The Nightly Battle

Planning ahead and properly measuring your fabric before sewing it would be a good idea if, say for instance, you'd like all your place mats to be the same size. Consistent seam allowances and proper sewing technique also come in handy if you want a nice straight rectangular shape when you're done. This is why I convinced myself long ago that straight, even lines are for sweatshops and professionals. My sewing projects always end up with a nice 'homemade' look to them... I try to pass it off as my style.

Today I ironed out the place mat tops and cut the raw edges off to make them more 'clean.' Because they're not exactly a uniform size I'm going to pin them, wrong sides together, to the fabric I'm using as a backing and cut around the edges. As opposed to cutting a bunch of rectangles from the backing fabric, and then finding some of them don't match up. BTW, I'm using an unbleached cotton for the backs, without any batting. These are going to be very simple, easy-care place mats.


And, as I've now discovered having almost finished sewing one, they're also going to be a bit too small. So for the record, I'll probably add a couple inches to both the length and height next time I make these.

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Last night I skipped out on the crafting and went to bed at 7:30pm, as soon as Sullivan was sleeping. I stayed in there all evening reading the New Yorker for the first time in many months. It was glorious. I felt kinda guilty, as if I was somehow wasting time by relaxing and reading instead of quilting or painting. But I think I just needed to feel like an adult for a bit. A very pampered adult who got to eat dinner in bed without lifting a finger. My new favourite broccoli soup, (recipe from soulemama.com,) with homemade cheese scones. Yum!

Tonight I'm feeling a bit torn. I want to return to the New Yorker and my uber-comfy bed... But there are just so many projects to work on. I guess that's what being a mum is all about: if you want to do anything for yourself you have to sacrifice sleep to do it. Damn.