What next, you ask? Good question. Based on my last endeavor, I'm still intent on sticking with something simple, but upping the bar a little bit. I know, I'm a little nutty challenging myself so quickly, but I think that's part of what makes it more interesting for me. I won't learn anything unless I challenge myself.
Thus, I've been thinking about it quite a bit. And I decided that I wanted to do another project from the S.E.W. book. So I looked through the book, and thought about what I wanted to make that was not a one-spool (easy) project, but something that was two spools (intermediate beginner), the next level up. I wanted to make something to wear this time, and again, keep it simple. I've been eyeing the tunic in there, the pattern aptly named, "Tunic, or not Tunic?". Before even taking the pattern out of the pattern envelope in the book, I decided to read the pattern fairly carefully, to make sure I wasn't biting off more than I can chew. Well, there's only 6 pieces to the pattern, and less is more that way, so Diana Rupp the S.E.W. goddess says. Makes sense. Having the knitting background I have, looking at the pieces and looking at how the pieces go together, it totally made sense. That part is a piece of cake. I think the challenge will be getting the neckpiece/collar working. We're not talking a normal collar-- it's simple enough. It's just a V piece with the back piece, but getting some zigzag stitching in there and attaching it to the main body of the tunic will be the tricky part. That and the armband parts too. The other trick with this pattern is that the largest size is still too small for me, so I'm going to still have to figure out how to make adaptions. :-S Yikes! I'm not panicking yet. I think it will only be making it a little wider, not so much the longer part. So, I've got that on tap.
I went out to JoAnn's Fabrics, as that's the main and pretty much only fabric shop around here. (Okay, there's a Calico Corners Home down the street, but that's not for the stuff I need.) I am such a smart shopper for the most part. One of the things I mentioned the last time was the need of a magnetic seam guide. Well, I searched the store, and I finally found one in the quilter's section. It was smaller than I expected, but it was only $1.59. Sweet! I'm not sure if it's the right thing, but I decide that I'll take my chances. Eventually, I find the "regular" one in the "regular" sewing section. It's by the same manufacturer, and lo and behold, the only thing that's different is the packaging-- and the price! The "regular" one is $4.59! It's the same exact thing! So yeah, getting the cheaper one was a good idea. I also got interfacing that the tunic pattern required, but found out after I got home (but fortunately before I opened the package) that I got the wrong kind. Oh well! I'll go exchange it tomorrow. I also got some dressmaker's pattern paper, so that way I don't have to totally destroy the patterns. Of course, having a tracer do-hickey would help! I'll have to get one of those tomorrow as well.
Then, I did it. I've been eyeing this canvas-like striped fabric for at least a long time, well before I even started sewing. I've wanted to make some curtains for my kitchen that would coordinate with the plans we have for our kitchen and family room. It incorporated all the colors we've talked about along with some contrasting colors at the same time. It looked like the bolt was almost done, so I bought all that was left, about 2 2/3 yards. Okay, it's way too much fabric for what I need, but I love this fabric. I can probably make some new pillow covers (the old ones are the same as the main fabric of my tote bag) with it, and perhaps some extra tote bags too! LOL So, it looks like I might be making some valances soon as well. Hooray! I hope to get the hang of this enough to make some new mini sheers for my front door soon. The ones that are there are fugly, and were left with the house, but they don't go at ALL with what we have here. I think I've seen some Christopher Lowell sheer fabric with some embroidery that was affordable and would go, so I'll have to work towards that.
So, I have two projects ahead-- a tunic, and some valances for my kitchen. It think it's a plan! Now, to get started...pattern nerves ensue again!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Saturday, April 26, 2008
My first REAL sewing project-- DONE!
Okay, so yesterday I bit the bullet and cut out the material. I started sewing. Tonight, I have a finished project.
Voila!
My first real project, a tote bag made using the S.E.W. book's pattern (or should I say, directions).
I'll say it's not too bad for a first project of this caliber (not that this is a high caliber, but you know), but as much as it looks okay, there are plenty of mistakes as well.
