A Wool Plaid Wool and Wax Tote

I went stash diving Sunday afternoon and it was just like shopping in my own personal fabric store. I need a quick win or two after that collar debacle. I pulled out some bright green brushed hacci knit that is going to become another Simplicity 9385.

I also found another length of striped ponte knit. The first one I used was a dark navy stripe, but the second one is a black stripe. I only have enough for a top. I think I may revise the Simplicity 9328 pattern by removing the bust darts and incorporating my collar idea. I have plenty of black ponte that I can use for collar and cuffs.

I understand the need to make compromises in design/construction choices, especially in commercial settings. I also think there is a certain amount of laziness inherent in the design departments of some of the large pattern companies. Indie designers, in my opinion, do a much better job with the sorts of design details that really make or break a pattern, and understanding how knit fabric behaves differently from woven fabric—and how it needs to be handled because of that difference—is one of those details.

The Burda pattern with the collarless zip probably won’t make it into the queue any time soon. I looked at the instructions. They aren’t difficult, but they are different than the Simplicity instructions and I don’t feel like going up another learning curve right now.

I pulled out the leftover gray waxed canvas and the leftover blue-and-gray plaid wool from my coat project and started working on a Wool and Wax Tote:

That print is the lining fabric. I got as far as making and attaching the front pocket. (I love my rivet press.) The rest of the assembly is fairly straightforward. I’ll sew the front and back pieces to the base, sew the side seams and box the corners, make and attach the lining, then attach the handles. If I can find some gray leather to match, I’ll make the handles out of that; otherwise, I’ll use black handles and rivet them onto the bag.

While I have this plaid fabric out, I am going to make some pockets for my coat. Karina at Lifting Pins and Needles has an excellent video about making patch pockets for a plaid coat. She cut hers on the bias, and I will make mine the same way.

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The husband took pictures of the basement door-cutting project for me. They poured these concrete columns on the sides to encase the rock edges and to provide a stable base for framing the doorway:

Framing will happen this week.

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January is fast becoming the month of meetings. I hate meetings. So much could be done via e-mail, leaving the in-person gatherings for the most crucial parts of planning, but some people just like to get together and schmooze. Ugh.

The past few (quiet) weeks have made me realize how much I appreciate peace and calm. I am at the point in my life where I love peace so much and hate drama so much that if someone feels the need to disturb my peace with their drama—or criticism or negativity—I simply won’t engage with them. The husband and I have created this little oasis of sanity here and I am loath to allow anything to disrupt it.