The Sewing Lesson
On Monday, I went over to my friend Sam's house to give her a sewing lesson.
It was supposed to last an hour. Um... yeah. It lasted three. Whoops! 
However, we went from her not even being able to thread the machine properly to not only having the basics on how to operate her machine properly, to being able to sew a finished project with straight lines! (check out my snazzy green nails!)
We did a few dry runs on printer paper (which, as evidence of how old I am, I kept referring to as typewriter paper) and no thread just to get the hang of speed control and making straight lines. This was how I was shown how to practice 23 years ago when I sat down at a sewing machine for the first time in the sixth grade. You don't waste fabric and thread that way! We also covered how to sew square corners and curves.I gave her tips on how to use her machine as well as showing her how to use all the new tools she had purchased. We covered pressing seams, using the gauge, using the quilting ruler with the rotary cutter (omg the one she bought is awesome and I'm way jealous, Miss M needs an upgrade!!!), and how to topstitch.
In order to demonstrate a lot of this, we made a pillow cover. I had her buy a pillow form and some fabric before I got there, along with all the basic tools. We talked about how to add seam allowances to get the right measurement. We discussed the difference between a simple pillow, where you leave an opening on one end, stuff it with fiberfill, then stitch it shut, and the envelope style pillow that we made where you can slide the cover off to wash it.Confession: I totally had never made one of those before, but figured it wouldn't be hard. Luckily I was right. HA!
Here she is with her finished project! Not bad for three hours work. :)
Miss M told you so @ 4:31 PM
4 Comments:
That is awesome!
Just to let you know how old I am...I learned to sew in Jr. High by using typing paper. Ah-hem.
I love pillow cases for first projects, they are easy to finish and the student can be proud of a project they made themselves! Nicely done!
Sara, this was such a great experience for me. Thank you, again! You are an excellent, patient, prepared, thoughtful teacher. I loved how you explained it, showed it and then had me practice it. I really felt like I learned a lot, and I so appreciated your extra time. :) I love my new pillow.
next to cooking, sewing is my second love. I have found myself in similar situations before. it always take longer than first thought but always so much fun.
thanks for your sweet comment! I see we are both detail girls.
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