusiasm to try making stuff today.

I cut out some bits to make more knickers for DH.   I won't count those until they are actually finished. 

This evening, I decided to make a quick cover for  small (32cm) pillow I've been using to give me some leg  separation when lying on my side at night.  Its a  feather pillow, and the feathers have been a bit pokey and getting on my nerves.  I've been meaning to do it for...a long time. 

I dug out one of DHs worn out tee shirts for this purpose.  The ready made hem  was great for the envelope pocket, and the fabric is soft.    I'm happy to have been able to recycle something.

It only took a couple of minutes [it is a bit rough and ready]  and I found it a reassuring reminder of how far my sewing ability and confidence has grown.

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Total crafty things this year: 38

Sewing based makes: 
123) Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
456)Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
7)Dressing Gown;
8-10)Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
11) Cushion cover for living room;
12-15) Sleeveless tops (x4);
16) SBCC top
17) Overlocker chicken
18) Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
19,20,21)Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
22)Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
23)Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
24)Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
25)Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)
26) repurposed  old tee shirt as cover for mini cushion

Learning activities:
1) Scanning pattern pieces; 2) Making movies; 3)Babylock demo day; 4)Gathering using my overlocker;   5) Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper);6) Gail Yellen's binder course; 7) Inkscape 1; 8) casting on;  9)purling; 10)casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 
A) Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired

B) Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

Uplifting

My Mum brought some day dresses with her, which she asked me to shorten. 

She was delighted with the first one, and asked me if I could do the sleeves as well.  The two sleeves had to be slightly different lengths (she has a rotator cuff injury which affects the position of one arm).

It took me a while to do the four.  There was a fair bit of unpicking (of my own work) involved, and I must have done each hem at least twice.

But they are done now, she's happy. I'm happy. 

I'm counting it as 1 crafty thing. It's been ages since I've added anything.

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Total crafty things this year: 37

Sewing based makes: 24;
Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
Dressing Gown;
Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
Cushion cover for living room;
Sleeveless tops (x4);
SBCC top
Overlocker chicken
Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)
Shorten the hems and sleeves on 4 of Mum's day dresses (count as 1 task)

Learning activities: 10;
Scanning pattern pieces; Making movies; Babylock demo day; Gathering using my overlocker;    Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper) Gail Yellen's binder course; Inkscape 1; casting on;  purling; casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 2
Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

Drizzle

It's been a challenging six or so weeks.

My Elderley Relative (ER) was in hospital for 5 and a half weeks, most of which was him recovering to a point where certain procedures could be carried out.     My days were spent on the phone with him, or the hosptal, or doing the update email, or answering questions and calls from friends and relatives,  or visiting his house and sorting stuff out, paying bills etc (he's Extreme Old School - no DDs, nothing).   He had a gas leak, and I had to get that sorted. 

My cousin is a Gas Safe plumber, and he came and confirmed there was a leak and attempted to find it.  He couldn't,  so he turned the gas off, and arranged for him and my brother (who is a Handyman) came out for the day to close down parts of the system and find and fix the leak.    

They found it. It was the valve on the boiler.   The boiler was almost as old as me,  and it wasn't possible to get a new valve for it.  We had to get a new boiler.   After discussions, my cousin recommended a condenser boiler, which   - long story short - meant that it had to be located in the kitchen.   So cousin ordered everything, and arranged to come back a couple of days later to start fitting.

Life isn't simple.  When they started to look at plumbing the new boiler in, they found that the toilet had been put in on top of the bathroom carpet.  They had to remove the toilet, to take the carpet up, to take the floorboards up to get to the pipework.  Meanwhile, the landing carpet disintegrated as soon as they lifted it.

They did a proper job including removing the old pipework and water tank,  and it took days.  They bought new flooring, which we decided to extend over the landing (I'm never going to live that down. I didn't realise just how uch work it was going to be ).  They also fitted new taps to the bath and a shower riser, and put ni a bath panel wioth the same flooring on it.

They were amazing.  

I'd kept ER apprised of the situation all the way along.  He was fully compis mentis by the time this started, he was just physically unwell.

ER had several procedures. More were needed, but some of them could be done on an outpatient basis.  On the day when he was scheduled for one procedure, the hospital mentioned discharing him that day.  He phoned me, and I said that he couldn't come home,  the house was't habitable and wouldn't be ready for another 1 to 2 days.    Luckily, they had decided not to release him anyway, he needed one further procedure.

