A box of chocolate-covered cherries and some napkins, please August 25, 2008 17:25 3 Comments
So, my little blossoms. I am sure you are sitting out there, firm in your belief that I did not sew today. You think I was lazy, reclining on the chaise, reading French novels, eating trashy bon bons filled with cherries and creme. But you are wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
Sort of.
While I did not actually sew, I did have the strongest of intentions. The very strongest. I did. But. When I picked up my fabric, so very beautiful, anxiety attacked. I don’t really know how to do this. Really. I don’t.
Sure. I can figure out the casing. Sure, I know how to hem, albeit by hand. But how do I finish the side panels? This, I do not know. Do I simply press the sides and stitch? Do I topstitch? How? What? You get the picture. I’m sure.
Well. I shrank from the fabric like it was The Blob. I did. I tiptoed away ever so carefully, hoping it did not notice, hoping I did not arouse its wrath. I closed the door so gently, so quietly. Safe. At last.
All right. I exaggerate a tad. But only ever so slightly. Ever so.
So. When I ran my errands this afternoon, I picked up McCall’s M5346. The bed ensemble is too girly-girl for me — in home décor, I lean toward the modern — but the curtains have the simple casing at the top that I want. And I have read the instructions. Honey, I am armed, I am dangerous. I am ready to sew. Now.
One question, though. The instructions say “sew or stitch.” Or is it “stitch or sew”? What, I ask, is the difference? Perhaps I am not ready to sew. Perhaps I am ready to stitch. Heavens to Betsy. Help! Help. Please. Because it’s all so confusing. I am dizzy.
Comments
Pattern_Nut on May 20, 2015 12:10
Regarding “sew or stitch”: probably you’re looking at poorly worded instructions, unless they are so finely nuanced they’re beyond me. Which I doubt. I have a not-very-nuanced rant about the poor quality of instructions that keep eager beginners (and even seasonsed sewers) frustrated, but I’ll restrain my wrath for the moment. You need a teacher at your side. It may end up being a succession of teachers including friends’ moms and sewing machine sales reps, but you will amass the knowledge you need faster.
Siriusmom on May 20, 2015 12:10
I think you need to just jump in- with both feet and start sewing! The great thing about sewing is that if it’s not just right the first time you can always “unsew” and get a do over! Keep the seam ripper handy- and cast aside your fear!
Curtains are probably one of the easiest things you could start with as there is no fitting involved. I know you can do it!
puffsgirl on May 20, 2015 12:10
Methinks: “stitch” implies by hand (esoteric but time comsuming—stealing from WCS practice) and “sew” implies with a machine.