Monday 24 May 2010

Can you tell what it is yet?

I can barely remember what I had for breakfast by the end of each day. It does scare me, especially at my tender age - so I've chosen to ignore it. Some time ago, I treated myself to one of those 'press' type ironing gadget thingys. I quite like it. In as much as you can like a domestic gadget that you use repeatedly for a job you don't wanna do. There's no need to tell me that you don't iron and you have this trick or that trick - I have to, it's one my things. I look naturally untidy, so nicely pressed clothes at the start of the day is a good thing for me; it kinda gives me the confidence to step out. Anyway. I freecycled the ironing board as fast as you like once I'd got the hang of the press thingy. A teeny voice suggested I keep the iron - it's very difficult to do a nice dress shirt in the press, see. So I put the iron in the dead gadget cupboard with the box of baby clothes and the sombrero. I don't know how long I've had the press thingy - Miss Dunnit says at least 4 years. Good grief, and in all that time I haven't ironed a single dress shirt! So you're way ahead of me - in making this silly jacket for her upcoming Cosplay/Manga convention (at Excel London- who asked me that?) I did recall that all sewing type stuff is made so much easier if you iron as you go along; flattened and neatened seams and joins look so much less amateur (please note that I did not say 'more professional'). It isn't any wonder then that it took me longer to find the damn iron than it did to make the damn jacket. I looked in the dead gadget cupboard about 2 billion times - but it wasn't in there. Of course not. It was in the garage. Mr Dunnit had been using it as the heat source for a glue that needs 'curing'. I'm not gonna explain that, I'm still coming to terms with the fact that my life partner can let me think I'm losing my mind without batting so much as an eyelid. Really, I should ask if something I've put away isn't where I think it is - but I'm so often obliquely 'accused' of tidying things away that I couldn't bring myself to admit that I'd forgotten doing it. But if it's really four years, and if Mr Dunnit had moved it from the dead gadget cupboard, I was in the right really, huh! Good news...the part of my memory that harbours a grudge seems to be OK! Sadly, the sewing skills are just as amateur as I remember.

26 comments:

Mummylade said...

bah, ironing seams is for amateurs, freestyling with wrinkles and all is for true artists. You hang on to that thought and never let go ;)

Cardarian said...

Oh no I had a good look and your sewing skills look pretty professional to me! I understand what you mean when something you know you put somewhere is not there! Well at least you found out you didn't forget SOMEBODY WAS JUST NAUGHTY AND TOOK IT OUT OF THE CUPBOARD!!! Ha, ha
Hugs,
Cardarian

Pam said...

Great job, now if you haven't put the sewing machine away i have a blouse that needs mending?

Hugs Pam x

Darcy Marshall said...

wow I am in awe of your sewing, I cannot, absolutely cannot make clothing. I have tried and failed. I rarely iron.....but when making bags I iron all that bits first and the all the seams as i go...

It was me that asked where the expo is as we have one next month sometime.

If the iron had been where it was supposed to be you would have found it, because girls look properly....males of our species do 'boy looking' which is rubbish and involves looking in the wrong place wrong direction and for only 2 seconds.

The Crafty Goat Girl said...

How fabby is that! I did get an olevel in needlework, but have never ventured down that route since school. I really should get my sewing machine out and make something, thanks for the inspiration, as always, hugs Heidi xx

Annie said...

Wow Julia. I am seriously impressed with your sewing skills.....and there was me offering you help if it was needed! I have a huge workload at the mo and may be looking for extra help if you fancy a job :-)
A x

Linby said...

What an amusing post. As for your seamstress skills they look to be highly honed to me.
Linbyx

Lyn said...

Amateur sewing skills, my a*s - I know just how hard it is to make a jacket and that looks like a d*mn good job - with collar AND sewing flaps that lie flat - doubly impressive! And I bet Miss Dunnit is dead chuffed.

As for ironing - I have it off to a tee - DH does it :-D

Kaz said...

Corrrrr you made a jacket! I am in awe of your sewy skills, but feel Mr Dunnit has to pay for moving your iron. Maybe in stamps or papers or something like that xxx

misteejay said...

I haven't made anything to wear for years but I did turn my hand to curtains for most of the windows in this house and covered two 3-piece suites...my sewing machine is currently buried under a pile of stash in my 'craft room' that I can't get into.

As for the iron - I agree that Mr D should be made to pay for putting you through such un-necessary stress LOL

Toni :o)

Ann said...

