#Fabric Re Rolling Machine

[just-a-sketchbook]

First Quilt!

It has been a lot of fun and a lot of trial and error but it's done!!!

It's roughly 1.20 x 1.20m (which is a number of feet I can't be bothered to look up but let's say it's about child sized and it'll be great to chill on the couch).

I want to thank @langdon813 who I've never talked to (sorry if you hate being tagged) but whose gorgeous Drunkard path quilts made me wanna do it too :)

I had never done any quilting before (but I did sew), so here's what I've learned, if any beginner is interested in jumping off the deep end the way I did and wants advice from someone who has freshly acquired experience but will also not use any confusing technical terms (with pictures!) :

Fabric picking : so most advice I read was to go for pre-selected bundles of fabric that already go together, but I'm contrary and like to do my own thing so I used wax fabric (the blue ones on top the pile) I had laying around, which I strongly recommend: it's very easy to cut due to it being waxed, and I added a few fat squares from the shop, plus I also had the orange and blue floral and I based the coulour scheme on it. One thing that's true is it would have been easier to work with fabric of the same thickness, and the floral was givne to me by my ma who got in on trip to Thailand and it was alot thinner than the rest which didn't help.

Cutting: I got a rotary cutter for the occasion and it's great! Do not maybe push too hard on it and give yourself nerve damage the way I did (temporary but still), it's actually ery sharp and easy to use, so long as your template doesn't slip you're fine

Piecing :Yes you can do curved piecing even if you have zero experience, you just gotta make a template and

pin it a lot.

1/4 inch margins is the standard so I rolled with it because I don't like converting, but when you're strictly metric it is kind of annoying but doable because my machine does have a 1/4 inch mark and if you stick a length of tape along it it's pretty easy to follow, even for curved piecing.

Layout: At some point you've got to decide the layout is done, because I've re-arranged the blocks at least 6 times and it's a very good way to go insane. (For rough reference, my plan was to have no repeat fabrics in any of the circle-in-a-square blocks, and I only made one mistake which I clocked too late to change)

Chain piecing!! Meaning you pile your blocks together in a specific order (that I personnaly wrote straight up on each piece with a very sophisticated letter/numbers down/across system) and then just sew them together in a line without having to cut the thread between each pair. Looks a little like a fanion banner and at some point it feels like you'll be forever tangled into it but then it's magic :) It's not that hard actually and will save you a lot of time + there's a lot of online tutorials you can use.

Basting! (which it took me while to understand is the part where you attach the backing, the fluff and the quilt top together) : you need more safety pins. Safety pins will save you from the wrinkles and the unfortunate oopsies of realising you've caught your backing double folded into your quilting stitch, which I did a good three times and was not fun to undo. Also, I forgot to tape the backing to the floor and it probably would have helped with the wrinkling...

Backing : I used an old linen table cloth I got for 10€ at a charity shop, and I've still got about 2/3 of it left, so I recommend that, it's sturdy but soft enough, doesn't thread easily and can be washed at very high temps, if that's a thing you do.

Quilting! Well, my machine came with a quilting foot for free motion quilting (which means you're the one moving the fabric along in whichever direction and you can sort of draw with your stitches) and it seemed fun so I did that, and here's what I learned : curves are hard but doable, also my machine doesn't like to go back (kept skipping sitiches for some reason) so it involves a lot of shifting the quilt around, which isn't easy considering the bulk. And also, drawing the quilting pattern you want so you can follow it while quilting actually does help, I used an iron/heat-erasable pen and it worked just fine. Check your stitch tension, mine was too loose and I realised too late so there's spots where I could pull on the thread and it looped, had to stitch back over that.

Quilitng pattern : I wasn't sure what to do, supposedly your batting (aka: the fluff) comes with instructions on how tight you should quilt to avoid it coming apart through use but I got mine cut at the fabric shop and forgot to ask so I just rolled with a rough 10cm maximum distance in between stitching lines but tried to do less in most places. According to many blogs : the tighter your lines the stiffer your quilt, so I kept it loose for comfort. (Picture is halfway done, I added a smaller square/circle inside each square/circle and if you look at it you'll see it's actually diagonal lines form one end of the fabric to the other.)

Binding is boring, and there's nothing to it. I got a length of pre-cut bias binding, machine-sewed it front to front to the quilt top side of the quilt and the folded it back and secured it by hand to the back with a ladder stitch. Took me roughly and entire rewatch of the Last Of Us. There's a trick to doing the corners that's fairly simple but I've lost the tutorial...

Overall : I got myself a quilting book with techinques and such and it helped, but there's a ton of stuff online, and once you get over the very Christian American mum vibe of most of the blogs, it's all very helpful (and gorgeous!) (no offense meant to Christian American mums, it's just a bit of a culture shock from where I'm standing).

[strawberryteabunny]

lolita laundry tip: blocking your lace

This is something that really helps to make any dress with cotton lace look nicer- in the first pic, the middle row on the bodice and right side neckline have been blocked, and in the second photo all the lace has been done. In the third photo, the upper section has been blocked and the lower section below the waist seam hasn’t (I know I need to lint roll this dress, sorry!)

‘Blocking’ is a finishing technique commonly found in knitting and lace-making where after you wash your piece, as it dries you pull it into the correct shape so that after it dries it maintains that shape. For lace especially, this changes the lace from a scrunched-up state, opening up the stitches so you can see the beautiful pattern. Technically, proper blocking involves putting the item on a special mat and pinning it into place, but for my lolita I’ve found that you can just do it by hand.

This is done after washing, but while the garment is still damp- I generally wash my dresses in a machine (on a normal or gentle cycle, cold settings only) and then let them air-dry, and that’s when I deal with the lace. If I put them in the dryer or let them dry as is, the lace would dry in the ‘scrunched up’ state rather than being neat and flat (this has to be done every time you wash the garment).

To block- hold the seam or edge of the garment in one hand, and gently tug at the lace with the other to spread it out into shape. Only use enough force to get the lace to spread out, and be careful not to pull so hard you damage the seams or fabric! Then just let the dress air dry.

If you need to fix scrunched lace on a dry dress, I’d suggest steaming rather than ironing. If you gently steam the lace until it’s damp, then wait a couple seconds for it to cool off, you can re-block it, but personally I find this more tedious than blocking out of the wash since you have to watch out for the heat.

This technique is generally just for natural fibers- if you own wool or cotton sweaters they will also benefit from being gently pulled into shape before drying (never put wool in the dryer as it will shrink!). Synthetic lace, however, maintains its shape and can be machine-dried as long as the rest of the garment is also dryer-safe.

[pillow-priestess]

So hypothetically, what would be the best washer/ dryer settings for a bulky, at-minimum-8-foot-tall plush stuffed creature? Asking for a friend

aww, you sound like a very lovely friend! so there's a couple ways to wash your very very large plushie. if you'd like to do it at home, that's understandable! a plushie appreciates every ounce of love you give it, and going through the massive effort of washing it by yourself is a whole lot of love that it'll be sure to return twice over.

the best way to do this is to wash it a couple pieces at a time! even if it might not look it, most big plushies can actually disassemble if you pull on the right seams. I recommend doing two limbs at a time, then the torso, then the tail, and then any other appendages. use plenty of fabric softener, it'll soak that right up happily! as for the head, I personally recommend giving it a loving hand wash with warm water, soap, and softener. trust me, the feeling of running your hands firmly and lovingly over every inch of its head, inside and out, is *heavenly* for both parties. not to mention, if your friend is a plushsuit, you can wear each of its parts when they're individually done drying, to let them surround you with tight loving warmth!

the most thorough way to wash a plush, though, is to remove its stuffing and wash the lining itself. for smaller plushies, this is perfectly possible, but for something as big as your friend, it very likely has a whole pocket dimension of fluff stored in there! which is why I recommend taking it to your local STUFF-A-PLUSH! branch. the good folks there will happily wash any plush for you! just take it over to anyone near The Machine - the stuffing that rolls around and around in that baby is practically infinite, too, and the filling hose it uses has a setting to suck things back in! it might look weird, draining the fluff out of your plush with an industrial hose, but trust me when I say it's a very enjoyable experience.

from there, the STUFF-A-PLUSH! employees will take its lining into the back and run it through one of our special washers. feel free to hang around the store while you wait, there's plenty of other plushies big and small to peruse and hug! remember that Making A Friend is ALWAYS free, and any one of our creations would love to come home with you. pretty soon, your friend will be done drying, and we'll take it back to you good as new! you'll get to use The Machine yourself to re-stuff that plush as big and soft as you'd like~

I'm sure that either option would be highly enjoyable to a good friend like yourself! It'll definitely appreciate that you came to an expert for advice, and I've got faith that you'll put it into practice just fine. Give your friend a big big hug for me before and after the wash, okay? It sounds lucky to have someone like you around <3

[theanonymousninja247]

Pretty Random Turtle Thunks: Baby Clothes

Scenario: You’ve just handed said Rise Aged Up Turtle a tiny baby outfit. Whether your child, a niece, nephew, sibling or just some infant you saved from the streets, just know there is now an itty bitty baby human within your general vicinity you are now taking care of

*Rating: Milk🥛(aka for anybody)*

Raph🧸❤️: Tears. Just. So. Many. Tears. Makes Niagara Falls look like a trickle. This man is literally loosing it, hand over mouth can’t stop staring at the ridiculously tiny piece of fabric in his hand. It’s barely the size of his fingers.

