12.05.08
Bits ‘n Pieces
The fabric has all been washed and dried and I was left with the decision of what to start first. I have three gifts to sew, one for my aunt, my mom and Kate.
Kate’s gift won because it is complicated and the chances of me having to completely redo the entire project are quite high. I can also switch to a less complex project when this one annoys the living crap out of me…and it will….oh it will. Why? Because I couldn’t find a pattern I liked, in the dimensions I wanted so I’ve cobbled together bits and pieces from patterns that other people have made.
Today I’ve completed Phase 1 and Phase 2….Phase 1 is the ever exciting ironing…that was great. Yeah, not really. Phase 2 is cutting all of the pieces. As a new sewer this is something I struggle with, the dreaded straight line. I’m using my own pattern so I can’t just pin the pattern on and follow that, so I measure and measure and then measure again….cut…then measure.
Tomorrow, I’ll piece it together. I hope.
If you don’t hear from me send out a search party as I’m probably shivering in a corner muttering to myself. Bring booze.
10.07.08
Sewing Room With a View?
I have several blogs I read daily, including a few on organizing. Today Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie is asking about craft rooms. I’m getting heart palpitations just thinking about an entire room dedicated to my crafty bits and bobs. Sadly my reality just won’t allow that to be possible.
So where do I craft? My kitchen table. *dramatic sigh* While I do enjoy the ample space it allows me, it is rather a pain to put every single thing away when it comes to meal times. Never mind that I have to share this space with a certain little grey cat. There’s no door to close so I’m kind of stuck with having at least one feline helper. The dogs at least aren’t as helpful, but they are very good company.
The Certain Little Grey Cat
My sewing supplies are kept in check because I only have one shelf…which is currently full of fabric so my sewing machine has found a permanent home at the end of the table we don’t use. My thread and other sewing notions are kept in a small two layer box with separated areas.
It doesn’t look like I’ll be getting a dedicated crafty corner anytime soon since our house is just too small so this will have to do for now. The good thing about sewing in the kitchen is it is the brightest and sunniest room in the house!
Do you have a dedicated crafting room? How about an area? Or are you like me and my very tiny crafting area? Tell me about your space and drop buy Laura’s blog and maybe she can help us all figure it out!
10.06.08
It’s In the Bag
I finished my sister’s lunch bag over the weekend. I am pretty pleased with it! Picture post!!
First up, here’s the fabric. I love, love, love this fabric. So fun!
Yummy Fabric
And here’s the exterior…
Exterior
And inside there’s a long piece of fabric which I sewed channels into to make little pockets for some plastic cutlery and my sister’s iPod. You can see Merlin’s cute little face…napping in the sun like a good dog.
Inside with pockets
And before I took all these pictures I had a different helper….
I can haz helper
The instructions I followed came from a blog I stumbled on somewhere…one I now check out daily A Feathered Nest. She made a fantastic tutorial here. I came up with my own dimensions and made my pocket to suit what I wanted to put in it.
The most important thing I learned while doing this is that if I just take a little time and patience I can really sew! This was a fairly simple project and it is great for helping you gain some sewing confidence! Go visit A Feathered Nest and try one for yourself!
10.03.08
Snip, Snip
I’m just a beginner sewer. I may have mentioned my noobness before…but when I start projects I get this anxiety. It usually happens just before I cut my material out because once you cut it, it’s done and there’s no going back .
So after a week of hemming (ha ha sewing pun) and hawing I finally bit the bullet and measured and cut my sister’s present. And after all that worrying…yes it was fine.
There’s a fabric store in the next city that was going out of business and I snagged a quilting ruler which has really helped me make some straight cuts…plus it was on SALE! Huzzah.
I have started sewing her present and I just have to be patient. I have a real problem with just bulldozing ahead and making really small and annoying mistakes. That usually happens when I start to get cocky about my skillz and blindly sew until the next step when I realize what I’ve done.
I love sewing…really! LOL
09.11.08
Sew What?
I have for some insane reason decided to sew some Christmas gifts. Why I don’t know but I tackled my first project. Now, I could have started with an easier project, but where’s the fun in that?
I found this pattern for an easy reversible apron. Seemed pretty easy. Lots of straight lines, and really good directions. And so….
Easy Apron
It took me awhile to do it, I didn’t keep track but I worked on it off and on for an afternoon. The reason it took me so long was because I had to learn to gather. I’m sure it would’ve looked nice without the gathering at the top but it just looked so darned cute with it.
Learn a couple of things from me…
- Make sure you check that both pieces of fabric are opaque. I didn’t, which leaves me with a lined apron rather than reversible…no big deal.
- Check to make sure you have put your fabric facing the wrong way BEFORE you start to sew or else you will spend at least 10 minutes swearing at yourself for making such a noob mistake.
- Practice any new stitches before you try. I used some scrap fabric to practice my gathering until I was comfortable enough to sew my actual piece.
All in all this was a great first project and I taught myself something new. The internet is a great resource for learning about sewing. I found a lot of useful videos and if you’re a visual learner like me that is the best way to learn.
So there’s my first Christmas project, and that apron is for my grandma.
Have you started to think about Christmas yet?
08.20.08
Rolled Up
I had a very productive day today. After practicing my meagre sewing skills making cloth wipes for MC I have finally graduated to an actual project!!
Ready for Travel
Do you know what it is? I’ll give you a big hint…here’s the inside…
Ready for Creating
A crayon roll! Made by me!! Not perfect but it came out pretty good if I do say so myself. If you want to make your own I found two different patterns….one here and one here. I had to come up with my own measurements because they used the skinny crayons and we’re not quite at that stage yet.
Enjoy making it…I did…and I only swore once. And I didn’t even bleed!
04.12.08
Finally!
I’ve finally found my new fringe…so I’ve got pictures as promised.
Here’s my initial colour pallet.
The two fabrics were found while on a shopping expedition. I had no idea what I would be doing with them until now. Very proud that I got everything on sale. The fabrics were end pieces. And I’ve just discovered the joy of fringe, which I needed rather desperately since I sewed my valance crooked and I needed to disguise that. The fringe was half price!! And I bought two spools of ribbon (ON SALE) just in case I end up needing some.
The paint…well if it’s not on sale…oh well. I think I’ve done pretty well for my first full room.
And since I know you want to see my crooked valance…here ya go…just be nice 
I will endeavor to get my pictures of the new bathroom products up next week. I want to gussy them up a bit for you.
