On being an Invalid or on Recovering

This past Wednesday I had an abdominal myomectomy. It went very well--the anesthesia was great--I don't remember a thing and my doctor/surgeon tells me that I have very tight ab muscles. I guess that all that belly dancing does pay off! :) If you run a google or blog search for myomectomy, you can find a number of myomectomy recovery blogs--I read a lot of them will preparing for my post-hospital experience. I'm only 4 days post-op, but I seem to be doing well. While this blog will not turn into a recovery blog, I do have some advice.

1) Strength train your arms and legs, you will need your arm and leg muscles to get in and out of bed and to maneuver around (e.g getting in and out of bed, chairs, etc). Push ups and squats--do multiple reps during the day. Before this operation, I never knew if my lower abdominal muscles were working; now I do know when I use them. When transitioning from standing to sitting, there is a point when my abs would like to work a LOT (I'm reminded of this mostly on when I wake up in the morning). Right now to get upright, I concentrate by using my arms (to push myself up) and my thighs.

2) I can use my upper abs, obliques, glutes, psoas. The incision and (internal) stitches are located in the lower abs. When I'm walking or standing, I tilt my butt down in the back, so that my abdominal muscles are not stretched out (they are kind of contracted). It makes it easier and less painful. Posture really does make a difference!

3) I'm wearing an abdominal binder. I have a horizontal incision, just above the hairline. I think that eventually that the scar will be hidden/less visible in fold in the skin. I'm no lightweight, so I do have a bit of a pooch. When I put on the binder, I pull up the pooch with my hand so that the incision is flat and not hidden in the fold. I think that this is helping with the healing--less stress on the incision.

4) I stocked my fridge with yogurt, prunes, sparkling water, OJ. Its easy to open a carton of yogurt and eat it when I'm hungry. Or to have a small glass of juice with an iron pill. My friends are keeping my stocked with fresh fruit. My freezer has lots of frozen dinners and I have my friends and neighbors on speed dial. I also move my cell phone/blackberry chargers to an easy location--I have a landing spot near my front door so I can get stuff charged easily.

5) Hospital stay--I'm glad I bought my ipod, blackberry, cell phone, lip balm, several magazines. I used my ipod to listen to music while falling asleep (I shared a room), blackberry to respond to some work emails, but mostly to read newspaper websites while bored on painkillers, lip balm to moisturize my lips which got amazingly dry, and magazines--the articles were short enough to hold my attention (Vanity Fair, Threads (including several older issues)). In my hospital bag--all the stuff I didn't need: I packed pajamas, granny underwear (1 size larger than normal), lotion, soap, toothbrush, etc, stuff you pack when you travel. When I left, I wore the clothing I wore to the hospital. I did need the granny underwear, but not while in the hospital.

6) See if you can get your prescriptions filled before your surgery. I was able to get my painkiller prescriptions filled before the surgery. I had them placed on a tray, with my regular prescriptions, thermometer, notepad and pen (to note times when I took pills).

7) I can't life anything over 10 lbs. Sigh. I can't wait until my post-surgery visit.

Sewing slow

I'm sewing slowly this week--I did sew a Simplicity 2603 cardi-wrap in red cotton-cotton lycra. The fabric is a bit too heavy for the pattern--the red wrap does not drape very well. 2603 has has a very wide neckline. So in my next version, out of a gray poly-rayon-mystery fabric from Fabrics R Us, I have made the neckline 2 inches narrower.

Reasons for not blogging as much: I'm busy at work. And I've gotten some new furniture--a couch, coffee table and side table. My apartment is looking very grown up, with a style that is beyond graduate student (which I'm more than 10 years beyond). The couch is perfectly placed, across the room from the TV, with the coffee table in easy reach, along with all the remote controls (TV,cable, VCR, DVD player.).

Simplicity 3684 Threads Blouse

When I'm not re-arranging my apartment, I'm working on a new project - Simplicity 3684, the Threads Blouse. This pattern has the different cup sizes so I don't have to do a FBA. I'm using some white stretch poplin (I think that it's poplin) that I got at a BABES meeting (thank you, Georgene!). It's kind of a muslin, as I'm still learning how to sew wovens: I'll have to make a collar, cuffs, and a button placket. The back also features long darts for shaping. My work wardrobe needs more woven shirts. A plain white shirt will fit in nicely and I have several fabric pieces in the my stash that will make great shirts. Are the solid colors? Only a few of them....

Oh, I added a label cloud using these instructions .

Stash Stash Stash STACTCed

Where has summer gone? It's been a long time since I've posted--I missed posting entries in all of June and July. I'm still here. I've done some sewing: mostly fitness stuff and workout clothing. But my next major project is to re-arrange my apartment for two reasons. Here is the main one: my fabric/sewing/notions/patterns stash has grown out of control.

Last summer when I was trying to deal with stuff at work, I would visit estate sales looking for sewing notions and fabrics. I did very well: I got one of those accordion buttonhole measuring tools (I can't find it!) , lots of tracing tools, seam rippers, books, lots bias binding and rick rack and ribbons, loads of buttons, zippers (got an amazing selection from someone who used to work at a sewing/fabric store) and lots of vintage patterns. I also got into the habit of buying patterns at the pattern sales at Joann's and Hancock's. Fabrics--well that stash grew: the bricks and mortar stores/jobbers of Happy Stop in Oakland, Fabrics r Us in San Jose, Fabrix in San Francisco (and Discount Fabrics, and Darlene's in the Mission). And representing the online vendors: Gorgeous Fabrics, Michael's, Fashionista Fabrics, Ressy's coop, Lucy's, and FabricMart. After arranging stuff on the shelving, I was quite overwhelmed when I would enter my apartment. It was time to do something.

