Intermission

my beaten up Elna Lotus SP ♡

Or... End of Intermission. Sort of... MY BABY IS BACK FROM THE HOSPITAL! My dear sewing machine, an Elna Lotus SP, which used to be my mom's, and has been my faithful companion since I started sewing, at 15 years old, stopped working around January last year. I vouched when I got the pay from my last job, I'd take it to the sewing machine hospital.

I've lived here over 20 years. When I moved, I noticed the sewing machine parts and repair shop, but, strangely enough, I never went in. Then, the place where I usually took my sewing machine to be repaired at, closed (it's a Hostel now - most likely a tiny one, the shop had a tiny area), and they didn't do a good job the last time I took her in. It was also partially my fault. About 10 years ago, I had a job at a costume department, and a seamstress there, gave me a "great" bottle of sewing machine oil. In my mom's hands, and then in mine, this machine seldom needed much more more than some fine tuning. It's a robust machine, mostly made out of metal, motor included. Only after I started using this "great" oil, she broke down twice in a period of about 5 years, both times with the same problem, the motor was stuck. I asked at the repair shop, and yes, it was the oil. The technician said it looked like car oil! My poor machine! So, I bought a new bottle of sewing machine oil, some new bobbin spools (I'm always loosing them), and a ruffle foot. Yeah, no more ultra boring hand gathered ruffles!

I loved the shop's service, the ladies were very nice, and they managed to have my machine repaired in two days! They were going to close on a 2 week holiday. So now I can go back to sewing, and I'm excited! But, before cosplay, I'm going to sew two dresses for myself, a sixties mod dress, with my "Sewing Woes" fabric, and a black long parka style dress, with metal zippers. I may make a post about those, we'll see.

Meanwhile, I sort of got my sewing mojo back, I'm making a face mask to wear with my Yuuko Sakura Robe, from scraps, which I'll probably wear at the first event since the pandemic started, Cine-Play, in Setúbal, in September. ComicCon was also announced, in December, at Parque das Nações, but IberAnime was postponed until Spring. I think Lisbon's Game Week was also announced, but I'm not sure, as I've never attended (I'm not a gamer).

Pecicostura (fb)

+ I got my sewing machine back in working condition and a nearby reliable repair shop.

- it still was an expense to my poor budget. But I'm an optimist!

THE CUNNING PLAN

Finish hand sewing the face mask. Make both planned dresses for now (there are more). Go back to my Mad Hatter costume, and finish the sleeves.