random thoughts – Day 2,224 (Sunday) – sweatshop day shift

The gray, drizzly day turned out to be perfect for a quiet day at home sewing in the makeshift sweatshop. The 25-yard skirt is coming together and the machine (and my back) are getting a semi-abusive workout. Sitting on the floor to deal with miles of fabric because the table isn’t large enough (even when empty), is tough on the lower back. I always seem to forgot this detail.

Sewing the strips to make the tiers.

This skirt is a textile engineering marvel with each tier double the size of the one above it. In today’s progress, the first tier, which measures 3.1 yards of fabric, was joined with the second tier, which measures 6.25 yards. The larger tier is tucked and gathered to fit the smaller. The smaller top tier will be gathered into the waistband and the bottom of the second tier will have the 12.50-yard third tier gathered into it. Then the 25-yard final tier will be gathered into the bottom of the third tier. And just like that, it will be done.

It was around 11:45 when things got started today, fortified by a late breakfast of leftover risotto, scalloped potatoes, and fried salami. The breakfast powered me through sewing the strips together to make the tiers and verifying the length of the tiers, and suddenly it was 2:00.

Gathering, clipping, and hand-basting.

Mom stopped over at some point in the afternoon and we had a quick visit, during which I showed her the sewing project that was consuming the dining table and hard to miss. She sewed a lot when I was young, and taught me how when I was kid.

Fabric clips were used for the gathering and it took 100 clips to go halfway around the tier done today. I may need to order more fabric clips because the tiers are only going to get larger. When the 100 clips were securing half the tier, I switched gears and hand basted the gathers in place so I could use the clips to gather the rest of the tier. It is tedious, and probably not the sort of drudgery endurance test some people would find appealing. I kind of wish I had started with joining the fourth and third tiers, because then the remaining tiers would have been the shorter tiers. Lesson learned for the next time, if there is another one.

Done for the day.

There was a supper break with some freshly prepared sauteed veggies and rice, and then it was back to the sewing. I finally stopped sewing around 8:45. The rug was covered in pieces of thread and metallic bits from the fabric, so vacuuming seemed necessary because I don’t want Kiki picking up metallic thread with her paws and ingesting them while grooming herself. In the sewing times before pets, vacuuming would have been delayed until the end of the project or guests were coming, whichever happened first.

I didn’t plan to work on a skirt for the equivalent of an entire sweatshop factory work shift, but sometimes that is what happens when things are on a roll. I would complain to management about the paltry (nonexistent) wages and harsh working conditions, but I talk to myself enough already.

random thoughts – Day 2,223 (Saturday) – saree day and plans

Some days have nothing scheduled and other days have more going on. This morning was occupied with an appointment to look at Indian sarees for potential use as dance costumes or fabric parts for costumes. The afternoon was booked with a meeting of the planning committee for my class reunion.

The saree viewing turned into an hour spent chatting with a delightful woman. She showed my friend and me the six sarees (some with coordinating tops), bangle bracelets, and a couple necklaces. There was a conversation about her daughter who studied classical Indian dance, and our new friend offered to teach us some Indian dancing. She told us about BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham which is the largest Hindu temple in the Western Hemisphere, and the second-largest in the world. And it’s in not so terribly far away Robbinsville, New Jersey and now I want to go there. 

Sarees and tops.

The sarees were beautiful and my friend and I each bought two. Now I will be laying out a harem pants pattern on the pink and green saree to go under a skirt. The June show is costing me a fortune in costuming and I don't even want to add up how much I've recently spent in fabric, skirts, and clothes to dissect and rebuild, but it's been fun planning it. 

The reunion planning meeting was fun. Most of us don’t see each other often, and it’s always a good conversation when we get together. We are organizing our class reunion that will take place in 2028. We’ve narrowed down a list of venues and a set a date. One of the biggest challenges we’ve had with previous reunions is locating classmates. We’re hoping with the long lead time, we can cast a wider net and reach more classmates.

There was a lot of food at the meeting and I overate. This happens when I am parked for several hours at a table filled with food. I start out okay, then I turn into an eating machine as the minutes tick away, especially if I’m not actively taking notes and we’re just reminiscing. Hours later, I feel really yucky.

random thoughts – Day 2,222 (Friday) – busy day

The visit with the dermatologist was today. It’s been an annual event since about 2017 when my primary physician saw scarring across my shoulders and put in a referral. Three or four years before that, a different doctor at a different healthcare office noticed the scarring and asked if I had acne as teen. When I said I did not, they called in the dermatologist at that practice, who looked at my shoulders, said, “yeah, I’ve never seen anything like that before” and left the room. And that was that. Cool, thanks. Very not helpful.

At the dermatologist.

