Betrayed – a brief summary of the PACE trial

2016 brought exciting news for ME/CFS patients. The researchers behind the PACE trials were finally forced to release their raw data, which revealed that their initial conclusions – that graded exercise therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy were the only effective interventions for ME/CFS – were unsubstantiated.

Usually the retraction of positive results would not be cause for celebration. But the PACE trial was not only unethically conducted, it contained numerous methodological errors, drew conclusions which were not supported by the evidence, and promoted therapies which are greatly harmful to ME/CFS patients. It was only due to those same patients’ dogged research and tenacity in the face of abuse that the truth was revealed. Here’s how it happened.

Silver linings: Style Arc Georgie Jeans with tutorial

Necklace and shoes from St Vinnies, tops from Salvos. Artwork in background by Beth!

You might remember some time ago (last year!) I made up the Style Arc Misty Jean in a stretch denim with modal from The Fabric Godmother. Unfortunately, the jeans were a wadder due to the fabric, which bled nonstop. The Fabric Godmother gave me a store credit for the value of the denim, and with a hefty dose of my own money, I purchased this cotton/elastane stretch denim in super black (goddamn exchange rate and international post).

What I talk about when I talk about shirtmaking

This week I shared my linen Archer shirt with you. I’m always curious about how others sew things – not the finished results, but the techniques they use to get there. So this is a catalogue of the techniques I use when shirt-making, as featured in my Archer shirt and others. If you hate detail, turn away now!

Late to the party: Grainline Archer Shirt

Being typically late to catch up on trends, it’s no surprise that I sewed a Grainline Archer Shirt several years after the rest of the sewing world fell in love with it. I actually did purchase this pattern and make a muslin a year or two back, but was so stumped by fit issues that I let it sit in my wardrobe. With the confidence and experience I’ve gained since then, I was ready to revisit my muslin and make a finished garment.

Wearing my old faithful Brambles Beret, knitted in now discontinued Ton of Wool Cormo 10ply, undyed.

The Dalek Outfit Reviewed – Burda Emily Shirt & Box Pleated Skirt

Warning: contains a GIF

Last time I shared my experience of ordering from Spoonflower with you. TL;DR: don’t do it. Today, I’ll review the patterns I made from my Spoonflower fabric, starting with the Burda Emily Shirt.

A Dalek Outfit, and 10 Things I Hate About Spoonflower

Apologies to those who read the title and thought this would be a “listicle” post- I’m not Buzzfeed, nor The Warrnambool Standard*, and I think we can all agree writing lists requires a certain brevity which I do not possess.

Tessuti Berlin Jacket

Is anyone else in the Antipodes SUPER excited to see the end of this angry summer? It’s been so hot and humid even in the first month of Autumn, that I leapt at the chance to photograph my Tessuti Berlin Jacket as soon as it cooled down to a bearable temperature.*

Shirt is a Trenery score from the op shop. Burgundy Threadz skinny jeans from a local shop end of season sale. Diana Ferrari boots from Savers. I am SO excited to be able to walk in jeans again, so long as they are very stretchy.

Ottobre painted canvas top

I know, another short sleeved top. I’m nothing if not consistent! This top is made from one of my Ottobre back issues, Summer/Spring 2/2016 #2, printed canvas t-shirt. It was drafted for knits, but as Ottobre tees tend to have a generous fit, I chanced sewing it with a stretch woven. The fabric substitution worked better than I anticipated, and now I have another versatile short sleeved top to add to my wardrobe.

Living through fear

Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear

Mark Twain

 

Marge: Everybody’s afraid of something.
Homer: [smugly] Not everybody.
Marge: Sock puppets.
Homer: [shrieks in terror] Where? Where?

 

A friend recently remarked on how surprisingly blasé I seemed about the possibility of getting worse. “You could become seriously unwell again – and you don’t seem concerned at all!” The fact is, I am always concerned about the prospect of relapse. The thought that one day I could wake up and be totally paralysed is a permanent backdrop in my mind, and it is utterly terrifying.