Let's first talk about the stitchwork. I'll admit it-- I'm really, really bad at both doing a basic straight line as well as doing decorative stitches. Not that my machine can do that much in the way of decorative stitches, but work with me here. You can see in the following photo that I might have used that bumpy stitch, but not consistently, on the pocket, and then again on the "ribbon" border.
I know that the "best" way to do it is at 0-1 stitches for length, but the problem is that the feed dogs don't feed at 0 stitches, so you have to move it yourself, so I think that explains the inconsistency. Oh well. That will take some practice, much like just doing straight stitching. Like, look here, at the back-- proof that it is a valiant attempt, but still inconsistent.
At the same time, you may be asking, "Windsornot, why'd you attempt something like that on your very first project?" Well, I'll tell you. Like I said before, my straight stitches aren't very straight. Thus, when I put in the lining for my bag-- YES, I put in a lining!-- the stitches showing on the outside showed how crooked they were. I needed to cover them up somehow, so I made the makeshift "ribbon" out of the same material as the pocket, and attached it with the decorative stitch. Here, take a look-- here's the evidence:
Even so, unless you really look close at it, you can't tell, or it's not THAT bad.
Let's see, what else can I tell you about the project? The material used was all scraps of sorts. The striped material is leftover from pillows and curtains I did in my old house (I have a TON of it left). The red material is actually from other curtains used in my old house, which were transferred to my new house. The lining was from remnant material I got at JoAnn Fabrics recently. I think it's shirt/broadcloth material, and least that's how it feels.
So, what lessons were learned from this?
I can do a sewing project!
I need to learn to iron and cut my fabric much better.
I need to learn to sew straighter seams! The investment of a magnetic seam guide, much to JC's objections of me getting anymore do-hickeys for sewing, might be needed. Also, the cutting the fabric straighter will hopefully help in this endeavor as well.
Just like in knitting, sometimes my inner instincts are good in trying to make corrections.
In the end, while it's not perfect in any shape or form, I still feel that my first true sewing project came out pretty well, so I'm pleased with it, and more importantly with myself.
Even JC thought I did a good job. And even Drew helped with the project here and there. JC was also impressed with the little set-up I had going in the guest room. He said it's looking like a real sewing room, with my little table and everything set up as it is. Now, if I could only get legitimate space for a craft room! But that's for another posting someday.
Now, the question is, do I make my next tote bag for my friend as I had planned, or work on something else first? And if I should work on something else, what should it be? Hmmmm....decisions, decisions.
Voila!
My first real project, a tote bag made using the S.E.W. book's pattern (or should I say, directions).
I'll say it's not too bad for a first project of this caliber (not that this is a high caliber, but you know), but as much as it looks okay, there are plenty of mistakes as well.
Let's first talk about the stitchwork. I'll admit it-- I'm really, really bad at both doing a basic straight line as well as doing decorative stitches. Not that my machine can do that much in the way of decorative stitches, but work with me here. You can see in the following photo that I might have used that bumpy stitch, but not consistently, on the pocket, and then again on the "ribbon" border.
I know that the "best" way to do it is at 0-1 stitches for length, but the problem is that the feed dogs don't feed at 0 stitches, so you have to move it yourself, so I think that explains the inconsistency. Oh well. That will take some practice, much like just doing straight stitching. Like, look here, at the back-- proof that it is a valiant attempt, but still inconsistent.
At the same time, you may be asking, "Windsornot, why'd you attempt something like that on your very first project?" Well, I'll tell you. Like I said before, my straight stitches aren't very straight. Thus, when I put in the lining for my bag-- YES, I put in a lining!-- the stitches showing on the outside showed how crooked they were. I needed to cover them up somehow, so I made the makeshift "ribbon" out of the same material as the pocket, and attached it with the decorative stitch. Here, take a look-- here's the evidence:
Even so, unless you really look close at it, you can't tell, or it's not THAT bad.
