There are a couple of reasons Sewing is hard to get into... at least for me. first is cost. once you have the supplies and a good start it's not expensive, at least not any more than any other hobby. you also get a lot more out of it than scrap booking, but start up is a lot! since i got the machine as a gift i have been working on the bare minimums for right now. hopefully slowly my hubs and i can start to build up my sewing room, but until then i am learning with the basics.
second: time. it takes time to plan, purchase fabric, wash, dry, iron, fold, get the patterns, cut, pin, measure THEN sew. I am huge on jumping right in and just sewing, not so much the tedious work that needs to go first. this has been a great lesson for me to sit and focus on one things as well as time to get away from my daughter adn husband and do something productive, slightly theraputic and not cleaning my house.
third: there are so many ideas, where do you start?i immediately wanted to find a dress pattern on pinterest and start sewing. instead i have started with two very small things (both things i wanted anyway). These small projects each taught me something different, and i learned a ton about the whole process and things i need.
Now that i tackled my hurdles, got some supplies, found the time and used self control to help learn so i can do things right it was FINALLY time to get sewing.
First thing i did when my machine was up and running, sew two pairs of pants that had holes in the together, and sew on a button. Stupid little things i couldn't have done before but they saved me over $100 having to replace those 3 pairs of pants (at least postponed it for a few more months)! For The WIN! i feel no matter how else the 52 projects go, i have saved us money and therefore it's all worth it.
Second i made a bag for Cecelia to take to church. it's a bit big (the strap) for her and there are LOTS of reasons it looks homemade and could be improved upon, however it cost me nothing and i learned a ton.
(btw, i'd post pictures but i have not mastered my new computer yet, when i do i will put up pictures)
- for fabric i used Cecelia's old baby blanket (she has DOZENS i'll never use again) and cut it up to put it together.
- i did not use a design, i folded and pinned it symmetrically to fit our books and needs.
- i added pockets for her little "saint peg" dolls she takes to church, then i added a rosary pocket
- i sewed a start and sewed it on
it took about an hour total and gave me a chance to play with the different stitches and settings and thread colors and needles and get to know my machine. The bag might not look that good but i learned what i needed and all it took was a baby blanket, my machine, scissors and a few pins.
Third i made some place mats for valentines day decor around my house. they are reversible and literally the EASIEST THING TO EVER MAKE! they are the BEST starting point in my opinion adn i can't wait to make more for every season
Third i made some place mats for valentines day decor around my house. they are reversible and literally the EASIEST THING TO EVER MAKE! they are the BEST starting point in my opinion adn i can't wait to make more for every season
- before yous tart you gotta pick out two coordinating fabrics. this is SUPER important because fabric and crafts stores take soem getting used to for beginners. i went to JoAnns and found what i needed then looked around. There are more supplies than you could ever hope for, but it gave me a chance to make a wishlist and price list in my head. Plus with coupons i got everything cheap! Although this was a super easy starting point, i have realized there are at least two things (a cutting mat and roller cutter) i will have to get before my next project. seems like a no brainer, but this first step of getting fabric and walking around the store is a MUST!
- cut out whatever size you want your mats to be. i made 4, so cut 4 rectangles (honestly i can't remember the measurements right now, it's late at night) of each fabric
- line them up, set your thread adn pin tehm in place
- sew all four sides together
- make sure they match up, tidy the strays up and you are all done.
The are super cute and i'll be making more for st pattys day very soon.
I didn't mention the first steps you need once you get your fabric before you start: wash, dry, iron, fold. Not pointless, in fact that is the most meaningful part of any sewing project. who knew!
So i hope if there's anyone starting to sew or thinking about starting this helps! i can't wait to try my next project (already have the plan and fabric!) ad see what i can do this year!
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