I started sewing lessons about a month ago and I am so glad that I did. I am a very visual learner, I do not follow written directions well and while I do not think I am a complete idiot I just can't seem to absorb and process what I am to do when I read a written pattern without having any background knowledge to help me along. Once I am confident with a skill set I don't have as much trouble reading directions, but initially I generally need to be shown how. I am taking lessons from an experienced seamstress in her home, she has a sewing studio set up and takes 4 students per 2 hour block. Apparently I am not the only person in the world interested in figuring out the mystery of sewing as she has 5 days per week booked full of classes.
The instructor very nicely does not require a specific pattern for the first project. She believes students will be more interested in learning if they are in control of their project and material choices. I decided to begin with an Oliver + S shirt pattern for Ella. I will continue taking classes as long as I can find projects that have techniques that I have not yet had a chance to learn (or I gain confidence in pattern reading!), everything from a more complicated vintage dress pattern to very tailored drapes.
If you sew, how did you learn?
-Jess
Rach
I'm daughter to Lissie, sister to Jess, wife to Brien, mom to Hannah, Lily and Eleanor. I am a stay at home mom to my girls, and my free time is dedicated to gardening (I confess I'm still a novice and look to Lissie and Jess for advice), baking and cooking, and card making. I'm doing my part to make the earth a bit greener, trying hard to avoid processed foods and HFCS, and find the "slow food" movement intriguing and inspiring. I love visits to my local farmers' market, fresh produce, reading, getting out in nature, and spending time with my family.
Jess
Catholic, homeschooler, lover of books and great wine and an amateur gardening addict.
Lissie
I'm Melissa aka "Lissie", mother of Rachael and Jessica, and grandmother to a passel of the sweetest children on the planet. I'm a semi-retired public educator and professor who works from home for a small publisher. I am a lover of all things beautiful ... flowers, the mountains, nature scenes, the innocent faces of children, and my rock and fossil collection, to name a few. I enjoy shopping at the farmers' market for fresh foods and then experimenting with new recipes. Good food and good wine delight me. I love to travel so my suitcase is always packed. Like my daughters, I take pleasure in simple things ... clothes drying on the line, tomatoes so fresh they are still hot from the sun, good books, and interesting movies. I'd like to know everything before I die.
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Inspiration
- A Year In Bread
- A Year of Crockpotting
- Bella Dia
- Casaubon's Book
- Cook's Country
- Down To Earth
- Farmgirl Fare
- Happy Foody
- Home Grown Evolution
- Homespun Living
- Homesteading Forums
- Homesteading In The City
- Ideal Bite
- Judy of the Woods
- Knitting Help
- Liz's Virginia Garden
- LocalHarvest.org
- Martha Stewart Living
- Mother Earth News
- No Impact Man
- Oliver + S Blog
- P. Allen Smith
- Path To Freedom
- Pattern Retrospective - Vintage Patterns
- PatternReview.com - Sewing Resource
- Ravelry - Yarn Lovers Forum
- Soule Mama
- Sugar Mountain Farm
- The Family Homestead
- The Good Life - Scott and Helen Nearing
- The Green Mommy
- The Homesteading Housewife
- The Simple Family
- The Simple Living Network
- Tiny Happy
- Wild Foods
2 comments:
Fun! Wish I could take lessons. I've tried a few things and I've had to figure it out by trial and error or by asking mom. :)
I intend on turning a portion of my closet into a sewing/craft station. Before you laugh, my closet is too large for my stuff and has a window. :) I figure it is a good place.
Hi Jess, Thanks for posting the link to your blog on FB. I loved reading your last three entries, we share a lot of the same thoughts and these issues are important to me as well. Thanks for the remind on being conscious of my spending, something that I need to be more aware of to.
As for sewing, I took a class in high school and after Lulu had become less dependent, I took some classes at the local community college a few years ago. I really enjoy creating garments too, but now that I am back in school again, it's a time issue again. Post your shirt that you are making when you are done!
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