Not the only sewer in the house

Seems these days I write about sewing, but not necessarily DOING much sewing. Well, I'm absorbing the "culture", if you will, and have been pouring over fabric websites and such, with almost as much verve as I do for yarn and knitting websites. Part of it is that I haven't found fabrics that make me say, "Oooh!" as much as various yarns do, but I supposed I'll just give it time, that's all.

In fact, I haven't been doing much knitting or sewing, much to my dismay. I did some knitting at our local Founders Day today, during boredom and needing some rest time at the event. Kept me busy, at least. There was a sewing guild there as well, but all I can say is that there was one woman who had what looked like a good Husqvarna Viking machine (which are generally not cheap machines) there, and they had a bunch of quilted items and little girls dresses with smocking on it. All the ladies seemed too busy answering questions like, where to find Pennington's QuiltWorks, which is improved since it went to its new location and it's one of the best resources in the country. (Been there, and would agree, at least, that they have a lot of cool fabrics there. Of course, was there a year ago before the sewing bug bit me...), and where to buy a sewing machine (of which there are several places, but the woman speaking was directing the asker to the Sew N Vac in Princeton). So, it's not like I got NOTHING done in relation to that-- I kept it as part of my day! I also finally cleared and cleaned my dining room table in the hopes that perhaps in the next couple of days I will go and mark and cut the pattern to the tunic I want to make for myself. I am nervous, since I have to make an adaption to the pattern, but I just have to bite the bullet and do it, right?

But, my sewing machine DID get some use today. And it wasn't by me. Y'see, before I ever bought a machine, my MIL had her machines. And when there were hems to be sewn or some repairs to be done, my HUSBAND, JC, actually learned how to make sure repairs and knows how to use a sewing machine better than I would. Just for hems and things like that, like I said. His mother used to own this huge, heavy industrial machine years ago. I remember helping him move that thing out of the closet where it was kept, onto his mom's truck, and then helping him move it to first his aunt's house, and then his aunt's friend's house. It was the sort of machine that had only one speed--lightening fast. There was little control in the foot pedal. After all, like I said, it was an industrial machine, probably being given away or sold cheaply from the place where his mom worked at one time as a seamstress. So over the years, JC learned a thing or two of some basics, it appears, and he was like a kid who'd been away from his bicycle-- he didn't forget a thing. He wanted to do a repair on one pair of jeans of Drew's. Drew has torn the left knee of almost every pair of jeans he owns. I was waiting until the weather was more consistently warm that I was going to make cutoffs or at least cut and hem them to make shorts. But today, JC took a small piece of lightweight denim to make a long patch underneath, and was sewing the patch with a zigzag to repair the hole. He complained about the machine being laced up with white thread (in preparation for my tunic), which was too bad, but I have to admit, he did an okay job. Not beautiful, but acceptable, at least. Funny thing is that the patch didn't even last through today-- the knee ripped again, but did hold on the sides. Oh well.

I asked JC what he thought of the new machine, and he said it was fine. Just getting used to the foot pedal, that's all, but he still felt comfortable around it. Then again, between using his mom's and how Trading Spaces always touted it as a power tool, (it's true, if you think about it), his masculinity is intact. So I guess, for now, we have two sewers-- one a total beginner, and one who is not so much of a beginner.

I guess, perhaps, in time, Drew will learn too. I promise you, by the time that boy leaves for college, or at least soon after he graduates from college, he will be able to sew, cook and clean for himself, I tell you! ;-)