…Sweet Pizza Supreme in the Sky…

ItS BaReLy ThE sIzE oF hIs FinGeRs.

You find him hunkered down in his room immediately after the news, surrounded by the remains of over a dozen, half started knitting projects, tears still on his face as he tries to fathom the very idea that something can be that small.

He’s been trying to knit the perfect baby blanket, but his anxieties start to take over every time he starts over. He worries the material is gonna itch the baby’s skin. Is the baby gonna suffocate if the stitches are too tight? Will the baby drown in fabric if he makes it too big? Will the baby get too cold if it isn’t big enough? etc etc etc…

You’re gonna have to talk him down a little bit because he’s gonna work himself into a frenzy getting ready for the baby.

Donnie🤔🟪: Just looks at said article of clothing. Looks back up at you, face slightly pinching in confusion, then back at the outfit. Cue a slow curious thumbing of the fabric. Slow blink. Body suddenly freezes. Eyes comically begin to grow wide. (Give him a second, give him a second; he’s computing) Before his head suddenly snaps back up to stare at you and then almost frantically back down at the garment as the realization hits. There’s no outwardly facial reaction, but the tell tale sign is that his hand fumbles for his goggles as suddenly he’s going full inspection mode.

You are more or less not surprised when the article is met with immediate disdain.

Cue Donnie spending hours researching the best materials for baby clothes. They’re going to be 100% organic and made of the softest and most sterile fabrics he can find. And if he can’t find any brands that suit his high class fancy, well he’ll just design a machine to do the job himself. He’s not the founder of Genius Tech for nothing.

This small infant will be associated with HIM of all people and a such deserves nothing but the highest quality. The best of the best for the best. Obviously.

Your child will be the most finely dressed child of the century after being in the hands of Donnie for more than 5 seconds. There will be a fashion show. Period. Being a baby never looked this good. 

Leo✨💠: Realization that slowly unfurls like a blossom in the morning sun. This turtles face is so bright with excitement when it finally clicks that he literally becomes the sun for like solid minute it’s just that big. However that smile immediately folds into that signature cat smirk that warns of nothing but impending deviousness.

Your child is in trouble, for it now lies in the hands of an evil mastermind, hell bent on causing tomfoolery that will last through out the generations to follow.

He’s always wanted to leave a legacy, and he will seize this moment and milk for all its worth. 

All the dad jokes. All of the horrible groan-inducing, eye-rolling, awful puns. All the stupid slapstick, low brow kind of humor are now practically plastered to your child’s clothing. He thinks he’s the funniest person alive and will do everything his power to infect said child with the same vein of humor.

Also, be warned of leaving your child alone with this man, because if left to his devices for too long, you will receive an unfathomable amount of memes and edited baby photos of your child and Leo in hilarious re-enactments scenes.  

Mikey🎨🧡: Pretty sure a missile just went off Because the squeal of excitement that erupted from this turtle was the only warning you got, before you were all but tackled in a hug like a rugby player, pretty much burst not only the sound barrier but your ear drums as well.

There! Is! So! Much! Excitement!

It. Can. Not. Be. CoNtAiNeD!!!!

It’s literally oozing out of him and man practically reverts into a child himself as the foundation of curiosity is exploded, and you are all but drowned in a relentlessly loving sea of questions. He wants to know EVERYTHING. All the time! Because he just - he just -he just can’t wait! All this time to prepare for another little bundle of joy!  It jumpstarts his creative spark in a way you have NEVER seen before. He now spends his time religiously spent in three locations: locked in close and glued to your hip, a culinary cabaret in which you are very much the honored guest who just has to taste test his newest recipe (your taste buds have never been this happy) or in his art studio working on just one more thing for the baby.

He’s designed his own baby clothes, painted more than enough scenes for multiple nurseries to be completely filled, and even written a couple of his own baby adventure comic books that he is just dying to read the awaited little one.

He’s beyond ecstatic at the thought that there’s now something tinier than him that he can help take care of and love. 

Bottom line: Both you and your baby are about to be welcomed into the arms of the most excited and loving family you will ever have the privilege of knowing. Just…good luck trying to get their arms off of you. Because they will never and I mean EVER let either one of you go. That is both their threat and their promise!

Shout out to the besties who proofread @anobodyinabog and @saspas-corner 🧡

As well as the ever incredible @avery73 (hope it’s ok to tag you in this, but I just realized that I lowkey based my turtle thunks after reading yours, and I wanted to give you the credit. Thought you might enjoy?)

[shapeshiftersvt]

Big Update Post

Hiya, shapeshifters!

We have some announcements to make this evening.

Here’s the short of it:

The Shapeshifters website will be temporarily down this Sunday evening, March 3, 2024 at Midnight EST.

When it comes back up, you’ll find a shiny new website that is organized the same way with a couple of exceptions.

The Off-the-Rack Sale and Holographic listings will be temporarily delisted.

The Goth listings will be renamed. You will find Rainbow Constellations, Monster Mouths, and a couple of new options listed under Cosmic Horror.

The Skin Tone listings will have brand new additional color skin tone options!

The Island Time listings will also have a new option available.

The Binding 101 FAQ will be rolled into its own section in the FAQ.

There will be a brand new Events Page!

The blog will be temporarily disabled.

If you’re curious about the long of it, keep reading.

For everyone else, we appreciate your patience during this transition! Like so many other transitions, we’re delighted about where it’s going. 

Website Downtime

Shapeshifters is finally moving to Shopify! We’ve done a lot of work over the past few months building a more organized, streamlined website that will be easier to access for you and update for us. On Sunday night, we’ll shut down the current website to pause orders so that we can migrate everything cleanly.

Off-the-Rack and Holographic Listings

The Off-the-Rack listings will be delisted to give us a chance to reorganize the remaining stock so we don’t accidentally double-sell anything. 

The Holographic listings will be delisted while we assess our fabric options. Long-time customers might notice that we’ve removed Liquid Metal and Oil Slick from the Holo listings; we’re sourcing replacements and new options throughout spring. Once we know our options, we’ll either re-launch the Holo listings, or move the currently available fabric Prism to another home so it won’t be all alone anymore.

If you’ve been eyeing either Prism or an Off-the-Rack, buy it before Sunday if you can!

Expanded Skin Tone Range

We’re very excited to announce three new skin tone options will be available after the website migration: Pine, Chestnut, and Laurel! Pine is a pale shade, while Chestnut and Laurel are both on the darker end of the spectrum.

And, the new and improved Skin Tone listings will be the perfect place to see the results of our latest photoshoot! We’re excited for y’all to get to see these photos around the site and on the listings. We sought out models of color with darker skintones both to fill a gap in the modeled photos in our listings, and to show off our darker skin tones. All of our models were amazing, our photographer was great, and the photos are fantastic! We really leaned into the cozy Vermont vibes for this one.

Events Page

We’re going to events again! Hooray!

And we’re not just going to conventions and conferences and Pride festivals. We’re also talking queer markets, fashion shows, and binder sewing workshops!

That’s right, some lucky folks in the New England area will have the opportunity to take an in-person class with Eli, our head tailor and the developer of our DIY Binder Sewing Kits. They will walk you, step-by-step, through sewing your own custom-sized binder and help you troubleshoot along the way. These workshops are designed for sewists of any level and do not require you to own a sewing machine.

If you’d like to host a sewing workshop or would like to have us at any other event, educational, celebratory, fashionable or otherwise, please contact us!

Thanks once again  for bearing with us during this transition and we can’t wait for you all to see the new site!

[is-the-battlemech-cool-or-not]

Ryūga - THE LAST DRAGON’S LEAP

SLS Ulithi

Potemkin-class Troop Cruiser

Zenith Jump Point, Luthien System

Late September, 3153

The bridge of the SLS Ulithi was a cathedral of order and precision, a seamless blend of naval tradition and cutting-edge technology. Every station was manned, every officer in place, their uniforms crisp in SLDF black and gray, moving with the grace of a well-oiled machine. The soft hum of the ship’s vast systems provided a steady background murmur, punctuated only by the occasional, clipped reports from the various bridge stations.

