DOCS roundup - 3/2

Before I launch into the summary of our next-to-latest DOCS (I'm behind by one!), I'd like to make a little side trip to explore why it is that when I coordinate these get-togethers via e-mail, I can't seem to match up the day of the week with the correct date. I double check and triple check and yet still send out things like "Let's plan to get together on Sunday the 2nd for our next DOCS," and then a sentence later adding "Looking forward to seeing you all on 3/3." Honestly, every single one of these I have made some day-of-the-week/date mismatch. Sigh.

So we had the four core folks on 3/2, and the theme for the day was sewing machines (sorry, Sam). Myself, Donna, and Chelsea have all recently purchased Pfaff machines to augment or replace our Bernina, Singer, and Elna, respectively. We very much enjoyed the machine talk, and we are now thinking of ways to lure Sam away from her Bernina to create a matching set. So far she's not budging.

On to the day's progress...

Projects worked: 6
New projects started: 2
Projects finished: 1, nearly
Snacks: lunch sandwiches, chips, chocolates, and ... okay I'm completely forgetting

Sam - Unexpected results
If you recall, the previous DOCS Sam was working on various mathematics to customize a knitting pattern to accommodate the yarn she wanted to use. Well, an off-by-one stitch gauge error compounded into a few rounds of knitting that would have accommodate Sam twice over, and probably Max and Colin as well (okay, not quite that far off). So she spent some time puzzling over that. Back to the calculation board!

Chelsea - Unfamiliar territory
If you talk with Chelsea, she'll tell you that she tends towards a certain style of dress: wrap or kimono, beautifully trims, stretchy non-man-made textiles, bold patterns and color combinations. While still retaining the bold pattern and stretchy fabric, she opted for a different sort of dress with a kind of double-gathered waist treatment with front ties and cute buttons down the front. The original pattern had put the gathers in the most unflattering location possible--empire--but she'd altered the pattern to drop the waist several inches, shortened it a bit once she'd tried it on for us to examine, then made good progress (with some amount of cursing) determining placement for the extra buttons she wanted to add.

Donna - Uncomplicated entry
For her first sewing project on the new machine, Donna chose some great flannel-backed black satin to make some simple pajama pants and went to it. After having carefully sewn the pants together incorrectly (if you have ever tried sewing simple pants together, it is remarkably easy to assemble them incorrectly--it is sort of like working out the reality of an Escher drawing to get it right), she spent some quality time with the brand new seam ripper that came with her machine, ultimately completing all but the gathering for the waist.

Me - Unsatisfied meandering
Apparently suffering from restless needle syndrome, I hopped from project to project a bit. Rather than finishing the pin-tucked shirt I had started first that needed much seam overlocking and trimming, I worked on an embroidered suede skirt that I had started second and added the waistband. Once I found out that I would need to take it in by an inch or so, which meant undoing the waistband and bringing in the side seams, I moved along to another shirt project in the wings and completed the cutting and the gathers in the bodice. Much work, little payoff.