Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Maybe...

Just maybe I'll be able to finish V's jacket by Christmas.  I had a good two hours of uninterrupted sewing time this evening and got quite a bit done.  So... the pockets are on, the main body is together and I've got the back 'reinforcement facing' in, the under-collar padded and in place and the first layer of interfacing in the lapels basted in.  I'm hoping that tomorrow I can finish the lapels (flannel padding and contrast facing) and maybe move onto the sleeves.  These are more complicated sleeves than I'm used to.  They have an 'over' and 'under' sleeve.
This pattern, being a historical pattern, also has lots of hand work and tailoring techniques that I'm not that familiar with.  But, it's going together well.  No photos yet.  The biggest pain is that it calls for flat feld seams- with only half inch seam allowances.  Have you ever tried to flat feld a half inch seam?!  Especially on slippery fabric- it's not easy.  But still, I'm having fun working on this one.   I can't wait to finish it and be able to move onto something new.
Today was a much calmer day.  Work was much more manageable and things at home went smoothly so I had some time for myself.  It was much needed.
J17 came home early from school not feeling well.  There is some nastiness going around in the schools.  I'm feeling better but am still just tired.  I think it's a combination of being overloaded, not enough sleep and having dreary weather.

It looks like I'm going to be able to have the entire first week of January off.  Woot!  I work on December 31st.  The second is our official holiday but should have been my usual day off.  So, I get the holiday on Monday, my day off is shifted to Thursday and I've got Friday off for working the weekend.  That leaves me only scheduled to work on Tuesday and Wednesday.    So, I'm trying to arrange having those days off as vacation days.  Taking two days of vacation will give me 8 continuous days off.  I can DEFINITELY use that.  The children return to school on the 4th.  I've also got some extended time off over Christmas.  I work this Saturday so I've got Friday the 23rd off.  Monday and Tuesday are the university holidays so I've got 5 days off for Christmas. Pretty sweet.  I'm hoping to have that time in January to figure out my new toy tool.  I'm hoping also to work on a quilt and maybe a little something else.  Some extended down/me time will be much appreciated.

9 comments:

  1. Judy,

    I am glad that you are feeling better. I hope you do get all the days off that you'd like.

    Can't wait to see the finished product. Sounds like you are getting a lot done. YAYYYY you. :)

    Take care, Janet W :)

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  2. I hope that your daughter feels better today.
    I'm very excited that you will be getting all that time off. You are so busy all the time! A good break here and there is important. And I can't wait to see that jacket!

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  3. That IS Sweet if you can manage to get vacation days!! Hummmmm...just what will you do with all that free time and kids in school!! lol Sounds good to me. Sorry your daughter is sick. Both our grand girls are sick. Madison will be over here after her Dr. appointment. Hope I don't get it - I just got over my grunge....debbie

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  4. Sure hope you can manage to get those 8 days in a row off. You're such a hard worker on a daily basis I'm sure you'll enjoy your mini-vacation to the utmost.

    Does V know you're making the jacket for him for Christmas?

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  5. Can you make a fake flat fell seam, where they don't show?

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  6. Janet- It's looking good for the days off- I've been arranging coverage at work.
    LindaM- Justine seems much better- of course, she slept all afternoon, evening and night yesterday. At least at this time of year, a break shouldn't involve too much heavy construction at home. Usually I end up more exhausted AFTER my vacations!
    Debbie- I hope your girls are better and that they keep their nasty germs to themselves!
    Mama Pea- He knows I'm making something since I kicked him out of the upstairs while I cut it out on the dining room table and I've restricted his access to the sewing room. I think he probably suspects. And, of course, I have no idea how much snooping he does when I'm not home ;)
    Practical Parsimony- I've been faking it. I'm really more concerned with the fabric fraying than what the seams look like at this point. How often is anyone going to be looking at the inside of the shoulder seam? Of course, if I cheated and opened my serger I could have lovely seams! But I'm not going to cheat.
    Judy

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  7. Aha, I did not know you had a serger. That will keep the seams from fraying. Why would it be cheating to use the serger?

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  8. That stresses me out just thinking of those seams and that slippery fabric LOL!! Glad you are getting some much deserved time off!

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  9. Practical Parsimony- it would be cheating because my serger is still in the box and sitting under the Christmas tree. Hubby says I can open it early if I want (I picked out the model and know what it is) but somehow that is cheating.
    Erin- It is stressing me out as well. I don't think I'm going to voluntarily choose this particular type of velvet ever again!!
    Judy

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