Standing near the rear of the bridge, Gunji-no-Kanrei Ryūga Kurita watched silently, his emerald gaze sweeping across the vast space. His presence—flanked by Tai-sa Reika Jurobei and Chu-sa Dahiya Ult Salah-Miyamoto—was not one of command, but of observation, a guest on this WarShip that bore the colors of a Star League reborn.

They did not speak. They did not interfere.

This was not a Combine vessel, and they would not insult the discipline of these warriors by intruding upon their ritual of command.

At the central command station, Captain Eliza Tagore stood with perfect composure, her hands clasped behind her back. Her piercing gaze swept the bridge once, as though she could feel the readiness of her crew without needing to ask.

“All stations, report status,” she said, her voice measured, carrying through the bridge with absolute authority.

One by one, the station chiefs responded, their voices crisp and controlled:

“Engineering reports the K-F drive is fully charged, all leads stable.”

“Navigation confirms plotted course.”

“Tactical systems secured, all weapons in standby mode.”

“Medical confirms all crew secured and accounted for.”

Her executive officer, a Clanner hailing from Clan Sea Fox, judging by the insignia on their shoulder, turned to Tagore. “All commands squared away and ready for jump, ma’am.”

Tagore gave a slight nod. “Good.”

Turning her gaze toward her executive officer, she gave the command.

"Let's kick the tires and light the fires."

The Ulithi’s executive officer, with the bearing of a veteran, gave a sharp nod before repeating the order, translating it into more formal naval jargon.

“All hands, initiate jump sequence, now, now, now.”

Voices overlapped as dozens of pieces fell into their well-oiled places.

“Aye-aye, lock course into the navputer.”

“Confirm drive charge."

"Lithium-fusion battery stable!"

"Sound the horn."

A klaxon wailed through the WarShip, a deep, reverberating sound—a remnant of old naval tradition, a signal that the final step toward hyperspace translation had begun.

From his vantage point, Ryūga felt a shift in the air, an anticipation that went beyond the physical, a feeling deep in his bones.

Even after centuries, even after thousands of jumps executed across the Inner Sphere, the transition between realspace and hyperspace remained a thing of mystery and reverence.

Even now, it humbled him.

“K-F drive charged and online, Captain.”

“All stations report manned and ready, ma’am.”

“Sound the horn once more, XO.”

A second klaxon blast rolled through the ship—this one seeming lower, heavier, a warning to the very fabric of space-time itself that something vast and unstoppable was about to move.

Tagore gave a final nod. “Execute.”

The countdown began. The executive officer counted down, snapping their fingers with each passing second.

“Jump in five... four... three... two... one... Jump!”

For a fraction of a second, the universe ceased to exist. The officer's last word slurred as everything—the ship, her crew, her very atoms—was ripped from realspace and thrust through the incomprehensible void of hyperspace.

It was nothing.

It was everything.

It was at once both the absence of sensation, of time, of form, and also a glimpse into every future, every thought, every physical point in the known universe—a transition so profound that no words could ever fully describe it.

Then—

With a sudden jarring snap, the Ulithi re-emerged into the universe, space roaring back into existence, distant stars and the cool black of the void reasserting themselves around them.

For an instant, the bridge was silent, save for the faint hum of the ship’s systems stabilizing.

Then the reports came in.

“Navigation confirms emergence at expected coordinates.”

“Drive systems stable, all power readings nominal.”

“Engineering reports no irregularities in jump performance.”

“No hull stress detected. All bulkheads holding.”

Tagore exhaled, a fraction more relaxed now that the jump had been completed.

“Very well. Request reports from all departments regarding any instances of TDS.”

Transit Disorientation Syndrome—jump sickness—was an expected side effect of hyperspace travel, a lingering remnant of humanity’s imperfect adaptation to physics it was never meant to touch. Even among the most seasoned crews, some would experience momentary dizziness, nausea, or fatigue.

Ryūga observed as the executive officer watched a screen, and began compiling reports, the officers systematically filtering through the ship’s records to ensure all personnel had safely transitioned.

The Executive Officer returned a moment later. “Captain, minor cases of TDS reported among deck crews, but all within acceptable parameters. No severe incidents.”

Tagore nodded. “A good jump, then.”

She turned slightly, this time acknowledging her Kuritan guests, her expression unreadable yet knowing. “Gunji-no-Kanrei Kurita-denka, I trust you found the experience satisfactory?”

Ryūga gave her a measured look before offering a slight nod.

“Executed with precision, as expected.” A beat of silence, then: “Your crew is well-trained, Tagore-san. You have my respect.”

The SLDF captain dipped her head in acknowledgment. “I would accept nothing less from them.”

Reika, ever the tactician, let her gaze drift over the various officers returning to their duties, considering the sheer discipline of this operation. The speed, the efficiency—this was the SLDF at its height.

Dahiya exhaled, rolling her shoulders as though shaking off the phantom sensation of hyperspace travel, her expression one of mild intrigue. “I will admit—your jump procedures are… impressive. I have seen few crews execute such a maneuver with this level of precision.” In truth, Dahiya had only witnessed this procedure a handful of times prior. But it would not pay to be rude.

Tagore’s lips quirked slightly, but she did not gloat. “That is why we are the Star League Defense Force, Chu-sa.”

A subtle statement, but one heavy with meaning.

Ryūga let the words settle, his thoughts turning inward.

Yes. This was not merely a fleet, not merely a military force. The SLDF was something else entirely—a force that had survived its own death, had risen anew, stronger, more disciplined than before.

And now, it moved across the stars with a power no House, no nation, had ever wielded before.

The journey to Islington continued, and the SLS Ulithi prepared for its next great leap across the cosmos.

[spontaneousmusicalnumber]

Hey! So I have recently come into the possession of an older sewing machine (happy that it’s at least something that won’t break on me too soon 🤞). Sewing is something I’ve just started to get into—we’re talking still learning the machine stages lol. I’m starting to plan out some projects I’m interested in trying, and I wanted to ask you if you have any suggestions advice about starting that? I imagine this is a really broad question, but honestly any advice would be appreciated 😅

Ooooh, congrats on the new machine! The advice I'd GIVE and the steps I FOLLOWED are actually very different.

What came to mind as good starter projects were things like simple drawstring or elastic-waist sweatpants or skirts, pillowcases, quilted hot pads, or a half-circle cape. But my first machine sewn projects were parts of cosplays like Crona and Mettaton.

My modus operandi is usually to find a project I'm really excited about and dive in head-first, learning a ton along the way as I inevitably mess up. I can offer some general tips:

Buying things like needles, bobbins, and trim in bulk online is SO much cheaper than any brick-and-mortar store. Ditto with sewing machine feet! A rolled hem foot changed my life.

Cotton broadcloth (quilting cotton) is inexpensive and easy to work with, but in my experience rarely ends up looking very nice as a garment. Pick something else for shirts.

Don't use a straight stitch (inelastic) on knit fabric (elastic). Always zigzag. I forget this all the time. And have to re-do my stitching all the time.

If your machine has been working fine for a while, and then SUDDENLY starts acting squirrely or missing stitches and stuff, change your needle.

The sewing machine equivalent of "turn it off and back on again" is rethreading your machine. Do that as soon as anything goes wrong.

Don't sew over pins. People will tell you that you can. That's how you get a shard of a needle in your face.

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Day 9 -- Dazzle

The (nsfw) details for Kinktober, Day 9 are just below the cut!

Minors, please don’t interact.

Stripping with Dazzle x F!Six

Yay, Dazzle! She was super fun to explore, for the mere reason that she's just... well, she's not a super big character in FONV, so there was lots of freedom concerning her true personality (I think she probably puts on a bit of a show when she talks to the courier in-game, so it's not really her true self that you get to see most of the time, but that's just my opinion)

I hope y'all enjoy! <3

Here is the link to my  Kinktober 2023 Event List so you can stay up-to-date, or re-visit these works as you please.

Included: Stripping, undressing, dancing, dirty talk, teasing, talk of overstimulation, lipstick stains, kissing, stress relief, sweetness, some jealousy.

Words: 2.5k

--

“Take a seat for me, sweet cheeks.” 

Dazzle’s eyes rolled good-humoredly at Six’s request, an easy smile playing at her plush lips as she played the part and sauntered over to the worn, leather chair. 

“Atta gal, now just sit back and enjoy.” 

Six turned down the lights, something Dazzle hadn’t even known was a feature at any of the hotel rooms, let alone the one she worked in, but, well, if anyone knew the perks of Gomorrah's presidential suite, it was the Omertas’ prized darling. The sadistic tribe's most infamous ally warranted nothing but the best, she was sure.

Suppose being their ally's paramour has its perks.

