Sewing Projects

In November, I pulled out my sewing machine and actually started working on projects.  This was quite strange for me because I don't consider myself someone who sews.  In fact, my machine hadn't even been plugged in for 3 years (since I made that princess costume for Lexi).  Before that, I would have to guess that I was a teenager who mainly liked to start projects so that I could get my mom to do them for me.  I never minded picking out fabric and patterns or cutting out the patterns and material.  After that, I just wanted my mom to make it for me.  Let's be serious, she has skills...

It was probably a shock to everyone who knows me unless they just think I'm following in the footsteps of my mother and her mother before her & so on & so forth.  One would have to wonder what suddenly brought this on and I freely admit that it was a combination of things (perfect storm).  

1. I had no money (none, zip, nada)

2. Christmas was coming

3. I completely ♥love♥ pinterest and being inspired by them

4. On pinterest, I found an easy tutorial for a cute little shrug and a few other things

After I made the shrug and a few other simple things, I realized that I was ready for more. 

After that, I found an easy tutorial for pj pants. I had that in mind when I just went window shopping and found out that fleece was on sale for 60% off. I couldn't pass that up. It worked well, so I decided to make my kids Christmas pj pants too (another sale).

My next project was the Christmas skirt below, obviously a big jump in required skills.  I didn't have a pattern except for one that I bought off of ebay and my mom replicated last year.  There were a few mistakes and lessons learned, but I decided not to be a perfectionist or beat myself up about them.  I think that is why I hated sewing before.  There is nothing like comparing yourself to a talented seamstress all of your life.  It was still cute and definitely fun for Lexi to wear.          

By then, it was time to focus on Christmas presents for my kids.  Jordan's pre-school has nap mats.  Each week, we bring king sized pillow cases to cover them.  However, they didn't really cover the whole pad and the fit was quite tight.  I decided to make a case out of flannel.  There just happened to be a sale on flannel that week, so I decided to make a matching blanket.  Once that was completed, I decided to make a dress for Lexi.  I found an easy pattern that doesn't have a zipper or buttons.  I also found cute fabric and made this:

At this point, it sounds like I am really taking on a new hobby, right?  Well, that is where fate stepped in.  When I was sewing the black bow onto Lexi's dress (last step), I broke the needle and somehow threw off the timing of the machine.  I packed up my machine and was thankful that I got to do those projects. 

However, kindness decided to block fate, my mom must have thought it was kind of sad that my new hobby had been shut down and offered to pay for my machine to be serviced.  It is currently at the shop (takes a few weeks), but I am overflowing with project ideas.  I can't wait...  Yes, amazing sales, a birthday gift card to JoAnne Fabrics, and pinterest all result in projects just piling up.