Plans For The New Year

 Plans for the new year in respect of crafting include knitting the vintage jumper, finishing off the sock yarn stash and tackling the short cloak pattern. My sister has also requested a pair of slippers (so I am looking at slipper soles and yarns for those). 

I am also mindful of finishing altering the two Regency petticoats and cut out the short cloak. I also would like to get going on the new Regency dress I have planned, which means locating the particular pattern and putting it together with the fabric, that’s been kicking around in my stash FOREVER. I also have my eye on an old cotton sateen navy duvet set for a waistcoat, possibly with a long skirt attachment to make an over-robe. As the duvet set is a king size and I bought at least two pillowcases, the possibilities are ENDLESS. I am reminded I need to sort out the lacing on the regency corset to make it easier to get into and I WOULD like to play around with my pattern to give myself more of a short stays set. If I added a skirt to that and made a shift with a flap that sits over the stays…. I need to stop letting my head try and work out those things. But research planning will be fun.

I also ALWAYS plan on using up the designated 18th century stash and fixing my Outlander (S1) plaid skirt and making up both a bonnet and at least one or two caps. I have been saying this for at least 5 years, so if any progress is made on those, I will be very surprised. I DID find both my behind pads and shift that didn’t work, so that’s a win. I’m not sure what to do about the latter - any pattern needs adjustment for the shoulders and a full sleeve and gusset redo, meaning I might as well look up some extant sources and actually pattern the thing with the measurements I took for me. I will likely MacGyver this using the neckline of a pattern I bought. 

I am trying to restrain myself from buying up lots more fabric; I definitely want to redo the Stars Wars dress in a smaller size, but that’s pricy fabric and my job situation is up in the air. I am also trying to restrain myself from buying lots of Christmas fabric in the sale to make a new set of Christmas PJs and tunic dress, but it IS £1 a metre. I’ve also been looking at patterns to round out my basic library, which include a basic set of classic PJs for adults, though I much prefer to cheat on the button holes etc. my hands don’t work that well tbh, so modifying patterns is what I am about. I should also REALLY read the guide AGAIN and properly figure out button holes on my Janome. Which I have owned for nearly 13 years. 

I am also still hunting for my saw and sandpaper, so I can cut down a paint stick for a busk. The one I ordered off Etsy never arrived and there was no contact from the seller at all. Etsy kindly refunded me, but I think I’ll stick to the paint stick method where possible or use my existing Mantua Maker one for long stays. 

I really should make a list and then what I need to purchase for that list, if I need it. 😬

The other side of the plans is relating to life and activism. For various reasons, I am having to complete an application to go on my local council housing list. As this would be for a one bedroom place, this would mean having to drastically downsize pretty much everything. I also have to make some calls about my nursing registration, proper benefits advice and what not. I’m desperately hoping I won’t have to leave my home, but I have to plan for that eventuality. I am still not fit for work and I can’t see effective rehab happening any time soon, given the last (almost three) years of lack of support from my local healthcare providers. A major letter of negative feedback requires to be sent, once I have redrafted and edited what I have saved. I am also attending our legislature for a closed session next week with some fellow local Long Covid advocates. I’ve also made a contribution to a major media programme on the condition, but I don’t know if the videos I made will be used. On top of that, our petition for compensation and pension for key workers with long Covid is finally taking off, so there’s a planning session coming for that. I am thinking drafts of letters/emails for people to send to their elected representatives and local newspaper editors. 

Yes, I have a whiteboard. Yes I make lists of things to tick off. Yes I think I need a lot of help. 

Stay cool.