“Sure thing, sugar.” Dazzle winked as she sank into her seat, spreading her legs wide in a mockery of her usual clientele. 

Despite her joking, Six kept her own half-lidded bedroom eyes locked to her counterpart as she sensually swayed her way over to the jukebox in the darkened corner of the room. 

The machine spun to life at the click of a button, and deep, provocative music poured from its speakers as Six spun on one heel, and set her sights on the woman in the chair. 

Dazzle’s heart kicked up, something leaping and swooping in her stomach, too, at the way Six’s gaze melted into her. She had a dark, smokey eyeshadow painted on her lids, her lips wore a deep red, like the crimson felt of the blackjack tables downstairs. The leather top she wore shone in the dim light, the reflective beams shifting and glinting with her swaying movement, her short skirt rippling with the accentuated movement of her thighs as she teasingly approached her partner’s chair. 

“You’re pretty good at this, baby. You sure you’re not in the wrong line of work?” Dazzle quipped, hoping it would hide the flush she felt creeping to her pale cheeks. 

“What?” Six’s eyebrow quirked upwards, “You afraid I’m gonna take your business, Dazz?” 

Six twirled around, the wind catching the fabric of her skirt just so, to give her partner a sly peek at the decorative panties she wore below.

“Maybe I don’t want business no more. You think of that?” 

“Oh?” 

“Yeah, just sit back like this, take you in." Dazzle settled further in her chair, and ran her eyes markedly over partner's form. "Hell, maybe you could just give me a lil allowance or somethin,’ you know? Successful woman like yourself, Omertas wouldn’t mind. So long as their favorite little helper sticks around. You could be doin' the damn landscaping and they’d still throw a hundred caps your way, easy.” 

“Is that jealousy I hear?” Six meant it as a joke, she was sure, but still… A fire kindled within her that she couldn't shake, lighting an enraging red over her eyes as she thought back on her service to the family that gave Six everything, and gave her...  

So many years under contract, so many nights spent with every one of those assholes who barely treat us better than Legion slaves, and then Six comes along, and boom. It’s like none of us are worth a damn thing, not compared to her.

“Dazz, honey, please don’t take it that way.” She nearly jerked back at she felt Six’s sudden touch on her hand, the contact tearing her from the growing fury bubbling up and up. “They only want me cuz I’m in good with House. They know what he can do for them, that’s all.” 

She pulled Dazzle’s hand to her lips as she bent down, pressing a kiss there and leaving a pretty little lipstick mark on the back of her hand. 

“This is what I mean,” She continued, more softly this time. “You deserve to have a night off, to turn off that loud mind of yours, sweetheart, and just let me take care of you.”

Another kiss and Dazzle’s lip twitched, even as she felt her sour mood holding onto her with clawed fingers. 

And then another kiss, leaving a small trail of red imprints up her forearm, another and another; her smile growing inevitably larger until Six’s mouth was pressed to the apple of her cheek, her lipstick very nearly gone by the time she got there. 

Dazzle was smiling openly now, though, giggling at the tickle of her partner’s stubborn affections. 

“You’re right, ‘m sorry.” 

“Don’t be,” She mirrored Dazzle’s grin and gave her one final parting smooch on the cheek, before releasing her hand from her grasp and turning back to the jukebox. 

“Now, let’s try this again, okay? Just try to focus on me.” 

The button clicked, and Six restarted that rhythmic, reverberant song back up and began her sexy approach all over again. 

Dazzle let herself soak it in, her lips half-parted as Six did another twirl, as she snaked her shoulders and pressed her hands to her own breasts where they were almost spilling out the top of her tight corset. 

Dull pain sparked from Dazzle’s lips as her teeth sunk in, as her own steamy expression, her sultry gaze only inspired more from her partner. 

Six had insisted she’d never properly stripped before, but it was evident in the lithe movement, in the way she so expertly brought attention to those deliciously curvaceous areas of her body, that she’d been around the Gomorrah ladies enough to have– consciously or not– picked up some pointers on the art of the strip tease. 

If nothing else, Dazzle knows she’s given her at least a dozen shows herself, but this? Watching the way Six’s form rippled in the soft light, watching her movements-- so carefully crafted to showcase those parts of her that she knew Dazzle adored most of all-- it captivated her just the way Six intended, putting pause to even those loud thoughts, her distracting worries and jealousy that tried to keep their hold on her so desperately that it ached.

Now she could think only of her.

She really could become quite good at this with a bit more practice, a few more clients, learning their respective tastes…

“Are you watching, beautiful?” Six’s voice demanded her attention, her active gaze. “This is for you and you alone, baby, I want you to enjoy.” 

At that, in one fluid– definitely practiced– movement, Six's arms moved in a flash, dropping the skirt from her form and stepping out of it with a distinctly lewd sway of her hips. She grinded her barely-clothed pelvis against the air like she would Dazzle’s ass on those nights where they got tipsy in her room, and her positively indecent expression came to match that same passion of those shared nights.

Now in only her dark leather corset, her thin, lacey thong and stiletto heels, Six firmly had Dazzle’s attention. 

“That’s more like it.” Six’s voice was husky, rough, matching the dim, seediness of the room she was stripping in. 

“Keep those pretty eyes on me.” She blew an air kiss next, and Dazzle licked her lips, imagining what their night would be like– would taste like... what she would taste like-- as it developed. 

Dazzle had to hold tightly onto the armrests, digging her long nails into the wood to stop herself from tackling Six right now, and tumbling right into the queen-sized mattress on the other side of the room. 

Soon enough. She told herself. 

Six hummed in appreciation of Dazzle's unbroken attention, the sound wanton and hoarse as she fixed her with a look of unbridled desire.  

The beat picked up a bit in the song as Six grew closer, until she was near enough to touch, her hips bouncing to the faster beat, her corset almost unable to handle the incessant jostling of her gorgeous breasts in the too-small space for them. 

That had to be strategic. Dazzle thought as her eyes locked to her partner’s chest, watching the darker colored skin of her nipples peek out with each undulation of her body to the beat. 

The overwhelming urge to reach out washed over her– to touch her partner, hell, to grope her with both hands and pull her straight away into her lap and mouth at those tits, her lips, her shapely throat until they were both breathless and soaked. 

But she knew. 

If anyone knew the rules of stripping, it was Dazzle, and so, she kept her hands firmly to herself. 

Six wound her body around with the beat of the song, spreading her legs into a squat position once she was facing away, her shapely ass less than a playing card’s breadth from Dazzle's crotch as she began to sway her hips in place.

The swell of Six's skin against the tightness of her nearly see-through panties had Dazzle’s mind fully occupied for the first time that night. Her mouth actually began to water, now, at the look of her partner. She could imagine the feel of her plush hips against her hugging fingers, wanted to savor the hot drag of her nails over her partner’s skin, admire the paths they’d leave upon her, wanted to haul her panties down and attack the curls between her legs, licking and mouthing until she had no breath left to spare. 

“Mm, that’s it baby, watch me. Imagine my skin against yours…” Six spoke lowly, her tone blending in with the din of the music as she lowered herself down in the squat, thrusting her voluptuous ass right into grabbing range of Dazzle’s stiff hands. 

“Imagine what it’ll be like to taste me, how hot I am for you, baby. How sweet and wet.” 

Dazzle followed her orders easily, her mind running wild with the possibilities of tonight, after all of her worries, her stress building up– rivalries, drama, jealousy, asshole clients, entitled Omertas, the list goes on and on, but Six… Each exquisite undulation, that hazy, pleasured look upon her face, the sweet smell of her perfume, and her growing arousal, so close to Dazzle’s hungry senses… it left her distracted from all the raucous fuss in her life, had her honed in, had her here. 

And dammit, it had her wanting. 

She adjusted her posture in the leather chair, squirming a bit as she felt her own wetness seep down into her panties, as another overwhelming urge to reach out almost claimed her self control. 

“Imagine when you get your hands on me… And when I get my lips back on you.” Six looked over her shoulder, her backside still turned to her partner and threw her a teasing wink, long eyelashes fluttering like moth’s wings with the movement. 

“The heat of us, baby. It’ll sear your fingers, my tongue.” Slowly, she wound her way back around, twirling those shapely hips until they were facing one another again. “It’ll burn so good.”

Dazzle’s jaw was clenched tight, she could feel sweat running down the line of her spine as Six leaned in, almost close enough for her lips to brush the shell of her ear. 

“I’ll taste you everywhere, gorgeous.” Her breath tickled as it caressed the peach fuzz on Dazzle’s face. “Your sweet, candy lips, your throat, all sensitive and ticklish… you won’t leave here without a few dozen marks from me. My lips, my teeth on your pale skin…” 

Six was almost growling now, even as Dazzle fought to hold back a whine of frustration. 

