Saturday, January 05, 2008

I Should Not Be Showing This

But I am anyway because sometimes trying something new is a good thing even if one has issues with sewing straight lines and batting bunching up even though you basted the heck out of it. My friend Linette told me once that anyone can sew a straight line. Apparently I'm not anyone, I'm special and I have no inner linear skilz but hey, I can live with that. Probably will be a frustrating existance but I think I can find ways to work around it.

A while back I purchased the fabric seen below at the store who shall not be named:


I'm a Memphis girl and Elvis fabric is something I just can't pass up. I ran across the bag of fabric when I was cleaning. OK that is a big fat lie. I ran across it when I was looking for something else that had been misplaced. That something else would be the first ornament I stitched for my friend Sandy, which has slipped through some portal never to be seen again. I ended up stitching a second ornament thinking the first would appear and no, it's still invisible.

After finding the Elvis fabric, I had forgotten I ever bought it, I started pondering what I could make with it that would be fun, I could see it often because, well, this fabric makes me happy. Don't ask me why, but it does. So I went through some patterns and



Personally I think all patterns look better with a little Viggo in the background. Anyway, I found a McCall's Crafts pattern for a crochet hook case. The pattern number is M4728. I don't really know how long ago I purchased it. I'm not technically anything that resembles someone who sews but occaisionally when JoAnn's runs those pattern sales for $.99 cents or $1.99 I usually manage to add one or two to the collection. This pattern might have been purchased as recently as a month or so ago, I just can't remember.

There are a million things wrong with this crochet hook case. My sewing lines aren't straight. I tried, I really truly tried. I didn't rush through this project. I ripped quite a few stitches out and started over but it's still full of flaws. It's wonky, I forgot to sew the ribbon tie on when I sewed the back to the front, and added it last.


Here's a picture of the back, not sure why it's blurry. As I said, this is not perfect, it's not as neatly done as it could be but I hope to get better with practice. So why am I bothering to show this off as poorly made as it is? Well I did it. I found the fabric, I found a sewing pattern and instead of laying on the couch saying to myself, "Oh if you make this it'll just look really bad. Why waste the time when you could be doing something else?" I sucked it up and did it. I didn't whine to myself about how I can't do it, I did it.


One of my main goals for 2008 is to feel the fear and do it anyway. Is that phrase trademarked by somebody? I remember some woman on Oprah years ago who wrote a book with that title. Anyway--I can't get better at something if I continue to avoid it because the results will be anything less than spectacular.




So be prepared to view some hideous sewing projects over the next few months as I learn my way around the sewing machine, try to figure out how fabrics and colors and patterns work together and to sew a straight line.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very nice, Melissa! YGG!

Anna van Schurman said...

I like it! The secret I've found to sewing straight lines is to go fast. You can try it on scraps. That was the other thing, always try it first one on scraps. Keep up the good work! I'm convinced it was perseverance that got me so far.

TinaTx said...

Looks pretty good to me! I would be the other person who can't sew a straight line. I am going to tame the beast (aka - sewing machine) one of these days.

Kendra said...

Hey, I think you did a great job! I'm another one like you - can't sew a straight line. And apparently, I know just enough about sewing/sewing machines to be dangerous, hence all the interesting sewing scenarios I find myself in.

I found something that does help with straight lines - a quarter inch seam foot. It made all the difference in the world when I finished off a pillow for a Christmas gift. You might give it a shot. :-)

Cindy said...

Kudos to you for tackling the project! I have quite a collection of those sale patterns, and haven't ever been brave enough to start anything.

It looks like it would be tough to sew straight lines on that project to matter what, since there isn't an edge for reference when you're making all those little pockets. Maybe using a ruler and marking the lines with a chalk pencil would work on something like that.

debijeanm said...

I'm so impressed! I, too, would have fallen for that fabric but would never have come up with something so clever to do with it. You created something very clever and fun! (And all self-criticism aside, even with you pointing out the faults I can't see a thing wrong with your case.)

xeyedmary said...

Go you! I need to adopt your attitude- I tend to procrastinate because I fear the outcome.
And hey! Who can sew straight lines with Viggo in the room anyway??!!

Anonymous said...

Yes, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway® is the registered trademark of Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., the author of the book with the same title, first published in 1987.

Margie said...

everything looks good with a little Viggo in the background.... ;-)

Anonymous said...

Viggo!

The hook case looks great! I don't know if anyone can really sew a straight line. I know there's a gadget that you can attach to your machine that will help you sew a straight line when you can't see the edge. So you see, you're not alone! YGG!

Meari said...

Congrats on taking a dive into making the crochet case, Melissa. One thing I do to keep the lines straight is use one of those pencils made for quilting and a ruler. The pencil lines wash out and viola... straight lines.

Michelle said...

Good for you! Your new case is awesome - love the fabric. You proved you can do it!