Author Archives: The Incurable Homebody

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About The Incurable Homebody

(A.k.a. Maya.) Full-time DIY video producer, part-time blogger, socially awkward recluse, and a crafter with a purpose. I blog about crafting and the pursuit of confidence for the socially anxious.

my first skirt

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So I’ve been drooling over these high waisted pencil skirts on Burdastyle (designed by talented Burdastyle.com member Kasia) and decided that this was the weekend I would try it out myself. But, of course, not without my signature shortcuts. Yes, that’s velcro you see holding the front panel up. Dear Lord, you ask — why velcro? I was feeling lazy, that’s why — and I decided that I would rather spend my time playing Guitar Hero than measuring and making buttonholes. Hehe. Anyway, when the front panel is up, the icky velcro is virtually undetectable. The buttons are purely decorative and were taken from a jacket that, sadly, doesn’t fit me anymore.

I also messed up somehow while making the gathered hip panels. They ended up very poofy, so I was forced to take some fabric out of them for a better fit, giving me two extra seams at the sides. Pretty sloppy overall, but I think it’s a pretty decent first attempt! I have some baby blue stretch corduroy that I’d like to use for my second (and hopefully much better executed) attempt at this fabulously designed skirt. And, yes, I won’t be using velcro the second time ’round.

i’ve been tagged

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I’ve been tagged by oona to carry on this little book “meme.” Now, the stickler in me questions whether this is technically a meme, but since it’s to do with books, I’m game! Here are the directions:

1. Pick up the nearest book.
2. Open to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people, and acknowledge who tagged you.

The book nearest me is The Transcendence of the Ego by Jean Paul Satre, which doesn’t even have 123 pages… So, I must go with the book second nearest me which is The Concord Quartet by Samuel Schreiner Jr. — a work of non-fiction about four figures from the American intellectual renaissance of the 1830s: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Bronson Alcott and Nathaniel Hawthorne. I’d read it a while ago, but pulled it from my shelf recently because I wanted to write a song in commemoration of these literary/philosophical figures of yesteryear. Yes, I’m fully aware of how geeky this sounds. Anyhow, here are the sentences from page 123:

Although it was not to Emerson’s taste, Hawthorne’s writing revealed him to be a keen observer, but his personal convictions about the events and characters that he rendered so vividly into fiction remained a mystery, as they did in social conversation. The man was almost pathologically shy. With their interest in children and their own brood to amuse, the Emersons staged outdoor entertainment for children of the neighborhood in good weather.

Sorry it wasn’t something jucier.

Alright, I tag Jed, Jill, Liesl, Cici and Davina.

another weekend, another dress.

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So with the weather warming up, I figure that a girl can’t have too many dresses–especially of the sleeveless variety. So I made this summer number using Built By Wendy #3835, but omitted the raglan sleeves to create this halter neckline. I seriously can’t move on from my Builty By Wendy patterns. They’re just are so versatile and easy to sew! The fabric with cool swirly print is a Marie Kelzer design which I was lucky enough to get in both purple and green–one of my favorite color combos.

The belt wasn’t part of the original design, but I’ve been seeing these terrific obi belts on Burdastyle like this one and thought that I needed to make a few of them for myself.

This weekend, I was also reacquainted with this blast from the past:

My friend Jed asked me if I’d had ever had an “It’s It” before, and I said “oh yeah, when I was a little kid and I remember loving them…do they still make them???” Well, thank you, Jed, for jogging my memory about these unbelievably yummy nostalgic treats. If you’ve never had one before, let me explain. An It’s-It is a scoop of all natural vanilla ice-cream sandwiched between two perfectly spiced oatmeal cookies, coated in rich dark chocolate, and then each and every one is kissed by the snack gods who sprinkle them with a mixture of fairy dust and crack.