Please, Six. Her expression pleaded the same as her thoughts did, Let me touch you already. Quit talking and let’s fucking do this. 

“Then I’ll tear this whore’s outfit from you, slide my teeth over your nipples until they’re pink and hard and sensitive to my touch.” 

A pathetic whine finally left her, and Dazzle’s eyes fell shut, imagining the scenario in her head, her sensitive little buds already hardening and tingling at the mere thought of Six’s attention upon them. 

“What next?” Dazzle finally prompted in response, her words nearly breathless with her growing desire. 

“I’ll paint a line with my tongue, drag it down your stomach, rip your poor excuse for panties away with my teeth, watch you drip for me as I run my lips over everywhere but where you truly crave me.” 

“No–” Dazzle almost choked out the word in her disappointment. 

“Yes, baby. Oh, but it’ll be worth it…” Six’s lips pursed together, and she blew a cool stream of air down the line of Dazzle’s throat, causing goosebumps to suddenly prickle up her skin until her whole body gave a noticeable shiver of lewd appreciation. 

“Because in the end, I’m going to bury myself in you.” 

Dazzle’s hips thrust up off of the chair, very nearly colliding with Six’s, but managing to stop just short of contact. 

“You’ll have no idea where you end and I begin, baby. I’m going to live in you, going to set my lips on that sweet little button of yours until you’re pouring your pleasure out all over me.” 

“Mhm.” Dazzle nodded to her desperately, feeling the sweat slickening on her whole body, feeling her pussy drip and soak the leather cushion beneath her in anticipation. 

“Going to drink you down like sweet nectar, grasp your thighs in my hold until you bruise, bury my tongue inside and scoop out all your honey until I wring you dry.” 

“Six, please…”

“Make you come undone until your legs are shaking and I can’t feel my tongue. Make your eyes roll back, your breath hitch until your vision blurs, and then...”

Dazzle sat in silence a moment, her body mutely writhing in her seat as Six teased her, as she promised all this and did absolutely none of it. The song played on, slowing down, the beat pulsing through both their bodies, making their insides quiver with the sheer bass of its heavy notes. 

“Then what, Six?” Dazzle pleaded breathlessly. 

Her partner only continued her swaying, so frustratingly close, hovering near enough that if Dazzle just extended one hand even a tad, she could gain some miniscule semblance of relief. 

“Sugar, keep goin,’ don’t stop now.” She prompted again, the sounds leaving her growing increasingly desperate.

“Oh, if you insist.” 

God, Six was being cruel, that tone of hers plainly vocalizing the favor she was doing for Dazzle by finishing the sentence she'd started of her own rude volition. 

“Where was I...? Oh, yes." Her voice hissed in her ear, closer than before, and Dazzle felt her lips part involuntarily in anticipation. "I’ll wring you dry, baby, and then I’m gonna keep going. Lave and kiss and fuck you senseless until that messy little brain of yours can’t take any more. Until you can’t think of anything else but me and the pleasure I force on you, because, Dazz?”

“Hhm?” She whined out. 

“There’s nothing but you and me tonight, you hear me?” 

Dazzle nodded, not trusting her voice to leave her with any kind of dignity. 

“Good, love.” 

The lightest and barest hint of a touch ghosted over Dazzle’s cheek. Six’s lips? Her hand maybe? 

She leaned into it desperately. 

“So, what do you say? Care to break the first rule of strip teasing?” 

Finally, Dazzle did as she had dreamed of, what seemed like hours ago, as her partner danced and swayed and teased until she felt like leaping out of her chair. Now, she did just that, colliding their bodies until they were as Six said– nearly one– and they spilled out onto the mattress in a tangle of limbs and heat; and finally, Six made good on all her promises. 

[genderlessghoul]

ALRIGHT FUCKOS, HERE'S TO ME NOT DELETING THIS ONE RIGHT BEFORE POSTING IT AGAIN.

DEW'S VEST.

I studied it from the puppy pic compared to my favourite Tons of Rock picture and found that the paisley pattern on both of them do not match, these two are not the same vest!

So I went on a deep dive through my camera roll and found as many pictures as I could from both the Imperatour and the Re Imperatour.

These are all the same vest. Repeat the exercise with Phantom.

These are all the same vest.

Why is this important? Well, if your entire existence is not consumed by the thought of costumes like I am, it's not. If you're a bit insane about pieces of fabric, it tells you alot about the flow of operation from and by the costume team that made these and that's on tour with them.

I have no doubt that they have a lot of backups for all the costume pieces. However I don't think they have a rotation between a few copies. They likely get pieces like the pants and shirts washed between each shows but they would not do the same with the vests.

The clasps are riveted on (thank you Phantom for accidentally unbuckling one of them at my ritual so I could see how they're attached) and they would be a hazard to the fabrics to throw in a washing machine, and I would assume that even hand washing them that often would quickly deteriorate the flocked velvet. They probably get carefully washed on some selected days off, maybe they even have some scheduled time with a dry cleaner too.

All that to say, Dew's regular vest was probably in DESPERATE need of love at Tons of Rock, hence why they changed it just for that show. Also you couldn't pay me to put my nose close to Mountain's after a couple days of rituals without break. (This is a joke, they have deodorizing fabric spray for SURE) (Only partly a joke, I'm not taking that chance)

[cesium-sheep]

I cut the fabric I got weeks ago into 4 vaguely even strips (with a lazy sloppy technique), then unpicked all the edge repairs on blankey, which took hours, and discovered she was actually quite fluffy underneath the original repairs. I ironed out the old folds on very low temp and tried to iron the strips in flat folds as well, then I stitched them on. one hole was on a curve and I didn't get all of it with my straight line so I'll probably darn it whenever I re-darn the hole bear tore in her ages ago that's starting to fail, hopefully tomorrow? I also missed another hole because the fabric is mostly complete but it's pulling away from the very edge and I didn't get it tucked into the strip properly, so I'll have to unpick that partway to redo it right. arin is using the sewing machine now so that will probably also have to wait. but she is re-protected enough that I can still sleep with her tonight. I'll also need to trim the excess fabric since I didn't roll the edges under, but I want to wait until I fix the skipped edge to do that.

her old repairs were in really bad shape, the edges were starting to wear completely through.

[saidandspokenthings]

Sixteen Small Steps To Happiness

1. push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill with a big coat and a scarf and watch the sun rise.

2. push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energized and comfortable.

3. erase processed food from your diet. start with no lollies, chips, biscuits, then erase pasta, rice, cereal, then bread. use the rule that if a child couldn’t identify what was in it, you don’t eat it.

4. get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. fry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit and eat it and do nothing else.

5. stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your head. stretch your fingers. stretch everything. 

6. buy a 1L water bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

7. buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too small. 

8. strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

9. organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don’t want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

10. have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

11. push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the beach and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised how many smile back. bring your dog and observe the dog’s behaviour. realise you can learn from your dog.

12. message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don’t follow through. push yourself to follow through.

14. think long and hard about what interests you. crime? sex? boarding school? long-forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything. 

15. become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself to not ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

16. lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn’t a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you. 

- Emma Elsworthy

[bxtchesluvsos4]

do it for yourself 🫶🏽

push yourself to get up before the rest of the world - start with 7am, then 6am, then 5:30am. go to the nearest hill and watch the sunrise.

push yourself to fall asleep earlier - start with 11pm, then 10pm, then 9pm. wake up in the morning feeling re-energised and comfortable.

get into the habit of cooking yourself a beautiful breakfast. dry tomatoes and mushrooms in real butter and garlic, fry an egg, slice up a fresh avocado and squirt way too much lemon on it. sit, eat and do nothing else.

stretch. start by reaching for the sky as hard as you can, then trying to touch your toes. roll your neck. stretch your fingers. stretch everything.

buy a 1L bottle. start with pushing yourself to drink the whole thing in a day, then try drinking it twice.

buy a beautiful diary and a beautiful black pen. write down everything you do, including dinner dates, appointments, assignments, coffees, what you need to do that day. no detail is too big or small.

strip your bed of your sheets and empty your underwear draw into the washing machine. put a massive scoop of scented fabric softener in there and wash. make your bed in full.

organise your room. fold all your clothes (and bag what you don't want), clean your mirror, your laptop, vacuum the floor. light a beautiful candle.

have a luxurious shower with your favourite music playing. wash your hair, scrub your body, brush your teeth. lather your whole body in moisturiser, get familiar with the part between your toes, your inner thighs, the back of your neck.

push yourself to go for a walk. take your headphones, go to the park and walk. smile at strangers walking the other way and be surprised at how many smile back.

message old friends with personal jokes. reminisce. suggest a catch up soon, even if you don't follow through. push yourself to follow through.

think long and hard about what interests you. crime? fashion? sex? long forgotten romance etiquette? find a book about it and read it. there is a book about literally everything.

become the person you would ideally fall in love with. let cars merge into your lane when driving. pay double for parking tickets and leave a second one in the machine. stick your tongue out at babies. compliment people on their cute clothes. challenge yourself not to ridicule anyone for a whole day. then two. then a week. walk with a straight posture. look people in the eye. ask people about their story. talk to acquaintances so they become friends.

lie in the sunshine. daydream about the life you would lead if failure wasn't a thing. open your eyes. take small steps to make it happen for you.