Let's see, what else can I tell you about the project? The material used was all scraps of sorts. The striped material is leftover from pillows and curtains I did in my old house (I have a TON of it left). The red material is actually from other curtains used in my old house, which were transferred to my new house. The lining was from remnant material I got at JoAnn Fabrics recently. I think it's shirt/broadcloth material, and least that's how it feels.
So, what lessons were learned from this?
In the end, while it's not perfect in any shape or form, I still feel that my first true sewing project came out pretty well, so I'm pleased with it, and more importantly with myself.
Even JC thought I did a good job. And even Drew helped with the project here and there. JC was also impressed with the little set-up I had going in the guest room. He said it's looking like a real sewing room, with my little table and everything set up as it is. Now, if I could only get legitimate space for a craft room! But that's for another posting someday.
Now, the question is, do I make my next tote bag for my friend as I had planned, or work on something else first? And if I should work on something else, what should it be? Hmmmm....decisions, decisions.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Biting the bullet
I've been hesitating starting on my first real project. Why, you may ask?
Well, I'm weird. I'm excited to learn to sew, yet scared to start on something. I think it's because I'm thinking so far ahead, even with simple stuff. And because I'm thinking ahead, I'm already anticipating problems that I don't know how to deal with it. I know, it's a little bit of putting the cart before the horse syndrome, but it's different with sewing than knitting. With knitting, if you goof up, you can always frog it and start over on a section if you messed up. There's literally more flexibility, and once you know how to read a pattern, and you know how to knit and purl, you are on your way for the most part. Sure, I know a lot more now than when I started, and there are still things I don't know. I wouldn't call myself an advanced or expert knitter, but I'm not a beginner either.
I think I'm like this with anything new. I've very hesitant and unsure of myself. And until I do the first project or two, get the hang of it-- even if it's very simple-- I'm terrified of failure, even though I know failure is part of the learning process. I think part of it too is that there is a lot more complicated stuff going on with sewing than I expected. Understanding knitting helps, because I understand garment construction a lot more than if I didn't knit, and having already learned to make adaptions in knitting (some of which are a lot easier to do), I'm anticipating having to make adaptions for sewing patterns, and really screwing things up. I'm sure in time making some sewing adaptions will be normal, but for now, I don't know what I'm doing.
I kept re-reading the section of my S.E.W. book on how to read patterns, and I understand some parts, and not others. How much yardage? Check. How to lay out the patterns on the fabric? Check. How to sew this part or that part? Well, not so much. And to top it all off, I come to find out that sewing pattern sizes are not the same as store sizes. So, I could be a size 8 at the Gap (I'm not, but bear with me) and a size 14 via the sewing pattern. That screws up everything for me, because I'm not exactly small to begin with. I know they make plus sized patterns, but still, what if I still need to make adaptions to that as well? And one of the reasons I wanted to learn to sew was because I think I don't fit a size per se. Like my back is one size, but my front is another size, and I have a waist, and so on. So I'm freezing up mentally on this, when I shouldn't. I should just seize the day and start simple. But even the simple tote bag that I plan to do is seizing up my brain. And my logical brain says that's dumb, but my emotional brain is panicking. I don't understand my brain sometimes.
So, I had a little chat with one of my co-workers today, and was mentioning that I was starting to learn, and part of the difficulty was that nobody, and I mean NOBODY ever showed me anything about sewing until my lesson with Sandy. My mother had a machine when I was a kid, but I really didn't learn anything from her at all, and I wouldn't say that in any way was she a sewing person. I think, in retrospect, it was because she didn't learn properly herself, because after reading some of the problems that can happen with improper care of your machine and accessories, I think that was the problem. But the co-worker was very enthusiastic and encouraging, and assured me that even making basic stuff was satisfying, as that's what she would do for her kids when they were smaller, and just make costumes and toys and chatchkes and stuff. With that kind of encouragement, I don't know...I just decided that I needed to listen to my logical mind instead of my scared little girl mind, and yes, bite the bullet.
