What little good advice I can give you

I'm taking a little time off to heal the right frozen shoulder and focus on getting better for convention sewing season, so I'm going 'sewing light' this week.

la Tigresse! by Ed Dees*

Be willing to make mistakes and take the time to fix them. Get a seam ripper you wouldn’t mind writing a novel with; it’s just as important as sewing.

Try a sew-along! It’s a nice way to learn the larger process, meet some helpful folks online, enjoy the community that sewing builds.

And speaking of community, buying that fabric and machine locally helps you meet the folks around you who share your secret hobby. Buying from a place that also supports repairs and warranties makes sure they will treat you right when you need that service.

And that they will be there when you need them.

If they don't treat you right, tell them. If they do, tell them that, too.

*Ed Dees has made me several things, all of which I have paid for. He uses good materials and takes special orders.

Fancy SchmancySeam Ripper is STILL worth it.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=hand+seam+ripper&_sacat=183268

(go to Ebay, search term: hand seam ripper)
OR

https://www.etsy.com/search?q=seam%20ripper

If you have ever wondered if buying one of these was worth it, it certainly has been for me.

Yes, you can buy all the parts online. 
https://www.pennstateind.com/store/seam-ripper-kits.html
And if you have a lathe, you're in business.

What sold me on this particular one was that the vendor specified the type of blade (and there are many out there). And then delivered on it.

It feels great in my hand, Just enough weight and size to make it easily turned, light enough not to wear my old hand out. 

Lookit them porky pinkies. Always been a big handed gal

The Japanese blade is superlative. And it's sooo pretty.

And it's been sharpened. The point is practically microscopic. Which is good, because the stitching on this chiffon is pretty tight. This showed up in the nick of time!

This is my unpaid testimonial. The fella who made this is no longer online, but plenty of other people do. 
Or you can make your own, with the steel parts and a wad of Fimo, or a hollow handle (regular flatwear knives work) and a tube of two-part epoxy.

https://www.threadsmagazine.com/2013/08/22/another-look-at-kenneth-d-kings-sewing-space#ixzz3g4NC4qTM&i

Kenneth King photo and tools, from Threads Magazine (link noted above photo)

A good tool always makes the job go better and faster and happier.

rippin good times

Work continues, and while I could bring the portable Kenmore and set up a'sewin, 

this isn't mine, but isn't it having a nice time in the sun? Ready for my Ebay closeup!

that just seems like I'm admitting work is dead and I'm just babysitting.

So I brought rippin' work.

Like any maker, I have tools I love more than others. I love the Kenmore more than the Bernina. I love the big ass tailors' shears more than the old Ginghers, but not by much. You get the idea. 

I am very picky about seam rippers. It's the ultimate hand tool. In the end, no matter what gadget you use, and there have been several, you end up ripping by hand.

I would like to shout out to the Oxo Good Grips people to make a seam ripper. That big fat rubber handle on one of these....

Or buy some Sugru and do it yourself. Or search online for the recipe for Oogoo. Remember, any self-hardening recipe needs exact proportions, or you have made tar. The NeverHardeningTarOfToolRuiningDoom!

I'm going to share some love here and send you to
Joan's toolbox
to see her $5 on the topic. She is so utterly correct. It's a scalpel. Sit down!

This is my next seam ripper

A lot of zipper fail being undone. A giveaway Mariners baseball bag, beloved by Elder Son, got a new zipper after an hour of zip rip yesterday. Today, a gimmewear from Microsoft Office, a souvenir from the bad old days, great jacket, multifail zip. Unsure of what to replace it with.

But that's another post for another day.