[spookywhitt]

Vest pt. 2 After taking the mockup apart you use those pieces as your final pattern. But first lets use the front panel to determine the length of the applique design and positioning. Once drawn out you will Xacto cut out the pieces.

Cut out the main body of your vest. Shell and Lining.

Since we have the gold fabric out now, let's cut our bias strips out we will use later for binding the edges You will not be cutting these strips on the grainline but rather the bias of the fabric. Crossways over the grainline. This will allow your fabric to stretch and conform to curves. Next, use wonder under iron on adhesive. Iron it to the back of your fabric and once that is done you can trace your applique pattern pieces and cut them out. Remove the paper back of the wonder-under and iron your applique into place onto the front of your vest.

Make a practice scrap for your applique. The thread you will be using is a finer gold RAYON thread. The needle you will be using is an embroidery type needle. Apply iron-on embroidery stabilizer to the back of your applique piece. This will keep your fabric nice and flat and prevent shifting or bunching. With a narrow satin stitch (that is your zigzag stitch on a very close setting) When going around curves, keep your needle on the outside of the curve to prevent gaps in your stitches.

Since you are doing so much turning and curving, roll up either end of the pattern piece so it will move more easily through your machine. Unscrolling and re-scrolling as you move from part to part of your applique.

Applique complete!

[petermorwood]

This is excellent advice for the treatment (or apparent maltreatment, in linen's case) of natural fabrics.

Here's some additional info based on personal experience over many decades and numerous ways of doing laundry from ancient (well, early 1960s) to modern.

Wool. A splendid outer layer, since rain sits on rather than soaks in, but needs care when washing, and even more when drying. Don't wash a woollen garment on Hot, and definitely don't dry it that way. If you do, your favourite woolly pully will shrink to something for a child, and a child's woolly pully into something for a doll. I have done this, and it was not well appreciated except, way way back, by my small sister and presumably by her nattily pullovered favourite doll.

Cotton. Will indeed shrink a bit after washing and drying, but fortunately will stretch again during wear. Can be washed very hot to get rid of Those Annoying Stains, and by Very Hot I mean boiled. It'll still stretch back - eventually - and although sometimes uncomfortably snug during the stretching process, will nevertheless be nice and clean.

Silk. Usually expensive, so accordingly laundered with probably more care than it needs, since this is a fabric once used (in many layers, granted) as armour. Does Not Chafe, which is why it was worn as scarves by fighter pilots who had to keep turning their heads in case of The Hun In The Sun. "Silk hiding steel" is appropriate, because a lady with a Hermés (not "an 'ermes", you pronounce the H) silk scarf and something to weigh it with is not as unarmed as she seems.

Linen. The 600lb gorilla of the fabric world, only bettered by hemp. Can have a weave tight enough to carry water without dripping - especially after the weave soaks and swells - and a tensile strength enough to carry pounds and kilos of it. (You can still buy collapsible "canvas" - usually linen or hemp - buckets...) @dduane and I inherited a lot of Irish Linen from my Mum, some still in original boxes with original washing instructions. Those instructions were, more or less, "rub soap into stubborn stains, scrub thoroughly and boil until clean".

Where linen and hemp fabrics are concerned...

*****

Even though she had a succession of increasingly modern washing machines, Mum also had and occasionally used - or more accurately supervised my use of - some quite old-fashioned laundry equipment.

Linens with stubborn stains were indeed scrubbed thoroughly, using a block of hard soap then a washboard, and an impressive abs workout it was...

Then the scrubbed stuff was boil-washed in Mum's washing machine (which could reach a genuine 100°C rolling boil) before being rinsed, passed through the mangle (or wringer, more in this post) and pegged out on the washing-line to dry.

*****

As i hunted up illustrations I (re-)discovered a Terry Pratchett Discworld connection. Remember the "copper stick" used by Granny and Nanny to summon the demon in "Wyrd Sisters"?

"What are you going to try?" said Granny. Since they were on Nanny's territory, the choice was entirely up to her. "I always say you can't go wrong with a good Invocation," said Nanny. "Haven't done one for years." Granny Weatherwax frowned. Magrat said, "Oh, but you can't. Not here. You need a cauldron, and a magic sword. And an octogram. And spices, and all sorts of stuff." Granny and Nanny exchanged glances. "It's not her fault," said Granny. "It's all them grimmers she was bought." She turned to Magrat. "You don't need none of that," she said. "You need headology." She looked around the ancient washroom. "You just use whatever you've got," she said. She picked up the bleached copper stick, and weighed it thoughtfully in her hand. "We conjure and abjure thee by means of this—" Granny hardly paused – "sharp and terrible copper stick."

It's one of these, not made OF copper but meant for use IN a copper.

Mum had one, originally Granny's, which kept getting pinched to play the role of sword, baton or whatever, though its official purpose was to stir, untangle and finally remove laundry which had been boiled in a "laundry copper":

This one shows how it straddled two gas jets, but Nanny Ogg's copper had a fireplace space under the actual cauldron (though in summer she used it as a beer cooler).

These cauldrons were still called "coppers" even when more cheaply made of iron. It's another instance of how vacuum cleaners became "hoovers" and sticking-plasters became "band-aids" etc., etc., no matter what brand they really were.

"Boil", however, wasn't a figurative term. It meant what it said, and those thoroughly scrubbed linens (cottons, too) would bubble merrily for quite a while "until clean".

Coppers were also used for cooking, with perhaps the most famous literary instance being chez Cratchit in "A Christmas Carol":

“A great deal of steam! The pudding was out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day! That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house and a pastry-cook’s next door to each other, with a laundress’s next door to that! That was the pudding!"

Mum initially had a separate electric boiler - IIRC it was Burco brand, which still makes much smaller boilers for catering, though ours was never used for anything except laundry - but mostly I remember the boil being done in her washing machine.

More modern machines only go to 90-95°C, sometimes just 60°C, but when her Hoover was running at full belt, things got as lively as any pot on a hob even before the agitator started churning. Never mind closing its lid to avoid mess, when a boil-wash was taking place that lid was also a needful safety precaution against scalding splashes.

*****

Removal by copper stick was superseded by use of tongs, and Mum had a set just like these...

...though I don't think hers had such an apt name.

Stirring with the copper stick was replaced by washing with a posser, which pumped up and down, or a washing dolly, which rotated.

Both actions have been replicated by washing-machines, and though variants of the dolly rotation became almost standard in tub washers, the posser did appear in an early 20th-century hand-operated machine...

...as well as the Frigidaire "Jet Cone" washer...

...whose action, TBH, reminds me of certain non-laundry gadgets I saw many years ago in The Pleasure Chest on Santa Monica... :-P

Modernised possers or even original designs are still available today.

*****

Whenever you read in stories about avoiding trouble with laundresses, those devices along with scrubbing, wringing out and cranking mangles are why. Regular workouts with laundry equipment gave them the sort of muscles nobody wanted to provoke.

*****

I've already mentioned "A Christmas Carol" and, given the time of year (posted 22nd December 2024) this ought to end with another one, so...

As shepherds washed their socks by night, All seated round the tub, A bar of Sunlight soap came down And they began to scrub...

You're welcome.

:->

Here, a cheater course on caring for natural fibers!

1. Wool. Treat it like it has the delicate constitution of a Victorian lady and the conviction that baths are evil of a 17th century noble. (If I get in WATER my PORES will OPEN and I will CATCH ILL AND DIE.)

2. Cotton; easygoing. Will shrink a bit if washed and dried hot.

3. Silk; people think it’s like wool and has the constitution of a fashionably dying of consumption Victorian lady, but actually it’s quite tough. Can be washed in an ordinary washer, and either tumbled dry without heat or hung to dry.

4. Linen; it doesn’t give a shit. Beat the hell out of it. Historically was laundered by dousing it in lye and beating the shit out of it with wooden paddles, which only makes it look better. The masochist of the natural fiber world. Beat the fuck out of it linen doesn’t care. Considerably stronger than cotton. Linen sheet sets can last literal decades in more or less pristine shape because of that strength.The most likely natural fiber to own a ball gag.