So, tonight, with scrap material in hand, my cutting board, rotary cutter and scissors, my ruler, my tracing pencil, and the directions in my S.E.W. book, I cut out my first "pattern" for the tote bag I decided to make. I'm doing a trial run with scrap material I have first just to get the hang of it before I make a nicer one later. I think this one won't be perfect, but it's a good start. I'll admit, I didn't press any material, although I definitely should. I decided to make a pocket at the last minute, so I started with that. While I didn't have an iron on hand (I'll have to bring the iron and ironing board upstairs from the basement), I used the Elisa method of marking (in this case, spit to make creases. I know, bleeh, but it's my bag, so it's my spit. Deal with it! I stitched up the pocket, and while it's not perfect, it's not so bad either. After a little bit of work on it, Drew came up, and he helped me with it. He likes using the "accelerator" for me, and he's getting rather good at listening to what I need, such as go slower, go faster, STOP, and go medium. He likes helping and watching, so that's good. He asked what I was making, and I told him a tote bag. He asked if he could have it when I was done making it, and I said sure, and he was excited about that. Of course, I have to finish it first!
So I think if I do any sewing stuff this weekend, I'll have to bring the ironing board and iron upstairs. I wanted to get a mini craft iron, but JC is getting weird about me getting all this stuff. He feels I've already spent too much on things, and I can just use what I have. Geez, okay already. We have two regular irons anyway. I think if I have time, I will be able to get the bag done this weekend. We'll see. There's a lot going on, and I really need to attend to my house and getting it cleaned up. It's time to change the seasonal clothes, and perhaps that will help tell me what some of my future clothes projects that I want to do will be! I know I want to make shorts for both Drew and I, that's for sure. But I need to assess what he and I have, especially since he's growing so fast.
But I did it! I finally cut the pieces of my first pattern, and have taken steps to finally make something. I need to follow through on this now, because if I don't, then it's been a big waste of time and money. I can do this. I know I can!
Well, I'm weird. I'm excited to learn to sew, yet scared to start on something. I think it's because I'm thinking so far ahead, even with simple stuff. And because I'm thinking ahead, I'm already anticipating problems that I don't know how to deal with it. I know, it's a little bit of putting the cart before the horse syndrome, but it's different with sewing than knitting. With knitting, if you goof up, you can always frog it and start over on a section if you messed up. There's literally more flexibility, and once you know how to read a pattern, and you know how to knit and purl, you are on your way for the most part. Sure, I know a lot more now than when I started, and there are still things I don't know. I wouldn't call myself an advanced or expert knitter, but I'm not a beginner either.
I think I'm like this with anything new. I've very hesitant and unsure of myself. And until I do the first project or two, get the hang of it-- even if it's very simple-- I'm terrified of failure, even though I know failure is part of the learning process. I think part of it too is that there is a lot more complicated stuff going on with sewing than I expected. Understanding knitting helps, because I understand garment construction a lot more than if I didn't knit, and having already learned to make adaptions in knitting (some of which are a lot easier to do), I'm anticipating having to make adaptions for sewing patterns, and really screwing things up. I'm sure in time making some sewing adaptions will be normal, but for now, I don't know what I'm doing.
I kept re-reading the section of my S.E.W. book on how to read patterns, and I understand some parts, and not others. How much yardage? Check. How to lay out the patterns on the fabric? Check. How to sew this part or that part? Well, not so much. And to top it all off, I come to find out that sewing pattern sizes are not the same as store sizes. So, I could be a size 8 at the Gap (I'm not, but bear with me) and a size 14 via the sewing pattern. That screws up everything for me, because I'm not exactly small to begin with. I know they make plus sized patterns, but still, what if I still need to make adaptions to that as well? And one of the reasons I wanted to learn to sew was because I think I don't fit a size per se. Like my back is one size, but my front is another size, and I have a waist, and so on. So I'm freezing up mentally on this, when I shouldn't. I should just seize the day and start simple. But even the simple tote bag that I plan to do is seizing up my brain. And my logical brain says that's dumb, but my emotional brain is panicking. I don't understand my brain sometimes.
