Thursday, September 9, 2010
From Man Cave to Sew Cave
So billy decided that since he almost never used the downstairs, and his friends always prefer the upstairs that I could have the mancave as crafting center. We just finished rearranging the furniture and its looking good. I just need some power strips. Hopefully later tonight I will post up some of my latest sewing projects. I made some pillows for the house and some place mats for my sister and as a gift for a bridal shower. On the cutting board now is an apron, shirt/dress project, and a couple more pillows. If I could ever get off Hold with Verizon fios and their incompetent staff at billing I would like very much to start updating my progress.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
I'm Sew Bias
Its very late....but in case someone is actually reading this...I made my very first from scratch sew project this weekend. I an adventure, a few mishaps but the end result was one very beautiful (I'm bias....pun intended) apron. I included some pictures.
I made it from the book Seams To Me....It's the Full Contact Apron.
Now this book is very fun but I'd give it a 3.5/5 rating for new sewers. Many things she leaves out of the directions, and for me a non-experienced sewer it leaves me deflated. But I am a puzzle person so I tumbled on. I figured out most things by trial and error, knowing just by common sense certain things didn't feel or look right. I found myself struggling with directions that she gave like "clip corners" where she doesn't explain anywhere in the book what this means. I figured it out, but for a new sewer figuring it out could lead to a disaster. All and all its an easy read with a lot of good information and helpful hints. I attempted a second project in there "Smashing Smock" well, accidentally cut out my fabric wrong, so that is put on hold for now. But again this pattern was quite complex for a beginner sewer. I decided that since I have the fabric that is now cut and can't be used for this dress I will use it for a different project. I purchased a few more books. Sewing 101 which is great as a reference tool, most of the things I didn't understand in seams to me I looked up in there. It has some basic patterns, but for me a 26 year old some of the patterns are just not me. But none-the-less they are very well written and are truly meant for beginners. The apron had me cut and sew bias strips, adjust measurements, make ruffles, sew buttons. It had a lot but it was a lot to learn all at once when I am just getting down to business on straight seam lines!
I have also finally started to get all my books in the mail. I got Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts,
Sew fast, sew easy and Sew Everything Workshop. I also got Sew Retro which is AWESOME! But I would like to use a pattern in that book after I have done 1 or 2 more projects. But the book is a beautiful tutorial blended with fun facts and history. You feel like you are learning to sew while sitting at her kitchen table.
I have decided to go through each book by doing one project from each and see what I can learn from various people's techniques. I started off with Sew Fast, Sew Easy and I love it. I devoured the first chapter yesterday and can't wait to make the basic pillow from my accidental much smaller fabric.
Well I found my local sewing store and I was embraced by the warmest of the three women who worked there. They showed me everything I needed, we true teachers, I asked at least 50 questions. They helped me picked supplies based on the patterns I wanted. They even informed me I was missing batting from my list, since I was planning on making a placemat. She was right, I just never wrote it down on my list! They told me how freezer paper works just as good as craft paper. Told me why I was going to do great, because I was starting with very nice fabric (I couldn't help t the prints they had were just adorable). The best part is they offer classes and I am going to take quilting 101. When I go this weekend to rebuy my oppsy fabric, I am enrolling! I am very excited to have found a place to go to that is so supportive of the craft. They even offered for me to bring in my project if I was having any trouble and they would help me to figure it out.
If you are down in the Northern VA area the shop is
Quilt and Sew at 3940 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
540-548-2377
 |
| Dan wearing my freshly made apron and helping me cook |
He was making "franks in pastry"
 |
| the finished product |
 |
| up close detail of the tree and small leaf pattern |
 |
| up close of the waistband and medium leaf pattern (i love this fabric) |
 |
| my first ever button...and the ends are done with bias strips----what a big pain in my behind |
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| top half |
 |
| bottom half |
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| next to my Judith Crawl apron workshop hostess apron....can you tell I'm obsessed with them? |
I made it from the book Seams To Me....It's the Full Contact Apron.
Now this book is very fun but I'd give it a 3.5/5 rating for new sewers. Many things she leaves out of the directions, and for me a non-experienced sewer it leaves me deflated. But I am a puzzle person so I tumbled on. I figured out most things by trial and error, knowing just by common sense certain things didn't feel or look right. I found myself struggling with directions that she gave like "clip corners" where she doesn't explain anywhere in the book what this means. I figured it out, but for a new sewer figuring it out could lead to a disaster. All and all its an easy read with a lot of good information and helpful hints. I attempted a second project in there "Smashing Smock" well, accidentally cut out my fabric wrong, so that is put on hold for now. But again this pattern was quite complex for a beginner sewer. I decided that since I have the fabric that is now cut and can't be used for this dress I will use it for a different project. I purchased a few more books. Sewing 101 which is great as a reference tool, most of the things I didn't understand in seams to me I looked up in there. It has some basic patterns, but for me a 26 year old some of the patterns are just not me. But none-the-less they are very well written and are truly meant for beginners. The apron had me cut and sew bias strips, adjust measurements, make ruffles, sew buttons. It had a lot but it was a lot to learn all at once when I am just getting down to business on straight seam lines!