[mahirachauhan]

Camping Equipment Maintenance: How to Make Your Gear Last

When it comes to outdoor adventures, investing in quality camping equipment is just the first step. The real challenge lies in maintaining your gear to ensure it stays in top shape for years to come. Whether you’re a seasoned camper or just getting started, taking care of your camping equipment will save you money, prevent frustration on trips, and keep your adventures safe and comfortable.

In this blog, we’ll cover how to clean, store, and maintain different types of camping equipment so you get the most out of your investment.

Why Maintenance Matters

Quality camping equipment doesn’t come cheap. Whether it’s your tent, sleeping bag, cooking gear, or hiking boots, these essentials are exposed to harsh outdoor elements. Dust, moisture, heat, and even insects can take a toll on them.

Proper care of your camping equipment helps:

Extend its life

Prevent mold, mildew, and rust

Ensure safety and comfort on trips

Maintain performance and reliability

With just a bit of post-trip effort, your gear can be ready for your next outdoor escape.

Tent Care: Your Outdoor Shelter

Tents are one of the most vital pieces of camping equipment, and they also require careful maintenance.

After Each Trip:

Shake it out: Remove dirt, twigs, or bugs before packing it.

Dry thoroughly: Even morning dew can cause mold if packed wet.

Clean gently: Use lukewarm water and a soft sponge. Avoid harsh detergents.

Long-Term Storage:

Store in a cool, dry place. Avoid plastic bags—use a breathable storage sack.

Loosely fold or roll to prevent permanent creases in the fabric.

Pro Tip: Re-seal the seams annually and check zippers for dirt buildup to keep your camping equipment functioning properly.

Sleeping Bags: Warmth That Lasts

Your sleeping bag is another crucial piece of camping equipment, especially in colder conditions.

Cleaning Tips:

Spot clean minor dirt with a damp cloth and mild soap.

For a full wash, use a front-loading washing machine and a down-safe detergent (if applicable).

Always air dry or use a low heat setting in the dryer with clean tennis balls to prevent clumping.

Storage:

Don’t store it compressed. Hang it in a closet or store it loosely in a large bag to maintain loft.

Proper sleeping bag care ensures that this essential camping equipment keeps you cozy every time.

Cooking Gear: Keep It Clean and Rust-Free

Your camp stove, cookware, and utensils are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. But this camping equipment comes in direct contact with your food—so it needs extra attention.

Post-Trip Cleaning:

Scrub pots and pans with a non-abrasive sponge.

Empty fuel canisters and clean your stove with a brush or soft cloth.

Check for food particles and grease to prevent wildlife attraction.

Storage:

Store in dry, sealed containers or bags.

Use moisture-absorbing packets to avoid rust.

Clean cooking gear is safe cooking gear, and taking care of this camping equipment also ensures better-tasting meals on the trail.

Backpacks: Carry the Weight With Care

Your backpack holds your entire adventure. As a heavily-used piece of camping equipment, it’s often subject to dirt, sweat, and abrasion.

Maintenance:

Empty and shake out dirt and crumbs after each trip.

Hand-wash with mild soap and water.

Rinse thoroughly and air dry upside down.

Zippers & Straps:

Keep zippers clean with a brush or old toothbrush.

Inspect buckles, straps, and seams regularly to prevent wear and tear.

Clean, strong backpacks make hauling other camping equipment easier and more efficient.

Footwear: Hiking Boots and Shoes

Footwear is your connection to the trail. Dirty, wet, or worn-out shoes can ruin any outdoor trip. Keeping your boots in shape is critical.

Post-Hike Cleaning:

Brush off dirt with a soft brush.

Use mild soap and water to clean.

Remove insoles and let them air dry.

Storage:

Store in a dry, ventilated area.

Stuff with newspaper to maintain shape and absorb moisture.

With proper care, your hiking boots can stay trail-ready for years—making them one of the most dependable pieces of camping equipment.

Tools, Lights & Accessories

Other important camping equipment includes knives, headlamps, lanterns, compasses, and trekking poles. These small items are easy to neglect but just as vital.

Maintenance Checklist:

Clean knives after every use and apply oil to prevent rust.

Check batteries in headlamps and lanterns.

Replace or recharge batteries before storage.

Inspect trekking poles for cracks and clean off dirt or grit from locking mechanisms.

Good care of accessories ensures that this camping equipment functions properly when you need it the most.

General Maintenance Tips

Here are some overall tips to protect all your camping equipment:

Keep it dry: Moisture is the enemy of most gear.

Inspect before packing: Check for rips, missing parts, or damage.

Use proper storage solutions: Breathable bags, storage bins, and hanging racks help.

Label your gear: Makes it easier to track and repack quickly.

Final Thoughts

Taking care of your camping equipment might not be the most exciting part of outdoor life, but it’s definitely one of the most important. With regular maintenance and smart storage, your gear will not only last longer—it will also perform better when you're far from civilization.

Every piece of camping equipment you own plays a role in your comfort and safety outdoors. Treat it well, and it’ll reward you on every trip.