We were then against the clock, and the boys worked non stop to try and get it all done.

.........

When my Dad went into hospital, everything went on hold as I had to support my Dad with phone calls, and support my Mum.    It took up a susprising a mount of time.  I don't begrudge it at all,   it's just a fact.

My Dad, who was only meant to be in hospital for a couple of days, ended up in there for nearly 4 weeks.    At the beginning, before the problems became serious,  we had agreed that my parents would come and stay with my ER to support him (and so we could support them).     As time went on, and my Dad got worse, this looked like it was not going to be possible. 

Eventually, it became clear that  being in hospital was causing part of the problem, and we were desperately trying to get my Dad released.    The Bank Hiliday was looming asd we could see that the hospital were going to keep him in until afterwards, and we weren't sure he woudl cope. My Mum had to battle to get him released before the bank holiday.

He had a couple of days at home, and then  they decided that they would, after all, come and stay with ER.   It's partly because we haven't seen them for 16 months (they live in a different part of the UK), and they were getting concerened that  if we left it much longer, it would be too late.

There's a lot more to this story, but the end result is that they arrived and settled in to his house, just as the boys were finishing up.  ER was discharged the following night, and we collected him.

.........

They've formed a Bubble, so it's all within the Covid restrictions.    This means that they are near us now, so my brother(s) and I can keep a check on the 3 of them.

It's working really well, and we are trying to support my Mum so it doesn't all fall on her.  We've cooked for them,  my cousin's wife has cooked for them twice,  my sister in law has cooked for them,  I've done lots of shopping,  we've had covid--safe visits each day.

My ER certainly wouldn't have been OK on his own.

My Aunt (my cousin's Mum) died after having the same procedures,  it was the anniversary of her death the week ER was taken ill.   He's been out for a few days, and he's looking better each day.   Now, today, for the first time, I've been able to exhale.

Waffle waffle

Its funny how I like the same thing for breakfast every day. Egg on toast, with the eggs being poached for probably 13 days out of 14 and scrambled for the other 

This morning we had no bread.  We always make our own, we just didn't yesterday.  I thought we had "emergency crumpets" (not home made, Warburtons] in the freezer, but it turns out we didn't.

So I made up some savoury waffle batter and we had waffles.   Its been over a year since I last made them,  and I made the rookie error of putting too much batter in the iron. They  were lovely with eggs.

I made too much  batter, so I popped the extra in the fridge. Maybe to have later with some lemon curd.

For dinner, I fancied curry pie.  I had previously frozen some leftover  butter pork in portion sizes  with this in mind.

DH does the pies in our house.  He whips up a batch of shortcrust pastry, and uses a two pie piemaker.  Such a fab gadget! 

He suggested having waffles instead.  So we did!

I made a passable chickpea curry to accompany the butter pork curry [two pie filling sized portions isnt enough without pie] and we ended up cooking all the remaining batter.  We didn't need to, but it was rather delicious. 

We will definitely repeat this. 

Knickers again

I decided to make another pair of keks for DH, this time using the correct seam allowance on the fly pieces and not using swimwear.

As I was going to be binding them, all of them with the same black cotton lycra, and setting up the binder takes a few minutes,  I realised it would be a good idea to make several sets of flys (flies?) in one go.    It worked well, and the binding looked like a kite tail when it was done.  I had 8 pieces (for 4 sets) one after the other.

I made up a pair,  and then another pair.  overlocked some of the scraps togethr to make a waistband in matching fabric, as I don't think the plain cotton lycra has enough zing to do the job. 

I wanted DH to try them before I did anymore,  so I cleared up everything and put all the Knicker stuff in a "project bag" (a very strong bag,  made from recycled plastic, which I bought from Rex London.  I actually bought several (cough) of their bags in various designs and seizes, but that's another story) behind the sofa.  

DH very much approved, which surprised me a little.   He's going to make me an acrylic template for cutting the fly pieces.  I've been using a card template I made, but I have accidentally shaved it with the rotary cutter a few times. so it's less useful at the moment. 

I didn't take a picture of both pairs, but here's one  I used rainbow thread on the looper of the coverstitch, and you can just see a hint of it on the inside hemline.

