yeah hips and knees are still a damn nuisance of course.  We have to dash about between classroom for all lessons now, so the only thing I insisted on was all classrooms either being ground floor or lift-accessible, and having a trolley to lug all my gear about [we have to carry chromebooks everywhere instead of using classroom PCs- another issue when eyesight is bad as the wretched things are so small]
It's only taken SIX WEEKS to get the trolley.  Trip hazards everywhere of course, a pothole-filled yard seems compulsory in all schools, and huge great doormats which fold up all the bloody time...the battle is endless.
I have had a niggly cough so took the last three days off school, with cases rocketing this week, and ultimately FOUR year group bubbles being sent home, asymptomatic staff testing positive...I thought it wise to get a test.
I came up negative this time [first of many tests to come I'm sure] so will take this clearance and finally have my parents over for the first in person contact in months, and no doubt the last for the rest of this year.  It's my ma's 83rd birthday very soon, and it seems a good idea to see them when I know I'm currently not going to pass anything on to them.
The next half term will of course be even worse.
It's bloody scary
Dept of education has just quietly removed the 'schools are not high risk environments' from their guidance
Unions are going batshit

@DementedFairy  .... We need your expertise !!!!!!

Lol OK= although my expertise [and mojo] is very limited right now while the optometrist tries to sort out my Bell's-Palsy-trashed eyesight

I got the beautiful [not cheap] beads for our wedding dresses from The Viking Loom in York, I got the very cheap lace appliques and bling for the most recent one I made from good old eBay, lots of which comes from China, and that's usually absolutely fine in my experience

Before I got back into sewing so much I bought quite a few simple wrap dresses on ebay, all knit.  To get round the booby gaping, I just wore matching/toning camis under them, and wore them all to death.  Since I've been sewing again, I have made a couple, don't wear them, so stopped bothering.  I think it's having higher expectations of fit than in RTW!
My style's changed anyway, so I'm unlikely to be pining for one right now lol.
Hope you nail the fit Fran, getting that curve right so they sit between the boobs and snug in seems to be the trick

Just say no.  And then stick to it.  They have to know they can't fuck you about!

I got ANOTHER four.  Oh dear.  Delivery was fast, although one arrived in a flat cardboard envelope and the other three were in a medium sized box, padded out with brown paper.  All arrived at the same time.  How odd.

And I got some more fabric.
Double oh dear.

BUT
I've finished all the costume sewing bar last minute fixes and tweaks as they go on stage on Wednesday.

AND
I may have just volunteered to make panto costumes for November...

Didst someone summon me?
Steampunk is anything and everything you fancy, styled with imagination.  LOADS of brown, but more and more people breaking THAT boring mould and going mental [like wot I do]
Having said that, denim isn't firmly woven enough for a really good corset, better to go for coutil if you want serious shaping, but if it's just for a fun outside layer, go for it.

The costumes are done, dress and tech rehearsals on Monday and Tuesday, shows on Wednesdays and Thursday so I will resurface soon...just in time for the heaviest part of exam marking season! [And I'm trying not to lose my temper at idiot drama teachers who add extra people into the cast  at the eleventh hour...guess what ladies, I asked you to confirm numbers four weeks ago FOR A REASON.  I don't bend.  Additional cast members can go in uniform for all I care]

@Roger - I thought I'd have a quick look for the manual of the MO-600 but the series 600 pdf starts at 623 and I can't find anything on older models in that series. I'm guessing the threading is the same or similar though. Do you have a manual for it?

Not forgotten you @Lorenaserafina ! What model is yours? Also, I seem to recall that @DementedFairy has bought sari fabrics online. Any advice for sources at reasonable prices DF?

Just ebay, and search 'second hand saris' they are GAZILLIONS at great prices