I have also finally started to get all my books in the mail. I got Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts,
Sew fast, sew easy and Sew Everything Workshop. I also got Sew Retro which is AWESOME! But I would like to use a pattern in that book after I have done 1 or 2 more projects. But the book is a beautiful tutorial blended with fun facts and history. You feel like you are learning to sew while sitting at her kitchen table.
I have decided to go through each book by doing one project from each and see what I can learn from various people's techniques. I started off with Sew Fast, Sew Easy and I love it. I devoured the first chapter yesterday and can't wait to make the basic pillow from my accidental much smaller fabric.
Well I found my local sewing store and I was embraced by the warmest of the three women who worked there. They showed me everything I needed, we true teachers, I asked at least 50 questions. They helped me picked supplies based on the patterns I wanted. They even informed me I was missing batting from my list, since I was planning on making a placemat. She was right, I just never wrote it down on my list! They told me how freezer paper works just as good as craft paper. Told me why I was going to do great, because I was starting with very nice fabric (I couldn't help t the prints they had were just adorable). The best part is they offer classes and I am going to take quilting 101. When I go this weekend to rebuy my oppsy fabric, I am enrolling! I am very excited to have found a place to go to that is so supportive of the craft. They even offered for me to bring in my project if I was having any trouble and they would help me to figure it out.
If you are down in the Northern VA area the shop is
Quilt and Sew at 3940 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22407
540-548-2377
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The First Post
Hi all! So I decided to start a blog in which I hope to eventually track my growth as a "do it your selfer". I have discovered that doing any type of project makes me happiest. I love to do just about anything from sew to lay new vinyl flooring. My fiance and I just moved to Virginia, which is the furthest I have ever been from my very close knit friends and family. I decided I better get serious and find ways to keep me busy. Billy (the fiance) is active duty Marines and move was so we could finally be together after so much time spent apart. Since we are renting quite a big place I decided to make one small extra bedroom my "sewing room." I have always felt I could be crafty but lack the knowledge of how. I decided I would just have a space where I could do all the crafts I wanted without being in the way.
So far I have sewn an apron. My mom taught me how to use the sewing machine before I moved....I actually just got it. This year for my birthday in June I asked for 1 million dollars and a sewing machine. I only got the sewing machine....but perhaps that's my ticket to the 1 million dollars. I figured I could do some basic learning with the support of fellow crafty bloggers that have a ton of knowledge and endless ideas. I thought an online community might be just the ticket since I don't know anyone down here just yet.
I hope people join along in this journey of mine----I don't exactly know where the road is leading, but its the journey that counts. I hope to get lots of great ideas and gain some new friends on here. I am very much a go and learn by doing type of person. I am a nurse and love that as my job immensely, but I need some really good hobbies to keep me sane. I taught myself how to Knit and screen print...but I am mediocre at best. I would love to learn how to hone these skills and eventually put it to better use than just dabbling. I hope I have landed on a place that will help me develop my skills and maybe make my tinkering more than just a hobby.
I want to learn to cook (more than mac and cheese), garden, sew, knit, crochet, and anything else you can think of thats part of the never ending do it yourself list.
So far I have sewn an apron. My mom taught me how to use the sewing machine before I moved....I actually just got it. This year for my birthday in June I asked for 1 million dollars and a sewing machine. I only got the sewing machine....but perhaps that's my ticket to the 1 million dollars. I figured I could do some basic learning with the support of fellow crafty bloggers that have a ton of knowledge and endless ideas. I thought an online community might be just the ticket since I don't know anyone down here just yet.
I hope people join along in this journey of mine----I don't exactly know where the road is leading, but its the journey that counts. I hope to get lots of great ideas and gain some new friends on here. I am very much a go and learn by doing type of person. I am a nurse and love that as my job immensely, but I need some really good hobbies to keep me sane. I taught myself how to Knit and screen print...but I am mediocre at best. I would love to learn how to hone these skills and eventually put it to better use than just dabbling. I hope I have landed on a place that will help me develop my skills and maybe make my tinkering more than just a hobby.
I want to learn to cook (more than mac and cheese), garden, sew, knit, crochet, and anything else you can think of thats part of the never ending do it yourself list.
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