The current dermatologist looked at my shoulders and recognized the situation immediately. Then she pulled up images on the laptop to show me while she explained it. It turned out to be lichen sclerosis, which is a delightful autoimmune disease where the skin attacks itself and turns to scar tissue. I have no idea when the scarring on my back began, but for years, I had noticed random, smooth white spots on my arms, especially after being in the sun, and thought of them as reverse freckles (if I thought of them at all). There weren't that many, and I don't spend time in the sun like I did when I was young and reckless, so they weren't obvious. 

Now, after sun exposure, my shoulders and upper back are a dotted, mottled pattern of white scar tissue and light suntan, which I know, because now I check (or other people comment on it). Off the shoulder and low-cut back styles, which I used to like, are out for me now (self conscious, or vain?). Thanks, random autoimmune disease.

After the dermatologist visit (everything is fine, see you next year), I explored thrift shops. An Internet search of “thrift shops near me” done in the medical office parking lot sent me a couple miles down the street to a shop in a church basement. They had a lot of clothing set aside and under wraps for a fashion show tonight. The shop was small and tiny and mostly overpriced. I could buy similar items brand new for the same prices or less. 

Before leaving that parking lot, I did another Internet query. A couple miles away in another direction there was a consignment shop with beautiful displays and reasonable prices, but nothing I wanted. I was on a mission for dance costume components and things that are inexpensive enough that when I cut them apart, I won’t feel bad. 

Outside the nicest thrift store.

The next parking lot query led me to another church shop. This one had multiple rooms and hallways organized by logical categories – books, toys, housewares, craft items, cookware, dishes and glassware, and clothing – and true thrift store pricing in a boutique environment. It was possibly the nicest thrift store I’ve ever seen. The selection was great, but not what I needed.

Heading back home, I peeled off at the Fitchburg/Leominster exit for gas at my favorite station which happens to be near Salvation Army Family Store (coincidence?). It had been months since I shopped there and things have changed. There was still the annoying, perpetually flickering light, but the store felt cleaner and neater. There was a beautifully arranged spring clothing display on a wall. A rack of wedding gowns along a wall was stunning. The clothing racks were a bit overstuffed, but everything was hung nicely. Here, I found some of the items I needed for dance costumes for the June show at reasonable prices, plus a silk shawl for 99-cents (yes, please!). Nice score, thank you very much.

random thoughts – Day 2,221 (Thursday) – producing

Forsythia.

The weather was nice again in the sunny and warm (but not too hot) I wish it was always like this kind of way. The forsythia at the edge of the front of the house is flowering and I paid it a visit today to apologize for thinking it was nearly dead. I need to read up on the care of forsythia. 

Then I took the winter rubber grippy mats off the front stairs and took them to the shed and to have a look at the back yard. The fiddleheads out back are multiplying, with eight clusters now emerged between the shed and a rock. I'm so glad there are ferns in the yard.

The forecast for tomorrow calls for temperatures to drop about 10 degrees and there is a chance of rain. It sounds like a good day to stay in and sew dance costumes. 

We had a supper meeting tonight to talk about costumes and eat some delicious food. It was good to get the costumes formalized and noted so we scavenge and sew as needed. A lot of them are based on who already has what components so that helps to a certain extent. It’s usually fun sourcing costume parts, so that is good. 

While the yard is busy producing pretty things, I have my own pretty things to pump out with a skirt to finish, plus a coin bra, some harem pants, and possibly a top or two to whip up for for the June show. And maybe a veil. Not sure. I need to double check the list. My brain short circuited somewhere during the meeting. 

random thoughts – Day 2,220 (Wednesday) – spring is springing

It was nice again today, and not quite as warm as yesterday, which was startling with the sudden heat. There were gentle breezes moving through the house from the front windows and the side door under the carport and it was comfortable. It feels like spring is springing to life.

While driving downtown to the post office I saw people who are not me wearing shorts, sandals, and short-sleeved tee shirts. I was in jeans, loafers, and a long sleeve shirt, but only one layer of shirts today and that was liberating.

Fiddleheads!

The mystery plant in front of the house that I thought might be forsythia has bloomed and proven me correct. It's kind of scraggly looking and probably needs some love and attention. 

Fiddleheads are poking up through the leaves and near the rocks behind the shed. The trees are sporting buds. Still no sign of flowers in my yard, but Mom’s are starting to come up. Mom doesn't think the former owner of my house ever planted any flowers. She was more of a hanging flower basket person which explains the two chains hanging from the carport and the hooks on the shed.

Instead of frolicking in the spring weather, I did errands and visited the thrift shop for half-off day. I found several useful and sparkly things I can tear apart for dance costumes and if I screw it up, at least it didn't cost much for the materials.