Yes, folks, they’re that good. Pick some up today.

too lazy to knit…

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…hence, I bought some ribbed sweater knit fabric and sewed it together! Much faster. This fun little cardi was made using the ultra simple Burdastyle.com Sarah pattern — altered a bit. The sleeves on the original are rather wide and require pleats. I decided that I wanted cuffs instead in a contrasting fabric, so I narrowed the sleeves toward the wrists for a batwing effect. Yeah, it was a bit tricky sewing with sweater knit fabric, but after some online research I found out that I needed to use a narrow zig zag when joining fabric. Some of my seams are a bit jagged and weird, but I steam blocked afterward which helped a bit. A close inspection shows that it’s far from perfect, but I still wear it proudly! I’ve still got quite a bit of this fabric left over with which I plan to make a simple boatneck sweater.


bubble top

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Halfway through, I thought that this project was going to be a disaster. I can’t explain why, really, it just looked…wrong. It seemed too short and too wide — or, bubbly, I should say. Think Halloween pumpkin costume and you’ll know what I mean. But in the end, it all came together and looks pretty darned good, if I do say so myself! I’ll be making more of these for the hot months ahead!

I used Simplicity pattern 3882 and my material is a fun floral jersey knit I got at Fashionfabricsclub.com.

dolman top

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Another ultra easy, quick-sew project. I got the pattern for this dolman sleeve top from fitzpatterns.com. Just two pieces — front and back. I’m a big fan of both the dolman and batwing sleeves. Thankfully, they’re easier to sew than regular, set in sleeves! I also have a particular fondness for boatnecks.

Photos by Stacy Fuller.

easy does it

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I’ve been really, really lazy lately, trying to figure out how I can get decent results by putting in the least amount of effort. So I’ve applied this laid back work ethic to come up with this latest dress –and I seriously doubt that there’s an easier dress out there to make. It’s the Burdastyle.com Anda dress (same as that Mork from Ork dress I made a little while back) made with a drape-y, polyester spandex knit. I really like how this fabric falls and moves. I also really dig the bold print (check out that ginormous sunflower on my shoulder!) and I felt that the simple cut of this dress was perfect for showing off a busy pattern.

Yes, yes — it is polyester which means zero breathability–and it’s not exactly the most eco-friendly material either. Oh, would that I had enough money to purchase 100% natural, organic fabrics!

There was also supposed to be an elastic casing around the waistline, but I figured why do that when I can just cinch the waist with a cute belt? So lazy. But it turned out alright, I think. See mom, sometimes it pays to take the easy way out. Hehe.

bird print dress

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Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a sucker for anything with birds on it (“bird” is actually my family’s nickname for me and has been since I was a wee girl), so I was immediately attracted to this bird print fabric by Alexander Henry designs. The pattern I used was Built By Wendy 3964 — but I omitted the inset and the sleeves, basically out of laziness! I decided to be bold and use a contrasting bias tape to finish the armholes. I wish I’d made the skirt just a bit longer so that it ends right below the knee — but otherwise, I’m pretty happy with the result.

sculpture of the week

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My lovely sister-in-law Jill was over from the UK for a visit and I was able to take a week off of work to spend some time with her. Mainly, our days consisted of shopping, eating junk food and watching Project Runway. It was bliss.

We were also able to visit the Getty Center and while there, we saw a fun toy in the gift shop called “Shapescapes – Sculpture in a Box” which Jill described as “adult legos.” She very kindly bought them for me as a gift, so I’ve promised to create at least one sculpture per week.

Here’s #1:

And here’s Jill’s masterpiece which I definitely prefer over mine:

wrap shirt from leftover fabric

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I finally got round to making the Desira shirt pattern from Burdastyle.com and am very happy that I did. I used the leftover fabric from my last dress (the Azalea.)

It was one of the quickest things I’ve sewn up (surprisingly easy) and am very happy with the result, despite making a rather horrible mistake! While I was finishing up a front seam with some pinking shears, I carelessly cut a hole in the garment. Yes folks, I’m a klutz. Anyway, my clever sister-in-law Jill who is visiting us from the UK recommended I make a little flower with some leftover scraps and cover up the patched hole. Definitely a happy accident! I honestly couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.