Sergers and media survey

Jeff and I decided to pick up my serger last night after dinner at Cafe Pleiade. Cafe Pleiade has become one of our favourite restaurants in the city. The food is always excellent in this small restaurant and this time we chatted a bit with our server (the chef's wife, I believe) about the art hanging on the walls.

I ordered my favourite: Pear & Brie salad along with the pork roast dinner. Heavenly. Jeff's favourite is the Chicken Supreme with apricots.



After dinner, we went out to the Fabricland at Eglinton and Victoria Park. I told them I was there to pick up my serger, and one of the women went into the back to look for it. As I signed the paperwork, they congratulated me and asked me if I was a sewer.

When I told them I'd been sewing for just over a week, they started laughing. I choose to interpret this laugh as a "How ironic but wonderful" laugh and not a "This serger's going to cut you into little pieces, you poor thing" laugh. :-) Anyway, I should have pointed out that I've had my sewing machine a whole MONTH even though I only actually started my first sewing project last week.



Wow...the instruction book is definitely bigger and more complicated than the booklet for my new sewing machine. There are TEN PAGES, for example, just for the explanation of the THREADING PROCESS! Yikes. I haven't tried it yet; with all the warnings about the knives and needles, I figure I should probably familiarize myself with the whole manual before plunging in.

An instructional video came with the machine, but it's in VHS format and we don't own a VCR anymore. However, I did find a bunch of YouTube videos about how to use a serger, plus I think I might also sign up for a one-day course. Fabricland doesn't offer any, but I've found others.

I was relieved that the serger wasn't as big as I feared. Look, it actually does fit in my craft corner, right beside my sewing machine:



I'm going to sew a cover for it since it didn't come with one.

Finished another top yesterday: a black tank top this time. I solved the bunching hem problem by doing a baste stitch around the lower edge then "easing" the fabric a bit before folding the hem up. Plus it helped to be more diligent about pressing EVERYTHING throughout.

I feel confident enough with the tank tops that I decided to get some new patterns:



Upcoming projects include a more casual skirt (with an elastic waist instead of a zipper), a couple of dresses, a t-shirt (with SLEEVES!!!), casual pants (elastic waist, to wear at home while I'm working) and some bags. I love the idea of making some bags but adding some wonkiness to them somehow, maybe with fabric paint or some of my nightmare creatures, for instance. Plus Jeff's asked if I'd make him a messenger bag.



Plus I couldn't resist picking up some fabric from the remnant bin. I've found this a GREAT place to get fabric to practice on.

Thanks for the heads-up re: Dr. Who. It looks as if I skipped more than an entire season when we watched "Blink"! Several of you suggested I watch Torchwood. I actually did watch the first season of Torchwood and quite enjoyed it; I haven't had a chance to watch anymore.

Not having cable tv, Jeff and I only watch shows we're able to buy or borrow. Babylon Five has taken up most of our media-watching time lately; one of the reasons we gave up cable tv is to limit our couch potato time, so we're trying to be careful not to slip into our old habits -- what would be the point of giving up cable tv if we spend just as much time sitting in front of a tv screen, after all? :-)

It's been especially hard to resist the ongoing lure of Babylon Five, which just seems to be getting better and better!

Anyway, we have quite a queue of shows to watch, it seems: Babylon Five (of course), Dr. Who (I'm more interested than Jeff), Battlestar Galactica, Lost, Blood Ties, and more...if the frequency of my B5 reports slows down, that's why. These days we tend to watch 4-5 hours of entertainment media a week on average (including the occasional movie) - sometimes less, sometimes more. What about the rest of you? I'm curious.




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Hey, I Won A Serger! (what's a serger?)

So during my first visit to Fabricland (fabric outlet with stores across Canada) to buy supplies for my first sewing project, I noticed a box and ballot forms on the front counter. I didn't pay much attention to what the prize was but I figured it had to be good, so I filled one out while the clerk was ringing through my purchase.

Anyway, Fabricland called yesterday. I won a Janome Model 9102D Serger! WOOHOO!!! I was so excited, and told the woman that I never win anything! What I was tempted to ask but didn't: "What's a serger?"



Here's a Googled description I found from a store that sold the same model: "The 9102D is our most advanced MyLock serger, with speeds up to 1300 stitches per minute. The 9102D has 2 needles and 3 or 4 thread stitching capabilities. Equipped with differential feed, which is adjustable from .05 to 2.25 mm, the 9102D provides increased control for handling all types of fabrics and is essential for creative serger techniques. Features include adjustable cutting knife up to 7.3 mm, upper knife release and electronic foot control for precise speed control, also included is an instructional video that will help you get started quickly and get professional results in no time."

