Adventures in Domesticity

[jpegghost]

Ever since going deep into the USDA's "Homemaker's Chat" from the 40s, I've fallen into the need to become domestic. I've looked at everything, from "Canning Chicken" to "Drying Corn" to "Waste Fats For Explosives". Somewhere between the pages of baking corn kernels and glycerin warfare did I fall into the need to sew.

Really, really badly.

I was going to sew tablecloths! Towels! Half-curtains! Dog bandannas! My house was going to be a wasteland of fabrics and I would triumphantly produce decent things to make my house with Alex above the rest. Look out Williams and Sonoma, I'm making DECORATIVE TABLE RUNNERS.

At least, that's what I have told myself so far. I don't know how to sew. Both my mom and grandpa know how to sew (he even reupholsters furniture when he's bored), so I'm hoping that some sort of genetic ability to work a heavy pointy machine will come into play and I will be able to work a machine without maiming myself. I bought a cheap towel and some fabric to start with, but as for a sewing machine? ... They were out of stock. In fact, Texas is now taking this whole 'Covid-19' thing so severely, every store I've been to is out of stock of machines because everyone is making masks. I can't even find these machines online.

So for now my dreams of sewing like a madman are quelled. Here's the fabric I picked up; The towel is my victim, the grey autumn print will be the fabric put on it horizontally. The cat, pumpkin, and owl print was an impulse purchase I'll shove on some different project.



I also made basil salt! It's gourmet, in theory! I gave some to Alex's mom since she is in constant need of my aggressively-growing basil plant and I have more than I know what to do with. Behold, Nickelodeon-green salt (that becomes mint green after the drying process).

 

Comments

In my own opinion!

[8hyenas]

Okay, I have sewing machine opinions. The ones at the store are all crap. We have a load of them in the library for our (tears) make-it room. I am fixing them CONSTANTLY. They're midrange brandnames so... I shouldn't be.

The ones I NEVER have to fix? The all metal Singers from like 1920. GET YOU A VINTAGE MACHINE.
(I'm yelling a lot, but this is important!)
Old singers in even poor condition can still be repaired (easily! by you! or cheaply by someone else!), parts are still being made, manuals are uploaded online.

A Singer 15-91 is the best. Yes, it's the one I have that I bonded with. Cost $30 and a bit of a drive.

Recommend facebook yardsales, craigslist, and ebay (shipping tho!? whoa.)

Re: In my own opinion!

[8hyenas]

I also have opinions on sewing curtains.

Re: In my own opinion!

[jpegghost]

OKAY SO.

I ordered a new Singer off Joanns. Bad. I saw some more affordable options on Ebay and am gonna go with, maybe, a Singer 401a? Unfortunately the only repair shop around here is closed so I'm praying that ... it works at a basic level. The closed repair shop and lack of Craigslist ads had deterred me.

Joann's is exceedingly hard to cancel orders from. I genuinely do not understand their cancellation system. But I'm sending the new one back.

All the ones on craigslist are shitty new ones. Sighhhh. I'm stressed unnecessarily about this, but I'll keep poking around ...

Tell me your curtain opinions please.

Re: In my own opinion!

[8hyenas]

do not fret! also you are smart, you can work that sewing machine even if it is broken. they are very simple to understand, you can take them slowly apart and then put them back together. and usually 95% of the time the problem is going to be that you put the bobbin in wrong. just be very careful threading it according to the instructions, i bet it will work perfectly immediately. those machines are some lugs.

curtains. use upholstery fabric. i don't know your style, or how fancy you get. but i like just hemming it then making a pocket at the top.* OR. what i have in my bed room, which is cheap amazon blackout curtains but with an inner curtain hanging on a pressure rod and they are thin cotton turquoise birds fairy talesque.

price wise i am blessed by a fabric shop that sales upholstery fabric for $3 a yard.


*have seen curtains that have a double pocket sewn on top to make a kind of ruffle along the top hem. also like adding the grommets (simple! you can!) then spacing painted 1" cardboard rolls along the back of the rod in each fold to make fancy.
note: none of mine are like this because i lack finish detail patience

Re: In my own opinion!

[jpegghost]

I woke up at 6 30 AM here and have done some HEAVY RESEARCHING. There's quite a few Singer 66s I like but they lack their wooden base and are quite wobbly :(

I'm lookin at a Kenmore 158 that seems awful nice. My mom uses Kenmores and Singers and she loves both equally, her go to is her old Kenmore.

I'm pretty ... Whatever about curtains. I wanted curtain fabric for the holidays, like Halloween half-curtains (but not those monstrosity cafe curtains that hang in the middle -- I like little half-shades that hang from the top and go halfway down). I don't know any fancy terms since I'm very, very sleepy but its my day off so I'll spend it thinking on curtains. I like them to be slightly ruffly but not insanely so.

Re: In my own opinion!

[jpegghost]

Update: Bought a tested and working 401a after seeing many resources. It'll be here early August, probably the 4th. Am very excited. Found the manual online, it's power cord looks safe and non-frayed, I think we are good to go. However I still am looking into curtains.

Re: In my own opinion!

[8hyenas]

I didn't get the update! That's exciting! We have a 401a at the library and it's one that I adjusted then have never touched since. Perfect sewer.

this is also a response to another comment of yours re plant cutting. YES. Some are actually that expensive. But it's mainly a thing with really rare plants. If you want a variegated monstera you will be paying for it. And then there's all these philodendrons. I am not much one for caring about the rarity of plants. Although I am on the list for this guy...
https://stevesleaves.com/product/begonia-melanobullata/

In my case I just like to trade for the cost of postage. I really enjoy rooting the plant and growing it from just a leaf. I also like thinking of all my plants little babies living it up in Hawaii etc.

If you are into growing from little plants into big ones I will send you cuttings of what I have. I'd like to wait until it's cooler though, and maybe you want your house first?

Re: In my own opinion!

[jpegghost]

OOOOH what a nice plant. It has lil chocolate chip spikes on it's leaves! And that's so sweet -- Me and Alex are really seriously looking at houses right now so hopefully soon. Maybe I'll propagate some of Lurch's leaves as gratitude to some of your plants, or ... Idk ... No one else has really interesting leaves...