I don't know much about musa basjoo, but i'm trying to grow one now. But bananas don't grow much until they get a good root system that suites them. I use a transplanting solution like shultz when I plant them, and it will form new roots quick. I have a musa basjoo that I got on fathers day this year, and then I planted it that day, and put transplanting solution on it, then now it is growing a new leaf, and another one coming up inside it. This might be my lucky banana, because I bought three others, and all three of them died.

It might be too cold outdoors in your area, if so, be careful with watering, moist soil and dormant plants can mean rot/ death. Warmer evenings are needed to start growth. If you're not sure whether or not the plants are alive, you can scratch the stem surface and if it is green and has a pungent odor, then you're OK.

Lots of criteria to consider...length of discrepency, lighting conditions, intended finish, etc. My experience has been that with a large area you are better off doing it right, from the framing out. Skim coating is typically a very thin coat of mud that either feathers blems out or simply covers slight imperfections in the paper of the sheetrock. I dont consider a very thick layer of mud skim coating. You may be setting yourself up for an even bigger mess down the road when/if settling occurs. To me...I would insist its done right. I get tired of these tradespeople pushing off second rate work and practices under the guise "we do it all the time". It is your investment. They are only concerned to keep you at bay for a very short period of time.

....Practice makes perfect! After a million or so garments, I still rip out seams and make stupid mistakes, don't like the way a certain thing fits or looks, whether for myself or someone else. I have a "rule" when I sew: I get to cuss all I want if no one is around to hear me; otherwise, I cuss silently. Pattern and fabric compatibility is very important, and there is no way to tell before you make the garment if this particular fabric is perfect for this view of this particular pattern. The pattern envelopes make suggestions, but they are not specific to the piece of cloth you are holding in your hand. Sometimes, the fabric I choose for a particular pattern is not exactly compatible; sometimes it doesn't work, sometimes it's perfect. Don't forget this, too: When you buy ready-to-wear, you get to try it on and reject it if you don't like certain aspects of the garment - fit, neckline, length, "it just doesn't look right." And you'll find that a garment you make will be absolutely perfect in a particular fabric so you want to make it again, but the next time you make the very same garment from the very same pattern but in a different fabric -alas, it isn't so great. Some fabrics and patterns are meant for each other; others not so much. The garment manufacturers get to experiment with a lot of versions and combinations to get things right. We don't have that luxury. On the whole, though, you will have many more successes than failures. Keep on trying! Sherry