Whoa. And I thought computer techspeak was unintelligible.

I called Ginny and Luisa immediately (I've been talking to both about sewing), to proudly announce that I had won a serger and to ask what it was. They were both highly amused that I was going to be a serger owner after having sewn for just over a week. :-)



Thanks also to those who responded to my question on Livejournal. Apparently a serger finishes off edges with an overlocking stitch (no, I don't know what this is, either :-) to keep them from fraying, and is apparently mandatory for professional production-work sewing. It can also do decorative seaming and some other interesting stuff.

Here's the Wikipedia entry on the Overlock/Serger (apparently another word for serger is "overlock"), along with images of sample overlock stitches.

Anyway, Jeff and I are picking up my new serger tomorrow! I realize that it may be a little while before I'm using it; I should probably become better acquainted with my sewing machine first. But I've already found a one day serger workshop in Toronto, so I may sign up for that.

Serging ahead...

On Dr. Who

Jeff and I saw the "Blink" episode and LOVED it. However, it became clear to me partway through the episode that I've missed a bunch of episodes somehow ("Where's Rose?!?"). The last episode I saw was "Age Of Steel" in the second season.

On aging

I enjoyed reading your comments in response to my last post. A few excerpts...

From scs-11:

"Every time I think I'm getting used to the changes since I turned 50, something else comes along and slaps me upside the head. The most recent was seeing a photo of a friend and thinking "who's the greybeard with Giza?" Damn, it was me! It doesn't help working in an office where I'm the oldest by about 20 years. Don't get me wrong, the office folks are great - and I'd much rather be around them than a bunch of old guys. :-) But a few months back I was at a co-workers party and someone asked if I was his father. Harrumph! Get offa my lawn, ya damned hippie punk.

On the other hand, I did get invited to drive down to Louisville to party in someone's dorm and had to inform her I was babysitting my granddaughter that day. She was reportedly redder than I am gray."

From mdlbear:

"Not too happy about getting old, either, but it beats the alternative."



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Illustration Friday: Wrinkles

I created the illustration above for Illustration Friday. This week's topic: "Wrinkles." I was inspired by the Stan Rogers song, Lies. What an incredibly talented songwriter, and what a shame he is no longer with us. I remembering crying when I first heard this song, and this was years ago.

Sometime in my thirties, I remember looking in the mirror and finding my first wrinkle. I tried not to care, but I was horrified. I was getting OLD! I couldn't believe it; I knew the aging process was inevitable, but the person in the mirror didn't look at all like the person I felt inside me.

I still feel a little like that when I look at myself in the mirror and see those tiny wrinkles (which will inevitably grow into bigger wrinkles over time, I know). I can't say I love them, but I've gotten used to them, like unwelcome house guests whom I know will never leave. We've made peace with each other, and they've even brought me a certain sense of freedom.

Discovering Dr. Who

Many thanks to Reid, who is lending us Dr. Who episodes. I never watched the old Dr. Who, but got interested in the new Dr. Who series because Allison and Jodi have been enjoying it. Plus I like Christopher Eccleston. A shame he was only in the first season.

However, I have to say I'm really impressed by the second season so far. Almost makes me want to go back and watch some of the classic Dr. Who series. Anyway, I'm going to be watching the "Blink" episode next, which Jeff wants to watch with me because he's heard it's supposed to be pretty scary. *gulp*





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Zipper feet, sewing and B5

Feeling much better today, probably because I slept most of yesterday.

Since Ginny gave me my first sewing lesson last weekend, I've been spending most evenings sewing. Obsessed? Not me. Last night I dreamed about interfacing.

As I mentioned before, one of the ways I've been learning sewing is to pick a simple pattern (summer tank top) and sewing it over and over, with different fabrics. Fabricland had a mega-sale recently, so I picked up a bunch of material to experiment with. I'm glad I'm working with inexpensive fabric right now; I made so many mistakes with my first top that I ended up scrapping it.

Attempt #2 is the orange one at the right in the photo above. It doesn't fit all that well, mainly because of the darts. I'll wear this one out in the garden or while painting, I think.

Attempt #3 is the red one on the left. It fits perfectly, but I cut the fabric out upside down (note the upside-down skulls). The skulls are subtle enough that I'll still wear this top in public. Maybe people will think I'm making a statement of some kind. :-) And as Allison's husband pointed out, the skulls look right to ME, at least, when I'm wearing the top.

Attempt #4 is the blue floral one in the middle. The fabric is my favourite, but the fit is too small. :-( I'm giving it to my sister in hopes that it fits her.

