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<\/a><\/p>\nWe picked out fabric for the front of the curtains and also a darker fabric to\u00a0use to\u00a0line them. \u00a0And while they aren’t perfect, by mid-July I’d successfully completed 4 sets of curtains for the trailer. \u00a0YAY!<\/p>\n
In August I turned my attention to another artsy\/crafty thing I enjoy–crochet–and I made a baby afghan and little hat for a cousin’s daughter’s first baby. (Colors are accurate on the hat, not on the afghan, even though the same yarn was used for both.)<\/p>\n As soon as I’d finished this baby project–and despite being crazy busy getting the new school year started–I saw some fabric that I thought was so incredibly pretty that I rather impulsively\u00a0decided to\u00a0try to\u00a0sew\u00a0a baby blanket for a co-worker and his wife who were expecting their first baby–a girl–later in the Fall. \u00a0While it was definitely made with a lot of love and good intentions, it had some glitches that I just didn’t know how to fix…. \u00a0Some (okay, most<\/em>) of the problems came from my lack of experience, and some were caused by the older sewing machine that would randomly start making smaller stitches or suddenly speed up or\u00a0slow down.<\/p>\n In late September I finally decided to buy a new, inexpensive Brother sewing machine that I’d been looking at for a while (Brother XR3774), and I have been SO PLEASED with my purchase!! \u00a0I’ve found it immensely easier to use than the older Singer (the drop in bobbin and automatic needle threader are awesome) and I was able to figure out the basics really quickly.<\/p>\n Now on what seems like an unrelated note, during the Spring of 2015 I became fascinated with Vera Bradley purses. \u00a0I just loved the colors, patterns and quilted designs, and for someone who’s as clueless as I am about “fashion,” this was an interesting–and somewhat puzzling–obsession. \u00a0I don’t remember the exact time or date that I realized the “connection,” but like a proverbial bolt from the blue, it hit me\u00a0that maybe I could actually sew<\/em> a purse for myself! \u00a0This started another YouTube tutorial-watching binge, and the end result–in early October 2015–was a small purse made from the trailer curtain material!<\/p>\n It had some glitches, too–just like the baby blanket–but I learned so much<\/em> in the process of making it. \u00a0Because it was a little smaller than one I’d want to use, I gave the “Curtain Purse”\u00a0to my cousin’s daughter’s little girl to use for “dress up” times. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n I was hooked. \u00a0Seriously. \u00a0I wanted to try another purse–different style, a bit larger, etc. \u00a0Still lacking confidence in my ability to make something functional without really messing it up, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to invest money in fabrics. \u00a0And so that’s how I wound up making\u00a0the next one–which I finished in late October–from an old drapery panel. \u00a0I’ve been using the “Drapery Purse” on a daily basis ever since completing it.<\/p>\n I used\u00a0the sewing machine to quilt the outer fabric\u00a0AND I put in a total of 3 zippers–one on the front pocket, one on the top (recessed zipper), and there’s a zippered pocket in\u00a0the\u00a0lining. \u00a0I combined things I liked from three or four different YouTube tutorials instead of following just one. \u00a0This involved a lot<\/em> of experimentation,\u00a0and a whole lot of seam-ripping! \u00a0(As a friend quipped, “As you sew, so shall you rip.”)<\/p>\n On November 1st–as a birthday present to myself!–I took a Beginning Sewing class at Jo-Ann Fabrics. \u00a0Even though I was slightly beyond a “beginner,” I found this to be extremely<\/em> helpful, and I’d recommend it to anyone who wants to learn to sew. \u00a0I took a second class\u00a0there (learning to work from a pattern to make pajama pants)\u00a0on November 7th!<\/p>\n While I’ve found that I’m not all that interested in making clothes (at this point), I had some other fabric that had been giving to me months ago with the statement, “If you can use it, fine–if not, throw it away.” \u00a0Ack, throw it away?! \u00a0I thought it was beautiful! \u00a0But what on earth would I do with a bazillion purses? \u00a0Especially ones that would be functional, but perhaps not perfect? \u00a0I offered three of my cousins their choice of the fabrics and said I’d make them each a purse so that I could practice more.<\/p>\n The first one, the “Apple Purse,” was completed November 13th:<\/p>\n I had so much fun choosing the lining fabric and bright zippers for this one!<\/p>\n On November 15th, I finished\u00a0the “Raspberry Purse.” \u00a0(I trimmed back the zippers after taking this picture and didn’t get another picture of it before mailing it.)<\/p>\n And on November 21st I finished the “Watermelon Purse,” which also has a nice pop of color with the lining and zippers:<\/p>\n I’ll be making another purse in this style soon, but in the meantime I wanted to try to make\u00a0a small cross-body bag. \u00a0The challenge with this one was where and how to attach the straps, and I made it and took it apart WAY\u00a0too many times…. \u00a0I finally opted to use D-rings on the sides, but the only ones\u00a0I could find locally were 3\/4″. \u00a0I’ve ordered some 1\/2″ D-rings which will work much better. \u00a0I’ll be making some more of these as gifts.<\/p>\n But remember the baby blanket that I made for my co-worker? \u00a0I’d planned to give it to them–glitches and all–but then decided that since I could<\/em>\u00a0probably make it better now, that I should<\/em> make it better. \u00a0And so I completely picked it apart–stitch by stitch–until all the thread was in my trashcan and the front fabric, back fabric\u00a0and batting were all separate pieces again. \u00a0It turned out SO much better this time. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n And so this chronicles my journey into the world of fabrics and colors and functionally-creative expression\u00a0in an art form that I had never explored. \u00a0I have so many ideas. \u00a0SEW many ideas! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It all started with the curtains I wanted to make for the small (empty!) travel trailer we were restoring. \u00a0I knew I’d need to make curtains at some point, and I wasn’t sure how well that would work since I … Continue reading <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n