Playing Dress Up

With my misplaced confidence that I can now sew (anything square) I decided to embark on my first dress. It looks like a dress and yes it actually wears well (as proven by my children's stuffed lion) but it must have been the easiest dress to sew in the world. I came across this gorgeous Pillowcase Dress at Asthetic Nest and it had easy enough instructions so I knew I had to try it.

I went to the haberdashery and selected a fabric with a lovely print - very busy and bold - for the sole purpose of hiding my mistakes. My thinking was it's a dress made from 2 pieces of square ish fabric so should be easy right? Well for the average person it would have been right but dumbass me forgot to take into consideration that dresses have armholes and armholes have curves so not as easy as I thought.

The core dress itself was easy peasy but let me tell you ... I butchered the armhole. The finish product will only ever be worn by the lion. As much as I want to think I can sew for another human being I know I am a while away making anything for another fellow living breathing person ... if anything just to avoid that awkward moment when I present something to someone only for them to say enthusiastically "thank you, that's gorgeous, you're a natural" when really they want to say "what the hell is that?"

So here's my pillowcase dress for Larry the Lion .. yes Larry, I have a house of boys.

My first Apron

I started off the day convinced I was going to learn to sew and make something super. The day started with enthusiasm, lost some luster when I hit a few roadblocks .... namely not knowing how to use the sewing machine properly BUT it has ended on a high. I was so sure that I'd have a completed piece of something or another so here it is .... my first apron.

It's not great, not measured well (or at all) and has mismatched fabric and the most crooked stitches one will ever see BUT it's my first and I'm tickled pink. I will wear it with pride - even though it's a little big but I don't care. The point is I made something from scratch, I who this morning did not know how to sew a single stitch on the sewing machine.

It's also a work in progress because I know as I get better at this I will go back and unpick crooked bits and dodgy bits to make it better. It is now 12.10am and I finished this approx 11.50pm as I really wanted to say I did it on my first day.

I did it on my first day of learning how to sew

I sewed my first line of stitches. WOOHOO!

So today was the day that I was going to try to use the sewing machine. I started the day with every intention of nailing all instructions at the first try, getting the straightest lines, the most precise needle work and ending the day with a completed masterpiece that I could say "Oh thanks, you're so kind, really, it was no effort at all, must be beginners luck".

That was the plan.

Here's what really happened.

I went to Spotlight to buy some remnant fabric so I could practise with. Came home with other really pretty fabric as well. Why? Because I could and I was going to make a masterpiece remember? That was 11.30am and I still believed it to be so. I soon learnt that one did not buy bobbins complete with coloured thread, one actually wound the thread onto the bobbins. Who knew? I didn't. Then I learnt that you had an upper thread from the spool and then the lower thread from the bobbin. I assumed the sewing machine was turn on, thread in needle, cloth under needle, press a button and hey presto you look like a genius. Oh how wrong I was.

I manage to get the bobbin filled with thread and in the right place, threaded the top and I thought I had got the thread from the bobbin in as well. Placed the fabric, stepped on the pedal and all I got was lots of crooked lines of needle puncture holes. By 1.30pm that masterpiece was looking a little less likely to happen. At that stage I had summoned the expertise of my uber sewing goddess friend Jo. She knew I was desperate and very kindly saw me at very short notice. If she didn't I would have cried.

Jo and I

Off to Jo's I went with machine in tow. Within minutes I had my first line done and was excited. Then the machine stopped working. Things just started getting caught and pulled and I was starting to feel like I had broken the borrowed machine. Then the light bulb blew!! It was just not going my way. By 4.30pm I left Jo's feeling like I should be grateful for the few lines I did make and that maybe sewing was not for me. Got home and tried again and just like that the machine was working again and I managed to make a seam of some sort. Then play time was and it was time to feed and water the boys.

Long story short, it's now 8.30pm and that masterpiece is nowhere to be seen and that's ok. I have learnt that I need to nail the basics and be realistic. Good friends like Jo help keep my head on right whilst still being encouraging and not laughing (out loud) at me. 

There's always tomorrow. I shall endeavour. Keep watching this space .... and I don't mind if you laugh at me a little, God knows I laugh at me enough. 

Oh how sad am I!!
There's a hem, some lines of stitching and a seam of sorts.

I have a very generous friend who is going away for a month or 2. This fab lady said "why don't you borrow my sewing machine while I'm away?" ...
OMG, I was over the moon. What a great idea and also a clever exercise for me before I invest money into what may or may not be a passing fancy. Also it'll be good to see if

1. I can turn a machine on
2. Figure out what's a bobbin and where it goes
3. Sew a straight line

Oh the excitement!!!

Where is it?

Well Mother's Day has come and gone and little old me is still waiting for that elusive sewing machine. I really thought my husband would get it as a gift for me from the twins .. seeing as how they are only 2 ish and can't drive themselves to the shop yet. But alas, twas not to be.

When he said "Sorry love, I didn't get you a sewing machine" I thought he was joking. I thought he would then go to the garage and produce this box that he had hidden days prior and him and the twins would giggle away like co-conspirators. NOPE!!

Looks like I'm just gonna have to go out and get me one on my own accord.

I'm getting a sewing machine and starting this blog when I do.
I can't sew. I have no idea how to work a sewing machine.

WATCH THIS SPACE

I use to fall asleep to the sound of the pedals as my Mother sewed away