Sewing (!)...Mine and Hers

I've written on occasion about my desire to learn to sew and about my fear of learning to sew.  I think part of it is the cutting.  And if I'm being honest, part of it is the patience (we'll talk about that one at a later date).  

Let's talk cutting.  With everything else I do, nothing is as permanent as cutting fabric.  You can rip knitting (okay, I've not yet done a steek so that's a different story altogether), you can erase pencil....even with a pen, a woodburner, a gourd carving tool, or a paper-cutting knife, while more permanent for sure, if a mistake is made it doesn't necessarily destroy the piece.  It just means one has to be creative in incorporating the mistake which is a creative challenge I actually enjoy.  But cutting fabric?  Whole other thing in my opinion.  I buy fabric because I love it. I don't have bins and bins sitting around of stuff I sort of like.  So the idea that I could cut something wrong and then not be able to do the project in mind with that fabric I love is paralyzing to me.  It seems to me, there are 3 solutions to help me get over this roadblock.  First is to start a small stash of cheaper but still decent fabric that I like (not love) and just jump in.  If I screw up, it didn't cost me much, it's not using my prized fabric, and I will learn a ton this way to help me when I want to dig into the good stuff.  Second is to start small and start easy.  Here we go back to redefining success. It IS a success whether I sew one small coaster or an Alabama Chanin skirt (oh, how I covet those).  And third...embrace the imperfections.  Does anybody else have other suggestions to add to this list?

I used the second and third approaches to sew a gift for my friend for Xmas.  I had made a rag quilt years ago for a friend with the help of my mom (of course) and had purchased fabric around that time for a different friend.  Rag quilts aren't rocket science to make but of course the potential to screw up is still there.  And I had just enough of the main fabric.  So some pressure.  My mom was out in October and she helped me cut the main rectangles...reminding/teaching me how to fold and square up fabric.  I did most of the cutting and will admit that I didn't square up as often as I should so there was some wonkiness.  The great thing though...for a rag quilt it doesn't really matter.  So I learned a lot but nothing was ruined when one rectangle was a little different than another.  

I do own clothes that don't look like they have been ripped apart by carnivores...really I do.  I just wear these more!

After mom left, I sort of became paralyzed and didn't do anything until 2 weeks before Xmas (I'm embarrassed to admit that the thought crossed my mind to take my machine and fabric to Seattle to have her help me finish it up.  How pathetic is that?).  Then one Saturday I just sat down and started to sew the darn things.  I had some 'bonehead' moments as I worked to figure out my machine but I learned from them and didn't make the same mistake twice.  I 'quilted' each pair and then sewed together all the strips before calling it a day.  The next Saturday I started sewing strips together and cut and attached the border.  Again, mistakes were made, things didn't always line completely up (sewing 4 layers of flannel is rather challenging in my opinion)...I improvised a couple things that now realize could have been done much better (I wasn't working off any pattern...I was trying to duplicate a quilt I had).  And there were a couple mistakes once I thought I was done that infuriated me but I figured out how to fix them (I'll own up and say that on no less than 8 or 9 occasions, I had snipped through the thread when I was cutting the 'rag'...just because I was in a hurry and not paying attention...this caused everything to come apart of course!).  
 

It's not perfect (there is a reason no close-up pictures!), but considering this is only the...hmmm....9th? thing I've sewed in my adult life (there were lots in 4-H when I was younger but I only have vague memories of it!) and only the third without much help, I'm pleased.  I love the colors together and had a very hard time packaging this up and sending it away.  John and I have 2 of these gifted years ago by my aunt (I had never seen rag quilts before then) which we love but it was hard not to add this one to our collection!   

Now the question is...what project do I start next?  I've been talking with Jacey about some small projects and have some ideas...we'll see where that takes me!  I mean now I know how to thread the machine and fill a bobbin...I have to use that knowledge before I go and forget it yet again, right?
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Now for some real talent.  My mom made each of us something hand-made this year (well, she does this most years).  For me, an applique piece that I had picked out several years ago and bought a fabric pack for.  Some of you may have seen it before in quilt shops but I absolutely love it.  Very fitting for us.

For John...something that I've wanted him to have ever since I first saw it almost a decade ago.  In theory, I wanted to make it for him but I think it worked out much better to have Mom do it!  I am in love with this paper-piece and though I didn't try to sway his decision, I am very glad that he wanted it to hang front and center in our home rather than in his dark basement office!  Isn't it amazing?  John worked on bighorn sheep for his doctorate and if he were being honest, they are his first love.  So very fitting. 

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Now playing:   Shiny Apple by The Waifs   (wow, this live version has such a different feel than the album version...)

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