So, I had a little chat with one of my co-workers today, and was mentioning that I was starting to learn, and part of the difficulty was that nobody, and I mean NOBODY ever showed me anything about sewing until my lesson with Sandy. My mother had a machine when I was a kid, but I really didn't learn anything from her at all, and I wouldn't say that in any way was she a sewing person. I think, in retrospect, it was because she didn't learn properly herself, because after reading some of the problems that can happen with improper care of your machine and accessories, I think that was the problem. But the co-worker was very enthusiastic and encouraging, and assured me that even making basic stuff was satisfying, as that's what she would do for her kids when they were smaller, and just make costumes and toys and chatchkes and stuff. With that kind of encouragement, I don't know...I just decided that I needed to listen to my logical mind instead of my scared little girl mind, and yes, bite the bullet.
So, tonight, with scrap material in hand, my cutting board, rotary cutter and scissors, my ruler, my tracing pencil, and the directions in my S.E.W. book, I cut out my first "pattern" for the tote bag I decided to make. I'm doing a trial run with scrap material I have first just to get the hang of it before I make a nicer one later. I think this one won't be perfect, but it's a good start. I'll admit, I didn't press any material, although I definitely should. I decided to make a pocket at the last minute, so I started with that. While I didn't have an iron on hand (I'll have to bring the iron and ironing board upstairs from the basement), I used the Elisa method of marking (in this case, spit to make creases. I know, bleeh, but it's my bag, so it's my spit. Deal with it! I stitched up the pocket, and while it's not perfect, it's not so bad either. After a little bit of work on it, Drew came up, and he helped me with it. He likes using the "accelerator" for me, and he's getting rather good at listening to what I need, such as go slower, go faster, STOP, and go medium. He likes helping and watching, so that's good. He asked what I was making, and I told him a tote bag. He asked if he could have it when I was done making it, and I said sure, and he was excited about that. Of course, I have to finish it first!
So I think if I do any sewing stuff this weekend, I'll have to bring the ironing board and iron upstairs. I wanted to get a mini craft iron, but JC is getting weird about me getting all this stuff. He feels I've already spent too much on things, and I can just use what I have. Geez, okay already. We have two regular irons anyway. I think if I have time, I will be able to get the bag done this weekend. We'll see. There's a lot going on, and I really need to attend to my house and getting it cleaned up. It's time to change the seasonal clothes, and perhaps that will help tell me what some of my future clothes projects that I want to do will be! I know I want to make shorts for both Drew and I, that's for sure. But I need to assess what he and I have, especially since he's growing so fast.
But I did it! I finally cut the pieces of my first pattern, and have taken steps to finally make something. I need to follow through on this now, because if I don't, then it's been a big waste of time and money. I can do this. I know I can!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
I'm such a gearhead sometimes.
Well, the machine is here! And oddly enough, it matches the decor of the room it's living in right now, ha ha. That wasn't done intentionally, especially since I plan to redo that room. I've been playing with it and having a good time practicing stitches and learning the quirks of my very own machine. It took me a while to get the hang of the automatic needle threader (not so automatic), but once I got the hang of it, it's gold. Also, for a non-jamming bobbin, I can tell you for a fact that it DOES jam. The other thing is that the feed dogs don't move on this machine, so I have to manually move the fabric myself much more, which I didn't have to do on the loaner machine. All things I've learned the hard way, you could say. Yes, I looked at the manual. After the fact, of course. :-P I did figure out how to use the one-step button hole maker. That was pretty cool, and yes, it DOES work. The other problem is not so much the machine as much as the table it's on. It's just a collapsible small table-- a folding table, if you will, and while it can support the machine just fine, when you get to sewing, (I almost said "knitting" there for a moment out of habit!) the motion of the machine causes some serious vibrations of the tabletop, hence the machine is bouncing up and down on the table, kind of. So, I supposed there is a learning curve involved here. But that's okay. I have a good foundation to build on.
