Adventures in Domesticity
Jul. 21st, 2020 04:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jpegghostEver 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).
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).
no subject
Date: 2020-07-22 01:59 am (UTC)That said, I think the hardest parts of sewing are threading the machine and sewing a straight line.
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Date: 2020-07-22 02:05 am (UTC)I can't imagine. I'd be traumatized and never touch a machine again.
There is nothing straight about me so I believe I will be in for quite a ride.
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Date: 2020-07-22 03:04 am (UTC)I recommend a rectangular template of some sort, a rotary cutter, and the self-healing green board that goes with the rotary cutter.
You might also be interested in a fun kind of applique that Mama got into: fabrics with fun pattern, put some iron-on adhesive on it, cut it out, iron it to another fabric that needs decorating, stitch it in place and/or use puffy paint to cover the cut edge.
In my own opinion!
Date: 2020-07-22 10:47 am (UTC)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!
Date: 2020-07-22 10:48 am (UTC)Re: In my own opinion!
Date: 2020-07-22 12:01 pm (UTC)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!
Date: 2020-07-22 12:43 pm (UTC)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
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Date: 2020-07-22 01:25 pm (UTC)I'm also impressed by the basil salt. Very cool way to use up more of your basil.
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Date: 2020-07-22 02:00 pm (UTC)I have a strong desire to embroider all the things, but over the last couple of years have only done just enough it for it not to be entirely just a theory. A sampler here, a half-abandoned project there, a counted cross-stitch that I got many 5% into after countless hours and weeks and finally gave up on....
Mostly, I blame #toddlerlife since doing precise things with a pointy needle seems like a bad idea around him... but he’ll get older, and my desire to Embroider All the Things hasn’t diminished....
And I can still knit, sometimes.
I don’t much like sewing from nothing, but I do like radically altering charity shop finds and such into other things.
Re: In my own opinion!
Date: 2020-07-22 03:18 pm (UTC)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.
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Date: 2020-07-22 05:44 pm (UTC)I imagine with a toddler, pointy things are not quite a good idea, especially when they're young and like to run around at full speed. When I cared for twins who were 2 years old, they were hellbent on hurting themselves in any way possible.
I mostly want to do stuff from scratch but I am aware I am a supreme newbie and will make a lot... of ... mistakes... T_T
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Date: 2020-07-22 05:45 pm (UTC)Thanks! It's very aromatic, very much a finishing salt. I think if it was just thrown in willy nilly it would lose all it's flavor and scents.
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Date: 2020-07-22 06:21 pm (UTC)I will say that autumn print looks pretty and I really like the Halloween print. You have good taste. I hope you're able to sew soon.
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Date: 2020-07-22 06:24 pm (UTC)I ordered an old machine that should get here around early August. I'm very excited! I hope I don't maim myself!
Re: In my own opinion!
Date: 2020-07-22 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-07-22 06:56 pm (UTC)The July icon is a favorite of mine, it's so pretty and purple. LOL. It's by magic_art. I always loved their icons, I'm sad they don't make them anymore.
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Date: 2020-07-22 06:56 pm (UTC)I used to nanny 2 year old twins, too! They seemed like less trouble than having one full time has been, though! XD He loves to cuddle-jump me, which is great except when I have something sharp in my hand O_O
I think it’s very wise to understand that learning a new skill will involve lots of mistakes.
Re: In my own opinion!
Date: 2020-07-23 06:15 pm (UTC)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!
Date: 2020-07-24 07:36 pm (UTC)