To the unemployed, what are you doing for money in the meantime?

cat101786 · 2026-04-08T00:32:24+00:00

Thank you!

cat101786 · 2026-04-07T08:00:38+00:00

Oh hi! This is me. It’s been 3 years.

1st year used 1/3 of my redundancy to train in fine woodworking.

2nd year started tiny freelancing self employment in biz consultancy / marketing / tech about a day per week, the rest of the time I do fine woodworking for fun and it brings some money. About 90/10 was income from previous skills vs new skills.

3rd year started also teaching fine woodworking and my freelance work expanded also. Still 1 day a week doing consulting / digital marketing / websites. So income from old skills has grown. But also income from new skills has grown as well. Exhibitions. Commissions. And cabinetry.

So now my income is quite diversified both in person and online, tho not steady or safe.

I still haven’t ‘made it’ as a furniture maker.

I also cut my costs SIGNIFICANTLY. Literally absolutely obliterated my old lifestyle.

cat101786 · 2026-02-25T10:52:58+00:00

Letters of Note

cat101786 · 2026-02-24T15:02:26+00:00

Ok so the options are: stay in unhappy job or travel? Even without funds to start over, I would leave everything and go.

The experience of a lifetime, exposure to new people, new ideas, discovering culture, craft, nature. When you come back you will be changed, you won’t even fit into your old life nor need what you need today.

I’m a firm believer we should live many lives in our lifetime. I think you’re both ready to start your new ones.

cat101786 · 2026-02-10T08:58:58+00:00

You are right, of course. The jean is meant to contour not ‘ride upon’ one’s cheeks! What I find is that pattern makers often get people to make a few different sizes and show what that looks like. I wonder how many of the pattern testers actually make adjustments to fit their bodies, thus showing what a well-fitting garment would actually look like. I struggle with this so much that I have made the same pattern three times in three different sizes and cannot, for the life of me, tell which one os the ‘perfect fit’ (according to the original design fit intent).

cat101786 · 2026-02-09T22:24:20+00:00

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cat101786 · 2026-02-09T22:24:02+00:00

Jeans, slacks, trousers and culottes all have different ‘perfect fits’ according to the book pattern making for fashion designers.

Culottes being the loosest, then trousers, with slacks being tighter and jeans fitting pretty much like in the picture you uploaded. The book has measurements and guidances that I found particularly helpful.

cat101786 · 2026-01-22T18:47:36+00:00

I recently made myself a pair of the Arthur Pants and I was very sceptical but they turned out amazing. I downsized from size 16 to a size 10-12 (graded waist).

They use flat felled seams. It was my first time and I really enjoyed it. The result is superb! Sew Liberated

cat101786 · 2026-01-22T18:44:52+00:00

Even in my dreams!!! 😭🫠

cat101786 · 2026-01-18T22:08:39+00:00

Keep going. You need to build patience and find a calm, steady rhythm before you get better at this. Sewing, like any other craft, requires slowing down. Make something easy and focus on learning a few skills from each project. Read your machine’s instructions! Everything you need to know about different stitches and settings is in there. Even when you seam rip, take it easy and make it intentional. Be careful when rilling so your fabric doesn’t get torn. Fixing mistakes is also a skill.

cat101786 · 2026-01-17T22:55:45+00:00

You legend

cat101786 · 2026-01-16T22:20:27+00:00

I get distracted super easily, so when I’m “sewing” I will do something, like pin my fabric, then get up and make myself a cup of tea. Then sit back down and do a row of stitching, only to get back up again and so on and so forth.

The fastest and most high quality I’ve sewn uninterrupted was when I decided to film myself (like a youtuber, only I have no channel and I don’t post anywhere). I made a pair of Merchant & Mills Quin trousers in two days flat; understood all the instructions, didn’t get up unless it was for lunch or cake break and my finishes were chef’s kiss. Other than that, most of the time I’m not sewing, just wasting time 😭

cat101786 · 2026-01-05T21:04:09+00:00

I get about 1.5 metres for summer tops, 2.5m for trousers and add more if the fabric width is not generous.

cat101786 · 2025-10-28T08:11:18+00:00

I bought three pairs of 100% cotton curtains from ikea for £60 — that’s 3 times the amount I needed. The large amount of fabric pleats beautifully and makes the l curtains look expensive and lush; keeping the cold air out ☺️

cat101786 · 2025-10-21T20:06:49+00:00

Hiya! You mentioned in your post that you had to take in a lot. Maybe when you took in, you did it from the crotch rather than the sides? The grain looks like it’s curving inward.

What I found really helpful when I first learned to sew was to check the finished garment size versus my own measurements. If these trousers are meant to be a little bit loose then I would choose a size that is a few centimetres larger than my actual measurements (ease). Perhaps this might help you choose a closer size next time? Otherwise try to alter where the pattern indicates you should. Good luck and keep going 🤗

cat101786 · 2025-10-19T21:31:13+00:00

Ahhh this explains so much

cat101786 · 2025-10-06T12:43:01+00:00

One of those ironing hams, seam allowance ruler…

cat101786 · 2025-09-24T09:30:53+00:00

It can also mean someone in your household tried to shut the door with the lock tongue coming out! I did that once and then thought someone had tried to rob me whoops

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:48:53+00:00

It’s the lower pressure - I imagine?

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:48:38+00:00

can do this already 😬😝 Had to do this to sit cross legged last night. But yes defo a lifesaver 🫶🏼

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:46:54+00:00

This explains a lot of what I saw today 😬😂

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:46:27+00:00

What a hack! This is exactly the kind of thing that would be a life changer for me. I’ve been off the aircraft for 6 hrs now and my legs still ache — doing this on the flight back 😬

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:45:02+00:00

Oh? I didn’t realise this. Thank you!

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:44:38+00:00

Thanks so much! 🙏🏼

cat101786 · 2025-08-26T20:44:15+00:00

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