In the meantime, I had some JoAnn's Fabrics coupons (I'll probably be saving those up now, like I do the Michaels and AC Moore coupons for yarn now and then), and decided to invest in a pretty rotary cutter and a cutting board. I also bought some more remnant cloth for practice or possibly making something. I received my fancier Fiskars Pinking shears that I won dirt cheap off eBay today in the mail. (It was worth about $31 and I got it for a third of that price including the shipping.) I'm no thinking that I need to get a magnetic seam guide and a tracing wheel as well. So I have LOTS of gear at this point for a beginner sewer, don't you think?
Here's the thing, though. Other than that pincushion, I haven't made a damn thing. Not one item. I've played with stitches and such, but I haven't made something from a pattern of any kind and produced an actual finished product. How pathetic is that? Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. I think that I need to get on the ball. Part of me is very anxious and excited to do that, and part of me is scared out of my mind to make it. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? The worst is that it would come out badly, and yet I know that comes with the territory of learning. But I want to be super successful with my first project-- is that so wrong? I already decided that I'm going to make a practice tote bag with "scrap" fabric that I have first, then make the nice one for my friend. Oddly enough, I'm scared to make the practice one. Bleeh! I need to get on the ball, and stop buying gear and MAKE SOMETHING!
In the meantime, I had some JoAnn's Fabrics coupons (I'll probably be saving those up now, like I do the Michaels and AC Moore coupons for yarn now and then), and decided to invest in a pretty rotary cutter and a cutting board. I also bought some more remnant cloth for practice or possibly making something. I received my fancier Fiskars Pinking shears that I won dirt cheap off eBay today in the mail. (It was worth about $31 and I got it for a third of that price including the shipping.) I'm no thinking that I need to get a magnetic seam guide and a tracing wheel as well. So I have LOTS of gear at this point for a beginner sewer, don't you think?
Here's the thing, though. Other than that pincushion, I haven't made a damn thing. Not one item. I've played with stitches and such, but I haven't made something from a pattern of any kind and produced an actual finished product. How pathetic is that? Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. I think that I need to get on the ball. Part of me is very anxious and excited to do that, and part of me is scared out of my mind to make it. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? The worst is that it would come out badly, and yet I know that comes with the territory of learning. But I want to be super successful with my first project-- is that so wrong? I already decided that I'm going to make a practice tote bag with "scrap" fabric that I have first, then make the nice one for my friend. Oddly enough, I'm scared to make the practice one. Bleeh! I need to get on the ball, and stop buying gear and MAKE SOMETHING!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Field trip to the Fabric store.
Okay, it wasn't the only fabric store I wanted to visit this weekend to look around, but I got an extra moment that I didn't expect to go check out JoAnn Fabrics tonight. We were going to a restaurant that was in the same shopping center, so since we had to wait, I asked JC if he minded if I walked over and took a look about while we waited. Sensing I needed the break, he said sure, so I went over. As I mentioned yesterday, the idea of fabric availability, or fabric choices, has been daunting for me. There are certain flexibilities, and certain inflexibilities, so I wanted to be able to look at what was available for myself, without a little boy tagging along making me rush through and not taking a careful look. Well, not that I was looking THAT carefully, but at least more carefully enough to see that everything wasn't shiny polyester, how the store was divided for certain fabrics, where the bottomweights were vs the knits vs the denim, etc. And, for all I said in the last post, I still found some things I liked. I saw some nice twills that I think I'd like to make for shorts and pants, or even skirts. I saw some bolts with a nice lightweight fabrics that would be suitable for a nice blouse. I saw some knit fabric which I could see making t-shirts. I started seeing possibilities. I could see my creativity still coming through in my head, at least. I also looked at the home decor/upholstery fabrics. How is it that I like the motifs on those the best? Probably it's because I've been looking at those types of fabrics longer than I've ever looked at any other kind, since I've been doing interior design for a lot longer than anything else. I was seeing some sheer fabric that I'd like to eventually get to replace the crappy curtains by my front door, and the fabric that I've been oggling for a while for my kitchen curtains and new family room pillows. The other thing I was looking for was fabric for a project out of the S.E.W. book. It's for a sewing machine cover, and it calls for oilcloth. Well, JoAnn Fabrics doesn't carry that. But from what I could see, it looks a lot like vinyl tablecloth material, so I looked at that. I have to tell you, a lot of it is fugly. But, there is some that looks like leather, and I'm very tempted to get some of that! There was one in particular that looked like butterscotch colored ostrich skin leather, even though it was really pleather. Oh, it was gorgeous, and even pricey, even though it wasn't real. I'm still thinking about whether I want to get that for the project. I think having a sewing machine cover that looks like leather would be kind of cool looking, don't you think?
