Friday, June 10, 2011

Mystery sewing

A month ago I started having recurring dreams. Each night I found myself transported back half a lifetime to high school. Each night I would bumble around innocently reliving my youth, until the inevitable horror struck. And each night, it was the same horror: I would find myself in a classroom, only to discover that I was about to sit an examination, in a course that I had apparently signed up for but failed to attend for the entire year.

I'm no interpreter of dreams, but for me that one is a no-brainer. It's a classic procrastination dream. Clearly there was something I was avoiding that I knew was going to catch up with me if I didn't acknowledge it pronto. Only I couldn't for the life of me figure out what I was trying to tell myself. Outstanding bills? Nope. Work deadline? Oh, that's right, I haven't had one of those for about two years now. Event horizon which is causing me stress? Come on, the only major event of the year was birthing a child, and that's done and dusted!

 Finally, last week, I got it. It was about the sewing machine.

The poor sewing machine. It's been packed up in a box since well before we moved. We parted on bad terms - it had lower thread tension issues, I had unpicking fatigue. I was waiting for the perfect time, the perfect project, the perfect motivation to get back on the horse. Of course there wasn't one, so  last week I plucked up the necessary courage and just did a spot of mystery sewing.

Here's what came of it... and it remains a mystery!


When I started foundation-piecing these kimono offcuts together, I think I was envisioning a scarf. Initially, I cut my patchwork into three long strips and tried them around my neck. But no, it wasn't quite right. So I sewed the strips back into one piece, but in a different order.


Then I thought maybe I'd go for an Obi. I added wadding, and backing, and two waist ties. And then I put it on my waist and realised that THAT IS THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH I would like to draw attention to at the moment. Particularly with a big, bright, thickly padded belt.


Now I'm flicking between 'table runner' and 'fancy baby change mat'. Except in either case, it's really not practical, as vintage silks and brocades are not the most washable of fabrics...

Perhaps you have a thought about where this mystery sewing could end up?


The sewing might not be going anywhere obvious, but the sewing machine is back in action and you'll be pleased to know that I'm not waking up in a cold sweat screaming 'what's the square root of Shakespeare?' anymore.

12 comments:

  1. Im the worst person to ask, its really beautiful by the way, but everything around here that I dont know what to do with gets turned into a cushion cover. Its kind of a mantra between me and mum, to the point of hysteria on a good day. Best of luck! x

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  2. When we make pancakes in this house, we always call the first pancake the lentil pancake because it tastes like whatever was the last thing I used the frypan to cook, often lentils. When anyone in our family is struggling to get through a blockage like yours, we tell them just to go for it and make a lentil pancake. It's often easier when you take the stress and importance away. So, that might just be your lentil pancake. It doesn't matter if you chuck it out or if someone is hungry enough to eat it, you can now go forward and create.
    I think it's a stunning and beautifully made lentil pancake by the way.

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  3. I think it's beautiful whatever it is.
    And perhaps it doesn't have to BE anything, perhaps it can just be a beautiful thing, with no purpose at all.

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  4. How about hang on the inside wall of new babes crib or bassinet, just as an interesting thing to dazzle new eyes? Maybe bat at when she gets the coordination.
    I made my second ever and last to date quilt while I was waiting for my daughters birth, in those last impatient couple of weeks. She loved to look at the patterns.
    Nice to see yours posts, missed you.
    CJ

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  5. hmmm i have NO idea, but those fabrics sure are beautiful! what about cushions?

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  6. Sewing machine cover?

    By the way, I have that exact same dream. I've spoken to other people who have that exact dream. The class you didn't realise you were enrolled in, or suddenly realise you've been taking a free period all year when you were meant to be in the Year 12 Maths portable, and the exam's in an hour. Is it maths for you? It's always maths for me. Not that I was bad at maths, either!

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  7. I too have dreams like that. I suddenly realise I have masses of overdue work to do and if I don't do it in the next 2 hours I will never finish high school. It's so anxiety producing!

    And thanks for your blog. Been reading for a few months. I used to also live in Brunswick (with lots of concrete in the backyard like your last post!) and go to St Judes. I appreciate you sharing with all of us.

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  8. The fabrics are stunning. Beautiful what ever you decide to do with it...
    I finished my first proper teeny tiny quilt on the weekend, and am so happy that I actually did it. Now I'm itching to do more though. Sorry kids, no dinner tonight, mama's busy...

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  9. so pretty. i'm so impressed that you are even doing anything, other than feeding and changing. go you! xo

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  10. In my house a table runner would get food on it (my children are 14, 13, 11, and 8!) so I suggest displaying it on the wall. (Would get dusty in my house...) It's beautiful!

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  11. I was trying to think of how to put what I wanted to say into words while I read through the comments. KATE hit the nail on the head. It's the process not the product that mattered. I love it and would hang it somewhere personally but that's because I have nothing on my walls and desperately want something lol... I think you may of passed the exam too!!

    xo Steph

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  12. I have no ideas I'm afraid. Awful sounding dreams... but delicious fabrics. You always have such amazingly beautiful fabrics. I am SO glad that you're sewing again. Marvellous. Truly wonderful.

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“Three Rules of Work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”
~Albert Einstein