My fashion-design oriented career break is officially over, as earlier this year I went back into the world of software consultancy. It’s been a huge lifestyle shift for me, but a very welcome one! I’ve missed being part of something bigger than myself, and it’s really nice to flex my technical brain muscles again.
I’ve still been making, just not sharing any of it on my site - or indeed, anywhere. In the interests of clearing away cobwebs, so here are some making-related things that have been occurring lately:
- I’ve knitted two jumpers this year, and nearly finished a third. And yet, I haven’t blocked those first two! With the warm weather we’ve been having, I’ve not really felt any urgency to push them over the final hurdle. But I am looking forward to having a nice little collection of new warm things when the cold comes back around.
- I’ve done a few more sewing pattern tests. I must get some nice photos and add them to my gallery!
- I finally finished sewing that pair of rose Thea trousers that I started last summer. There’s absolutely no reason that they took so long other than avoidance. They’re my third pair, so I know and love the pattern - I just somehow started seeing them as a chore because they’d sat there unmade for so long. But now they’re done, I’m utterly in love with them! And they’re the best pair of Theas I’ve made. I wear my other two pairs all the time, and I’m already fantasising about making another pair (and taking less time over it).
- I sewed 99% of a Kelly dress in a beautiful Liberty tana lawn and then I’ve just left it on my dress form for 5 months with only buttons to sew on. I feel like there’s a real theme of “unfinished business” starting to develop in this list here.
- I made a delightful pair of cargo shorts for my husband for his birthday. They came out so well, and he loves them. God, it’s so satisfying to make something nice. And I really, really like working with cotton twill.
My craft plans for the rest of the year are:
- Make no plans. Ha! I’ve definitely come to realise that long term commitment saps all the joy out of my creative practice. I’m far better on a whim. So I’m going to operate on a whim. I have so many ideas, but I’m not going to make any decisions until I am literally cutting out the fabric.
That’s it. The gallery is due an update. I’ll get there sooner or later. It’s liberating to let go of expectation.