I had a little bit of money left in my Paypal account so I bought myself something I’ve been hankering after for ages – a Merchant and Mills mug from The Village Haberdashery.
The text on the mug reads: ”A creative and intelligent woman engaged in the noble art of clothes making; both at home and in the workplace.” I drink my tea from it when I’m sewing and I’m trying to live up to the sentiment!
I have to be honest – I’ve been experiencing a rough time with my sewing lately. I’ve tried to make a few things and none of them have worked out. There have been overlocker problems – one particularly heartbreaking moment was when I’d almost finished a skirt and I was serging the last seam. Somehow the front panel of the skirt got caught under the blade and the overlocker cut a huge slash across the front panel. Sob. There have been fabric problems – I’ve made a garment impeccably but once it was finished I saw the fabric choice just wasn’t right and it didn’t flatter me.
I know I’m very much a beginner and the mistakes I make are contributing to my learning experience. I’ll never make them again (I hope) and learning from them will make me a better sewer. Yet, I hate waste, so it pains me to waste fabric and money. I’m going to keep all the waste fabric in a scrap bag and perhaps I’ll find a use for it later.
Is it just me or does this happen to other people too? It’s taking all of my stubbornness to keep on and believe that the next project will be successful.
Image credit: Merchant & Mills.
10 comments
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August 12, 2012 at 9:30 pm
tailorfairy
When I am thinking back of all the mistakes I did when I started sewing… well I better dont, but I learned so much and I am still learning and thats what I like about sewing, that I keep learning new things about sewing and about myself, so I am sure all those mistakes you made till now will pay off… and I hope the good times are starting soon
all the best for your next project!
August 13, 2012 at 8:54 pm
agirlinwinter
Thank you so much for your encouragement. I will keep going and hope the next project works out
August 12, 2012 at 10:54 pm
Brooke
Oh, trust me, there have been huge mistakes made by all who sew – even when you are working professionally. Slicing through something with the serger is always a hazard, and there have been many times that someone (including me) has accidentally caught something on the blade when there is a mad rush at the end.
It’s all about how you get creative with the mistakes so that you can save something. Take a flaw/mistake and make it a feature somehow. =) And good that you are saving the fabric – you will probably find another use for it.
Don’t be discouraged! Try making a pillowcase or something for an easy & satisfying serging project – here’s a pattern.
August 13, 2012 at 8:55 pm
agirlinwinter
Thank you, glad it’s not just me. My serger and I are slowly coming to an understanding
I hate wasting fabric so I’m keeping it all and I hope I can use it at some point.
August 13, 2012 at 1:03 am
gingermakes
Oh my gosh, I’ve had those same problems, too! Ugh– the serger thing is particularly heartbreaking. I’ve done it twice.
August 13, 2012 at 8:55 pm
agirlinwinter
Thanks for your comment. Sorry about your serger incidents, but glad it’s not just me!
August 13, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Cuckoo Chanel
First off, that mug is great!! Love it.
Mistakes are completely inevitable in this crazy world of sewing. I have been at this for six months, so I have only BEGUN to make mistakes, both big and small. You are not alone, and your next project will be successful. It’s always worth the chaos to make something beautiful and wearable.
Good luck and for goodness sake don’t give up!
Take care
Shelley
August 13, 2012 at 8:57 pm
agirlinwinter
Crazy world of sewing indeed! You have a great way of looking at it, I will remember that I’ve only begun to make mistakes next time something goes wrong!
August 13, 2012 at 6:57 pm
Sadie
I’m in very much the same place, and regularly get to the point where I tell myself I’m never going to be any good at sewing and I might as well stick to knitting. And I hate the waste, too – at least with knitted disasters you can reclaim the yarn for another project! But I keep plugging away, and on the days when I’m not convinced I’ll never get the hang of it I can see I’m making progress. (Sharing progress pictures via my blog and Ravelry forums helps, too, as even if I think something is a disaster people will comment and point out the good bits and offer suggestions to improve it.)
August 13, 2012 at 8:58 pm
agirlinwinter
Oh I know the feeling. That’s why I try to post here semi-regularly – it helps me see how far I’ve come. The dress you made looked great, so you definitely are making progress