Day 1
My mom and grandmother were master seamstresses. When I was an early teen, I tried to learn how to sew from my mom but it ended in frustration and tears all around. (Take one stubborn teen who hates to be wrong and one perfectionist seamstress who likes to point out all the places you can “improve” and you will instantly have foot stomping and door slamming.) This week, I decided to give it a shot on my own. I can always give my mom a call if I get desperate, REALLY desperate.
Thankfully, I already have a sewing machine. I bought one in a fit of crazies last year, convinced that I would make myself curtains and have it to fix rips and whatnot. I have removed it a few times to sew up a few pairs of pajamas for Agnes, but kids aren’t really particular about how well their clothes are constructed or fit. The fabric for the curtains still sits on top of it waiting to be made into something constructive. But for this week I decide I need to conquer a real piece of clothing. I grab out the sewing machine and leave the fabric. First stop, the fabric store.
I love fabric stores. I don’t know exactly why, since I don’t sew. But I love the feel of the fabrics, the wash of colors and the weird organizational system that makes little sense to me. I wander the store touching fabrics and just gauzing at them waiting for one to pick me. I finally settle on yellow cotton with white polka dots and a sundress pattern. All together my purchases run about $15, I think this is going to be great. I am going to get a great fitting dress for under $20! Awesome-sauce!
After 3 hours of washing and drying the fabric, (during which I spend a solid hour trying to find my iron) I am ready to cut the pattern out. This is something I feel pretty comfortable with after 20+ years of watching my mom, though I make a solemn vow to myself that I will manage my pins properly so my kid won’t spend her childhood wondering when the next pin is going to jump up and stab her in the foot.
Now I am ready to SEW! Except….. my first review of the pattern instructions shows me I have completely skipped the note that this dress is going to be lined. To be lined, I would need to have purchased lining material. Crap. Back to the fabric store I go, this time with my munchkin in tow. At least I can wash and dry when she is home.
You are so good - I would totally have skipped the washing and drying step and ended up with a terrible garment. (Or found out I needed lining that much sooner, I suppose.)
ReplyDeleteI have curtain lining and material for small curtains sitting in a drawer waiting for me to find a friend with a sewing machine (I have several) to let me use it or maybe pay them to make it for me. It's been there for about two years now.