I'm back to work, and tax season has hit with a vengeance this year. I'm not sure whether Turbo Tax has a great ad campaign, or people are anticipating huge refunds due to the hype, but from the starting gate, this year has been fast and furious.
I'm only working 20 hours a week, but at my age, when it's so busy, that is more than enough. At the end of a 5 hour shift, I'm exhausted. Luckily, with remote work and telecommuting, I only have to look good on the parts of me that show on the monitor. That means nice tops, and sweats on the bottom. Even though we're not where people are getting snow counted in feet, it has been unusually cold. So sweats are my best bet for sitting all day.
Since I've lost enough weight since last year, AND my sweats are getting worn out, I've redrafted my Don McCunn pants pattern and am in the process of replacing worn out pants. First pair was a burgundy pair with fabric bought from Pico Textiles February 6, 2023. It's only taken 3 years to use it! LOL
Then my Great Granddaughter's birthday is coming up, and because she's all about leggings, which IMO are quick and easy if you have appropriate measurements, I got her Dad to take some measurements for me, and I have a trial pair made from the free Sweet Red Poppy Leggings pattern, and a remnant of cotton knit purchased from Black Bird Fabrics in July of 23. Like most of us, she's multiple sizes, so bespoke garments are the best choice.
And finally since I had leftovers from the remnant, and she's really into Barbies, I thought it would be fun to make a matching pair of leggings for Barbie. I got an "I love you so very much darling" text when she found out that was happening! Made my day for sure. This not quite 5 year old texts much better than I do!
So without further ado, three pair of pants...
Just want to add that the tiny pair for Barbie took the longest to make and was the most frustrating! I do have arthritis in my hands as well as some nerve damage, and today I realized that I have some impaired hand mobility that really affects the use of the fine muscles used for sewing tiny items. I'm hoping that as I do more of this, along with knitting and making a quilt for an upcoming Great Granddaughter, I'll be able to recover some function.
We'll see. I did turn 79 a few weeks ago, and I'm noticing more things than I have in previous years. Luckily, all the things I'm doing is keeping my cognitive functioning in pretty good shape, but physical deterioration is apparent. I did sign up for an online Pilates class with My Pilates Time out of New Zealand, and when I do the classes, I do notice better balance and strength. Just need to do more physical activities every day!
I finally found a textile guru and sewing teacher locally to help me fit a torso sloper, and it's been very enlightening. My body right now is almost like God found two people that looked kinda like me, cut them in half and stuck the two different sides together. From this point on in my evolution, I'll be making separate right and left bodice pieces so that they fit me correctly.
Next on my agenda is a couple more pair of sweat pants, a couple pair of flannel pajama pants, and then on to blouses. Keeping my fingers crossed everything goes well from now on!
More soon I hope!
