I can't believe it's been so long since I posted. Altough to be fair, at this age, I have quite a few issues that prevent me sewing much.
I've lost a few pounds and am needing to get moving forward with some additional projects. To that end, and also to meet some local garment sewers, I took a class at a local quilt shop in sewing a shirt. Basic class. Unfortunately, the pattern used was New Look 6197. I had requested a copy of the pattern pre class to alter the size a bit, for my various physical changes, but my request was either forgotten, or they didn't receive the pattern in time. As a result I was in class trying to grade up an unfamiliar to me brand of pattern without sufficient data or the appropriate tools.
I got the pattern to the wearable stage, but am unhappy with the fit, and the look on my body. It's so strange to have something that "looks fine" but feels ungainly and ill fitting after working so long on things. Thankfully, I used an old stash fabric that I'm okay with as a give away. It's an aqua plaid seersucker, and for whatever reasons I bought more than 5 yards. Probably an end cut with that being a sale piece.
I will use this fabric again for a shirt as I really like the fabric and it's perfect for Las Cruces summer wear.
We've finally got a good year for monsoons, and we've had a good bit of rain here. Thankfully in our neighborhood not much flooding. We do have some "ponds" in the lower lying parts of our yard, but they have been soaking into the drought parched ground usually fairly quickly. And several towns nearby including Ruidoso, Vado, and near NMSU in southern Las Cruces all had flooding.
This is only the second year since I moved here in 2017 that we have had the "normal monsoon season." The national weather service notes the official monsoon season runs June 15 to September 30. When Dale got here, he was told they generally start on the 4th of July ruining barbecue party plans and running through the summer. Since 2000, Las Cruces has experienced significant drought conditions. It's nice that the atmosphere is feeding our soil again this year.
I am working through Alexandra Morgan's Basic Bodice class. I purchased it in 2021, and never got around to working through it. With the changes of a 78 1/2 year old body, it's time to get it set so I can actually make garments that fit again. Due to medications and age, I am having some bone loss and now have the beginnings of a dowagers hump in addition to the narrow, forward, sloping shoulders and large arms. In addition, I'm SLOWLY losing weight so I want to get closer to a good fit and know what I need to do for my personal fitting. The front looks close, but the back measurements were not accurate, so I have remeasured and am in the process of muslin #2 with hopefully more accurate measurements. We'll see today how that goes.
The intention for today is to get the muslin pressed, with pictures taken and have a good look at fit. I do think there are still some issues with the back, but that's going to have to be a point by point alteration. We'll see.
Hope your sewing is satisfying! More later.
