Just popping in...

So the plan was to give up work in the shop and dedicate some serious time and attention to my sewing and my pattern writing!

Ah the best laid plans!!!

I think that since I left my job I have actually had less sewing time rather than more.

You see about two days before the end of my contract, my husband came home offering me a freelance 40 hour contract. I could work from home, do the work in my own time (as long as it was finished before the end of June). On top of that it was making good money and I couldn't really say no to the extra income for the family.

The work is a return to career number 1- archaeology! Its fun to be using that part of my brain again, and to be discovering skills and knowledge that I'd forgotten that I have.

With about 15 hours left on the contract, my mind is slowly returning to sewing and creativity. Today I spent a couple of hours working on some patterns that have been in the half finished pile for a while.

Both patterns are quite complicated, so I have been doing my best to simplify, simplify, simplify. Its a delicate balance. I think that part of what makes my patterns distinctive is the attention to detail, but what is the point of detail if its too dificult for people to sew together properly?

This bear is destined to be BIIIIIG! I'm really excited about it, but at the same time I can't decide whether I love the pattern or hate it. I think that more than any other pattern that I have designed, its success or failure will lie in the fabric choices. Too subtle a use of colour and it will look like a big undefined blob, too bold and the bear won't be clear. What do you think?