this post will probably appeal to a very niche audience (possibly just me and my mother!), so feel free to stop reading if you have no interest in sewing!
I'm not a complete novice but have only really been sewing in earnest for a year or so. I started with soft toys, then toddler clothes, and have gradually worked up to clothes for myself. After a couple of successes with patterns in books for beginners (if you're thinking about sewing, start with Love at first stitch!), I'm working on a normal commercial pattern for the first time. It's been a bit stop start due to some sewing-when-tired which led to some unpicking-required, and thus to a hole in the fabric, more unpicking, and thankfully just enough fabric for a new bodice back!
However, tonight I've had a good couple of hours at it, made lots of progress and ended up with some random sewing observations.
1. A beer and sewing go together better than you'd think. But not more than one. Never more than one.
2. Moving the ironing board nearer to the sewing machine has significant impact on the length of my sewing concentration span.
3. There's a defining seam in every sewing project where it suddenly starts looking like the end product. There's still loads to do but you realise that you actually created what you intended. I hit that point tonight then promptly stopped (after trying it on of course) - quit on a high.
4. My habit of acquiring random haberdashery is totally justified by the fact that tonight I found that I accidentally owned the right bias binding to allow me to continue with the pattern. I feel vindicated.
5. Pattern instructions are all very well but common sense is important. I just had to read my pattern four or five times to confirm that it AT NO POINT tells you to sew the top and bottom of the dress together. Minor flaw...I have no intention of baring my midriff!
6. The zip and hem are still to do but I am Very Excited about wearing a dress that I've made myself.
Six is probably enough random sewing thoughts...I'll post a picture of it when it's finished! Congratulations if you made it this far...