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Hi, friends! I’ve got a fresh round of spring try-ons to share, and everything featured here is on sale this weekend! I’ve got a variety of pieces from J.Crew, Saks, Bloomingdale’s, and more—including a couple great pairs of jeans, olive wide-leg pants, some sweaters and tops, a linen bomber jacket, and a versatile tee you’ll want to wear on repeat. I also found a few favorites in J.Crew’s linen and cashmere sale—pieces that rarely go on sale, so it’s a good time to grab them if you’ve had your eye on anything. As always, I’ll include fit notes and styling tips along the way! SIZING NOTES: I’m 5’5″ and I usually wear a small or medium in tops and dresses, a 29 or 30 in jeans and pants, and a size 8 shoe. Gifted items are indicated by c/o; everything else I purchased myself. J.Crew: 25% Off Select Linen & Cashmere As I mentioned above, J.Crew rarely puts their linen and cashmere pieces on sale, so I wanted to share these finds while the promo is still running. I tried a mix of styles, and as always, I’m sharing both the hits and the misses—because even if something doesn’t work for me, it might be just what you’re looking for. I love being able to show you a range of options, so here’s what I tried and how everything fit. J.Crew Ribbed featherweight cashmere T-shirt in stripe in Snow Evening at J.Crew (M) (select colors on sale) // Citizens Palma – on sale (29) // Schutz Arissa (8) DETAILS: Everything’s better in cashmere. Especially this slim-fit tee with fine-rib detailing and a classic stripe print. Plus, it’s crafted from supersoft cashmere that’s lighter than air, ultra-fuzzy and a touch more delicate. 100% cashmere. Hand wash. I’m sharing this even though the color I’m wearing isn’t currently on sale—several other shades are, and I actually ordered the Ink Navy Muslin in a size large… but I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ve been ordering quite a few sweater tees with my England trip in mind. They’re such an easy way to pull off a casual-yet-elevated look, and they’re super versatile. I can layer them under jackets or a trench, and they look great on their own with a little chunky jewelry. This one, though, is very thin—almost sheer—and it runs small. The medium feels tighter than I’m comfortable with. That said, I really like the fabric, the sleeve shape, and the overall shrunken silhouette, so I’m trying it in a large to see if that’s a better fit. VERDICT: I returned this, but I re-ordered a darker color in the next size up. J.Crew Cashmere relaxed T-shirt in Hthr Stone 25% off at J.Crew // FRAME Le Sleek Straight (29) // Vionic Klara (8) size medium DETAILS: Say hello to the new relaxed cashmere tee. We updated it with a slightly shorter length, roomier fit and easy roll at the collar.  Relaxed fit. Hits at hip. Body length: 23″. Sleeve length: 14″. 100% cashmere. Hand wash. This one has more of a classic shape, and I like the slightly thicker knit—it’s still lightweight but feels a bit more substantial. I also really like the neckline and hem detail and the rolled sleeves. That said, I’m not loving this oatmeal color on me. I actually love the shade in general, but I prefer wearing it in the winter. I don’t feel like it’s as flattering with a tan. size large I also found the medium a bit too clingy, so this is the large. It’s just a smidge too long for my liking, and I���m not sure why I didn’t show it with a front tuck. It definitely needs one, in my opinion. That would help it look more styled and give it a nice drape. VERDICT: I returned this and re-ordered it in a couple of other colors, while it’s on sale. J.Crew New relaxed linen T-shirt in stripe in Perfect Stripe Navy Nat 25% off at J.Crew (M) // Citizens Palma – on sale (29) // Schutz Arissa (8) DETAILS: A tee you’ll return to year after year. Crafted in 100 percent linen fabric with a classic crewneck fit, this style is made to mix and match with everything in your closet. 100% linen. Machine wash. I’m a big fan of a linen tee in the summer, and this one has a really nice classic shape. In a perfect world, I’d prefer a slightly more open neckline, but it’s not a dealbreaker. The length is good, although I think it looks best with a front tuck. I love the navy and white stripe; it will be perfect with white shorts or jeans, and it comes in several other colorways too. VERDICT: Keeping this one. J.Crew Cabana top in linen 25% off at J.Crew (S) // Citizens Palma – on sale (29) // Schutz Arissa (8) size small DETAILS: An effortless popover for sunnier days ahead. Crafted from lightweight, breathable 100 percent linen, this style comes with a V neckline that’s perfect for layering and gathered details at the collar and cuffs. In other words, it’s an easy layer that adds a laid-back aspect to every outfit. 100% linen. Long sleeves. Machine wash. I debated this one a few times and almost didn’t order it, but in the end, curiosity won out, and I’m glad I gave it a try. I was worried it would be way too voluminous, but I actually kind of like the shape. It works both front-tucked and untucked, and I think it looks good either way. (It definitely needs a good steam, though!) VERDICT: I think I’m keeping this one. It’s a nice alternative to the sweaters and tees I typically wear. J.Crew Slim Straight Jean in Rose Lark Wash at J.Crew (29) // J.Crew alpaca t-shirt sweater (S) // Vionic Klara (8) DETAILS: Slim through the hips with a true straight leg and a flattering high rise, this is the kind of silhouette that will never go out of style. Plus, it’s crafted from our 1996 semi-stretch, so it’s structured, durable and designed for all-day comfort. 79% cotton/20% recycled cotton/1% elastane. Zip fly. Traditional 5-pocket styling. I’m always on the lookout for more budget-friendly denim to share, and I liked the classic straight-leg style of this pair—but they didn’t quite work for me. The denim is a little more rigid than I prefer (I usually look for at least 2% elastane), and the fit felt a bit off. They bag oddly in the back of the thigh, and while they might stretch out, I suspect a size down would be too tight in the waist. VERDICT: Returning these. I have a few other pairs that serve the same purpose and that I like better. J.Crew Cabana mini dress in linen 25% off at J.Crew (M) // Sam Edleman Bianka (8.5) DETAILS: Vacation inspiration starts here. This breezy style comes with a V neckline that shows a hint of skin, a removable tie at the waist for a cinched-in effect, and gathered details along the collar and cuffs. Plus, it’s crafted from lightweight 100 percent linen to keep you cool all day long. 100% linen. On-seam pockets. Slip lining. Machine wash. This was another piece I ordered without very high hopes—and in this case, I think I was right. I’m not sure it flatters me, but it might just be too big. I’m curious to try it in a small, although I’m afraid it will be too short. VERDICT: Since it’s on sale, I decided to order the small and see how it looks. Also, if I wear flats, it may not look so short. More Spring Sale Picks: Athleta, Bloomingdale’s, Saks & Nordstrom In addition to the J.Crew sale, Athleta, Saks, and Bloomingdale’s are all running Friends & Family promotions right now, and Nordstrom is price matching select items. I’ve pulled together a few favorites from my recent orders that are included in these sales. Citizens of Humanity Palma Straight Jeans 25% off at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom (29) // ATM tee (M) // similar P448 Monza (39) DETAILS: This high-rise classic straight is from the newest offering from Citizens of Humanity’s Soft Stretch collection, offering the softest feel and lasting hold. 27″ inseam; 17″ leg opening; 11″ front rise; 15″ back rise (size 29) Zip fly with button closure Five-button cuffs 81% cotton, 11% lyocell, 6% polyester, 2% elastane I spotted these at Shopbop during a recent sale and decided to give them a try. Even though they’re called a straight-leg, they read more like a wide-leg on me—but in a good way. I’d say they’re a nice in-between. Here’s how they look with ballet flats—it works, but I think I prefer them with sneakers. The sneakers help balance the width of the pants a little better. I love the soft stretch fabric—they’re so comfortable—and I actually really like how they look on. They give off a modern, relaxed vibe without overwhelming my frame like some wide-leg styles tend to. I also like the bright blue wash with just enough fading and whiskering to give them a casual, lived-in look. VERDICT: I decided to keep these. I actually wore them yesterday! Sanctuary Linen Bomber 25% off at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom // FRAME Le Sleek Straight (29) // Vionic Klara (8) DETAILS: The beloved bomber jacket comes in for a softer landing via an earthy hue and a sturdy yet lightweight fabrication of linen and cotton. 21″ length Front zip closure Blade collar Elastic cuffs Front welt pockets 52% linen, 48% cotton Machine wash, tumble dry I found this year’s spring jacket! I love this little linen/cotton bomber, and the olive color is so versatile. Olive works with all shades of blue denim, plus black and white bottoms—it’s such an easy neutral. The fit is spot-on too: relaxed but not oversized, with an on-trend bomber silhouette that feels current without being too bulky. VERDICT: This one’s a keeper! I tried both the small and medium, and the small fits just fine. Sanctuary The Marine Cropped Wide Leg Pants at Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom (29) // KUT from the Kloth sweater (M) // Veronica Beard Via (8) DETAILS: Keep it cool and casual in these stretch-denim pants crafted in a cropped silhouette with handy pockets. 26 1/2″ inseam; 20″ leg opening; 11″ front rise Two front patch pockets, two back patch pockets 98% cotton, 2% spandex Machine wash, tumble dry I love these cropped wide-leg pants! They have such a flattering silhouette—slimmer through the thigh with a wider leg that doesn’t overwhelm. They’re comfortable, too, and the front patch pockets add a nice on-trend detail. I had a similar pair last year from KUT from the Kloth that I loved, but they didn’t wash well and I had to part with them, so I’m thrilled to have found these as a replacement. They also come in white and black, and they’re true to size, or size down if in between. VERDICT: Keeping! Good American Good Legs Straight Leg Jeans 25% off at Nordstrom and Saks (10) // Tory Burch wedge sandals DETAILS: These crisp straight-leg jeans crafted from curve-loving stretch denim are ones you’ll reach for again and again. 27 1/2″ inseam; 17″ leg opening; 10″ front rise; 14″ back rise Zip fly with button closure Five-pocket style 72% cotton, 20% recycled cotton, 6% polyester, 2% elastane Machine wash, tumble dry I have these jeans from last year in a size 8, but they’ve been feeling tight lately, so I ordered the 10, and they’re much more comfortable. They look a little loose, but I don’t mind. It beats feeling like a stuffed sausage. They have great shape retention and a flattering slim straight fit. The denim is thick and comfortable (not see-through at all), with just the right amount of stretch. I also really like the 10″ rise—it’s not super high, which makes it perfect for front tucking. I wanted to be sure to call them out since they’re on sale right now! VERDICT: These are keepers, although I’m also holding on to the size 8 for now. I tucked them away in case I decide I want to revisit them. Also, I noticed that this pair isn’t quite as bright white as my older pair—they’re still more white than ecru, but I wanted to point that out. Athleta Rainout Ridge Long Trench 40% off at Athleta (M) // Quince sweater (M) // AG Mari (29) // rag & bone Walker (39) FOR: Staying dry in drizzles and downpoursFEEL: Waterproof and lightweight, this recycled fabric stays surprisingly breathableFAVE: Secure zip pockets to store your essentials 100% Recycled Polyester Body length: 36″ WATERPROOF (RainOut): Ultimate seam-sealed protection and waterproof fabric finish keeps rain out WIND-RESISTANT: WINDFREE fabric protects in light to moderate wind conditions BREATHABLE: Airflow moves easily through the garment Machine wash cold and tumble dry on low. Finally, I’ve been ordering a few black trench-style rain jackets to replace my go-to that’s getting snug, and since this one’s on sale, I wanted to include it here. I really like it! It’s very lightweight and has a flattering shape. I like that it’s slightly longer in the back, for good coverage when you’re sitting down. The design is minimalistic but thoughtful, with a two-way zipper and snap placket, a cinchable waist for added shape, and a hood that offers plenty of coverage. It also comes in tall and petite sizes! Sizing note: I originally ordered the small, which just fit, so I returned it and went with the medium instead—that’s what I’m wearing here. I’d definitely recommend sizing up if you’re in between. VERDICT: I think I’m keeping this one, but I’m waiting for the Lululemon Rebel Rain Jacket to come in a size 10. Since I was able to get this one on sale when I ordered the medium, I’m pretty sure it’s the one I’ll keep, but I want to compare them in the correct sizes before making a final decision. Stay In Touch If you liked this post, be sure you’re signed up for my email newsletter. In addition to my most recent blog posts, you’ll receive exclusive newsletter content like special sales, my newest favorite finds, and an occasional peek behind the scenes — all delivered right to your inbox. I would also love for you to join my JLS Fashion Insiders Facebook Group! This is a friendly place to discuss all matters of fashion and style with other women, share your outfits, get advice, and stay up to date on all the happenings in our community. Source link