Archive for April, 2006
Project Runway
Monday, April 3rd, 2006Guess what I got for an early Easter present? A sewing machine!
When I ignore the feeling like this makes me an 80-year-old woman, I’m so excited! I can make stuff! I can make clothes! I can save money! I can jump on the Do-It-Yourself wagon! I can satisfy my dreams of becoming a fashion designer (and thus justify the ubiquitous use of the word "fabulous")!
Disregarding the fact that up until this point, I knew how to sew pillows (sew two squares together, flip right-side out, stuff with stuffing) and sachets (variation on pillow principle: stuff with potpourri), I went to the store and bought a pattern for a dress, fancy scissors, fancy metallic-head pins, thread, ivory cotton fabric, ivory satin fabric, heming something or other, a zipper, and a book about sewing. Total cost: $78.70.
(Hmm…so much for saving money…)
So I cut out the pieces of the pattern (a really pretty sheath dress). In so doing I forgot to cut these things called notches, which, as I read afterward, are important. Oops. So then I followed the next instruction: stay-stitch Back Bodice A. As I read afterward, stay-stitching does not involve sewing two pieces together but rather sewing one piece to reinforce the future seam. Oops. I took out said stay-stitching and resewed. Then I sewed to pieces together, only to find out I had sewn on the wrong side. Oops. I took out more stitches and redid the seam. Finally, in my triumph of finally being able to follow instructions, I ironed out the seams over a round edge, as recommended by the book. Except my round edge (yes, I am aware this was stupid) was a pillar candle, which ended up infusing my fabric with candle wax.
(Hey, at least my seam is sturdy now!)
I think I’ll wait a little bit to name my couture line.
