First project in 30 years — I DID IT!
Thanks to all of you who coached me and held my hand during my “retread” project. (I think my new handle should be SeamRipper.) The blouse is not perfect BUT IT IS FINISHED and she likes it. I ended up trading in the old machine (which had been my grandmother’s in the 1970s and then my Mother gave it to me — but it was just too far gone to be rehabilitated — somebody here suggested I take it in to be cleaned and oiled — good tip because it was nearly dead and would have cost HUNDREDS to fix) on a new Janome. The new machine made things a lot easier and I ALMOST have the threading sequence memorized.
After my Mother’s little top, I ventured into collars and buttonholes — made my eight-year-old son a REALLY cute shirt with a bat print (we’re ALL OVER Halloween around here). I think some of my skills improved — I know my confidence certainly did. And he likes the shirt.
Next, I think, is something for me.
Anyhow, thanks to all of you for the wonderful suggestions.
Replies
Congrats on a job well done :-)
~Cat
Congratulations!
You're all over Hallowe'en? Really? We're getting ready for Thanksgiving here (Canada). Hallowe'en thoughts don't really start until after that. I guess that's why Hallowe'en in the States always seems kinda weird and huge to us.
Yup, Halloween has been an enormous deal since I was a little girl, and my son inherited my fascination for it. I won't say we DON'T spend money on it, but so many of our things are homemade/handmade, and that's part of the reason for the almost year-round emphasis -- I try to make it a "family big deal" rather than just an enormous spending opportunity.
Happy Thanksgiving! (Forgive me; I know it's well before ours, but I don't know exactly when -- early October?) Anyway, I hope you have a wonderful one.
WTG, Jill!!!
Congrats and glad to know that we have hooked another one on the wonderful world of sewing. It will only steam roll from here and the next thing you know you will want an embroidery machine unless that Janome that you just got is embroidery capable too.
Hee, hee . . . my Mother ran an "errand" last week to get some little thing -- thread or interfacing or whatever. When she got home and called me, I heard "something" in her voice, so I said "You'd better get over here right now." She had this look about her (we're really close buddies -- she's a fun Mom and we can read each other like books) and was acting kind of strange, so I said "Well, tell me all about your new serger." And I was right!
I already have the well-known fabric-hoarding disease; that didn't take long at all. Cleaned out a couple of stores this weekend! Now all I need is a drawer -- no, a couple of shelves -- well, wait, maybe I'd better have a whole room -- to store it!
It will take more than just one room. I have been collecting for about 10 years now and I have taken over the entire basement much to the disgust of the DH,DD, and DS. I tell them I am only collecting packing material if we ever decide to move again. LOL :) Have fun with the serger. I still predict an embroider machine in your near future. It is so much fun that I started my own company to justify the purchase to my DH. Keep me posted.
Ooooooohhhh, an embroidery business! Hmmmmmmm . . . not a bad idea! Of course, I have miles to go before I can sell my services but it might be an idea for later!
What do you embroider?
Not to toot my own horn but it does not seem that hard when you are doing something that you love and that is good for you like sewing. I understand there was a study done several years ago that showed that people that sewed had much lower blood pressure than those that did not and that it had long lasting effects. That is that the blood pressure was lower while sewing as well as when not sewing. I guess that is why it was my DSH that ended up in the Cardiac Care Unit of our local hospital and not me.
Keep sewing and if you ever have a question let me know.
Love your funny description about taking over the entire basement, and the 'excuse'! What a luxury to have this much space in which to store your hobby materials!
Well according to the Illinois Department of Revenue it is now more than a hobby and as far as the DH goes I am the first to call when he needs something embroidered like Varsity jackets for 70 of his fellow sales force. Not bad even if you don't count the 85 shirts I did for the same order.
Terry, It sounds as if you're well on your way to having a thriving business, hope your DH appreciates you!
congratulations of finishing your 1st project. well done you(:
Hey---I'm proud of you! May all your projects turn out well. Even if they don't--have fun! Give my best to your Mom--she sounds like a sweetie. Janet C
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