Stitches, Twitches and the urge to create...

I bought myself a sewing machine for Christmas.  People who've read our Christmas newsletter or even spent any time in our house will have heard all about it by now.  I bought a brother XL-6452.  It is a fabulous machine.  It comes with 27-stitch functions, the capability for double needle sewing (JUST WAIT until I have a reason to use THAT!) automatic button-hole and a ton of features that I haven't yet begun to utilize. 

I recently had occasion to discover just HOW wonderful of a machine I have...I had to take it in to buy a replacement bobbin case, cause I've been hard on it, and chipped it.  Well anyway, as the repair guy was telling me that the bobbin case is one of the parts that wear out regularly, and that they are almost always expensive, he also was telling me that I should have bought a machine from a dealer...one who would service it under warranty. But I got a much better price, and HE told me that I got a great learning machine.  One that I could grow into and that should last me five or six years, until I wanted a better one.  I did a bunch of research online...and got some helpful facts from more than a few people.  But if you're looking at buying a machine, read this page first. 

But it has been sew much fun.  You'll have to forgive the pun, please, I promise...it won't happen again.  I even have a work area and everything.  I'm using a 1950s lab desk that I got from the university.  It is sturdy enough that it doesn't shake and the single drawer hold most of my tools and accessories, with the added basket to hold notions.  My sister gave me the BEST work light--it makes working in the dim den a lot happier.  I have a blast here and I can watch TV with Trevor, or just zone into my own little world.  Which is usually a mess, what with fabric put every which place and unfinished projects (hanging on the chair) and a to-do pile that gets added to more than it gets attended to.  You might know how it is.  

     <<<<  My Work Area

I started with just a handful of projects, primarily something to wear to the Maryland Rennaissance Festival.   Which I still haven't perfected

Not to mention that I've saved myself a TON of money repairing vintage clothes with ragged hems, holes, and other downfalls that made them not as desirable as other items I could have paid a lot more $$ for.  And then, I've also split a couple of zippers or outgrown a shirt or two.  I've even had the chance to buy clothes cheaper in larger sizes and trim them down to me.  This is so EMPOWERING!!  Even though I realize I'm actually devolving a little from the modern woman stereotype by doing such DOMESTIC things.  And THIS is what I call a fun hobby! K

But then I started to really look and realize that there were a gazillion things that I wanted in my house and that the sewing machine was a fantabulous way to provide them. 

For Instance:  Drapes and Pillows (yes, I made the ones in the pictures--with Fringe, too, even), table runners, placemats, napkins

            More Drapes: Tab-top Valance, QuikTach

And REAL Vintage Clothing (that FITS, without those REALLY SMALL armholes and things)       I'm learning how to tailor and alter clothing according to patterns and I should be able to produce reasonable facsimiles of these vintage patterns that I've picked up.        Gotta Love eBay!!

Well, real enough...I just have to find believable vintage fabric.

Here are some of the Renaissance things I've made.  They're not much, really, but I've had a LOT of fun teaching myself...with NO pattern, either.  Thanks to the Fourth Fate  for the inspiration, the tips, and the truths.  She doesn't even know how much she helped me.

Next up:  A Rocky Horror Picture Show costume...In the character of Columbia.  Hopefully I'll start (and finish) it before NEXT Halloween.  Hey, it could happen, I already have all the gold sequins I could EVER need....