I'm currently working on Tank Top Attempts #5 and #6; they're finished except for the bottom hem, and fit well. The hem is a challenge, though, because the material I chose is so thin that the hem keeps bunching up whenever I try sewing it, argh.



In the process of making all those tops this past week, however, I've been learning a lot, plus finetuning the pattern. I've nixed the darts and found I prefer the neckline on the back piece to that of the front piece -- so I've made a new pattern based on the back piece, and use that for the front AND the back. No darts, plus I've modified the shape. It's a much simpler pattern than the original, and fits me way better.



Also made my first skirt! The pattern (Butterick B4136) has a deceptive "Fast and Easy" description, but I discovered (after I bought it) that the skirt needed a zipper. Augh, zippers! I briefly considered leaving it until sometime in the future but then thought hey, why not give it a shot.

After I cut out the pieces, I used some of the leftover material to practice making zippers. The skirt required a hidden zipper, the kind where one flap of material covers the zipper itself.

I also had to teach myself how to change the regular sewing foot on my machine to a zipper foot, as well as figure out what a zipper foot was, and how to use it. The machine instruction booklet came in very handy, and everything worked out okay. I'm growing more and more comfortable with my new sewing machine. I'm even able to take apart some of the metals bits down in the gear-thingy section (my terminology sucks, I know) when thread gets tangled in there, AND put it all back together again.

Go, me! :-)



Anyway, I actually did manage to install the zipper okay, though I ended up improvising the finishing part (how it looks from the outside) since that bit wasn't in the pattern directions -- I guess it's assumed that the person making the skirt would already know how to properly finish putting in a zipper. I didn't, so my zipper section's pretty nasty-looking; I'll work on improving that in future skirts.

But hey, the skirt fits! Well enough that I'd wear this in public, even; unless someone bends over to inspect my butt, chances are low that the nasty zipper will be noticed much. Meanwhile, I'm going to find more fabric and keep practising this pattern; hopefully in the process, I'll get better with zippers and whatnot. I'm finding that actual act of sewing is relatively easy compared to the whatnot. :-)

Babylon Five Virgin Update:

SPOILER WARNING: The blog posts below focuses on my reports while watching Babylon Five for the first time. An LJ feed is also available. If you haven't seen B5 yet and don't want spoilers, please DO NOT click the links below.

Season 3, Episode 49: Voices of Authority
Season 3, Episode 50: Dust to Dust
Season 3, Episode 51: Exogenesis



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Davevisit

Ugh, I seem to have caught some bug. Crashed for most of the day, have regained consciousness enough to post a Blather.

I've sold out of my Letterpress cat cards in my Etsy shop, so have ordered more from Wales. I'm in the midst of working on some more designs for Blush Publishing, and am having fun with them.

For those who didn't have a chance to buy a copy at FilKONtario, Vixy's and Tony's CD, Thirteen, is now available on CDBaby! You can hear samples from all the tracks.



Today's Blatherpics are from Dave Clement's visit after FKO. It's always so wonderful to get time with Dave; we spent most of his visit hanging out, just the two of us, catching up on each other's lives. I'm so rarely able to spend one-on-one time with my out-of-town friends because of geography and everyone's schedules so every moment like this, especially with a friend like Dave, is so precious to me.

In case you missed it, here are 20 Things I Love About Dave Clement. There are so many more, of course, and the list just keeps getting longer over time.



Photo by Korak

During his visit, Dave showed Jeff and me his new PDA, and I found it highly enlightening to see how Dave reads Web pages. I'm going to be a lot more careful about always including ALT tags in my Blather posts from now on, for instance. Jeff helped Dave with some of the e-mail set-up.

I recently investigated the possibility of volunteering to do Braille music transcription for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Unfortunately the computerized training courses are only available for PC, not Mac. Also, taking the courses (which would be free) means a volunteer has to commit to 15 hours a week for at least 5 years -- that's more of a time commitment than I can make right now.

The CNIB is actively looking for music braille transcribers, however, so if you live in Toronto and are qualified (must have the ability to play the piano at the Grade VIII level (Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto) and have a knowledge of music theory at the Grade II level) and can make the commmitment, I urge you to find out more information.



On his last night here, Dave cooked a big pot o' his famous chili for Sue, Tom, Allison, Jodi, Marilisa, David, Jeff and me. His chili is the BEST. Walter dropped by after dinner, and we did some music later in the evening. 'Twas fun to see Allison and Marilisa do more loom bonding. :-)

And look, I even helped Marilisa with her loom knitted sweater:



Photo by Korak

It was Tom's and Sue's first dinner at someone else's house as a married couple!



Feeling a bit worse, so am going back to bed. Wish I had some of Dave's chili right now.



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