2nd Degree

I met with an advisor for the Textile/Apparel Design program at the university. I will be graduating with a degree in Computer Science (after 18+ years of college) in the middle of December. I looked at going back and doing a Master's in the Textile/Apparel Design but as I looked at the course requirements, it looked soooo boring. The courses that looked like fun were the ones in the undergraduate program. Now that I'm finishing the 'money making' degree, I want a degree that is fun! So I met with the advisor to see if it was possible to come back and do a second Bachelor's degree in the Textile/Apparel Design. After going over my records, we discovered that I only need to take about 10-12 classes to have the second degree. Woohoo. Now I just need to clear it with my boss to keep taking time off during the day for this next degree and I will be ecstatic. It will be a big change to be in a 'people-oriented' program after all these years in a technical computer track. I'd already started the Apparel program a long time ago (took the first 2 classes) but realized I needed a degree that would let me pay my bills in the real world. I loved those classes. I would walk out of the class every day literally dizzy like I'd been taking some kind of drug because I was enjoying them so much. I can't wait to get back into that degree program.

Peer Pressure

Last night was my monthly ASG (American Sewing Guild) meeting. I've been a member for about 1-1/2 to 2 years. I try to go each month but sometimes classes get in the way. When I first started going, I felt like an outsider because there isn't much time to socialize. We have announcements, some show and tell, and then jump right in to speakers and demonstrations. Since it's not easy for me to walk up to someone and say "hi", I haven't gotten to know very many people there. A couple months ago I participated in an annual sewing 'garage sale' through our local guild and that gave me the opportunity to sit and visit with several of the ladies and finally gave me a small feeling of belonging. The last several meetings, I've deliberately brought items for show and tell and was thrilled by the interest that many of the other members showed about the patterns I was using. Last month as I left the meeting I was approached by at least 5 different members, strongly encouraging me to run for one of the guild officer positions. I try to avoid committing myself because I don't like feeling obligated to participate in an activity. As long as I feel it's voluntary, I enjoy it but once it becomes mandatory, the joy is gone so I politely refused each time.


This month they announced that several positions were still open and that the elections will be next month. As they described the job duties, I sat there thinking "Heck, I can do that." Dang. I volunteered to run for secretary. Darn peer pressure. We'll see what happens.


My new addiction to knitting is getting worse. I'm about 1/4 of the way through the front of my first sweater and I've signed up for the intro to knitting class that starts tomorrow night. I've used a book to figure out how to knit up to this point and the pattern I'm using uses a lot of techniques that I've had to figure out how to do so I'm worried that the intro class might be too basic now. Oh well, it still gives me an excuse to go back and browse through the yarn store. I'm spending all my free time knitting. It's a huge psychological addiction and I can't seem to put it down to do anything else. Looks like the sewing is getting pushed to the back burner for a while until I can get some of this knitting fervor out of my system.

Sewing Expo update

Went out to the Novi Sewing Expo this weekend. I love going to that event because you get a chance to talk to the independent pattern company designers and actually discuss the patterns with them.


I spent a bit of time at the SafTPockets booth and discussed my fitting problems with her. After trying on several sizes we discovered which patterns I needed to make in a smaller size and which patterns needed to be made in the recommended size. That saves me a lot of time and wasted fabric. Plus one pattern didn't fit me correctly in any size and we were able to determine the correct alterations based on the finished garments that I was trying on.


At the Sewing Workshop booth, I tried on several outfits from patterns that I've considered purchasing and discovered that those specific styles looked terrible on me. I'm so glad when I find this out BEFORE I took the time to make up the pattern from my own material.


And I came home from my workshop with a custom dress dummy. Wahoo. I can now fit my patterns directly to a replica of my own body. Though I'm not real happy with the shape. I think I ought to keep this in the kitchen as a great aid to convince myself to stay on a diet. I didn't realize that my posture makes me look about 5 months pregnant. It was still sitting in the living room because I need to finish smoothing out the armscyes when we had some friends over for drinks and snacks. I didn't think anything of it until I realized that the men in the group couldn't tear their eyes away from staring at the chest of my double. After several minutes of that, I really got weirded out knowing that they were (indirectly) staring at MY chest and I felt the need to move it out sight.


And the sewing fiascos continue... After replacing the missing pieces in the brown shirt, I discover that the pattern was for stretch knits only. Of course, I cut it out of a woven. Time to cut my losses on that one.... off to the trash with it. I feel like a complete sewing idiot with all these dumb mistakes. Fortunately, the replacement jumper pattern has arrived. Time to finish that and move on to fresh projects.