Learning as I go

Sewing is definitely not a relaxing hobby. Some people may think you just take the fabric out of the bag and begin but there is so many steps involved before you can even begin. I thought the same thing about cake decorating before I realized the long process of making icing and getting the cake ready before you can even begin decorating.

Steps before sewing: sew sides that may unravel, dilute the fabric, wash the fabric, dry/line dry the fabric, iron the fabric, iron the pattern, cut the pattern, pin the pattern on the fabric, cut the fabric, AND then you can start.

Then the hard part starts- you have to figure out what the heck the pattern is saying in a very short fragment. There is no explanation with pictures or dictionary. I have to open all my books and refer back to each one to read a sentence/fragment AND then it still doesn't make sense. I learn from watching others do it and then I can copy it, but having to do what is says from reading is so hard for me to figure out which is why it takes me 2 hours a night for several nights to finish one project. I usually quit when I reach a point of not understanding and then I have the rest of the day to figure it out in my head - which I usually do and am able to start off where I left the night before. I had big dreams of making so many things, but honestly I understand why boutiques charge so much for their homemade items because there is a lot of labor and hours that go into each piece. I am hopefully getting better and learning from my mistakes as well as learning the "language of sewing" so I don't have to refer to three books each time I read a sentence.

I don't want to discourage anyone from learning a new hobby because it is very rewarding once you finish a piece that you spent many hours on. This weekend I am going to teach myself how to make fondant shapes. I have spent a few hours researching it this week and watching videos so I have a good understanding of it. I have a cake due on Saturday for my parent's church cake walk and another cake due the following weekend for a baby shower. I love being able to switch back and forth so I don't get burnt out on either one. Wish me luck!

Here are other pieces I have finished since my last post:

My first sewing creation!

I'm so excited to show you my first piece! I worked on it for three nights in a row because I wanted Bailey to sport the wedding colors at the rehearsal dinner - she is the flower girl so she needs to be pretty at the rehearsal dinner. Tonight is my last sewing class and I will finish my pants! So those pictures will be posted soon. I have worked on my pants longer but I had help from the teacher - with this dress I figured it all out by looking at another dress I bought Bailey from a boutique. I know this is a "simple" dress but it still took over 6 hours to make! I will of course get better and make fewer mistakes but I am really proud to say that "I did it all by myself".

Bailey's Flower Girl Bows

Bailey will be a flower girl in only TEN days! She is wearing a family heirloom dress at the wedding and changing into another dress for the reception - which is why there are two bows needed. I made these for .40 cents each...they would have cost at least $5 each at a boutique. I learned how to make bows by watching the tutorials on youtube.com.