I'm hoping he makes the template soon as I'd like to get a few more pairs made.

I might even try making some knickers for myself.  I've added it to my extremely long list of "to Make" items.

 

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Total crafty things this year: 36

Sewing based makes: 24;
Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
Dressing Gown;
Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
Cushion cover for living room;
Sleeveless tops (x4);
SBCC top
Overlocker chicken
Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)
Boxes for DH (3 pairs using black cotton lycra with patterned fly)

Learning activities: 10;
Scanning pattern pieces; Making movies; Babylock demo day; Gathering using my overlocker;    Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper) Gail Yellen's binder course; Inkscape 1; casting on;  purling; casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 2
Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

knickers

A loooong time ago, when I first thought about making knickers for DH I bought a couple of bags of offcuts of very expensive cotton lycia. I thought I'd use them to make the fly pieces.

DH seems to quite like the test pairs of boxers I made him,  so I thought I'd unearth the box of offcuts and try using  some with plain cotton lycra for the main body of the keks.

I had enough offcut to make a matching waistband 

I made a pair, and they look fab. 

Unfortunately, I used the wrong seam allowance on the fly pieces, so they are a little bit snug.

Plus I think this particular offcuts was more swimwear fabric than cotton lycra.

I'm going tohave another go.

But im pleased with the one I've done.

Flare up

I used the Apostrophe Patterns  pattern generator to generate a pattern for a pair of relaxed fit flared trousers.

My first attempt at cutting was a fail.  I didn't have quite enough fabric, and I didn't notice until I was trying to cut out the second set of pieces.  I'm sorry I wasted the fabric,  as it was really bright.

I chose some digitally printed scuba fabric with enormous roses on.   I skipped making pockets (coward that I am).

I did a relaxed fit leg (or "baggy", as DH called it).  I did a slightly narrower waistband.

I think I have reduced size slightly since the last pair (I do tend to fluctuate), as these feel like they could have been made a bit tighter round the waist.

Other than that, I really like them.  I'm surprised, as I thought I'd not be too keen on the large pattern.

I took a quick couple of photos, obviously they aren't really meant to be paired with  a sruffy jumper.

Yes, they do need shoes.

Yes, they are meant to be "baggy" above the flares .

I think I might try another pair of flares, but try a more fitted-leg version. I'll   I'll also measure myself again, just to see if I need to make some adjustments.  I might raise the waist a bit.Or lower it a lot. 

Hmm. So many options.

 

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Total crafty things this year: 33

Sewing based makes: 17;
Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
Dressing Gown;
Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
Cushion cover for living room;
Sleeveless tops (x4);
SBCC top
Overlocker chicken
Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
Apostrophe Patterns Joggers (jellyfiah and space)
Apostrophe Patterns Flared Joggers (black, with big red roses)

Learning activities: 10;
Scanning pattern pieces; Making movies; Babylock demo day; Gathering using my overlocker;    Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper) Gail Yellen's binder course; Inkscape 1; casting on;  purling; casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 2
Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

Frenemies

There is one good thing, I suppose, about the recent chickeny losses:  everyone seems to be getting on better.

It's probably really down to the good weather,  the lifting of Flockdown, and plenty of grass.  

It could be that 12 is just a better number.

I love seeing them pootling about together, and I love seeing them having their little afternoon gatherings in the shade.

Even the bitterest of enemies now seem happy to doze side by side.

The sun makes everything feel better.

 

Still raining

Elderly Relative (ER) is still in hospital.    

I ordered some track suit bottoms and tee shirts, as their own clothes were not really ideal for hospital wear.  ER has never worn trackies, so I bought one pair,  and a pair of pyjama bottoms that looked like trackies.    We took them up to the hospital the day they arrrived,  and ER was very pleased with them.

I've ordered some more which will be ready for collection tomorrow, and i'll take them up to the hospital tomorrow night.

The news about ER continues to be reasonable, and they have now been ut on the operating list for tomorrow.

My Dad. meanwhile, is also still in hospital.   It has been.... well,  it has been exceptionally tough.    They were able to do the procedure on Monday,  but he has been unwell and still can't come home.   Today he sounds better, so maybe tomorrow.

Jog On

The Dad news continues to be stressful.    I might write it down when it's all over.

Today, DH went out for the day, and I decided to try and make something new.  

