Learner Sewer

For as long as I remember I’ve always wanted to sew. My mother and great-aunt were both sewers and at various times would give me little lessons. However, I was impatient and just wanted to “sew stuff”!

Years went by and I decided I was happy enough to just buy clothes or have my mum mend anything. I struggled to sew buttons on (probably more to do with laziness then ability) or re-hem items. If I could staple hems up I did. And yes I do mean stables out of stabler, but one does need a solid stabler not the cheap little ones. Just a little advice for those other non sewers like I was.

Once Hubby become ill in 2020 with the pandemic hitting, I was on leave. I soon discovered that I don’t do bored. Enter stage left, a new skill learning and a beautiful friend who gifted me her step mother in laws old fabric stash. A stash worth in the thousands, fills two massive suitcases and she was just going to throw away. I was also lucky to stumble across a fantastic Aussie YouTube channel who teaches the skills of sewing. I was on my way!

I consumed all that I could from that channel. If you are interested check out her channel Evelyn Wood. I even joined her sewing school (Vintage Sewing School is what it’s called, just giggle and join you won’t regret it). Next minute, I’ve started to plan and prep for my first ever proper skirt from an old 1980’s pattern. It didn’t even have my size but I figured out how to trace the pattern and at the same time make it bigger to fit my measurements. I even made a toile to learn and practice more. I was taking notes and being slow and methodical with my processes.

There were times when I still had no idea what I was doing but just trusted the process. When I did the waistband I did not understand what the pattern was telling me. I followed the instructions and asked for helped on the sewing school platform then just trusted the process. I went with it and then it was like magic. The waistband came out just like the diagram and the lightbulb finally turned on.

I was on a roll. I even learnt how to put a zipper in. To say I was impressed with myself is and was an understatement. I have now completed two skirts from this pattern. The second skirt I was even able to add pockets. Are they perfect. No! But are they wearable and no-one knows I made them, yes. Unless I tell them I’ve made it, which I do cause hey, why not. We should all be proud of ourselves when we learn new skills and achieve “things” we didn’t think we were capable of.

So know it’s your turn. What is a skill that you’ve always wanted to try your hand at but haven’t. Go on a challenge yourselves. As Nike states “Just do it!”