Sewing Class is Fun, Yay!
May 23rd, 2008
I had my first sewing class yesterday and it was fun! I can sew! The class is “beginner basics” and we’re making a tote bag from a Simplicity “Sewing for Dummies” pattern. There are only two people in the class. The other person is an older lady (older than me, that is) and when the teacher asked us each about our sewing experience, I was quite distressed when she said, “Oh, I’ve sewn for 30 years. I even made my own wedding dress.” Uh, hello? BEGINNER BASICS here. I immediately felt like a dummy.
The reason she was in the class was because she got a new sewing machine and didn’t know how to use it and needed to relearn on her new machine. I’m sorry, but the class description says that you need to know how to use your machine before class starts! I even called to say I’m a really beginner beginner and don’t know how to thread my machine. They asked what brand it was and when I said Singer they said it would be OK for me to come to the class anyway because they are a Viking distributor and I guess Viking bought Singer and so they’d be able to help me out. Of course, this lady’s machine was a Brother and no one in the store had a clue how to operate it.
ANYWAY… the teacher had to go get a sewing machine tech to help this lady figure out her machine, and that basically freed the teacher up to give me pretty much a private sewing lesson which, yay, was really great. I thought a tote bag would be a pretty simple deal and was kind of disappointed that the first class started with something so basic. I mean, I’m a beginner, but I am ambitious.
Turns out, it’s actually a great pattern to learn with. The tote bag has an interfacing and also a lining and corners and a flat bottom. It’s exactly the size and shape of a brown paper grocery sack and really cute.
I cut out the pattern, cut out the fabric, cut out the interfacing, cut out the lining, basted the interfacing to the fabric, marked the fabric and sewed the bag together. Homework is to assemble the lining. Next class we’ll put in the lining, cover the belting for the straps with fabric and attach the straps and, voila, bag done!
Attached are photos of the bag thus far. I love sewing! I want to sew many wonderful and fabulous things! Yay for sewing!
May 24th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Good job on the sewing. So will it hold groceries? Or is it more for books, exercise clothes?
I like to sew. What a fun class to take, and to have such a small class is good. More personal.