Canvas and a Yardsale, continued . . .
I’ve been terrible about the blog and pictures, as we’ve been sewing sewing sewing, trying to finish our set of cockpit cushions before I lose my land-based sewing workshop. John and our rigger are putting the mast on the boat tomorrow- this, after close to a year of research and decision-making, rigging and riveting. I can’t wait to see it.
I have finally made peace with my sewing machine. This is the fourth set of cushions I’ve dared to tackle and I am hitting my stride. They went fast, and felt familiar. After my first two attempts, I decided I don’t do piping. It rubs into your legs, it sucks to sleep on. It’s pretty, but not worth the effort for me. I make a simple box with a zipper. This was the first time I’ve bought my own foam, too- usually I recycle older pieces. Dri-fast foam cuts easily with a bread knife, fyi.
(New cushions on our old boat, just before we sold her).
We recently had some work done to our sails and visited a professional canvas shop. It was like a candy store of enormous rolls of zippers and every color of Sunbrella ever made. Her tables were ginormous and you could barely make out the sewing machines in two corners of the room. It seemed strange until I remembered how much of sewing is the preparation. The cutting, aligning, stapling, marking. That’s the headache. Once the threads are going in, and once you turn something inside out and it fits what you intended it to fit . . . it’s a good time. And really there are very few things besides a coat of paint and some new varnish, that do more for a boat’s appearance than new canvas.
My next big thing? A dodger. I have the frame in place but before we leave Marathon, there is some work to do. I’m going to need all the luck I can get before tackling that one.
In other news, does anyone need a toddler bed from Ikea, much loved by us, ready for its next occupant (local pick-up only, of course). It no longer has the guard rail, but is so low, you really don’t need it.
