On learning from our mistakes

I've been sewing for thirty odd years and I'm sure you'll believe me when I say I've made plenty of mistakes. We're supposed to learn from our mistakes, right? But there are a couple of mistakes that I just never seem to learn from, no matter how often I make them.

Like, my sewing machine is not telepathic. I mean, every time I need to switch from straight stitch to zig-zag, it surprises me that my machine doesn't realise this, and I actually have to stop and change the the stitch settings. Happens every time!

Another thing I have yet to to learn, it seems, is that it is a whole lot easier to unpick one row if stitching than a seam that has been stitched, overcast and top stitched. So it is better to check that everything is going as it should before doing all that stitching. Since I haven't yet learnt this, I spent half the day unpicking nearly all the sewing that I did on my last day off.

I've been working on a tiered skirt for Miss Missy. I'm making it up as I go along. Last week, I actually had it almost finished, I just had to do the hem and the waist band. But the more I looked at it, the more I thought that I'd gotten the proportions wrong. Not only had I skimped on the fabric for the second tier, so it was barely gathered, but I'd made it too long too. I spent half the week telling myself that it didn't look that bad, and the other half of the week trying to figure out away to fix it without unpicking everything.  

In the end, I bought a little bit more fabric (actually, that's another lesson, I don't seem to have learnt yet) unpicked the whole thing, and I'm much happier with the way it looks now.

It's going to be one of Miss Missy's presents, so I'll share a photo of it after Christmas, when I can get her to model it.

Beginner Sewing Project ~ Cellphone Case

We bought Miss Missy her own cell phone recently, and she wanted to make a case for it.  We had fun working on it together, and when we finished, I thought, wouldn't it be cool to share how we made it?

This is a really simple project, perfect for kids or beginner sewers.  I've made a pattern which is available here.

I can't put together a step-by-step photo tutorial for you because I didn't think of it till we'd already finished making it  ^_^  but I did take a few photos to show how it goes together, and I think it should be easy enough to follow.

All you will need is a pretty button and some scraps of fleece (we used scraps left over from the last batch of Blankie Babies I made).  You will also need the usual sewing supplies of scissors, pins, a needle, thread, and a sewing machine.

Using the pattern pieces provided, cut out the back and flap piece from one colour of fleece.

Cut the front from another colour of fleece.  We decided to use two colours of thread, so that the stitching would contrast with the fleece - pink with the purple and purple with the pink.

Pin the front piece to the back and flap piece with the wrong sides together and the curved edges even.  Stitch together as shown.  Use a pin to mark the position of the button hole and button, then put the cellphone inside to check the fit (Mr K's fitted fine, as did Miss Missy's of course, but I would have moved the button a bit if I'd made one for my phone).  Move the markings if needed.   Make a buttonhole in the flap, and stitch button to the front.

Viola!! 

A lovely cellphone case!

Happy Sewing

^_^

Blankie Babies are available for sale at my Felt shop