In July, I went to Ikea and bought the Anabode chest of drawers. This piece of furniture has been making appearances on a variety of different sewing blogs, literally around the world. After assembling it, I was able to fit in all my modern patterns, but very few of the vintage ones. The Anabode drawers are quite full. Later that month, I scored some discarded shelving from work and I decided to re-arrange my fabric stash, which quite overflowed the shelves. And I realized that I own a LOT of fabric. Now that I can see it on open shelves, I have a pretty good idea of how much I have, and in which colors. It's a lot of fabric. While it's daunting to realize that I have hoarded a lot of stuff. I think that this has gone beyond stashing to hoarding, because I'm not sewing as much as I feel I should. I have achieved Stash Accumulation Beyond Current Time Commitments ( which is abbreviated to "STACTC ". So is that stacked ? ). So no more purchasing until the end of the year. I think that the only exception that I can allow is thread.

The other reason I'm re-arranging stuff is that I'm getting a couch. Its being delivered Saturday morning. I used to have a futon couch for several years after I left grad school. About 5 years ago, I free-cycled it because I was tired of it, and I've been couchless every since. No easy chairs, either. Everything that hasn't been arranged has been shoved into random spaces so that the couch can be moved in. After the couch is here, then I can sort out more stuff and figure out which stuff is going away. It's going to be a fun weekend. :)

Jalie 2787 and onto trousers!

I decided to take a break from pants and sew something easy.  Well, relatively easy for me: a knit top!  I selected Jalie 2787, women's criss-cross top, in the 3/4 sleeve version.  I traced out the pattern one evening, then sewed it a few nights later.  It went together very quickly--I cut it out and assembled all in one evening.  I like the fit, I like the drapes--there is enough drape in the bodice top that my it fits well, not too tight or too loose.  The pattern is designed that it can be used by nursing moms--uhh, not my situation, but that's not apparent to anyone but the wearer.   I selected a lovely black and white floral jersey with a bit of sparkle that was gifted to me at the last BABES meeting--thank you, Georgene!  I'll try to take pics this weekend.  I'm already planning on making it again. 

Tonight I traced out an old BWOF pattern from the plus section of September 2005, #129 . Here is the BWOF-September-129  technical drawing.   Earlier this year, I purchased some Knip XL issues.  I saw a very similar pattern for cargo pants, that features the curved insert on the front leg, as well as lots of pockets.   I really liked them and my original plan was to puzzle though the Dutch instructions as well as stretching my sewing skills.   Of course, I am at the beginning side of the learning curve for sewing trousers,  so I decided to hone my skills with an English language pattern.   When I came across this pattern, I decided that I'll start with this one.  I have this one traced, and I'll flat pattern measure it (thank you for the suggestion, Mary Beth!).   I think that the BWOF trousers are more fitted/less baggy, and I'll skip the extra pockets until I get a great fit.   

Well, we'll see what happens.  :)

denim doesn't drape, especially if it's frugal denim

I've been sewing, not blogging. What have I been sewing trousers.

Over the past few weeks I have developed an even stronger respect for anyone who has sewn well fitting pants. Simplicity 3880--I finished the yellow canvas cargo pant. They are very loose fitting--I can put them on without undoing the wonderful fly zipper application I installed. I made Jalie's 2909 (the classic trouser), in the largest size--they are also too loose and can be pulled on, without bothering to lower the zipper. I have to say though---the fabric drapes very well, and it doesn't look like I'm wearing pajamas. I'm planning on removing the waistband of the 2909 pants, taking them in (side seams and darts) and then reapplying the waistband. I might just donate the yellow pair. I guess I have body image issues and problems with selecting the proper size. I'm also realizing that if I'm not explicitly making muslins, using practice fabric, when I use fashion fabric, I *will* be making a muslin using the fashion fabric.

On Sunday I decided to sew a pair denim pants--I chose some inexpensive denim that I purchased from Joann's, because I knew that I would be heavily altering the trousers to fit as I was sewing them. Over the past few years, I have gained inches in the waist, so much so that I hate wearing jeans: the waistband is too tight, and I think that the rear rise is too short--wearing store bought jeans is an uncomfortable experience.  

So what pattern did I use? The Simplicity 3880 cargo pants pattern, extended to ankle length.  Not the most logical choice for snug fitting jean--but I decided that I wanted looser fitting trousers made from denim (no back yoke). What I didn't fully realize was that the cargo pants by design are loose fitting.   Since I selected a size that was too large, the first attempt was waaay too loose. They looked very clownlike especially when sewn in a stiffer fabric, like denim, since it denim doesn't drape.

Well, it was a fun experience--after assembling the major pieces: fronts, and backs and connecting them at the center (crotch seam) I had kept taking in deeper darts, and taking in the side seams until I got the fit I liked. All in all, I think I took in about an inch on each side seam (hip to ankle)  and about about 1/2 inch in the darts each.   I skipped adding the patched pockets.  I'm very happy with the results.  The trousers are in the laundry right now--the fabric picked up a lot of dust/flaky dye when washed with another fabric and I'm planning on wearing these on Friday.

Spring time!

I finished Jalie 2793. I'm very happy with the result. It's great to have a spring/summer blouse. I used two fabrics: the main fabric is from Lucy's from a few years ago. the other white interlock is from my stash. I made it with the ties because I wanted to make certain I had some waist definition. I did a little bit of an FBA by adding about 1/4 inch to the bodice (the lower bust curve). It's a little long--when I wear it, it ends at about midthigh but I like the length.





-- I like the camisole insert--it preserves modesty and it has an interesting construction that provides for a very neat finish. Someone on PatternReview is asking about the many decorative stitches on sewing machines--I felt inspired to use one of the herringbone (stretch) instead of topstitching to finish the ties and the for the hemline.



Total fabric used = 2 yards! (plus 4 more for muslins)