Mehhhh, my first UFO…

Grody to the Max

I’m pretty sure I have my first UFO (unfinished object). My motivation and desire to finish my cape is completely gone! Ughhh, I hate even looking at it. I don’t care that capes are “in” right now. I’ll just wait and *maybe* try again later. I started out super stoked and life got in the way. This has got me feeling blah.

Simplicity 1942 is a Project Runway pattern, and a relatively easy one at that. I think my issues with it are more personal and less to do with how it was drafted. The instructions were clear and easy. The only thing I didn’t care for pattern wise is that it is unlined. I was planning on using some pink poly lining material using the main body pattern pieces to draft my own. I never got that far.

My first issue is the fabric. I don’t really like it that much. It’s some sort of polyester upholstery fabric I got for crazy cheap at my secret thrift store. I got 4 yards of 60″ wide fabric for $2.50. It has okay drape, and is a neutral camel color. I thought I could “Make it work” (Tim Gunn voice).

This fabric smells DISGUSTING though. I washed it twice, and it still has this musty-smokey-mothballs-grandpa’s-basement smell. Yucko. It doesn’t smell that horrible when you just sniff it, but when the steam from my iron hits it, forgettahboudit. Nasty! I was cringing while pressing every seam. Dear readers, do you have any tips on getting rid of the skank?

My second issue, is that I snipped the outer fabric with my pinking shears by accident. I really need to go more slowly and carefully, when I’m finishing my seams.  I already wasn’t feeling great about it; this was it’s death knell.

I have some personal things happening right now. I think I’m associating those negative emotions, with this sad pile of thrift store fabric. I’m putting it away for now, because I find looking at it to be an irritation.

I already have some new ideas cooking up in my brain. So I’ll be back with a more positive post soon. The lesson I’m taking from this is: If I don’t love the fabric, I’m not going to love sewing with it.

What I’ve done so far.

This first thing I made were bandanas for my dogs. You can tell by the photo how enthusiastic they are about them.

He hates life right now

I followed that up by a purse made for my sisters graduation. I’ve never seen her use it

My family has put up with me giving clumsy gifts for the past year

Next up, a little bit better, pot holders and an apron for my Yaya (that’s my g-ma folks). She loves them, that’s why grandmas are the best people. Then I started getting interested in sewing clothes. I appliqued cutesy owls to a skirt  (I never wear this) Cheesy cheesy cheesy.

I copied these owl from a library book

Then I made my first garment, a skirt in icky, quilting cotton. People, I swear I have taste. I didn’t feel like learning how to hem yet, so I bound the bottom in bias binding. I was super pleased with myself and wore this on the fourth of July.

I'm super fucking pleased with myself.

At this point in my sewing voyage, I’d become completely smitten with making things. I became a voracious reader of sewing blogs and books. Absorbing as much knowledge as possible and I decided to focus on making clothes.

My next victim was my husband, poor guy.

I made him laugh. He's not normally this excited

I actually really like how this shirt came out. Unfortunately it only lasted two washings. Apparently you need to finish your seams.

I even tried piping, although I didn't bother looking up the proper way to do it. Baby steps people.

Next I made Beignet by Colette Patterns. This came out awesome, I’m on fire!

<3 It's pink and has glamorous ladies from the 50's on the facings.

Next up 2 missteps. I caught the romper bug and it’s a mistake. Not flattering at all. Probably because I’m not 5. Oh well, they can’t all be wins.

I wont ever post the back of this one!

The next is a floral dress that was looking good until I royally messed up the neck band. I still wear it, I don’t care.

Best viewed from far away

I made my little sisters 22nd birthday dress. She looked awesome.

She's a ham.

I used Simplicity 2406. We’re really good dancers. Then Halloween came. I went as Babraham Lincoln and my husband as Sexy John Wilkes Booth.

This is so sexy I give myself a boner looking at it.

That my friends is about 6 months of work and ya’ll are up to date.