I looked at other things too, like seeing mini irons, which might be ideal to have to iron out seams and such, rather than heat up my regular one. Of course, I don't really have a sewing room to do any of this, per se, but I'm hoping that by the end of the summer (heh heh, right), I'll be able to convert part of my basement into a makeshift craft room, where I can do my sewing and store my knitting supplies as well. If not there, then perhaps I can change up part of the guest room. Either way, I need a personal space, and I don't have that at all except the Master Bathroom to myself. But that's for another rant elsewhere.
I still want to also visit the local Calico Corners store, which has moved closer to my house, and has been renamed "Calico Home". Just to check out what they have. Perhaps one day after work I'll go, because it's literally across the street (namely Rt.1) from where I work. I know it's a home decor store, but still, sometimes I remember them having some fun fabrics, and so I am certainly curious to see what they have, since it's been a while since I've been there.
I am starting to see possibilities now, and seeing the potential of what I can do. I know, I'm still getting ahead of myself, but you know, it's like this...if I don't try to look ahead, then there's no point. Looking ahead is my way of dreaming, and if you don't have dreams, then you have no future, nothing to look forward towards. I'm starting to realize lately that if I don't try and have dreams, then I have one less thing that makes me happy. I'm not one who has lofty dreams that I wish would come true. Well, I do, but I do try to be realistic and practical. And thinking that someday I will have the skills to make my own clothes or do decor around my house on my own is my own little dream. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's what makes me happy these days.
And part of that dream is coming on Tuesday, when my first, very own sewing machine will be arriving. Yay!
I looked at other things too, like seeing mini irons, which might be ideal to have to iron out seams and such, rather than heat up my regular one. Of course, I don't really have a sewing room to do any of this, per se, but I'm hoping that by the end of the summer (heh heh, right), I'll be able to convert part of my basement into a makeshift craft room, where I can do my sewing and store my knitting supplies as well. If not there, then perhaps I can change up part of the guest room. Either way, I need a personal space, and I don't have that at all except the Master Bathroom to myself. But that's for another rant elsewhere.
I still want to also visit the local Calico Corners store, which has moved closer to my house, and has been renamed "Calico Home". Just to check out what they have. Perhaps one day after work I'll go, because it's literally across the street (namely Rt.1) from where I work. I know it's a home decor store, but still, sometimes I remember them having some fun fabrics, and so I am certainly curious to see what they have, since it's been a while since I've been there.
I am starting to see possibilities now, and seeing the potential of what I can do. I know, I'm still getting ahead of myself, but you know, it's like this...if I don't try to look ahead, then there's no point. Looking ahead is my way of dreaming, and if you don't have dreams, then you have no future, nothing to look forward towards. I'm starting to realize lately that if I don't try and have dreams, then I have one less thing that makes me happy. I'm not one who has lofty dreams that I wish would come true. Well, I do, but I do try to be realistic and practical. And thinking that someday I will have the skills to make my own clothes or do decor around my house on my own is my own little dream. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's what makes me happy these days.
And part of that dream is coming on Tuesday, when my first, very own sewing machine will be arriving. Yay!
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