I'd already had a play with a wrap top pattern, (Willow Wrap Dress, peplum top version from Love Notions) which had a "full bust" piece.  Unfortunately, the "full bust" piece wasn't full enough.  I finished it, but won't be wearing it.   It's not a disaster,  but it just isn't right for my boobs.

So today, to distract myself,  I decided to try the Apostrophe Patterns Joggers.      Apostrophe is interesting.  You buy access to their pattern generator for a specific pattern.  Once you've bought it, you can generate as many versions of the pattern as you wish.

Each time, you provide very very detailed measurements.  The measurement video was superb, the best I've seen.   Then you put the measurements into the calculator, along with the stretch (if any) of your fabri.  You choose your options (tapered leg, regular, flare,  type of pocket, type of waistband, sheight of waistband), and any adjustments (bowl legs, knock knees( and it generates a pattern for you.

I opted for the projector version, with full pieces (rather than on fold, or "cut two mirror").  The projector file was great.  All my measurements were on one of the pattern pieces for reference. 

I had some lovely fabric. Inexpensive, but I liked it.  Normally I'd start with some fabric I was less attached to,and do a muslin,  but I decided to just get on with it.  I've made trousers for myself before, and the pieces looked reasonable.

I fluffed up stitching one leg,  so I wasn't holding out much hope for it working.

However, the finished result is not at all bad!   Even with the faults (which are mine, not the generators) it's better than most ready to wear trousers I've ever had.

I think I should have gone for a alightly shallower waistband (this is 7.5 inches folded in half, less seam allowance, so about 3.25 inches or so high).The inseams are great, the side seasms are great, the length is fine (I'm barefoot in the pics).

I had all the benefits of my beloved Sure Fit system, but without having to draw off the pattern myself.

I'll definitely make more of these,  I've got a few pieces of fabtic I'd bought with the intention of making statement trousers. 

I might try a flare next. And pockets.

I'd actually be happy to try making joggers for someone else with the same pattern.

I'd also be happy to buy other patterns in their range now.

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Total crafty things this year: 32

Sewing based makes: 17;
Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
Dressing Gown;
Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
Cushion cover for living room;
Sleeveless tops (x4);
SBCC top
Overlocker chicken
Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)
Abandoned muslin for LoveNotions Willow Wrap Dress (not counted in total makes)
Apostrophe Patterns Joggers

Learning activities: 10;
Scanning pattern pieces; Making movies; Babylock demo day; Gathering using my overlocker;    Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper) Gail Yellen's binder course; Inkscape 1; casting on;  purling; casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 2
Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
Knitted Infinity scarf, first attempt (pinks)

Not raining, it's pouring

I have one elderly relative (ER) in hospital, who was in a serious enough condition for me to have several nights running of middle of the "I'm sorry to say....very poorly" calls. These are the calls you get to prepare you for the "I'm sorry to tell you that......"  bad news call.

ER was transferred to another hospital, one which was better equipped to manage all the complications.  ER has been there for a while now.   Happily, said relative gradually turned a corner from all the competing complications, and is now at the "seriously ill" stage (rather than the more serious "very poorly" stage), waiting for a major operation.

This hospital is far from local.  It's about a 3 hour round trip. No visiting allowed. At all.

There have been a few things to organise.  I went to the hospital with DB2 at the weekend, to drop off some stuff to try and help my elderly relative pass the time and keep track of things.  No clothes were needed, I did ask.

We have a chain of communication to the wider family members (and elderly, not internet connected, friends).   

Things were settling down into a routine.  Time consuming, but OK. 

And then my Dad was taken in to hospital, about 25 miles from his home.  He is also quite poorly (he was "very poorly" at one point),.  We could talk to him on his phone, and he was OK.   But then yesterday, something happened which caused him to start suffering from some delusions, which has been very challenging.   

The hospital will not allow visitors, and it's feeding his delirium.   All last night, and all day today, and it's still going on.   I can't really write the details now,  but it's all very real to him. It's heartbreaking.  My poor mum.

I had to warn ER that my Dad was having some trouble, in case Dad phoend ER for help.  

Shortly afterwards, ER called to ask me to bring clothes.  They are at a point where they have to exercise to get well enough for the op, and they need clothes.    So, I collected the requested clothes etc today,  and DH will drive me up there this evening.  I've got appointments tomorrow I can't break, and I want to get this done and out of the way.  

