I went to jury duty on Friday morning, but they chose the jury and dismissed the rest of us before lunch. As interesting as it would have been to serve on a murder trial, I'm actually kind of relieved that I don't have to. Besides, I have been able to enjoy The Brain's week off with him and it's been very nice. :)
After I got home on Friday, I headed out to Jo-Anns for some bobbins and to scan the patterns. I ended up getting one Vogue pattern for a wrap dress (which they say is Very Easy...I'll be the judge of that), and a bunch of random buttons that were on clearance.Then, on Saturday, it was Learn To Sew Time! I still had the pieces from the tote bag that was part of my sewing class from earlier this summer. I ditched out after the second class period because I really felt that I would learn better by teaching myself. That meant that I missed the directions on how to assemble these random pieces of cloth. Hmm...
After playing around with some scraps of fabric to test the tension (I have to tighten the main thread tension almost to the max...I don't think that's normal), I dove right in. It was just a matter of sewing a couple of rectangles together, and then sewing the straps to the top. I had no idea where I was supposed to place the straps, so I just kind of guessed. How do you like my fancy-dancy "you-can't-rip-me-out-no-matter-how-hard-you-try" X stitching on the straps? Yeah, I agree: it could use some improvement.
Here's one thing I wasn't anticipating: I can't actually hold the bag open by pulling the straps away from each other. Not too effective. I'm sure I did something wrong, but I'm equally convinced that it could not have had anything to do with the two rectangles of fabric that I cut off the tops of the bag before sewing them together. They were on the pattern, but clearly they were just extra fabric that wasn't meant to do anything, right? Kind of like a third nipple. Off they came!I was so super excited about sewing some more that I went back to the store on Sunday and picked up some sale fabric to make a tote bag (from a real pattern this time) out of the first issue of Stitch magazine. (I can't find a photo of the bag online.) I haven't had time to get back to my machine yet, but it will be there waiting for me when I am! :)
Oh, and thank you to everyone who left comments with suggestions and/or encouragement about my newest...craft? Skill? Hobby? I appreciate it!
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12 comments:
Awesome, your first bag! It looks good, and I'm sure your second will be even better.
It looks great! I'm FAR from an expert, but I think the reason it doesn't open the way you want is because the handles are so close to the outside. I think if they were a little closer together on each side that would help. You could always try another one with a couple of fat quarters. :)
It looks a lot better than my first sewing project. And a Vogue pattern for your first dress. You really have class!
wow, it looks awesome! great fabric.
- Julie
Congratulations! I think it looks great -- remember, you're the only one who will look closely enough at it to distinguish the stitching. I wonder if it won't open well because it's somewhat narrow? That's kind of annoying. Again, congrats on your first completed project!!
Yay! It looks great!
I was thinking the same thing as Julie - that the straps are too close to the outside, so it doesn't create a wide enough opening when you pull them out.
Way to go! I'm proud of you. Sewing is challenging, but just keep trying. Things like your black X give your bag character, by the way. It's called "rustic" sewing, and I do it all the time, sometimes, even on purpose!
What a great start to your life with a sewing machine!
You're totally doomed, btw. You know that right? ;^)
How exciting! I am totally inspired to sew - and feel the same way about it that you do :) Your first bag is very cute!
Yay! Congrats on finishing your first project!
wow, wonderful work for a first timer. You will find that sewing is way easy. I, however, feel like I will never master knitting.
I'm so behind in my reading. The bag looks so cute and the fabric choices are super! I think the problem with opening it is because the handles are too close to the oustide and it'll open more easily if they are closer to the middle and to each other. Oh well, it's all about the *look* anyway, and it looks fab! :-)
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