Field Notes: Hats, Sewing Machines, and Our Beloved Joann

An upcoming event commitment has me changing gears for the time being, and I have had to step back a bit on making clothing for myself to focus more on my hatmaking. I am enjoying the process immensely though. I am working on a line of quilted hats, and the garden of floral motifs makes me feel so happy. So happy that I have pulled two of the hats out of the collection to keep for myself. 

The Fresh Air Collection at Palmer Adams Millinery

I purchased two new sewing machines this week. A Brother SE2000 sewing and embroidery machine and a Singer Heavy Duty machine. Soon I will write an entire post about my sewing machines and the stories behind them. Several of them I purchased used, so I don't feel so badly about the number of machines I own and the fact that I just bought two new machines in one week. At the moment I am getting used to the features of the sewing machine part of the Brother SE2000. I am so used to sewing on mechanical machines that the computerized features of the Brother are definitely a bit of a challenge. I am amazed by it, quite frankly. I probably won't delve into the embroidery side of the machine until May, but I am looking forward to learning to machine embroider. I plan to add some designs to my hats and add some special touches to the clothes I make for myself. 

The biggest reason many things are now on hold until May is because I started working at my local Joann Fabrics three weeks ago. I was a longtime customer, and when positions opened up to carry the store through closing, I decided to apply. As a customer, I got to know the store manager and many of the employees. Like many of you, I was heartbroken to hear of the Joann acquisition and liquidation plans. I felt that I needed to be there and help carry my local Joann store gently into the night. That sounds dramatic, I know. But many of us are genuinely sad about the closing announcement. Initially our store's closing was slated vaguely for the end of May, but just this week we learned that our store will close at the end of April instead. This is the reason I bought two new sewing machines this past week. Here is another topic I will dedicate another entire post to after the closing. 

What I am sewing this week: I am working on the Reggie Faux Wrap Dress from Seamwork using one of my own fabric designs. This dress is my first project on the new Brother SE2000, my practice project. I will probably make a couple more hats for the spring collection of my hat shop, too. I made another Everyday Waistcoast last week, and I most likely will make a coordinating midi skirt after I finish my Reggie dress. I love planning projects. 

I will write again soon, friends. Happy sewing!

Field Notes: House of Versace, Vest Obsessed, and Spring Sewing Plans

Hello, sewing friends! 

Since my last report, I watched all three seasons of Making the Cut. And how different each season was. After the first couple episodes, I really started getting into the show. I loved how much more experienced and talented many of the designers were compared to many on Project Runway. Don't get me wrong, Project Runway had some very talented designers but many clearly were just included for entertainment value, for example, the strange guy who sewed unicorns on everything. In season one of Making the Cut, I loved the traveling from New York to Paris to Tokyo and the little Tim and Heidi out and about features. Then season two was completely different as COVID had arrived. That season was filmed pretty much in isolation in Los Angeles. And things were not nearly as fun. In season three, the show seemed to be turning more into Project Runway. Without the same level of support from seamstresses as the first season, the designers were left to do much more of their sewing in shockingly less time. And they faced extensive and unprofessional verbal abuse from Jeremy Scott. Season three was it for Making the Cut, and I was fine with that. 

Still not ready to go back to Project Runway All Stars, I turned to my watch list of fashion movies and chose House of Versace. Obviously tragic in ways but an interesting film for those who love fashion history. 

In workroom happenings, I have been on a vest making kick. I have been absolutely obsessed with trying out some popular vest patterns, including Sewing Therapy's Hanbok Vest, Syd Graham's Ruby Vest, and The New Craft House's Everyday Waistcoat. I made six vests in all. If you are interested in seeing those projects and hearing a short review about them, I made a little video over on my (new!) YouTube channel that you can watch here. 

My four reversible Everyday Waistcoats. I am obsessed.

I have decided not to make a capsule wardrobe for spring. Instead I am just filling in some gaps and planning to make a few projects from my want-to-make list, such as a matching denim jacket and jeans outfit. One of my gap-filling pieces will be black twill coulottes to go with some of my vests. 

What I am sewing this week: I now am in the process of making another Helen's Closet Orbit Bag in the same pink floral quilted fabric that I used for one of my Everyday Waistcoats. I am not sure what's next after that. Decisions, decisions. 

I would love to know what you all are working on. Feel free to share your project reports in the comments. 

Field Notes: Project Runway, The Devil Wears Prada, and Natural Dyeing

I have decided to add a fairly informal component to the blog -- a sort of journal of some of my wild thoughts for the week, a more personal side of me. In Field Notes I will share what I am currently intrigued by and obsessed with in regard to sewing, textiles, fashion. Basically, what is taking up space in my head these days. 

Let's begin this conversation with Project Runway. Yes, I know I am twenty years late to the party. I regret that in 2004 I wasn't having Project Runway watch parties. But it is what it is, and I am essentially and gleefully caught up now. I started watching Project Runway sometime last year and just finished Season 16 this week. From the time I began my little Project Project, I watched one or two episodes just about every night before bed. Sometimes I binged on three episodes, I will admit. I could certainly write a number of entire posts about Project Runway, but I don't feel like it, mainly because, well, the party is over now...and the point of Field Notes is to be brief. I do, however, want to say a couple broad, random things about it. I love Tim and Heidi. I missed Michael Kors when he left the judging team. (The things he said were epic.) I definitely had my favorite and least favorite contestants throughout the course of it all. And that's pretty much that. 

After Project Runway, I immediately started watching Project Runway All Stars. I haven't finished the first episode. What a snoozefest. I quickly moved on to Making the Cut. I've watched one episode of that now. I will probably continue with Making the Cut because it is, after all, Tim and Heidi, and at the moment they are in Paris, but I don't yet feel the love for it in the way I did for Project Runway. I'm taking a bit of break to just watch some films. 

And so last night I rewatched The Devil Wears Prada. Great idea. Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Stanley Tucci...what fun. And let's not forget New York City. I love New York City. 

Something else on my mind this week is natural dyeing. I have never done it, but I am now a bit obsessed with learning how to dye fabric with plants and food scraps. I am enough obsessed that I have checked a bunch of books out from the library, begun saving coffee grounds, tea bags, and onion skins, and went on an equipment-finding run to Goodwill. I will be sharing much more about this little meandering in the coming weeks and months. 

My "new" dye pots from Goodwill. 

What I am sewing this week: I am still working on my winter wardrobe. I have two pieces going at once. I started the Simplicity 9180 skirt and then needed an invisible zipper foot, so that project was put on hold temporarily. I now have the zipper foot but am apprehensive about sewing in an invisible zipper, so, naturally, I started on another project, the Seamwork Oliver sweater. The Oliver sweater is coming together pretty quickly. I just might finish it today. And I will tackle that invisible zipper in the next day or so. 

I would love to engage in a converssation here in Field Notes. In terms of sewing/fashion/textiles, what are you watching/reading/working on? Feel free to comment.