take a leap

Now that my mother's special non-birthday birthday has passed (she was born on the leap year - there was a noticeable lack of a February 29th this year), I can post photos of the two gift projects I was working on for her!

First up was a canvas "All-Day Tote" from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.  This was my second try with this pattern and I felt a lot more confident - knowing where to make allowances and how to incorporate small changes.

I lengthened the handles and tried out a more solid, sturdy quilted bottom panel to lend the bag some additional form.  I was very pleased with the results!  The lining of the tote was my favorite component - it featured a lovely, slightly metallic sheen on the floral elements of the fabric.

Next up, I made a set of quilted coasters using this tutorial from Martha Stewart online.  I chose a subdued Southwestern pattern that will fit in perfectly at my parents' Arizona home. 

I don't know that I'll ever become a successful, crafty business person because I find it most enjoyable to give the items I make as gifts.  Which reminds me of one more project I conquered!

I located instructions for a boxy zippered pouch while searching for free online sewing tutorials.  It looked a lot easier than I had imagined this kind of project, so I set to making two - out of an amazing Dia de los Muertos style fabric I found.  As with the market tote, my first try was slightly flawed, but still functional.  With some experience under my belt, I managed to make a more skilled version, which I gave to a friend of mine who has some mega-Mexican style.  Here's a less-than-perfect cell phone shot of my less-than-perfect first try.

What do you think?  Is there more pleasure in giving gifts than receiving them?  I've received several today and it's wonderful to know that someone was thinking of you - but I think it's even better to share that sentiment with someone else!

thread

My long-awaited sewing class arrived Saturday! Clara and I packed up our machines and set out for the industrial district just east of the Willamette. We met Clara’s friend, Jena, outside and ventured into the fabric swathed warehouse together.

The class was co-instructed by three individuals. We each set up our sewing machines and made sure it was threaded and the bobbin was properly wound with thread. My bobbin ran out, and we discovered that my machine has an ingenious system to fill it up again – without having to remove it from its spot in the machine! I learned that my machine is from 1963, while Jena’s was from the 70’s, and Clara’s from the 80’s. I wasn’t sure that mine would even function properly since it is so old, but it was very well taken care of by its previous owner. On top of that, one instructor explained that vintage machines are often preferable because of their durable all-metal design. The downside to this is that the machine is heavier, but so what?!

We were then given scraps of fabric and we began a series of exercises which would normalize our use of the machine and ease us into healthy habits. The first was to do a simple straight stitch, with backstitching at the start and end to really secure the line of sewing into the fabric. We moved on to corners, free form curves, and circles. We learned how to make a pillow, and then tried the seemingly random task of making a sleeve. Holy moly is it hard to get that one done correctly.

We stayed for about two and a half hours and I feel like that small amount of instruction was an instrumental breakthrough for me. I think I only needed to be shown the basics and now I can rely on books from the library and instructions on the internet to proceed.

And as if one good development wasn’t enough, I later remembered that the woman who had gifted me the sewing machine had also given me a bag full of Singer boxes. I scavenged around our house and found it. To my delighted surprise, inside was practically every attachment ever made for this kind of machine! There were a ton of special discs that can be swapped out to create a variety of decorative stitches, extra machine feet, needles, and bobbins, and a buttonhole attachment. Oh, and retro electric scissors.

I took a trip to Joanne Fabrics that evening to stock up on basic necessities like thread and straight pins. I had a specific project in mind that I wanted to select fabric for (a lined bag with pockets), but their selection of fabrics was overwhelming. I finally asked an elderly woman for help, but she was frigidly cold and mean to me! She tried to snatch my shopping list from my hand and I almost started to cry. Based on the miniscule amount of helpful information she provided, I was able to choose a thick cotton home decorating fabric for the shell of the bag, and thinner, solid cotton for the lining. Fortunately, the lady who cut the fabric for me was much, much nicer and single handedly saved my opinion of the establishment.

By Tuesday evening I had the exterior of my market tote bag finished, with only the handles and interior lining left to go. I can hardly decide what to make next!