Last night I embarked on making my third shirt in a row and suddenly decided that I needed new undies – right then! I have a myriad of patterns, some vintage, but decided on the one from The Makers’ Journal.
I’ve had this pattern in my stash for a while and have been really keen to give it a go. I used part of a sheet that Mark “borrowed” from his Mum to wrap my birthday sewing machines in for their trip home from Hobart. I wanted to make a muslin to check the fit.
So… I was rocketing along and with about an inch to go on the last bit of elastic, when I zigged and zagged right through my left index finger. Now I am a real baby about blood, so I staggered out of the sweatshop and collapsed on the kitchen floor (I also have really low blood pressure so any shock will make me faint). Mark, who loves a bit of blood and a crisis, was there instantly with ice and calm words. Archie appeared, quite nonchalantly, for a look, and was dispatched for tweezers as I had broken bits of needle sticking out of the finger. Now I have to say that he sauntered off for said tweezers (as only a soon to be 21 year old can), whilst I was having a conniption about his attitude – I may have suggested that he Get. The. Tweezers. Now!
I have to say that my finger was nothing compared to what he did to his finger, which he only still has thanks to the brilliance of a Perth surgeon – and he managed to get himself to hospital! I was bandaged up and made to lie around, feeling grumpy because the undies are still on the machine and I was so close to finishing. I must say that I did feel weird all night and was apparently pretty green round the gills – see? a real baby (or is that drama queen?)! Anyway, I still have my finger, and for the record, here are the two pieces of needle retrieved from it.
I did manage to get to work in spite of being awake all night. I have a 45 minute commute and today was one of those rare occasions when Mark didn’t come with me (we work in the same place). My finger was killing me; I managed to shut it in the door and knocked it on everything, and typing is almost impossible – so many errors to correct when typing with a finger missing!
I noticed that when I got home I didn’t go straight back to the sewing machine. I faffed around in the kitchen with Mark (my family firmly believe that I don’t know where the kitchen is, but that’s such rubbish – it’s where we keep the cake 🙂 ), did laundry, did some emails, had a walk, and finally, went and had a look at the machine. I was expecting a bloodbath, but there wasn’t a drop. Anywhere!
I set the machine on the slowest speed and finished the offending garment
I really like the pattern, but made the top too loose. In the interest of scholarly enquiry, I decided to make another pair and use an elasticator foot on my overlocker. First, master the elasticator foot!
These undies are made from stretch fabric and I used a Lutterloh pattern from 1986 which I “inherited” from my mother when she went into care.
The pattern consists of those two tiny pictures above and the system enables the tracing into a full sized pattern. Here is the finished article made from a piece of leftover t-shirt material from Potter’s. Look a bit “bloomerish” when off, but more fitted when on. I also didn’t change my overlocker thread, but quite like the cream on white!
These are pretty good. I think I made the right leg a bit tight but I have now officially mastered the elasticator!
OK, back to the shirts!
No modelling thought you were an exhibitionist
Gill
hehe! Nup, not going to model these babies!
Oooh, you poor thing! I hope the finger heals quickly. I’ve got that makers journal pattern too, and I love it to bits. Such a pretty style, and its still slightly amazing to me that one can make cute and functional undies in woven fabrics… Liberty fabric, here I come!
Ouch, ouch you poor thing. Lost a bit of finger when I was 10 so VERY sensitive about finger injuries. Take care of yourself.
yep, just found out that I still have the eye of the needle in there, so home on sick leave :)!
s