Busy hands | Disquiet mind

Seamwork's Clarke is a loose-fitting tank top, that is meant for bursting your stash. Clearly I've misunderstood that term this whole time because this top requires a significant amount of fabric for the type of top it is. I have made this before (version 1), and there are some changes I'd like to make.

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Seamwork Clarke, finished, front view
Photo by chebe

You've repaired your cassette player. You spend time digging out your old cassettes, only to discover that the tape has snapped and is loose inside the cassette case. What do you do? Learn how to repair them of course!

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Lower section of a cassette tape, with clear leader tape threaded
Photo by chebe

Seamwork's Alice is a basic long-sleeve high-neck knit t-shirt. I have made it before, but the end result was not really a success. Largely because the fabric wasn't stretchy enough. This time I'm going to make this without any changes, with a view to wearing it as a base layer.

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Seamwork Alice, finished, front view
Photo by chebe

The Panasonic RQ-CW03 portable cassette player is a basic (stereo) tape player from the turn of the millennium. It plays tapes, even has an extra-bass switch, but that's it. No recording, no radio. I remember having to go out and buy this, because I had moved on to CDs, but unfortunately my Irish language exam prep hadn't. As a result, this has largely sat in a drawer unused, slowly yellowing, since that exam. And, predictably, when I last pulled it out to listen to some tapes it was no longer functioning.

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A delicate arrangement but workable. Unfortunately, every screwdriver I had was either too big or too small for the trimpot, except, oddly, the one on my Leatherman (Free T2). It fits almost perfectly, like, suspiciously so. A bit like how the Bic biros are (still) exactly the right size and shape to wind the cassettes. But I'm lucky it did fit as it enabled me to adjust the speed, which was wildly out.

Then I partially reassembled the player, and tested with a music tape. The extra-bass still works, but the volume pot is scratchy. I hit it with some electrical contact cleaner spray, worked the wheel back and forth, and let it dry. Cleared that crackling right up.

And this friends is everything I remember tape being. The sound is amazing, and the extra bass mode really delivers. All while conveniently attached to my belt/waistband. I think it's incredibly sad that this quality of player is no longer readily available. Especially considering the low cost of it when brand new. But I'm delighted to have mine working again!

Speed trimpot adjustment procedure
Photo by chebe

Alright, it's MeMadeMay, let's do this. I pledgeth thusly;

"I, chebe, pledge to* wear items I have made, modified, or repaired, each day throughout May 2024.
* to try to, not perfectionisting this."

I did this in 2021 and 2023 as well, and always feel a benefit from it. This is another year, and another frankly quite different set of life circumstances. Having become redundant office wear fell right down and off the bottom of my priority list. And being an EMF camp year a whole lot of outer wear pushed right to the top. I also discovered that the natural fibres I'd been favouring are the worst choices for camping in damp climates, so have had to return to polyester for some garments.

( 1st - 5th )

( 6th - 12th )

( 13th - 19th )

( 20th - 26th )

( 27th - 31st )

Reflections? Weather this time of year is increasingly unpredictable. What I need, for a more fully Me-Made wardrobe, is; shorts, shirts, more t-shirts, and a small number of nice occasion wear. The jumpers are a welcome addition, and the boucle Chip in particular was incredibly warm (I wore it every night in the sleeping bag to stay toasty). I should also make some of my own pjs, then it'd be hard to miss a day!