Happy New Year! We made it!
I know there are mixed feelings about the New Year. Torn between wanting to put all of 2020 behind us and understanding that we are still living in pandemic times. We may not be at a “new normal” yet, but we have plenty to learn from this year.
I hope we gain a larger understanding of global health and how important community is. Community is what drew me to the Mad Lab at You Are Here. While social distancing we were able to create art to put back into the Jeannette community. So artists in isolation got to connect and collaborate in a safe way while also connecting with the community. I hope the benches I helped with brings joy to those who see them out and about.
Speaking of bringing joy, I finally decided to sew my own garment. A long half circle skirt from a green and black plaid I got from Oh, Scrap! My treadle machine hasn’t been serviced yet, but I didn’t let that stop me. If I can sew a quilt 100% by hand I can handle a skirt.
Following along with Montoya Mayo’s youtube tutorials, I managed to make my own pattern and assemble a skirt I’m really proud of. Link down below to the video in case you want to make a skirt of your own!
Since I spent about two days straight hand sewing it (excluding the afternoon I spent making the pattern) I did a temporary hem and the inside seams all still need finished/felled. Still. I made a whole heckin skirt with pockets and a zipper in two days. Pretty darn proud.
Able to wear it to the New Year’s get together with my Dungeons and Dragons group (only six people total and we have all been self isolating) I’ll let the skirt hang in the closet for a bit to see if the bottom hem needs adjusted from stretching or something. Montoya mentioned parts of the skirt might stretch differently resulting in an uneven hem. So later on I’ll take a gander and neaten it up and give it a proper hem.
Been thinking about adding a ribbon binding at the bottom to protect the fabric. Easier to replace a ribbon than a skirt getting tattered from wear.
Anyway, now that my back is properly sore and my fingers thoroughly pricked by my sewing needle, I think I will give myself a few days to relax before moving onto the next sewing project.
If anyone following along would like to donate batting, fabric, textiles, lace, ribbons, beads and other sewing notions: please contact You Are Here. I would love to see all the wonderful things you bring! And you can always bring home something from Oh, Scrap! To create as well! Give a little, Take a little <3
Thanks for stopping by and happy sewing!
JB