random thoughts – Day 2,235 (Thursday) – defeat

 It was gray and wet and a perfect day for sleeping. I did not do this. By mid-afternoon, I wished I had.

After the usual morning activities, I settled on the couch with needle and thread to work on the green choli. Following the steps established Wednesday, I picked out seams, converted the remaining dart to gathers and basted it in place, and tried the thing on for the 1,00^th time in two days.

The conversion of the darts to gathers lowered the bustline by about a half inch, but it isn’t enough. The previous idea of slicing the back of the top to add width at the back was today deemed not necessary because the problem is not circumference, it’s definitely torso length. The correct way to fix the issue requires taking the entire top apart and either recutting new pieces from fabric, or cutting it horizontally at the upper bodice area and adding one to two inches of fabric, then attempting to set the sleeves back into what will be too large of sleeve opening.

Impediments to the continuation of the alterations plan include a lack of fabric in the correct color or an appropriate coordinating color. A trip to Salvation Army Store on Wednesday yielded nothing useable in an appropriate color, but I found a brand new hand-dyed large silk scarf for $1 that will be great for something else someday. Using the saree trim for the expansion would result in a two-inch horizontal stripe in bold green with gold metallic designs and look quite awful.  The saree fabric the border would be cut from is a busy pattern and would look wrong in the choli.  

Lots of the wrong fabric.

To confirm the absence of fabric in the stockpile, time was spent going through the two tubs of sewing fabric bought in another lifetime for projects that were never made. In one tub, I found a white linen bolero jacket and all the pieces for the lining cut out and still attached to the tissue pattern pieces; several yards of wool fabric and the pattern, zipper, thread and buttons for the suit that was never made from it; and dozens of other fabrics with coordinating zippers and thread. What is absent is something in the color and type of fabric needed for the current project.

Anyway. After assessing the state of the alterations, the time it has already consumed to still be no closer to being finished, and the shopping needed for fabric to proceed with it further, defeat was conceded. The green choli top, partly disassembled, has won the war. Choli - 1, Me - 0.

I sat on the couch and started searching for stretchy fabric 3/4 sleeve choli tops online. After arranging to borrow a long sleeve, sheer, tie front top, the search was refined a bit to focus on something for under the sheer top. There also still needs to be some sort of pant found or made to wear under the skirt, because it’s sheer. And the coin top needs to be finished for the other costume. Thank goodness I gave up looking for a job or I'd really be losing my mind.