Labor Day DC2007 new start: sewing machine
Sep. 3rd, 2007 06:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
avadyikes,I did it. Following what I took to be some serendipitious signs and nudges from the universe...
I've finally invested in a sewing machine of my own.
(!!!!!!!)
I'd been searching online for sewing classes in the area and found none. My 'secret' projects still laying in a box at home...waiting and being put off..again and again...Daily I dream of Missycakeland and CoopaCraft...of the sewing cooperatives around the world...of designs for products, etc.
Then recently, after dropping off an artwork in Riverhead...I spot a local quilting store on the pier and decide to poke around.
Here what I thought was a small shop expanded into 2 well organized and comfortable rooms and then into a classroom with bunches of tables...like in a dream.
and before I knew it the woman/owner was showing me how to sew on a machine...when I asked about lessons she said if I bought the sewing machine there they would give me free lessons for a year. um. a year.(?) Two other women were happily crafting in the back room..they go there every monday...for sit-n-sew, they were superfriendly. I did the calculations in my head. I was in a daze.I talked a bit more and then went for a long walk on the boardwalk. You'd have to understand how I feel about that spot in Riverhead. And how comfortable everything felt. And how certain fears had been holding me back. trivial things that were solved by this potential arrangement. I'd be able to buy all my sewing things from a mom and pop store instead of walmart. I'd be able to ask advice for this exact model machine and get it repaired. I'd have a small and specific support group space with an expert at the helm, available for help and questions.
I went home...knowing I would be back.
And now it's Labor Day and I've just taken her out of the box for the first time...reading the manual....staring at her. She's white with soft green (my favorite color), she's the DC2007limited edition (my initials, this year).
I was rather hoping to have my hand held for the set up part of the process but it's a holiday and I need to at least see...so I try to deal. And well, it's Labor Day. And that seems a perfect day to take a first big symbolic step towards the dream of CoopaCraft...something I hope will make labor a bit fairer and more enjoyable/sustainable for many groups of people around the world.
bit by bit I move forward.
3 12" pieces started in the studio, more underpainting on the Book of Hope...and now...a brand new sewing machine on the kitchen table...gleaming and ready to help me work out these designs and ideas.
I think I'll name here Catalina after my grandmother..who used to sew my mother's dresses....I miss her..and maybe her spirit can help me with this..
I've finally invested in a sewing machine of my own.
(!!!!!!!)
I'd been searching online for sewing classes in the area and found none. My 'secret' projects still laying in a box at home...waiting and being put off..again and again...Daily I dream of Missycakeland and CoopaCraft...of the sewing cooperatives around the world...of designs for products, etc.
Then recently, after dropping off an artwork in Riverhead...I spot a local quilting store on the pier and decide to poke around.
Here what I thought was a small shop expanded into 2 well organized and comfortable rooms and then into a classroom with bunches of tables...like in a dream.
and before I knew it the woman/owner was showing me how to sew on a machine...when I asked about lessons she said if I bought the sewing machine there they would give me free lessons for a year. um. a year.(?) Two other women were happily crafting in the back room..they go there every monday...for sit-n-sew, they were superfriendly. I did the calculations in my head. I was in a daze.I talked a bit more and then went for a long walk on the boardwalk. You'd have to understand how I feel about that spot in Riverhead. And how comfortable everything felt. And how certain fears had been holding me back. trivial things that were solved by this potential arrangement. I'd be able to buy all my sewing things from a mom and pop store instead of walmart. I'd be able to ask advice for this exact model machine and get it repaired. I'd have a small and specific support group space with an expert at the helm, available for help and questions.
I went home...knowing I would be back.
And now it's Labor Day and I've just taken her out of the box for the first time...reading the manual....staring at her. She's white with soft green (my favorite color), she's the DC2007limited edition (my initials, this year).
I was rather hoping to have my hand held for the set up part of the process but it's a holiday and I need to at least see...so I try to deal. And well, it's Labor Day. And that seems a perfect day to take a first big symbolic step towards the dream of CoopaCraft...something I hope will make labor a bit fairer and more enjoyable/sustainable for many groups of people around the world.
bit by bit I move forward.
3 12" pieces started in the studio, more underpainting on the Book of Hope...and now...a brand new sewing machine on the kitchen table...gleaming and ready to help me work out these designs and ideas.
I think I'll name here Catalina after my grandmother..who used to sew my mother's dresses....I miss her..and maybe her spirit can help me with this..
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-09-04 01:05 pm (UTC)If there are no classes around.. I would suggest playing around with scraps of fabric.. Just sew sew sew.. playing around with different stitches, different threads. Also watch the tension on the bobbin. It makes a difference for when you are using thicker fabrics/thinner fabrics.
If you want to try out a few patterns, try getting a few of the crafting type from the store - like potholders, things of that nature.
They are usually quite simple in layout and you can then adapt and change as you get used to sewing.
:)
I love my sewing machine.. I've made shirts, pants, skirts, prom dress, and many costumes on it.
no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 05:42 am (UTC)I decided to wait until monday to get some in person guidance...the place I bought the machine at has free lessons as part of the deal so I'm going and she'll help me get comfortable with it. (thankgoodness) because the instruction manual was making me sweat.;)
very excited. are you making any stuff with your machine these days?
xoD
i took a sewing course
Date: 2007-09-04 06:04 pm (UTC): ) anders
no subject
Date: 2007-09-05 12:05 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 05:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-05 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-06 05:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-09-08 10:42 pm (UTC)remind me to take pics of our peacock cloaks
Welcome to sewing heaven!
Date: 2007-09-23 09:49 am (UTC)She returns to the USofA 2nd week of October from globe trotting.
Hugs from China!