My First Skirt

I finished my first skirt today!! I am very pleased with how it turned out. For one it fits and it is comfortable, and two it is a very cute skirt for summer. My mom worked on it with me and though we ran into a few snags along the way we were able to figure it all out.

Things I have learned on this project:

1. For some reason I seem to pick very complicated patterns (They all say "easy to sew" on the outside and they don't look complicated in the picture, but apparently they are)

2. The pattern doesn't always include all the steps you have to take to complete the project. For example on this one I had to gather the bottom of the skirt to attach the flounce, but the pattern did not say that anywhere in it

3. I learned how to sew by hand. Thanks mom for showing me how! I am actually getting pretty good at it since the pattern called for it in several areas.

4. It is often easier to hand baste than to machine baste unless your machine has a basting stitch built in. My mom's machine doesn't, so I had a few basting stitch problems, because the machine made it way too tight.

5. On this project I also installed my first zipper! I think it turned out really well. I was scared when we got to that point, but I got through it with very few problems.

This was a great project despite the fact that it got a little frustrating at certain points. I really enjoyed working with my mom on something. We really don't get to do that very often. We both learned a lot along the way. My mom hasn't sewn in over 16 yrs, but it seemed to be coming back to her fairly easily. I hope to work on another project together soon!

It was so cute when Kelsie saw me in the skirt for the first time she said "Mommy I want one too"! Later she was watching the Backyardigans and they started doing the Hokey Pokey and she said "Mommy come dance in your pretty dress". I thought that was so sweet! I guess I will have to find a skirt pattern for her ASAP!

Sewing Machine Disappointment

I finally decided to register my sewing machine online tonight, since I didn't do it when I first bought it like I had intended and I found out bad news. Apparently Janome will only honor their warranty if you buy the machine from an "authorized dealer", so I had to return my machine! :( I was really enjoying using it and was so disappointed when I found out. To top it all off I bought the machine at the Hancock Fabrics in Pasadena, so I called to find out if I could return it to the one closest to me and they said no. Well when I was discussing it with the lady at the one in Pasadena she said they should have taken it back at the closer one to me! She did say that she was going to say something to the district manager about 1. the warranty not being honored and 2. the closer store not allowing me to take the machine back to them, so I hope no one else has to deal with this mess. I guess I will have to check out the authorized dealers in the area to see if I can get a machine for a similar price or I will have to go sewing machine shopping again. The silver lining in all of this is that my mom is still letting me borrow hers for as long as I need it, so it won't stop me from sewing. I am so glad, because I just bought fabric for my next projects yesterday!

Napkins

We go through paper towels around here like Sherman through the South (as my dad likes to say), so we decided to get the material to make some cloth napkins. Tonight I decided to go ahead and give them a shot. They were pretty easy actually which wasn't too surprising as they are just squares (in the picture they look like rectangles, but that is because they are both folded). ;) I got a couple done today and I plan to make some more another time. I am pleased with the way they turned out and I actually like the material better on the finished product than I did when it was on the bolt!

Travis's Birthday Bag

I took a break from the shirt I am making to make a bag for our little cousin Travis's birthday today. I thought that the material that I made Mike's bag out of was appropriate for it because a. he is a boy and b. his daddy works for NASA too! :) I am definitely getting faster and better each time I make another one of these bags. I really enjoy them now and it makes me laugh that I thought it was so difficult the first time we made one in class. I think it is a perfect way to add a little personal touch to the birthday gifts we give now!

Finished Sewing Level II!

Tonight was the last class for the Level II Sewing class I took with my friends Heather and Judy. It was much better for me than the Level I class, because I felt much more confident since I had started sewing at home and I didn't completely feel like a fish out of water! :) We made pajama pants and the most difficult part was the elastic and the pockets. I learned more than I thought I would and it was a lot of fun too. To top it all off I am very happy with the end result!