Mastodawn

Ailbhe Nov 2, 2022

Today I'm having a very slow #mecfs day and doing #sewing in tiny bursts. It took at least 3 trips to the sewing table to get my square for a cushion cover cut out. But next time I'll be able to sit down (I can't cut while sitting) and do all the sewing, and then it will be done.

Then I'll put the walking foot back on the machine. It can't handle the zipper foot so I removed it just for this project. Usually it's easier (for both quilting and sewing with stretchy fabrics) just to leave it on.

Ailbhe Nov 3, 2022

Today I pinned a layer of the hassock for quilting later but I didn't sew anything. I'm still too tired.

Here are two photos of the quilted pads I've already made, originally posted to Twitter ages ago.

Ailbhe Nov 4, 2022

I've cleared space to do #sewing but I'm still not up and dressed and so on. Fatigue is really not amusing. I really, really want to make or mend something today. I feel very unproductive. #mecfs

I did it! I sewed the cushion cover, added the zip, did the French seams, got my screwdriver out and refitted the walking foot, and quilted another layer of my stacked hassock!

Ailbhe Nov 8, 2022

Today I pinned two more pads to quilt for the hassock. These are mostly stuffed with scraps of old socks, after the ankle parts are cut off -- one of the children uses them as wrist cuffs, after the feet get holey enough for the socks to go in the scrap bag.

I also found the nice cotton batting which I'm going to use for the outermost layer of padding, under the final cushion cover. But then I had a huge #mecfs crash so I'm not doing any more #sewing today.

Ailbhe Nov 12, 2022

I machine-quilted one of my pinned squares, didn't break a needle in spite of my best efforts, and then pinned part of a half-comforter. It was huge so I cut it in two through the long side and am having two single-sized ones instead.

During this I watched/listened to some YouTube videos by Adelaide Beeman-White, who does mainly late Victorian clothing.

Ailbhe Nov 16, 2022

Today I'm cutting the quilted squares I've assembled so far down to size -- they need to be 26cm x 26cm and I need a stack 13cm high. It's tiring work because I don't have a stable table at a good height for lots of cutting, and the pieces are quite thick, but it's fairly satisfying. I've realised the larger offcuts can themselves be the padding in another square, too, so that's nice.

Ailbhe Nov 16, 2022

I'm all out of socks and underwear to layer for padding so I'm making little bags and stuffing them with offcuts instead. Very very flat cushions.

The stack of squares is FINALLY high enough uncompressed. I just need to make it high enough after compression.

Ailbhe Nov 17, 2022

I need to dismantle my sewing machine to clean fluff out of the tensioning spring I think. But I got a second flat cushion sewn up today and now finally the stack is 15cm high uncompressed and 13cm compressed, which is the required height and so now I can make the exterior of the hassock, which is in theory the easy part. #sewing #recycling

Ailbhe Nov 19, 2022

First go at cleaning the fluff out, I only undid the most accessible screws. When I recover I'll try sewing something and see if it is still not working.

Ailbhe Nov 19, 2022

Grr, no, the top thread still keeps breaking. I cannot tell why. Argh.

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

Setting the tension to the very lowest made the bottom thread loopy. The next one up was... almost ok.

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

What if I take apart the tensioning assembly and clean it and reassemble it

Will it ever work again

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

Cleared a little space
Found a little tool
Unscrew the tight
Get the tension right

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

It Has Begun

I'm taking the sewing machine apart to fix the tension

#sewing #repair

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

There were lots of secret places to unhook and unscrew to get the cover off. #sewing #repair #maintenance

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

I took out the tensioning part and disassembled it, but I couldn't take photos at that point because everything was too filthy for me to touch my phone. This is after I cleaned two disgusting springs and reassembled it. I used cotton buds dipped in surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol/isopropyl alcohol. Then I oiled them again with clean mineral oil from a haberdashery. #sewing #repair #maintenance

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

Took the rest of the cover off and cleared the dust and fluff from the inside, and oiled everything that looked like it moved against something else. I took a video of all the parts moving as I turned the handle but I don't think I can put that on Mastodon. #sewing #repair #maintenance

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

This is the tensioning assembly. At the back there's a sort of brace or lever and when I first put it on, it was to the left of a rigid part and the two tensioning plates were pushed together at the back and apart at the front. That seemed incorrect to me so I moved it to the right and now the spring pushes the plates/discs together at the front. #sewing #repair #maintenance

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

When I last self-serviced this machine it was the motor full of fluff that was the problem and I didn't mess with the tension so that was new and educational. And really filthy. I did it while also doing my Zoom therapy session, because fixing things is therapeutic. We discussed agency and the freedom to effect change.

Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

I tested it and it works! I sewed a couple of metres at various tensions and it was fine! And the sewing isn't covered in oil, either, and I fully expected it would be.

Ailbhe Nov 24, 2022

Today I'm altering some pyjamas I made in probably late 2020 -- I took a pattern from my then favourite pyjamas, made some in dark blue brushed cotton flannel, liked it, and made these in really warm brushed cotton in a blue-and-white pattern that makes me think of Asiatic Pheasant type transferware crockery.

The heavier fabric had less stretch/give and they were a tiny bit too tight. This was fine until I got tired of it.

#sewing #alterations #pyjamas

Ailbhe Nov 24, 2022

In Spring 2022 when the weather got warmernI took the waistband off and then did nothing until now when it's cold again.

So today I put the waistband over the widest part of my hips and pinned extra fabric in place to fill the gap. Then I added similarly sized triangles to the sides from hip to knee.

#sewing #alterations #pyjamas

Ailbhe Nov 24, 2022

Whoops I got tired and had to stop before finishing -- I got hopelessly confused by the thread breaking once and then the bobbin ran out and I thought the thread had broken again and spent Actual Brain Energy trying to work out why.

fuzzyface Nov 23, 2022

@artbyailbhe If you want to share #videos, you can create an account on an instance of #PeerTube (https://fediverse.party/en/peertube/). I use https://diode.zone/ and then share a link here. The #video will appear as if it's on here, just like an image.

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Ailbhe Nov 23, 2022

@fuzzyface I've bookmarked this so I can have a look when my brain works again. Right now I recognise all those words but can't understand any of them, because I'm pretty tired.

Nicola Nov 12, 2022

@artbyailbhe it looks amazing, you’ve done so well especially having to deal with pain and everything that goes with it. I’m trying to sort out my sewing room so I can start making a Victorian walking skirt, but everything takes so much time - I’ve not heard of that YouTuber so that is a new rabbit hole to go down

Dinah 🕊🇺🇦Nov 8, 2022

@artbyailbhe Another great use for the elastic bit of the top of a sock (or circles cut from worn out particularly tight / elastic-y socks like compression socks) is for cord management. #reuse

Ailbhe Nov 8, 2022

@metagrrrl I'm going to attempt to repair my compression stockings but I'll bear that in mind when it inevitably fails