Just realised, you might want to see the finished product!

(Trying to create a suitably fashionable photo shoot for my completed hoodie... Not sure it quite worked!)

In which I run out of zip

Yesterday was my last day interning. I was full of hope. I was also full of snot. And tired to boot.

It all got a little much at times, especially when I had to do something I didn't quite understand but before I did I had to wander round looking for something I needed in order to do whatever it was I had to do, then suddenly race to the tissue box as my nose erupted, then resume my search before trying to do said thing then wait for Miggs to be free to check said thing just in case I was about to stuff up spectacularly on the home stretch.

So there was just a little grumpiness and banging of head (see above).

Luckily I had this above the machine as a reminder:

And a little help from Miggs with the really fiddly finishing bits when I ran out of time because I had arranged an early evening date with my favorite almost-ten-year-old:

who considers the perfect date burning through $30 on games at Time Zone and devouring one of the chocolate bars he "won" before eating a large KFC meal and finishing off the experience with a huge ice cream from Kaffee Eis. Gulp. I'm so pleased I'm just the honorary Auntie so I didn't have to deal with the resulting sugar rush!

Instead I took myself off on a much less sugar-laden date to The St James Theatre (which I've decided is the nicest smelling theatre I've ever been to as they floors are wooden and obviously recently oiled...)

where I saw The New Zealand Ballet's performance of Red. Which, unfortunately I almost fell asleep during because of the (very expensive) drugs I'd taken to keep my nose from running during the performance.

It was a beautiful ballet in a beautiful theatre. I'm glad I made the effort to go. And stay awake.

Oh, and the hoodie? Finished. Beautiful. No photos of the finished object yet. You'll have to be patient...

Cutting edge...

Today I learnt how to cut a pattern from my block (or at least sound like I know how to!)Then cut it out in lovely soft merino knit and start sewing it together:
I managed up to cuffs before being told to go home. Next up is inserting the zip and apparently I don't want to do that for the first time when I'm tired and sniffly...

Oh and "our" webpage was launched today which was almost as exciting. Miggs would be very happy if you went and visted it so she can check if her stat counter works!

Sew far so good!

Look what I made today!

This is actually the toile (the practice run that would be made of calico if I was a sewing woven not a knitted fabric) but it worked so well I finished it off to wear. Recognise the fabric?

Tomorrow I make the real thing out of better fabric and with a zip...

...and Sunday sights

Sunday dresses

I've definitely caught up on my culture today (and even accidentally went to something that was part of the International Festival of the Arts!)

First stop was The New Dowse in Lower Hutt, which I've not been to since they've extended (and added the "New" to their title).

I saw the most amazing exhibition, A Costura do Invisivel (Sewing the Invisible) which were paper dresses made by Brazilian designer Jum Nakao.

Brilliant!

They also had some pieces from the Dyson/ Issey Miyake collaboration, The Wind:

Saturday was:

A spot of op shopping (of course!)

Yummy lunch at Sweet Mother's Kitchen (Tracy tells me last time she was here she was sitting next to Brett McKenzie. Alas no such luck this time but I did admire the knitted tea cosies they had for sale...)

Dinner with the Parental Units and the Grandparental Unit at Shish Mahal which meant hugs (and a gift) from the owners and a wonderful spread of the  most delicious Indian food (as usual)

Then finally there was Turkish tea and book discussions with the Grandparental Unit back at the Youth Hostel where she's staying while attending the Writers and Readers Week.

Well earned...

Friday on my mind in da hood

It's the end of my first week interning and I feel like a walking zombie (So does Miggs, I suspect!).

But I cheered up when it was declared we'd have a class outing to Global Fabrics this morning to fondle some fibre...Then we went to Wellington institution Midnight Espresso for some Super Nachos.After which life back at the sewing machine looked much more alluring...

Especially when I was told I could move on from men's merino tops to making a merino knit hood and scarf combination. Since my aim while I here was to learn to make a hoodie, a hood is a pretty exciting thing to make. And I was chuffed that THERE WAS NO UNPICKING!

Stretching things

Today I used some Merino wool knit fabric to made this*:and this*:and, more importantly, this:and its twin brother (not pictured)

I've also done a lot of unpicking. That's the bad news. The good news is that most of it wasn't my fault...

(* Miggs thinks it's hilarious how I keep myself amused creating things out of the rubbish bag when she's busy doing other stuff and I'm waiting for her to check something I've sewn.)

Window on Wellington

Brain tired. Can't write.

Instead you can look at pictures of some of my fave bits of Wellington that I took on my way to work this morning and at lunch time...

Not at all thread-ened

Today I learnt lots more about fashion. In true Intern style I was sent out to get coffee:then sat in on the meeting where it was decided what we were going to do today ("Me? Sew knit leggings? Are you sure?!!!").

A little later in the morning we went on a field trip to buy fashionable music. Obviously it's frightfully important that your CDs match what you're working on...

(The leggings were fine. Now I'm sewing Merino knit...)

Sew tired...

Today was my first day playing intern. I think I did OK but my brain hurts something horrid.

I got to use an industrial machine and sew round and round on scraps of calico until I could manage to get the wee beastie to do pretty much what I wanted it to do. 

Alas by the time I got to back stitching ends it had all been too much and after sewing up and down approximately 30 lines drawn on the cloth I still hadn't managed to complete one correctly but had kept Miggs entertained with the escallating range of swear words coming from the corner..

So Miggs took pity on me and got me to cut out some very expensive Merino stretch wool. Which was pretty scary. Miggs is taller than me so I had to resort to the old stand on a pile of phone books trick to reach properly.

Since I didn't balls that up she let me play with her overlocker. This is the first piece in The Shopping Sherpa's winter range for artists' mannequins: a lovely merino hood. 

Look out for the matching one of a kind scarf, available soon by special order...