You've certainly made a good job of that jacket! I wouldn't even attempt something so difficult.
As for ironing? It's the one household job Hubby won't tackle. It's left for me to do, with him commenting - 'that's still got creases in!' - way too often for my liking ;)

Jenny said...

Flamin eck, thats brilliant, less of the amateur please! x x

mckinkle said...

Super jacket Julia, are you sure it's not off the rails at John Lewis?!?

And what a fabulous rocking horse you have there hiding shy-like in the background! Ive no doubt that he was made by your talented DH!?
What a creative pair you are! And Im not talking Miss D!

Keryn x

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm not sure what that pressing thingy is, since I never iron my clothes and have not seen whatever it is you are talking about. But your sewing skills are admirable. So, be sure you keep that iron. You can use it for so many, many craft techniques. I know I sure do.

Is that a rocking horse I see in the picture? I have a huge collection of them (over 400), but none as large as yours.

Charlie said...

Hi there - will you please pat yourself on the back - this is NOT amateur sewing - look the those pockets!!! But the "where did I put that" description made my day - join the club honey.. giggle. And sometimes our DH's are moving stuff JUST to annoy us - I am certain of that. My DH is a former military man and anything that hits a surface and stays there for more than seconds is clutter in his world. Only my scraproom is safe - as I told him that is a collection and that there is a death penalty for tidying in there. =0) Bless him...

Kathleen said...

Wow Julia, your sewing talent is awesome, soooo impressed with the jacket, love, love, love it.

Sheilagh said...

Lovely, two things I don't do, sew and iron, but I do admire those who do/can. ;)

Glen said...

LOL...I know the feeling. I don't know whether I'm coming or going sometimes but I know I've met myself on the way! *Ü* Love the jacket and the colour green - very 'posh'. *Ü*
I wonder if it's poss for you to add me to Mr Linky tomorrow Julia. I am going to visit my mummy and I have already posted my WOYWW for tomorrow. I would appreciate it if you could. Will be visiting everyone on Thursday. Toots for now. ~Glen~

Liverpool Lou (Anne) said...

The sewing skills look extremely good to me Julia - I've done lots of sewing over the years, and still do and the jacket looks better than anything I do - it looks fantastic. Talking of ironing/pressing contraptions I decided to buy a clothes steamer 'cos I thought it'd be so quick and easy but it's not. It works ok but not fast and takes forever on things like jeans :(
Anne xx

Gez Butterworth said...

Great jacket Julia. I went back to enlarge the photo when you said you'd made it! Goodness woman those pocket flaps are amazing... mine would be stuck upright.! FAB job.

Glad to hear you're not losing your marbles just irons. I think you are definately owed a little crafty something. :)
xx

Paper and Ribbons said...

Wow, definately not amateur, very impressive work there Julia, I find it hard sweing straight on a card where I have pencil line drawn in readiness. The fabric for the simple pillows I've been wanting to make for months sits mourning in my fabric basket!

Unknown said...

WOW Mrs Dunnit ... that is some jacket ... to say I am totally impressed is an understatement ... I thought you were flashing some sleek designer jobby when I first saw the piccie! I can't sew for toffee ... what a daft expression that is ...
I need to add a word of Thanks too ... I am having a bit of a dull evening here ... so I have just had a jolly good catch up and I have larfed and enjoyed every word of your recent posts and I even felt a bit of pride when I found mention of my 38 dozen tools :0) So Thank you X

minnie_mac said...

You are definitely doing yourself down. The jacket is fantastic, and not an easy garment to make.

I'm still puzzling over where I put my two precious Kabuka moulds. Have looked high and low, and all places in between. And of course I have a box where they should have been. Grrr...

Marilyn
x

Unknown said...

OOh - you did good!!! My iron is about 12 years old but looks brand new... its great that tumble dryers do such a good job on getting rid of creases... at a push i might iron something - but it defo won't include knicker, towels or tea towels, socks or bedding!!! That doesn't leave a lot left to be ironed (yippee) and the rest of the stuff is usually M&S non-iron stuff!!!

If Mr Dunnit was Mr Gale - he'd have a black mark in my book (if there was room for anymore LOL)!!!

Paula x x x

jude said...

Im impressed hun that jacket looks absolutely Gorgeous!Love the colour .As for the iron well thats MEN for ya!
hugs judex

Chrissie said...

I'd say that this was Mega impressive.
Well done you!
I really hate it when I know I've put something somewhere safe or sensible and then can't find it... however I would feel vindicated if I couldn't find something because 'someone' had moved it, rather than just not being able to remember where I'D put it!