Here Goes!

So, I got my very first sewing machine. YAY! Excited? Understatement, I was so over the moon about my purchase you couldn't wipe the smile off my face for 2 days. Yep, 2 days was all it took for me to feel that maybe this sewing gig is just not for me.

My newest pride and joy:

Total bargain buy from Ebay for the princely sum of $42.27 delivered!

I set out once receiving my sewing machine to Spotlight (note to self: NEVER bother driving an hour to Spotlight........they are as dear as poison & about as helpful as my wonderful wife which, is pretty useless when it comes to sewing), bought a pattern, fabric, all the other sewing tools I thought I would need could afford & headed for home filled with ancticipation and excitement. I skipped in from the car showing my wonderful wife all of my purchases & rattled off all the different things I wanted to make.

I immediately took over the dining table, opened up the pattern and looked...looked....looked and looked some more. I was waiting for something to jump out at me and tell me in very basic terms what to do. The pattern was labelled "Easy to make girls skirts (6 patterns in one pack), whip up in under an hour!"

Well, I finally worked out the pattern or, atleast I thought I had. I began cutting, pinning, joining followed of course by sewing. After having completed the first section which was to be the waistband and upper panel of the skirt I wondered why it seemed so small. I referred back to the pattern however, was still unable to work out why it looked wrong so, on I went.

After around 5 hours it was complete! Unfortunately it was clear I had made a MASSIVE error somewhere as the 'skirt' looked more suitable to being a size 0 instead of size 8. My ever helpful wife (read: Desperate that I actually continue to use this new machine and not put it back into its box never to be used again) suggested that perhaps I could turn it into a top. WOW! What a great idea I thought as I stared intently at my skirt that was to now become a cute little top.

I decided to add a little ribbon around the bottom tier and to add ribbon straps to the top that could be tied into bows. Ooohhhh, how cute was it beginning to look now. I couldn't wait for my 10 year old daughter to get home from her friends house so I could try this on her and show her how amazingly clever her mummy is. Fast forward to the following day said child comes home, instantly loves her top and agrees that her mummy is indeed VERY clever. "Quickly!" I instruct her, "try it on so I can measure the ribbon straps and get it finished". Unfortunately, it was not turning out well at all. As my gorgeous daughter attempts to put this cute little top over her head and get her arms through, suddenly she becomes stuck! Oh no, the top will not even go over her head and fit more than one arm through. Ever the optimist, my gorgeous daughter suggests that she could pull the top on by stepping into it and pulling it up. Uh oh, this is not to be.......it won't even fit over her cute little bottom.

After all this disappointment I finally concede defeat and feel that I am just not cut out for this sewing business.

Here are some photos of my very first sewing disaster!

Front (without straps attached)

Back (still no straps attached)

The pattern (GREEN skirt was the pattern I used)

Pffft VERY EASY!

Of the 6 skirts I had to choose from, I believed the green one would be the easiest

So, that was day 1 of my foray into the sewing world. Thanks to my beautiful wife and her constant encouragement, I have continued. Not only have I continued on, I have now completed several other projects (INCLUDING another skirt which, worked beautifully) which, I will put into another entry.

The sewing machine is calling my name.......haven't done any sewing today so far and I am ready for my next project!

Arrivederci