« More Miscellanea | Main | Sakura Matsuri »
May 02, 2005
Next Thing You Know I'll Be Baking Apple Pies
Finally, after years of collecting bits of material and old clothes for some vague future use, I've learned to use a sewing machine. I took a sewing class at Church of Craft Saturday, even though it meant missing the season opener at Sebago and getting out of bed before noon on a weekend (I was so tired that I missed the subway stop on the way there and almost ended up in Manhattan). Since I was the only one who signed up it ended up being a private lesson with Mary. This was key for two reasons: 1) I'm a space cadet so I needed the "special attention" anyway, and 2) I got to make a super-deluxe version of the project-of-the-day. The object of the class was to make a knitting needle and crochet hook roll-up case -- mine has 5 needle pockets, 2 DPN pockets, 5 circular needle pockets, and a pocket with a velcro flap for cable needles and stitch holders (!). I know this won't seem thrilling to non-knitters, but this is a killer case, okay?
I signed up mainly because I desperately wanted to learn how to create something using a sewing machine. I love looking at fabric in stores and I tend to want to make skirts and bags with everything I see -- beads, upholstery, ribbon, you name it. Since I only know how to hand-sew and am terminally lazy, things never really progress. I did successfully buy some maroon velour and black fabric and make a shoulder bag once which I was immensely proud of, but since it was all hand-sewn, the thing developed holes at the corners and started to show its age. It also didn't have any pockets or cell phone holders so it wasn't highly practical. The knitting accessory holder I made with Mary yesterday, on the other hand, is FULL of reinforced pockets and properly sewn corners.
Now I'm on a mission to find a good used sewing machine and set up shop on the kitchen table. A set of square red silk couch pillows are next on the list. Then Christmas stockings, and eventually a quilt of some sort ... it's amazing how much this stuff appeals to me. It seems like tedious work -- and not too long ago I criticized someone else for becoming a queen of domesticity and all things Home and Garden -- but my art-class tendencies are making a comeback. Maybe Martha Stewart put something in the water?
Posted by csageday at May 2, 2005 01:00 AM
Comments
And, of course, I'm happy you picked that fabric, because Rose went on to make me a fab tie out of the leftovers!
Posted by: Francis at May 2, 2005 12:49 PM
Ugh. I don't normally read the yarny articles all the way through, but this just captured me. Just kidding. Real reason I'm commenting: We have a factory refurbished Brother VX-1120 that works perfectly. Kathy got it on eBay a few years back during a sewing phase. Yours for $20.
Posted by: Lloyd at May 2, 2005 10:31 PM