"What larks!".

 

 

Out of Order

It's been a challenging 10 days.  

And on top of all that,  I now have sciatica ad cannot sit down, or stad in one place for long.

I have to do something, so I may attempt somthing sewing related later, although I'm not in the right frame of mind really.

Luckily my lovely chiro, Tania, came in an hour early to fit me in as an emergency today, and that has helped.

Boxering Success

I've managed to complete the 2 pairs of boxers made from my cardboard template.    The sewing is a bit rough, but they are wearable!

I used the smallest double fold binder to do the fly binding.  That worked like a dream.

I used the downturn feller to hem the legs.   The first pair was already sewn up, so I hemmed in the round.  The second pair, I decided to try hemming first then sewing.  Both methods have their merits,  I'll have to see whether they construction choice affects how they feel in wear.

Unusually, I had a bit of a problem with the hem on the first pair.  I had to unpick and re-sew, and I sewed by eye so they are a bit rubbish.

 On both pairs, I coverstitched around the waistband so that the join looked a little more "finished" on the inside.   I need to improve my positioningfor that. I also need to see if DH prefers the feel of the finished to the unfinished ones I made the other day.

This second pic is of my glorious fly binding, The pic is sideways, sorry - the dinosaurs should be the correct way up.

I hope that DH finds these comfortable. I particularly hope he likes the waistband  as I'm using the same fabric to make the waistband rather than using elastic.   I could switch to using elastic, but it's easier (and cheaper) to use the fabric I am working with anyway.

When he's had a chance to wear them, and has given me feedback on improvements, I'll make him some more (assuming he wants me to) .  I've got a very small amount of fabric left, and I might make some flypieces to use in a pair of otherwise plain boxers.  

I've also got a small stash of fabric set aside for knickers for him.

 

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Total crafty things this year: 31

Sewing based makes: 16;
Inner pad for foot muff; make cover for foot muff;  trim down Superking Duvet to KS and recover edges;
Cushion cover for Miss T; Gift bags for Miss T and GDK;
Dressing Gown;
Cat Duvet, Duvet Cover and Pillowcase;
Cushion cover for living room;
Sleeveless tops (x4);
SBCC top
Overlocker chicken
Curtains for nest boxes (4, but counted as 1 make)~
Boxers for DH (test pairs for sizing - counted as 1,  and then 2 pairs)

Learning activities: 10;
Scanning pattern pieces; Making movies; Babylock demo day; Gathering using my overlocker;    Euphy training (circles,using elastic in looper) Gail Yellen's binder course; Inkscape 1; casting on;  purling; casting off

Non sewing based craft makes: 2
Painted bisque butter dish and had it fired
Knitted Infinity scarf

 

Best Laid Plans

I made a passable pair of boxers for DH, he's like the leg slightly longer.  Everything else he was happy with.

So, I used my projector, and I made a cardboard template for the body of the boxers,  for the fly pieces, and for the waistband.  Then I decided to make him a pair from some more of the cotton lycra from Textile9 Fabrics.  In fact, I decided to cut two pairs while I was at it.  After all, while I had the machines loaded with navy thread, and while I had the binder set up with this fabric, I might as well do two pairs.  This  which would use up more or less all of this particular piece of fabric.

 It went reasonably well.  I had a bit of a fluff hemming one pair, so I needed to unpick it.  It was getting late on Monday,  so I decided to leave it until I was fresh the next day.

The next day I had a phone call to say that my Uncle had had a heart attack while out on his bike, and they were abot to carry out an emwergency proceudre to try and save his life.   

Of course I went straight to the hospital.

All my time since then has been involved in supporting him (and keeping the relatives and friends updated)..  It's his story, not mine, so it's not appropriate for me to put any information on here.

The knickers are still waiting to be finished.

0 sleeps

Flockdown ended just before midnight last night.  During the day DH set up netting and mowed the grass,  ready for this morning.

We let the Girls out.  They streamed out in a long line, and ran for the grass.  Even the aged and stiff legged Norah and Gloria walked down the garden to get to the lush grass. 

It was lovely.

Before long, Poppy had got under the fence and into the kitchen.  And Fay kept flying over the netting to the bare area.  She just can't help herself. Stupid hen!