Playing with Fabric

Having made great strides with learning to crochet this year it's giving me confidence to sidle up to the sewing beast to see if we can make friends. Actually having signed myself up for a five day course on dress making in July, I'm not so sure it's a sidle so much as a full on dance outside it's lair! Last year I was resolving to just play around in the shallows before diving in but without any focus all I've done in over a year is mend a couple of split seams.  So I've got the course as something formal to look forward to and a couple of months to get in the shallows and splash! In a quiet hour on Sunday I got out the machine. Gulp, needles and hooks were never as frightening as that monster! I just took an old nightie, cut it into some bits and sewed random seams and squares and then the urge to make something kicked in, so a little lavender sachet was made. Then I heaved a big sigh of relief and quit while I was ahead! Little and often is the motto for the next few weeks and then hopefully I'll feel a little more sure of myself.
 
Then I had a real play as a reward for my bravery and fortitude. On an impulse I bought a sample pack of Liberty fabrics from a stall at last year's summer school and it is one of those silly purchases that I have been so glad I made so many times since. They are one of my dearly hoarded treasures. They live at the top of a drawer of other crafting things and I smile whenever I see them. 
Just so pretty! So precious! Foolish but happy making. When I saw little, bitty embroidery frames at Lupin Handmade a wave of PurlSoho wall-ishness washed over me. 
Well perhaps more just splashed a bit in my direction given the weenier scale but I had a lovely time trying to choose my favourites for the frames.
Some of the larger prints, though much favoured, wouldn't quite work.
While other large scale patterns surprised me by how well they shone in the spotlight. So much fun!

Comments

Modelwidow said…
I can see why the liberty prints make you smile. I'm sure you will have a great time on the course - it looks really interesting. Good luck with your 'splashing'
marycatharine said…
The dress making course sounds great, having an expert teach you can be so much better than wandering around in the dark. I'm so jealous of your liberty prints, they're going to look fantastic up on your wall.
Charity said…
Very fun! I've always loved fabric displayed this way... Good luck with the course! I'm sure you'll be a natural. :)
Rose Red said…
Go you on the sewing! Great idea tomsign up for a course, I must do something similar - or con my mother in law to teach me!
I LOVE the little round frames with the liberty fabric. I wish my husband liked them as much as I do!
Anonymous said…
Good job on getting the machine out, mine still sits un-loved in the upstairs cupboard. I keep meaning to get it out...just gotta do it. I love the liberty fabrics, the prints are great!
Lynne said…
Yep, "play" is what it's all about - no pressure that way! Have fun, Sarah.
Helen said…
oh i love those hoops. I've seen others do them and they're great! Good choice.

I found doing a course the month after I got my machine really helpful. It demystified heaps of stuff. And I've latched onto every possible tutorial that looked like it was for me and have really made progress that way. I couldn't do it on my own. Books, videos, blogs - the lot. It's really helped. You're right - that whole machine thing is scary!
behind the ivy said…
wow, gorgeous Liberty fabrics! Such a great idea to pop them in hoops to enjoy. Can't wait to see what you get up to in your course, it sounds like so much fun! I'd love to polish my sewing skills one day - they're pretty abysmal!
raining sheep said…
Sewing is on my list of things to do as soon as I finish my degree in January. I am on the countdown. Actually I have so many things on my list that I have years worth of activities after my degree is done :)
Anonymous said…
They look fantastic. Wish I could make friends with my sewing machine. it hates me and I hate it. LOL.
Linda said…
Your liberty fabrics are lovely. I think that it is such a good idea to enroll on that course. It will really get you going with the sewing.
Rachel said…
Oh, I understand that fear and trepidation so well...you are doing more to push through that than I am! I think the 5 day course will be fantastic both for learning skills and developing some confidence. You'll be making clothes in no time!
Anonymous said…
I would just love to take a dressing making class. I know there is so much I could learn, especially since everything I know I've gleaned from books, online tutorials and just trial and error.
Have fun!
Anonymous said…
oh wow! look at all those gorgeous fabrics! you are very brave, learning more new things. cant wait to see how you go!
What a fantastic idea to use up bits of fabric! Rather than buying them specially for the purpose of putting them in the hoops, wonderful! Love Vanessa xxx

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