CogKnition

Saturdays are for Sewing

January 17th, 2009 | View Comments

I used to sew back in 7th and 8th grade, if “finished all assigned projects in home ec and nothing more” counts as “used to sew”. I made a tote and a duffel with moderately-straight seams and great pride. I used the duffel as a gym bag until the zipper broke a few months ago and still use the tote as a knitting bag. There was also a sweatshirt that disappeared into the sands of time.

I didn’t feel the urge to sit at the sewing machine again for years, until I wanted linings for the Eggplant Bag and Quinn times two. And until Grumperina started showing off her sewing projects. And then I subscribed to the Purl Bee and it was all over. Unless I learned how to sew, really sew, my life would not be complete.

Last Christmas (that would be 2007), I got a copy of Last-Minute Patchwork & Quilted Gifts and this:

My new sewing machine

And then both sat idle except for a few longing glances as I planned a wedding, proposed a dissertation, and moved my butt across the country.

When my birthday rolled around a couple weeks ago, my husband asked me what I wanted. Sewing tools! Fabric stash! A rotary cutter, mat, rulers, and assorted other items are winging their way here from Joann.com and Fabric.com, but in the meantime I picked up enough fat quarters to start a stash:

Fat quarter stash
Fat quarter stash

I’m kind of mesmerized by all the pretty colors, almost to the point where I don’t want to use it up.

But I am determined. Today I will sit down and sew the Japanese Knot Bag. Photos of the results (hopefully) tomorrow!

CogKnition posted this on January 17th, 2009 @ 2:08pm in Sewing | Permalink to "Saturdays are for Sewing"

2 Comments

  1. Elenita says:

    Oooh, pretty. Did you pick up any gorgeous fabrics on your trip to Japan?

    Saturdays are for sewing, indeed. I actually dug out some needle and thread from one of my many boxes of miscellaneous stuff last weekend to reattach a button. It took far too long (must buy a needle threader!), and I’m not convinced I lined it up perfectly, but still a minor accomplishment in my book.

    • Yvonne says:

      No fabric from Japan, sadly, though I spent a long time trying to convince myself to not get a giant roll of chiyogami paper. (I didn’t get it.) Next time, though, fabric for sure!