Contemplative Tracing

I did some pantry cleaning and organization yesterday, made a pumpkin pie for the husband, recorded next week’s podcast episode, then spent a couple of hours tracing off the Chloe Coat pattern from Sew Over It. I trace my patterns even though it’s extra work. I like having a sturdier version of the pattern—I use Pellon Easy Pattern—and tracing allows me to sink into the design because I have to copy over all the markings. I see where pieces should match up and I get a better idea of what the designer is trying to accomplish, which is something I can’t always get just from reading the pattern. I find tracing to be a very meditative process.

For a relatively simple coat, there were a lot of pieces to trace. The pattern includes separate pieces for “cloth” (the fashion fabric), interfacing, and lining. Some designers—in an attempt to save money—would have included only the pieces for the fashion fabric and instructed the sewist to trim them down for the lining and interfacing. I appreciate the extra work that went into making separate pattern pieces.

Will I start this one immediately? I don’t know. I’ll have to see what happens with the Q20. I want to keep stuff flowing through the pipeline but not get overwhelmed by having too many projects in process. Tracing the pattern is a low investment of time and effort. The pattern is ready if I decide to start the project; if not, the pieces will sit in their envelope on the shelf.

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I discovered yesterday that there was a Noodlehead pattern I did not own. Jess, on the OklaRoots YouTube channel, recently did a video on the Compass Bag pattern. I watched it while I was tracing. Jess made her version out of waxed canvas. The Compass Bag may go on the long-range list of things to make for next spring/summer. I wanted to look over a few construction details, so I got out my binder of Noodlehead patterns only to discover the Compass Bag pattern was not among them. I couldn’t find a download on my computer, either. I went ahead and ordered it.

I’m currently carrying a very similar style leather bag from Madewell. I could make myself a new leather one on the Juki 1541, but this will be a project for 2026. I’ve got to stay disciplined through the remainder of 2025.

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Our pet spider is still living in the kitchen. I have been obsessing over how to keep this poor creature alive all winter because I don’t know how often it needs to eat. I fed it a fly yesterday morning and it must have been hungry because it scooted down and grabbed the fly as soon as I put it in the web. The husband whacked another fly later in the day, but the spider was not interested in that one. I think one fly per week seems to be the right ratio. He says we don’t want the spider to become morbidly obese and fall out of the web.

It really is a beautiful spider. I like to watch it re-spinning its web every few days. My only quibble is that the web is anchored on the hall tree, so I’ve had to find somewhere else to hang my coat. Otherwise, the spider just sits in its web and doesn’t bother anyone.

I saw Bunny the other day, too. It is completely white. Our neighbors across the street had grizzly tracks in their yard a few days ago, and another neighbor told me that a grizzly sow and two cubs had been spotted up the road leading to the state and national forest land. Some idiot hunter left a headless deer carcass up there and the bears had been feeding on it.