Self-sewn Trash

I'm on a roll, readers, oh, am I on a roll!

Yesterday I asked you about the challenge of ditching home-sewn garments, as opposed to throwing away ready-to-wear.  Well, I've discovered that it's not that hard.  There are three key questions one must ask oneself:

1) Have I ever worn this?

2) Would I ever wear this?

3) Will I ever wear this?

If you consult your Magic 8 ball and you get....



...then dump quickly and don't look back!

Here are a few items I'm dumping:  The jacket posted above, my first-ever tailored garment and not a bad stab, but unwearable (not least of all because of the color and the cheap polyester fabric); a sheet shirt that was never able to transcend its identity as faded old bedding; and a dress I started making for Michael's sister Sara when she was visiting two years ago, and never finished. 





A little somber, wouldn't you say?



But I have even better news!  Remember that men's display dummy I purchased a long time ago on eBay that was the wrong size (too big), and just sat in my foyer collecting dust and occasionally serving as a coat rack?  I found a buyer for it on Craigslist!  It's gone!



And -- miracle of miracles -- I think I found someone who will take my vintage luggage off my hands.  I'll know more later today.   I am so stoked, guys.

UPDATE: Sold!



My next big hurdle is to sell a bike that's been collecting dust in our bedroom for many years and driving Michael crazy since it's on his side of the bed.  I bought it on Craigslist for not a lot of money, but the frame is too big.  Should I have to brake suddenly and jump off the bike, I would -- how shall I put this? -- crack an egg.  Not very safe.

Meanwhile, look what I got for Cathy's shoe collection:



I hate paying for storage-related items like these, but they do make a difference.

Finally, readers, there's some sort of sewing blogger meet-up today in NYC I'm supposed to go to, but I'm sort of on the fence about it.  As any sewing blogger knows, we're all kind of control freaks -- otherwise we wouldn't have our own blogs but would be contented reading others' -- and this one has been organized up the yinyang, as they say.  It even has a costume theme!

I may pop in for lunch and skip the rest. Would that be wrong? I hope you don't think I have a bad attitude; I have a lot going on today.

In closing, I'm excited to hear that many of you will be sewing underwear with me next week -- we are going to have fun, fun, FUN!

Have a great day, everybody!

PS -- you can see all my Daily Ditches so far here.

Time to think about underwear + A Ditch in Time...

Readers, it's nearly October, which means it's almost time for the MPB Men's Boxers Sew-Along to begin!  Our start date is this coming Monday, October 3rd.  Where did the time go? 

You don't need a lot of supplies to make boxers, just some fabric, thread, elastic, and a sewing machine.  Hopefully you already have these.  If not, there's still time to get them!

I'm going to be working primarily from two men's boxers patterns, both vintage: McCall's 3438, and Simplicity 1960 (the standard boxers, not the yoked French style).  You can use any men's boxers pattern -- or even pajama bottoms pattern -- you choose.





The only difference between a vintage boxers pattern and a contemporary one is generally the rise.  Men used to wear their pants at their true waist, and their underwear too.  We'll be lowering the rise together -- an easy adjustment to make.

The fabric I'm using is basic cotton shirting.  I recommend using 100% cotton fabric that's soft.  Here are my choices.  I've used the two on the left for other projects; the two on the right are new.  If you're not sure how much fabric to purchase, check the back of your pattern envelope.  For more information about men's shirting, check here.



Yesterday I picked up two different kinds of elastic, both 1 1/4" wide.  The standard elastic will go in a casing; the softer, more pillowy elastic will be stitched directly onto my fashion fabric and therefore come in contact with my skin.  I bought one yard of each, which will be plenty.





And that -- as they say -- is that!  As in the past, I have created a Flickr group for participants to join.  You can join here (if you're already a member of Flickr) or by emailing me at peterlappinnyc at gmail dot com.

And now, The Daily Ditch©.

Anyone who grew up in the Seventies remembers these Russ Berrie figurines, which, if I recall correctly, you'd buy in stationery stores.  (Does anyone still buy stationery?)  Much like Troll dolls, they're either adorable or grotesque, depending on your taste.  I used to have more than a dozen; today I will own none. 



I'm ambivalent about parting with my Magic 8 Ball -- it doesn't take up that much space after all.



Should I ditch it?



Finally, after more than two years of being able to use only half my closet, since the doohicky supporting the clothing rod snapped off and the left side of the rod couldn't support the weight of my clothes, I finally replaced it. Ta da!





Not only that: with the drill out and ready, I decided to finally hang this kitschy Sixties bulletin board I bought at the flea market many years ago and never used.



Is it me, or is there a resemblance?  What better place for it than my sewing machine corner?

Friends, that's it for today.  My next challenge is to weed through my old sewing projects and decide what stays and what goes.  I mean, groovy cotton-poly sheet shirts -- who wears those things?

