collecting

I've been having a bit of fun over the past few days.
While the house shakes from builders repairing storm damage I've been dodging plaster and cruising away. There has also been a bit of knitting, some pattern drafting and cutting of fabric.
Firstly there is the free chevron pattern socks from sockpixie. I had some Heritage Jigsaw black and gray striped sock yarn that is hard wearing, but not too soft on the fingers. Already I've knocked over one and ready for the heel flap of the second.
Secondly I've been looking at shapes.
Shapes of clothing, shapes of bags, shapes of toys.
For a long time it was always the colours that attracted me, but now with the eye of a pattern drafter I've put blinkers on and looked beyond the pattern of the fabric and looked closely at the design side.
And I like what I see.
There are some stunning pieces in gray and black, some delightful shapes in muted vintage fabrics.
So I've dragged out the interfacing and started just drawing on it, cutting it out and then using old sheets to try out different shapes.
From one pattern I pleated and then gathered for the next attempt. Both worked, both are simple shapes, both let the fabric speak, or shout, depending on the colour and print.
I've never been one for patterns, I'd rather just wing it, which is probably why it's been years since I made clothing for myself.

clean slate

Once again I've deleted the posts.
Gone, scrubbed, ripped out so to speak.
It's time to start anew.
With a new machine, new ideas and a few dreams ready to be enacted, it's time to start all over again.
In the past few months I've been wandering around blog land, mainly in the realms of Australian and New Zealand knitting and sewing blogs.
I've seen some wonderful things, noted the copying and rip offs going on and read with interest as various bloggers wade into the controversy of what is unique, what has been copied and who is right and wrong.
I've realised that in many cases some of it just synchronicity, other times just blatant copying, and sometimes it is a case of being influenced by the stunning work of another blogger.
That being said I can see how easy it would be to copy work without realising it, having read the same people over and over it, beauty does sink into the brain.
So as I restart the adventure if I do use a seed of inspiration I'll link to it. If I find some synchronicity I'll point to it.
Often it is just a small world out there.