Two sewing machines gone, two more heading out.

This morning as I sipped my coffee and glanced at the sewing table in the corner of my kitchen, I had an epiphany:

I cannot -- will not -- sew amid this kind of clutter anymore.

Now, less than twelve hours later, I've already sold one sewing machine, taken another to the thrift store, and have two more posted on Craigslist. It feels great and I've made $40 so far.

These are history:

Things are looking much better, though I still have a ways to go. (That's the same table!)

Now this is not my primary sewing area, but I do use it. It's where my Singer 15-91 lives, and I used the Singer a lot to make my parka. Can you imagine trying to work in that hellish environment? No more.

In other news, I've received the rest of my outerwear patterns. Today I bought some fabric for the Green Pepper pullover (below), which I will henceforth call an anorak. Some people call what I consider a parka an anorak. I, however, call a parka a parka. To me, an anorak is something you pull over your head and it has a hood. This.

With fabric, I wanted to go either classic or over-the-top. I opted for over-the-top, partly because my parka was classic enough, but also because I couldn't find anything classic in colors I liked. Here are a few things I considered today:

Metallic coated nylon!

When I crushed the fabric in my hand, it didn't return to its original state and I wasn't sure how it would wrinkle (or unwrinkle). I doubt I'd want to iron that. Plus, let's face it: it's a little Tin Woodsman-sy.

I liked this nylon print...

But it seemed a little drab somehow.

OTOH, this blue was vivid:

But it was rubbery feeling and I was afraid it wouldn't breathe at all.

Then I saw this psychedelic cotton/nylon blend:

Bingo! I bought two and a half yards. What I love is that it has a classic 60/40, cotton/nylon outerwear feel, and that it's kind of acid-trippy.

I may get started as early as tomorrow. It's time for some genuine male pattern BOLDNESS.

Have a great day, everybody!