Bits and Bobbins: First Week of April

This week I was laid-up in bed for days with a nasty stomach flu and migraine. It’s torture to have fever dreams of sewing and not being able to act upon them.

I have just started to feel better, so there has been a little sewing, on the bags I have cut out. They came together quickly and easily. I was grateful for the motor of my new Juki sewing machine to get through all the layers. I have never used fusible foam before and I think it is quite the marvel. I want to test more varieties.

Another bag with a layer of interfacing and a layer of fusible foam. I cut away the foam from the area that will have a dart.

Now I am waiting for leather for the fastener and handles for three bags. I’ve ordered them online but next time I want to go shopping for skins myself. I’d love to make a bag from a skin like this.

I listened to Adam Buxton’s Bowie Wallow podcasts. I love Adam Buxton and he hasn’t disappointed with these podcasts where he mourns the loss of Bowie and muses on the nature of aging, heroes and inspiration. I once spent an afternoon looking at paintings with Bowie. He was a unique, intelligent man and I can understand why he was so idolised.
There’s lots of discussion and held breath, at my knit night, over season 2 of Outlander, which is coming to Amazon Prime this weekend. I should wax lyrical about the wonderful costumes. I mean just look at these glorious tartans

and this knitted shawl.

but there’s really only one thing that I am eagerly awaiting…

I have been looking for a casual coat dress pattern inspired by this.

I’ve looked through coats and dresses and haven’t found anything quite like it. I guess it’s a linen duster coat. Can anyone suggest a pattern? No Tina Given though. Her fit is crazy. I will make a pattern myself if no one can suggest one.