Single guy gets the job done!

Congratulations! When you really decide you want to begin sewing, take the advice of getting a good used machine and a couple books about sewing. A new revised issue of the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing recently arrived at the bookstores. Sure, the new ones cost about $30.00, but I am still using the 1976 edition, which I call "My Bible" for sewing and keep it nearby all the time when sewing anything. I've seen used copies online and at used book stores for less than $13. As someone suggested Sewing for Dummies is a good reference book as well.. My dear DIL was very impressed DS could sew when they married. She wants no part of it herself and is always thrilled when he hems or repairs his, her's & their DD's clothes. Emily

Oh! I forgot to say a great big THANKS to everyone who's coached me along the way. I bragged about all of you to the clerk at JoAnn's when I bought the sticky tape. After I did that, the clerk "adopted" me and took lots of time showing me the tape and such. She even told me to ask for her the next time I'm in. :-)

Now I have to figure out what I want to do with the dining room window, which is directly opposite the big window wall I just did. I have plenty of fabric, so there's lots of possibilities. I might hang another shelf and do a smaller version of what I just did. Seems like that's the way to go to tie the whole living room/dining room together.

As for taking up sewing, I think that's a distinct possibility. And I'm taking to heart the suggestions to find a good used machine and the books recommended. I think when the right machine "comes to me" at a garage sale, I'll jump in. Must be kinda fun to sew and watch TV at the same time, and far more productive~~

Gary

Single guy gets the job done!

GCW scribbled :

I'd recommend the Singer series of sewing books. Very simple and effective with photos and clear directions. They have a great set on window treatments and sewing for the home.

Penny S

Glad to hear that it worked well for you.

Rebecca

And even better, Gary, would be to teach your girls to sew along with you! Think of the memories you'll make with them, and of the time so much better spent than dragging off to malls and such.

Congratulations! I love the idea that you're self-sufficient, but not too much so. Hilarious!

Karen Maslowski in Cincinnati

Congratulations on a job well done. The sense of accomplishment upon completion of your first project must be overwhelming!

| | No, it's far from perfect. I had to re-learn the measure twice, cut once | rule. For instance, when cutting the long piece for the 12 foot valance, I | very carefully measured 8 feet and made my cut. OMG!

I think I can safely say that we have ALL made this mistake at least once.... :-)

| | But, waste not, want not. I centered the 8 foot valance on the 12 foot | shelf. The drapes which hang from each side cover the bare spot. However, | they can not be tied off down the side, because then the exposed edge of the | valance piece shows. However, I don't care. They can lie nice and flat and | still look pretty good. MUCH better than bare corners. And they hide the | blinds in the corner when they're open.

Very creative thinking!! I'm impressed.

| | A few teddy bears now sit atop the shelf surveying the living room. Soon | they will be joined by some cast iron trains, which I have, and some | "antique" canned goods, which I'll start looking for in antique stores. | (Don't worry, the shelf is screwed to brackets and won't fall.)

I love the teddy bear/antique toy idea.

| | The sticky tape no-sew hem thing worked like a charm. Made it pretty easy. | | And last, but not least, the project came out looking very much good enough | for my needs, but not so perfect that a woman who sees it won't conclude | that I'm too self-sufficient. Likely, she'll conclude that I have my heart | in the right place, which is a good thing, but -- I could use a woman's | touch to make it just a little better! So, it's a win-win all around!

And THIS sounds like you are searching for something a little bigger than a good sewing machine and a new hobby. Good luck! ;-)

-- Hugs, Lynn

snipped-for-privacy@shawCLOTHES.ca

Well sure! You got a budget? I'm learning something these past few years -- the lower the budget, the greater the creativity! It's been kind of fun, actually. My DD's really liked the drapes and were impressed with their dad; they didn't know I had it in me (either did I!)

So... On to the next project... :-)

Gary

Look, folks! We caught this one good and hard! ;D

Gary, my FIL (aged 83 now) used to make all his own trousers, made the suite his wife got married to him in, and 3 years later, the one she wore to my wedding. Just this spring he made her some more trousers when she shrank out of everything she owns (health scare took this normally minute woman down to 84 lbs! She's ok now, and putting on again). Never be afraid to sew, and remember, the only silly question is the one you didn't ask!

Gary,

Can't say that I could recommened machine sewing and watching TV at the same time - you need too much concentration on the sewing otherwise you could end up with a complete disaster!!!

OTOH, hand sewing and TV is perfectly possible, and has been done many a time. Why not practice a little bit by sewing on all those shirt buttons, and doing a little mending of your DD's clothes - might help you decide whther you want to take up sewing as a hobby - you always need to do

Sarah

For me it works to watch something while I am pinning fabric pieces together, and I listen while I am sewing the seams, frog-stitching them, etc.

Melinda, who just met a lady in the fabric store today who was doing her first sewing project and gave her some hints on getting patterns to fit right, practicing on the same pattern several times to learn from mistakes before moving on to another one, and trying pattern-drafting software to get garments that fit perfectly