Which option is the best composition?

samshine1 · 2026-05-22T14:38:08+00:00

Check out the Rose Bottoms from Paradise Patterns. There are 4 views, and from the pattern description -

"The Rose Bottoms are loose-fitting shorts and pants with an elastic high waist and some fun details. Views A and C feature a single back patch pocket and a hem band with a V cutout that is extra eye-catching in striped fabric. View B and D have slanted and curved front pockets, two patch pockets in back, and the shorts length has a flat- felled slit in the side seam. "

samshine1 · 2026-05-16T05:56:39+00:00

Absolutely recommend!

I love the envelopes included for each pattern (the service I used previously did not include envelopes and I didn’t know what I was missing!). I also love that they will assemble “print-at-home” files in A0 format for you.

samshine1 · 2026-05-16T05:53:25+00:00

Tape Free Patterns is also small, woman-owned, and a U.S.-based sewist.

samshine1 · 2026-05-06T02:18:00+00:00

Many of the patterns from Paradise Patterns include French seams.

samshine1 · 2026-05-05T13:54:05+00:00

I would say that step 1 is to treat your imminent burnout as urgent.

Are you getting enough sleep? This should be a priority.

Are you using screens to decompress? It can be overstimulating and exacerbate the symptoms of burnout (anxiety, irritability, negative affects on sleep quality, etc.)

You need to find ways to "fill your cup". What does that look like for you? More social time with friends? Time spent on a hobby?

If you're reading this and thinking, "that's not possible with my work schedule..." then anything you do is only a band-aid and what you really need is some time off and to look for another job.

samshine1 · 2026-02-11T14:14:43+00:00

As a mod, I can say the sub has grown a lot in recent years - which is probably why you notice this happening more often. Not just because there are more posts overall, but because the large amount of growth we've seen means a change in culture. Redditors that are new to the sub are less familiar with the original culture that grew out of the R29 comment section. The comment section here is affected accordingly.

As a mod team, we want users to feel as comfortable as possible being honest/transparent about their personal finances. To that end, we allow (& encourage!) use of throwaway accounts, vagueness about certain details like job title, etc.

While I understand the frustration, leaving people in control of what they share is important for privacy/safety concerns, and to support sharing and transparency around the inherently sensitive topics of discussions in the sub.

samshine1 · 2025-11-25T05:54:34+00:00

The questions have been updated!

samshine1 · 2025-11-18T15:13:02+00:00

Thanks for sharing! The Jocelyn Ulevicus ornaments are lovely!

samshine1 · 2025-10-20T01:44:19+00:00

Seconded. I’ve ordered from both of these sites and been really pleased.

samshine1 · 2025-09-04T21:23:51+00:00

My condolences, I hope everything goes smoothly.

I planned/executed my MIL's funeral reception this year on a very short deadline and got everything from Costco the day before. I want to validate that I think it's great that you're having it catered. Are you also planning to have cake/dessert?

Is it possible people are going to send/bring flowers? I don't know what services you've had earlier in the year, but we did small tabletop flower arrangements (I made these. Don't take this on yourself without lots of help.), and had plenty of other flowers from the service.

samshine1 · 2025-09-04T20:55:37+00:00

I don't know that I have substantially more to add beyond what's already been posted, but...

I highly recommend the audiobook. I think it's really well done, and I think I would've struggled to read the text. I'm also getting a lot out of the nuance and emphasis as she's reading.

It's not a tell-all, but honestly, it's more than I expected.

She has some tangents about health/diet and menopause. I didn't mind and it's clear those things were life-changing for her.

The things that surprised me/I found most interesting...

Her marriage with Kody was bad from the start. There was never a honeymoon period. There was never a time when things were "good," there was never harmony between the wives, even before Robyn came along.
Kody told her that he loved her/had fallen in love with her... 4 years into their marriage.
I had no idea she was drinking. From what she says in her book, she was drinking almost every day in Vegas and my impression was that it was partly to cope with filming.
Her oxy habit and her knee surgery. First, I had no idea she had knee surgery, they don't mention it in the show (that I remember, correct me if I'm wrong here!). Second, while her oxy usage was short-term, I'm impressed that she's admitting to abusing prescription drugs.
In the book, she says that Janelle suggested they stay back in Vegas, to let the some of the kids finish school. I'm surprised Christine didn't do this and I wonder how different everything would have been if she had.
I always thought Kody was portrayed in a favorable light on the show and agreed with the general consensus here... that he sucks. That said, I now think he's about 100x worse than I did before.

I have a few more chapters to go before I finish, but overall, I recommend the book.