Do you ever ditch things you've sewn?  Is it harder than dumping ready-to-wear?  Any advice is appreciated.

Happy Thursday, everybody!

"Out with the Old, In with the New" + CONTEST!

Readers, I'm not a fan of dogmatic people, and I would hate to come across as one.  My Daily Ditch© method of personal transformation does create miracles, but it's important to allow a few things into your life, too -- otherwise, you'll have nothing left to ditch.  Think about it.

I'd been very curious about Claire Schaeffer's book, Couture Sewing Techniques, and finally decided to treat myself -- not only to a copy, but also to the latest edition, something I normally wouldn't spring for.  It's so nice to read a sewing book that isn't full of Eighties fashion, do you know what I mean?  I'm not going to discuss the book today, but it's a beaut.

On Monday, I received a mystery box in the mail.  Fortunately, it wasn't ticking.



Readers, as you know, I sometimes link to other blogs or wax enthusiastic about something, but it's never to benefit myself -- at least not consciously.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the box to discover this fabulous tomato pincushion -- a gift from Sunni at A Fabulous Stitch for....I'm not sure what; I must have mentioned her here at MPB, hopefully not in a disparaging way.



Folks, if MGM's Gilbert Adrian designed a pincushion this would be it -- am I right?

I must say that while I'm more accustomed to your standard hothouse tomato pincushion, Sunni's is a full-fledged beefsteak.  Seriously though, this vegetable -- or is it a fruit -- is so charming, I'm loath to stick pins in it! 





But that's not all!  Thoughtful Sunni also sent me this beautiful adjustable dog collar!







Actually, don't tell Sunni, but I think I'm going to use this as a wrist pincushion.





Now it wouldn't really look right if now I said, Go buy one of Sunni's pincushions, which you can purchase here or here, so I'm just going to thank Sunni and leave it at that.

And now onto The Daily Ditch©.

Today's theme is Name That Jetsam!

Friends, I can't remember why I ever bought an RF Modulator, but it had something to do with hooking up an old DVD player (which I no longer own), to an even older TV (which I no longer own).  Today I will no longer own this RF Modulator.



Why, oh why, did I have this sitting around?  Hopefully it was a gift. 



Or this.  Don't their songs all sound the same?



I found this black plastic wand sitting in a cabinet and had no idea what it was. 



But I figured it out -- behold!  Why do I own two cheap tripods?  Later today I will own just one.



And now for our contest:  Readers, please identify one of the following items:





The winner will receive...nothing!  You wouldn't want to go against the spirit of The Daily Ditch© would you?  Actually, you will enjoy the pleasure of being right, which is all most of us really long for anyway.

In closing, friends, wherever you may be sticking your pins, I hope this day will be an enjoyable one for you.

Seriously, what is that pale jade plastic thing -- do you know?  I do!

POST-WINNER UPDATE:  (SPOILER ALERT!)

Click photo to play movie in Picasa.

Leah Models the BurdaStyle Halter Dress!

At long last, readers, my BurdaStyle sew-along halter dress photo shoot!  If it seems to you like I've been working on this dress for, like, forever, imagine what if feels like to me. 

This shoot, my first without my cousin Cathy, is bound to invite comparisons between her and Leah.  Please remember that Leah is not a professional model like Cathy, though I think she acquits herself quite nicely. 

Of course, while Cathy requires the merest dusting of powder to look picture-perfect, we had to literally spackle poor Leah with heavy cream foundation to get the results you'll see here.  (It's so important to take care of your skin, readers, and that means never going to sleep in your pancake.  Learn from Leah's errors.)



I don't think Leah knew what she was getting herself into when she agreed to participate in this project: the endless fittings, the drama of disaster averted, or being forced to parade around town in opera-length gloves carrying heavy, actually packed vintage luggage (I wanted her to feel the role, so I used bricks).  Modeling is not for the timid.



Without further delay, the photo shoot.

As always, to see these photos full-size, please click on any image and then, in Picasa, choose "View All" in the upper left hand corner, and "Slideshow."   



Seriously, how adorable is Leah -- and how about that dress on her?

Enjoy!

PS - You can read my final sew-along post over at BurdaStyle here.

"Grandpa, tell us the story again about the man whose life got flipped, turned upside down": 10 amusing tweets related to TV theme music

--recent New York Times Magazine profile subject and Office star/writer Mindy Kaling

--Patton Oswalt and A.V. Club writer Noel Murray on TCM's TV ratings graphics music

--Patton Oswalt and John Fugelsang on CSI and The Who

--God_Damn_Batman

--fake lyrics for the instrumental theme from The Good Life, a.k.a. Good Neighbors, the subject of one of The Young Ones' funniest Vyvyan scenes:

--Jonah Hill, looking into the future

--New York Daily News writer Josh Greenman on the July 31, 2011 debt debate

--HitFix's SNL and Fringe recapper Ryan McGee