My MIL is getting pretty old and has trouble now actually carrying on a conversation. You pretty much just talk to her or not. You don't get a lot of meaningful give and take. But when was in my sewing room she changed. She talked about my stash, her stash, the obsession of sewests to hang onto every little scrap, how to fit a jacket better, why my quilt worked, why the next-next one won't (she was right, I'm rethinking), my old Singer, my new Viking (she wouldn't touch it, not a single time, LOL), her Touch and Throw, her old treadle that Papaw put a motor on, etc., etc. She loved looking at the BWOF mags - she's never seen anything but the big 4, this was amazing to her. Her eyes were bright and she was her old self. It made me realize how different she is now. Getting old sucks.
My Simplicy dress will become a skirt. I put the bodice only together on Friday morning and slipped it over my head. The bodice, where it should meet the midriff below the girls, doesn't even come to the, um, shall we say apex of the bust line. Not fixable, not usable. I measured the total distance from neck to waist and it was ok - about an inch short, but the difference in the bodice was OFF OFF OFF. I may try again, adding about 3 inches to this part of the dress (it's high in the back, not just over the bustline). But I'll finish the bottom part into a pull on skirt for summer and maybe some undies to match. For some reason that amuses me. Now, I need elastic. With no sewing money left after my Fabric.com splurge and my saving 25% yesterday.
Well, this is a busy week, I'd better get at it. Catch you on the flip side (meaning when I get bored and take a break AND have something to say). I'll leave you with a picture from the National Botanical Gardens. One of Saturday's highlights.
Getting old does suck! I'm not there yet--but I can see it in the distance, around a curve! Isn't it something that you and your MIL found a common bond to talk about--sewing!
ReplyDeleteSorry about your dress. Can you remake the bodice in a coordinating color?
It is nice that you could bond with your MiL over sewing. Love the photo.
ReplyDeleteI think I'll just make the skirt and let it go. I learned a ton about my body proportions from this, though. I usually just go ahead and add 2" to any dress above the waistline. One of the reasons I sew, RTW is too shortwaisted for me and I hate that feeling. I didn't realize how much of that "extra" was from midchest up, rather than midchest to waist. (Well, at least according to Simplicity). I also learned that I'm not wild about Simplicity's fit, though I do LOVE that they (1) include finished garment sizes on the tissue and (2) they actually FOLD the tissue rather than wad it into the envelope.
ReplyDeleteActually, my MIL and I get along great. But she's become so distant (not just from me) recently that I'd forgotten her personality. Some, I think she doesn't hear well, other I think she can't keep up with the conversation. I've decided I'm not going to get old. Period.
My MIL has alzheimers. It's so sad. She used to be hyperactive. She just sits and sleeps and follows my FIL around wherever he goes. My mom is the opposite. Her mind is way better than mine, but her body has given up.
ReplyDeleteI have that problem with tops that have a seam that is supposed to be under the boobs and hits about half way down. I hate that!!
Cool you were able to spark something in MIL, did she actually use the term "stash"? OK so off to call Adrian, Black Monday in K'port, EM did a big layoff today.... K
ReplyDeleteMay I just say what a pleasure it is to read your "pastiche" of a blog?
ReplyDeleteAnd what a treat to see your MIL come back to reality and her own personality to talk about something she obviously loves.
take care BeeBee