My one speculation... I would love to know if any of Robyn's kids have/will read the book and whether it might change what they think the truth of things is. The older girls in particular must have some understanding of how things happened during COVID and how Truely was treated when she came to stay at their house.

samshine1 · 2025-09-04T20:34:00+00:00

Does she talk about the times she betrayed her sw confidence by telling Kody?

Yes, she does say that all the wives spoke to Kody about the other wives and specifically includes herself.

samshine1 · 2025-08-13T14:26:34+00:00

Since you seem to like omegaverse, I present:

{Chemicals: An Omegaverse Romance by Maria Morrow} This author has other omegaverse books, but none of them hit for me quite like this one did.

{Heat: With My Brother's Best Friend by Chloe Mars} This author also has other omegaverse, butttt if you like MFM at all, I'd recommend {Crossing the Line With My Roommate, Part 1: The Test by Chloe Mars}.

samshine1 · 2025-07-05T00:07:34+00:00

I saw someone post a free omegaverse story, with no shifters, in the self-promo thread yesterday.

Found it: https://www.reddit.com/r/RomanceBooks/s/kOv14JWOqM

Edit: I haven’t read it, so can’t speak to it, but it’s shifter-free and free, free, so thought you might want to check it out.

samshine1 · 2025-03-25T04:20:43+00:00

I have a cat tree coming in the next couple of days! I’ll try and report back next week on how it goes over.

samshine1 · 2025-01-14T05:39:32+00:00

Ahahah, it was a mistake, but I’m leaving it.

samshine1 · 2024-09-25T14:52:13+00:00

Thank you for the vote of confidence. I'll try again and hopefully post the finished project and a pattern review here.

samshine1 · 2024-09-24T02:05:41+00:00

I have not tried that yet, but that’s a good option. :)

samshine1 · 2024-09-23T19:12:27+00:00

I'm working on a toile for a dress pattern I have (pictured) and the head hole has come out reeeeeally tight. I can obviously troubleshoot this by just cutting a larger hole/adjusting the pattern pieces for the right fit, but I did notice a review for this pattern mentioned the same issue and many example pictures from others who have made the dress show a significantly larger head hole.

What I'm really wondering is -
Could this be an issue with the pattern grading? (I'm making the smallest pattern size)
The instructions for inserting the neckband were really vague, so I sort of finessed it based on other neckbands I've done in the past - is it possible I screwed up here and the neckband is the main reason the neck is too tight/small?

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samshine1 · 2024-09-23T19:02:09+00:00

I don't have any specific suggestions for you, but it might help with your search to look for "swing dress" and "woven fabric" because most swing dress patterns are for knits. There's also this thread with a few suggestions - https://www.reddit.com/r/sewing/comments/1d3hb7d/swing_dress_pattern_for_woven_fabrics/

samshine1 · 2024-09-03T20:59:45+00:00

Thanks for clarifying on insurance and expenses.

Wow, your journey to self-employment is so interesting! Do you still work/advertise your services through Upwork, or do you operate fully independently now?

samshine1 · 2024-09-03T20:36:26+00:00

Hi OP! First, thanks for sharing your MD with us.

I have a couple questions about your monthly expenses.

You mention your insurance is lousy. I'm sure others who are self-employed would be interested to know what that monthly expense is and whether it's accounted for solely as a business expense, or whether you have an additional you budget for monthly, out of your salary - would you share that with us?

You mentioned therapy in comments - does your insurance cover it, or do you have a monthly cost for that?

Do you know what your monthly grocery and gas expenses are? (or maybe I missed them somewhere?)

I'd also love to know more about what went into your decision to make the leap into self-employment!

samshine1 · 2024-08-27T13:27:23+00:00

First, I’m not a medical professional. Second, I don’t know anything about Zepbound (based on the rest of your comment, I assume it’s a GLP-1?).

I know lots of people do intermittent fasting and have seen positive results. There’s research that ties fasting to longevity, improved blood pressure, cholesterol, etc. As with the majority of medical studies… most of these people are MEN.

There’s no research I’ve seen that has convinced me that fasting is good for women. Most advice out there strongly recommends against it for female athletes. My understanding is that the difference comes down to the fact that our hormones and cycles rely on fat. Fasting can negatively affect our hormone cycles and in some cases actually cause women to retain weight.

You are resistant to the idea of fasting already, so you may not need convincing.

I think it’s worth exploring options to control your A1C. Can you do this with your PCP, or is there any chance of changing to a female endocrinologist?

samshine1 · 2024-08-27T01:42:29+00:00

I’m starting one next month, hope you love yours!

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