sewing Blythe socks

Hey, y'all. I'm still in a sew-y mood. And a post-y mood.

I saw this ribbed knit fabric at the craft store and instantly thought I'd like to make Blythe socks out of it. I've always liked the ribbed socks I have. So I got a small bit of these two colors -- kind of a rust and a dusty blush-pink -- and bought this sock pattern off Etsy.

Here they are on Wisp and Klara. I've actually made six pairs now (three of each color), improving a little with each pair, seeing which side looks best as the outside...

I love them! I want to get some other colors of this same ribbed knit and do a whole collection. Socks!!! I'd also like to finagle some tights.

I'm glad for anything I can sew by hand. I've done a lot of applique and embroidery so I don't really mind the process. And lord, can I blanket stitch. (I made this bottlecap pincushion, too.) So I'm happy to just have little socks that I can hand-stitch as a small step to other doll clothes. I hope!

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springy skirt on

Another post?? Yes!

Ah, sewing. I'm not good at it! I desperately wish I could be. I do not have the kind of brain that understands construction and how things go together. It also does not understand sizing things or conceptualizing things in steps. We all have our strong suits and understanding how things work is not mine!

But I've been dinking around with hand-sewing tiny doll clothes this past week because I want to make that cosplay for Lamb, as I mentioned. So the other day I made this floaty circle skirt. Klara is kindly wearing it with an old butterscotch-y MINIJIJO petticoat, on top of an ancient pale green Sugar Mag shirt that has a peplum bit the skirt entirely covers. (And a green deer-eared headband felted by me!!)

I did not use any kind of pattern whatsoever making this, which I think might be somewhat obvious. I just cut out a circle and nipped a bit out of it for the waist, and made a waistband for that bit, and hemmed it clumsily. It's even got a snap on the back. Since I don't know what I'm doing, the slight gather at the waist doesn't help the skirt sit prettily. No freakin' clue how to make it look better. Also think I want the skirt to have either more fabric to it, be really ridiculous, or less fabric to it.

I think I could really like sewing if I could acquire the skills necessary. Admittedly I'm very scared of using a sewing machine, so that's a massive hurdle in trying to tackle the whole concept. I looked up local sewing classes just now and got so petrified at the idea of trying to interact with a sewing machine.

But it's a thought. Maybe I'll feel brave and/or reckless enough to sign up for a class.

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springy ride-on

Doll-against-tree pics are classic maidensuit, no??

Yesterday my friend L and I got on Zoom and dressed some of our Blythes! I leaned cottagecore for Petaline. Not only does she have an embroidered underskirt on beneath her gingham dress, but a netted petticoat beneath that, and finally bloomers. White stockings, Prairie Posie boots, and her own stock straw hat make her look like she's on the way to tend her garden.

Not gonna lie: felt extremely self-conscious taking these pictures. Used to be something I was so used to.

What to say here, or indeed to anyone at all? I've forgotten how to talk to people. I blink and two weeks have passed and I can't recall the previous day, let alone the previous week. I try to set my mind to something but my drive and interest dwindles fast even though I don't want it to. It's hard to make stuff stick, for some reason. Mental health progress, decisions, activities. I think it's partially my extreme isolation and partially my brain chemistry. When days are so samey, nothing much sticks out.

I'm pushing myself to take initiative in April. To spend time every day really doing something, something real-feeling, something that I want to do, that makes me feel like me. Something that might hopefully give me some kind of serotonin or dopamine. Whether that's write, work on video projects, draw, clean, cook, practice the guitar, do something for someone else. It sounds basic, and I often do one of those things every day. But it feels transient, like I can't keep hold of anything. I forget what I've done all the time? Days just blur by. But I want to write down what I did and try and train myself to feel satisfaction about it.

Here's what I've been up to in March/April thus far:

• getting back into bullet journaling (I kept a bujo for all of 2020, but stopped in 2021)
• buying too much stationery/bujo supplies
• keeping up my revived habit of playing the guitar daily, for fun and not for practice
• started a new ripple throw!!!
• planning dolly cosplay, like to the extent of purchasing pieces for it... really want to dress Lamb as a particular character!
• working on videos (not Blythe-related, although I have like three doll videos I'd like to make)

I only just remembered right now that I spent Saturday reading a true crime book. That was entirely gone from my brain, and it just happened. I only remembered because I opened a YouTube tab and saw a video about the case in my recent history. I also got a book in the mail today I forgot buying.

Plans for tonight: eat mac and cheese, write a few paragraphs of fanfic, bullet journal!

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