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Stuff I’ve made – a brief tale of a reluctant sewist

July 6, 2016

So I started sewing little things by hand when I was a kid, and took sewing as my elective in 6th grade where I learned how to use a pattern and a sewing machine and made a hideous cat pillow.

In college I picked up a $50 Brother from National Wholesale Liquidators, and made a few couch throws, pillows, curtains, etc., but I never did anything complex, and never made nor wanted to make clothes. About a year ago, I think I actually said out loud “I’ll never make a quilt, and I will never make clothes.”

Then I found the constellation quilt pattern from Haptic Lab. I, of course, ordered it immediately. It ended up being a wedding gift for one of my very best friends and while it took forever, it was fun and rewarding.

quilttop

As I worked on it, I said “this is nice, but it’s really an embroidery project, I’ll never make a pieced quilt.”

Naturally, I finished the binding and immediately jumped into my first pieced quilt. This shouldn’t have surprised me, as I love all things tedious and after years as a bookbinder, I’m awesome at cutting accurately. I am slow though, I started this project in December 2015, and finished it in January 2017. In order to work on this, I had to buy a new sewing machine – I went with the Brother CS6000i.

quilttop

As I was working away at this quilt top, I realized I needed a new bag, and my favorite variety from Brooklyn Industries was discontinued. I found the 241 tote from Noodlehead and set out to make it, adding in some extra pockets and an adjustable strap.

241-tote

After working from a pattern for the first time since 6th grade, my firm “never making clothes” stance softened. After not finding anything appealing in stores to refresh my spring and summer wardrobe, I started looking around at patterns, and lamenting the fact that I couldn’t find any shops nearby that offered lessons. I found one independent designer with a store locator and put in my zip code not expecting to find anything.

Which lead me to…Stitch Sew Shop. It wasn’t even open yet, but I eagerly looked through their Instagram account and decided it was time to suck it up and make some clothes. As soon as classes were listed, I registered for a Wiksten Tank class, but I couldn’t wait. I am patient while making things, but impatient about everything else. I found Seamwork, and the Akita seemed like a great choice. It went…OK. Not knowing anything about fitting meant, naturally, it didn’t fit great. The first one I made was worn exactly two times, but I liked it enough to make a second right away from rayon.

akita1 akita2

I decided to wait for the Wiksten class before I did anything else on my own. It went better…but still not great. The class was so valuable though, especially talking with the ladies at Stitch about adjusting the pattern for a better fit. I started researching more about fit and narrowing down the types of edits I need to make to most patterns.

It’s been about a year now and I’m a much more confident sewer, though I still tend to make proclamations about what I won’t make, and then make it anyway a few months later.

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Filed Under: about Tagged With: akita, bag, noodlehead, quilt, seamwork

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Here’s a @noodlehead531 #woolandwaxtote with som Here’s a @noodlehead531 #woolandwaxtote with some amazing canvas from Japan. Which cloud are you? I’m really feeling the angry lightning cloud.
Here’s my #closetcoreblanca dress in Merchant & Here’s my #closetcoreblanca dress in Merchant & Mills laundered linen from @stitchsewshop! I’ve been wanting to make a dress version of this pattern for two years. This fabric is very good. Also my plants are very good.
Here’s my second pieced quilt, made for my very Here’s my second pieced quilt, made for my very special bff @s.a.m.r.i.v! We met 40 years ago as tiny bebes in the park, and through the years we drifted apart several times but always found each other again at various dance recitals, school field trips, beach clubs, fabric stores, and summer jobs. The universe kept shoving us together til it stuck. This quilt is a hug from afar. I might not be able to get up to New Jersey frequently but this quilt will be there for cozy/comforting times as needed. 

I picked out my fabric, then used a quilt generator at savoreverystitch.com (the last slide), then imported it into Photoshop and colored over it (second to last slide), basically changing the whole thing, but it was an awesome starting place.
It’s our 9 year anniversary and 22 year friendiv It’s our 9 year anniversary and 22 year friendiversary so here’s a nice photo! 📸 @maggiewinters_
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I'm a graphic designer, small business owner, occasional knitter, and reluctant sewist. This is my sewing notebook. Read more

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