Goodbye old (computerised) friend

 This week I finally got around to sorting out my previous sewing machine to list it for sale, the one that I used for around 12 years before I upgraded last summer.  Having to 'rescue' this heavy machine during the almost-flood of the sewing room restored it to my attention.  Realistically I wasn't going to be using it again as my new machine does all the same things only better, and it's too heavy to be a take-out-to-class machine (assuming we ever have classes again, and anyway I have a Singer Featherweight for that purpose).  So I spent over two hours on my day off assembling all the various components, checking them off against the manual, and cleaning everything up.  The two most difficult parts of this process were a) prising off the flower stickers that I had whimsically stuck all over the right half of the machine which over the years had welded themselves to the paint (heating them with a hairdryer did the trick) and b) locating the knee lift which I had never used.  I did find a knee lift, but until I could locate another knee lift, I wasn't sure whether the first knee lift was the one for my Janome or for my Pfaff (I don't use it for the Pfaff either but I want to keep all the Pfaff bits together in case I ever sell that machine).  After several tours around the house and much excavating, I eventually found the Pfaff knee lift in another box so we were good to go.  I listed the machine online, sold it, and off it went to its new owner who apparently teaches sewing and will use it for students.  I did feel slightly misty-eyed as I packed the machine into its (very battered old) box.  We had made a lot of quilts together, went to many monthly quilt club meetings together, sewed curtains, clothing, knapsacks, toys and many other items. It was a good friend and I wish it well in its new home. Hopefully it has many more years left in it.

A blast from the past: 2007 when I was using the then-fairly new machine on my first
tabletop quilting frame at the foot of the bed in our bedroom.

The first Brodgar mitt is progressing well.  The pattern shows symbols carved on finds from the archeological dig at Brodgar in the Orkneys.  You can see the steek for the thumb hole in progress near the needles on the top of the picture. This will be DH's Christmas present and he likes it so far, and it seems like it will fit him.

I've made a start on the next house in my cross-stitch houses sampler.  It took me a while to get the number of stitches correct to accurately place the right hand pumpkin since I can't count, and I had to unpick that pumpkin and try again, but it's sorted now. This will be the ABC house. The trouble with trying to watch sumo wrestling while counting stitches is that sumo is a very explosive and fast-moving sport, I look down to count a few stitches and when I look back at the TV again the match is already over and then I've lost count and have to start over.

I have temporarily abandoned my attempts to create a fitted bodice for my next dress and instead have gone for a sort of pinafore with a collar detail.  I mocked it up in old duvet covers first to tweak the fit. I ended up lowering the neckline and changing the shape of the collar a bit.

Then I went ahead and cut it out in the chocolate-themed fabric.  I've gone for a quasi-uniform feel with a central button panel and waist tabs.  This is a picture of it all just pinned on the mannequin to give an impression, things aren't sewn on yet.  But the front bodice is mostly finished and I'm quite pleased with my first all-over-facing which lines the inside of the front bodice and finishes the armhole/neckhole edges. I added trim to the central panel which I cut out of the border print (it is text which says things like 'I love chocolate' etc.) to link the bodice with the skirt. It feels empowering to be working with my own drafted pattern and changing it how I want, instead of trying to follow a commercial pattern, very creative.

We had a day out to Oxford today. I don't think I've mentioned it on my blog but we have been feeling a bit down in the dumps for a while now, all three of us.  I attribute it to the monotony, and the uncertainty, and looking at the same walls and same faces every day. And yet on several weekends we couldn't bring ourselves to leave our comfortable bunker/rut, it seemed too much trouble and we couldn't think where to go when shopping/museums/cafes are potential no-go zones.  I introduced external motivation by committing to drive DS to Oxford to see his girlfriend in person for the first time since March so off we went today.  It felt extremely strange, even to be getting ready to go out and trying to remember what I needed to take (first time wearing a wristwatch in months!)  And to be socialising with new people (the girlfriend and another friend who joined us) also felt odd, especially having to constantly remind myself to stay socially distant from them even though we were chatting.  The town centre was busier than we felt comfortable with, so after a bubble tea and a chat together we split up.  DH and I followed a guided walk from a book we have, along the River Thames to the charming village of Iffley and back, which was about 4 miles. It was really lovely to be somewhere new, out in the sun, admiring the rowers on the river and pausing on the scenic bridges over the Iffley Locks.  It was much less lovely when we re-entered Oxford via the crowded Magdalene Bridge, having to navigate through large groups of tourists and young people who were hogging the narrow pavements and making no attempt to socially distance.  After a few harrowing detours into the busy road and one brief argument with a Scottish family who were spread out fully blocking the pavement leaving us nowhere to escape to, we made it to the relative safety of a quieter side road and walked around to DS's old college to admire it from the outside, before meeting up with DS again to head home. Hopefully none of us got exposed to any germs, and it really did feel good to have a change of scene and to do something that felt a bit like a holiday treat.

Remember I volunteered for a new temporary national team a few weeks ago?  When my colleague found out, he was amazed and asked what on earth I had done that for, it's going to be all waffle and feel-good teambuilding zoom calls and endless online meetings, and he well knows that I am neither a people person nor someone with a high-tolerance for timewasting BS.  After that I really regretted my temporary insanity but comforted myself that I wouldn't get picked since there are many more experienced staff who actually volunteer for things.  Well of course they have picked me and I found out yesterday.  The email was pretty much 'congratulations, you start 5 October' rather than 'let us know if you want it'. My manager (who is also pretty amazed I think) put the icing on the cake by predicting that instead of being temporary like advertised, it will probably turn into a long term posting.  Oh well, it will be a change and I can hope it's for the better.  I will have to make an effort to be more outgoing and participatory. In real terms I'll still be working from home, just with different people and a new manager, and perhaps they will be an improvement.  A change is as good as a rest? Let's hope.