Afterwards, I started sewing the purple tiers of the big fancy skirt and discovered another glitch. The fabric I thought was 44-inches wide has been the subject of shrinkflation or something – it’s only 42-inches wide. That means the tier with ten panels came up short by quite a bit. Luckily there was some fabric left and I could add another panel. The actual sewing part is going well. I haven’t sworn once! Today. About sewing.

random thoughts – Day 2,219 (Tuesday) – making the cut

The fabric was unfurled.

As foretold yesterday, the cutting of the fabric commenced today. The fabric (5 yards at 55-inches wide) was unfurled on the floor because no tables or counters are long enough. The first cut, to even the edge of the fabric, met with resistance in the form of a rotary cutter blade that has seen better times. It required multiple efforts to achieve the objective of the single straight edge. That led to a break for online shopping for replacement blades, which are about a dozen projects overdue. Blades were ordered and will deliver on the morrow with fabric clips and magic tools for threading cording like hoodie and sweat pant strings through a casing that were ordered a couple hours earlier.

This rotary blade issue did not delay production. Fortunately, there were other cutting implements available. Using the calculations calculated yesterday, pinking shears were used to cut the many strips that form the tiers of the skirt. There was some minor slippage of fabric and the strips are not 100% straight but I can deal with that when sewing.

After each couple of strips were cut of the black, purple, and gold metallic fabric, the strips were counted. While in the home stretch, with 17 strips cut and just four left to go, the status count revealed an issue and illuminated the one calculation I hadn’t verified. It turns out that 21 strips of 9” fabric total 5.25 yards, but my fabric was just a hair over the five-yard mark and I would be one strip short at the predetermined depth. 

Lunch break.

There was some fast thinking and it was decided to cut the remaining strips at six inches so the circumference was correct and I could make up the length in the remaining tiers in the fabric that hadn’t been cut yet. One of the nine-inch strips gets 45-inches trimmed off for the other layer and then will be trimmed to six-inches to match its own tier. Whew.

After resolving the issue and altering the depth of the last strips to be cut in the fancy fabric, I found myself standing in the kitchen for a drink of water. That’s when I noticed it was 2:30, breakfast had been hours ago, and one of the avocados bought a few days ago was perfectly ripe. So, when the sewing got tough, this tough sewist took an avocado and bagel break. And it was good.

Next up - sewing.

After the late lunch break, the tier depths were recalibrated for the second fabric. Solid color fabric was laid out (4.5 yards at 44” wide) and cut to a newly adapted wider depth to account for the loss of three inches in the fancy fabric tier. And now, it is all cut out, including the waistband casing. 

Tomorrow, the sewing may begin. Or not. It was gorgeous out today and the windows were open and I felt a bit guilty being inside cutting fabric instead of outside enjoying sunshine, but I was finally ready and it needed to get started. The muse was calling.

random thoughts – Day 2,218 (Monday) – another day, another quiche

This morning, it was gray and gloomy and the house was dark inside. The plan was to work on the 25-yard skirt project. I measured one of my 25-yard skirts that I thought was 36-inches long and discovered it is 37-inches and now I know why I keep stepping on the hem. Calculations were recalibrated to make the length 35 inches to minimize the risk of stepping on it and reduce the need to roll the waistband. The overall length dictates the depth of the individual tiers and the measurements were checked and rechecked. The math wasn’t math-ing on the yardage layouts for cutting the tiers.

Another day, another quiche.

When the going gets rough, I tend to head to the kitchen. Sometimes it’s to stress eat, but cooking is also a frequent activity. The next thing I knew, I was standing in the kitchen, cognizant of the facts I was hungry, hadn’t eaten anything yet, and lunchtime was approaching. And suddenly, I was making a quiche with six eggs, multiple cheeses, spinach, broccoli, and mushrooms. The chopping, mixing, cleaning up the dishes and the counter, and emptying the dishwasher took long enough to clear my head.

After eating a piece of quiche with some grape tomatoes, I was at the computer starting a new spreadsheet to figure out the yardage needed for using two different fabrics in the skirt. The yardage calculator from a belly dance sewing site uses one fabric for all four tiers, but my friend and I are using two fabrics. When we bought the material, we bought every inch they had in the patterned cloth and it isn’t enough to make two skirts in the one material. We had assumed that might happen and had also chosen a coordinating solid. To add to the fun, the fabrics are two different widths which requires two sets of calculations.

Another day, another spreadsheet.

I looked at the numbers all afternoon and it felt like my years working in finance. It also made my brain hurt. I found a couple errors in the original chart from the sewing site and while watching the process video I realized I was setting the strips along the length of the yardage and not along the short edge as the creator of the pattern had done. That has a major impact on the number of strips needed to form each tier.

The measurements feel correct now. Tomorrow the cutters will come out. (Sure, I say that now.) It still hasn’t been determined if it will be the rotary cutter or the scissors or the pinking shears, but I can figure that out over coffee in the morning.