Sewing 101

I was so excited to make my apron with the beautiful fabric that you guys helped me pick out!


This is how I started the class...

until Kari overheard the teacher say something about a pillowcase.

Ummmm, excuse me? I thought we were making an apron?? As it turns out the teacher changed her mind again (pillowcase to apron and then back to pillowcase) but failed to let us know. Awesome.

Not only is the fabric not what I would have picked for an apron, I don't even have enough of it. The pillowcase had 3 types of fabric, all varying sizes... not the straight 1 yd. for the apron we had been told. *sigh*

Luckily we were a little more knowledgeable about our machines and already had our bobbins spun and needle threaded... which afforded us some time to go pick out new fabric.

So my apologies my loyal readers... I could not use your suggestion. But here is the fabric I did choose...

My thinking behind it was a pillowcase for Chase. He has his own pillow in his tent so I figured make him his own special pillowcase.... hence the boyish colors ;~)

Oddly enough the straight line eluded me all this time. I mean I got it pretty close but I would veer here and there and the finished product... well you could always see a bend in the stitch.


I don't know if you can see the line markings on the machine, next to the presser foot... yeah, I didn't see those until Saturday. As it turns out, they are there to help you create a straight line! Who knew! I was trying to create a straight line by watching the needle... which is near about impossible. Taking your eyes off the needle and aligning your fabric with the marking... 100 times easier and more precise. Which also does wonders for your backstitch! Lesson # 1 learned!


My sewing buddy Kari practicing her straight line.


When it came to pinning the fabric together... I had it totally wrong again.

Apparently you do not pin parallel to where your seem will be, you pin perpendicular...

And you don't ever lift the fabric to pin... there is a much better way which lessens your chance of moving the fabric! Lesson # 2 and # 3 learned!

Quite possibly the best part was where the classroom... not tucked away in a room somewhere... not even behind glass windows... nope. Right out in the middle of the store where everyone was walking and shopping.

Definitely made for some great people watching.

My finished product...


And Kari's finished product...


This was definitely a fun class and I plan on going back and doing some of the other ones they offer! Hopefully next time they will give me the correct information!