I have to brag.
My goals this weekend were: to catch up on some sleep, to make some progress on the baby blanket I’m stitching for my friend, to sew Gracie’s Halloween costume, and to hang out with my chicas for a night of drunken Wii-ing. The weekend isn’t even over yet and I have finished the butterflies and worked my way into the second block on the baby blanket (yeah, that doesn’t mean much to you, does it?), finished the apron and all of the dress except the zipper for Gracie’s costume, bought jeans for the girls and many, many other clearance items from Old Navy’s clearance sale, grocery shopped, and stayed up until 3 a.m. last night partying.
Did you notice that bit about finishing most of Gracie’s costume? Yes! Yes I did! I figured I could handle the apron, but I have to admit – it was a close call. There was gathering and the pulling of loose stitches to get that done. Then there was the complicated bit where I had to attach on part of the waistband to the gather, then sew in the ties to the underside of the waistband, and then flip it over and sew it all together. I might or might not have had to unpiece it and start over. But that was okay – it was good practice for all the trouble that came with the dress. Or that I thought was going to come with the dress.
Maybe it was because I was expecting so much trouble, but the dress went smoother than I thought. Piecing together the bodice was both quick and easy. I even attached eyelet lace down the front in a pique of overconfidence. Thankfully, it wasn’t misplaced. I thought, if nothing else, I’d feel really good about myself when I messed up the sleeves. I hemmed the cuffs of the sleeves, made elbow darts (who knew darts only looked complicated on the pattern paper? Easy peasy!), and then it came time to sew the long seam. Heavens to murgatroyd, that’s when I almost took a baseball bat to my sewing machine. For whatever reason, every time I tried to sew that seam together, the thread jammed, pinning my sleeve to the plate. I must have freed that baby and unjammed the thread about a dozen times. I learned how to disassemble the drum underneath and behind the bobbin, I changed the direction the bobbin thread was going, I tried everything. Then I finally realized that the thread had looped around the guide on top of the machine and was causing the jams. When I pulled on it to lengthen the lead thread every time I tried to sew the seam, there was enough give. But when I tried to sew, the speed created problems and it busted. Really, the whole disaster almost made me relieved; everything had been going far too smoothly.
After that, it was just a matter of time. The sleeves went on and looked like they were supposed to (I was shocked! Shocked, I tell you!). The skirt pieced together, although I did have to hem it twice because I didn’t realize the thread had busted the first time through. I even gathered the skirt and attached it to the bodice without any hitches. And that’s pretty much where I am now. I didn’t buy a zipper for the dress because I had no idea I’d actually get this far. So I have to buy a zipper and either sew or stitch-witch it into place and then make the bonnet. And we’re home free.
Assuming, of course, it fits her. Did I fail to mention that, while I measured her on Thursday night, I’m without my model and just going on faith that it will actually fit? Perhaps I shall use the rest of the weekend to think of Plan B.
September 27, 2009 at 8:45 pm |
You’ve gotta show us pictures of it! And, I think you are tempting fate with your first line. Every time I even think something like that, things start to go wrong for me!
September 28, 2009 at 7:34 am |
I can’t wait for pictures. Do share – please?
I didn’t get nearly that much done, but I did have a mighty fine weekend.