I apologize for not posting sooner. I did continue working on my Sister’s shirt/jacket during the last week, the final chapter of my Sister’s Sewing Projects, although I am sure she will eventually think of something else for me to do! I am using Simplicity 5455, a pattern from 2003. I started it here using two wonderful fabrics, a solid blue and a white “newsprint floral”, both made of 97% cotton and 3% spandex. Things were rolling along nicely … until they came to a dead stop! Why?
Let’s just say I probably spent THREE nights doing the buttonholes. Only 5 buttonholes, yet THREE nights! I must be the only person who freaks when it comes to sewing buttonholes. I spent the first night thinking about their placement and drawing them in. Over and over again. Then a good TV show came on and I quickly packed everything up.
Then I spent the second night staring at what I had drawn in. I stared for so long I started seeing actual words and sentences in the so called “newsprint floral” fabric. My fabric was speaking to me. (Tell me you see it too.) I wasn’t too sure what my fabric was saying though. Probably “Finish this friggin’ thing. Will ya?” But a good TV show came on and I quickly packed it all away! (Sound like avoidance issues to you?)
The third night came. Am I the only person who thinks of having a good stiff drink before tackling a nasty task?
For Pete’s sake! My sewing machine has a buttonhole foot. All I have to do is set the machine on “50”, put the fabric under the foot and step on the foot control.
Unfortunately I have visions of putting the fabric in crooked or to close to the edge or too far from the edge or even on the left side instead of the right – don’t laugh, I have done it! And what if you have to remove all those zig zag stitches? Then the next challenge is cutting the silly things open and doing it without cutting the zig zag stitching. Just think about this… you want me to cut 5 holes in the fabulous shirt/jacket I have just made?
Yes, I am probably over-reacting. So, down goes the good stiff drink and away I go, for good luck, starting with the bottom buttonhole as is my usual habit … and what the heck was I so nervous about anyway?
So there you have it. The guts of my Sister’s shirt/jacket – inside out to show off facing and bias tape. I tried to make it as nice on the inside as on the outside.
The contrasting collar with the “newsprint floral” fabric.
An all around look!
My Sister will be visiting soon. I do like this shirt/jacket. I think she is going to have to pry it out of my white knuckled-clutching fingers, I love it so much! If she succeeds in getting it away from me, I will just have to make one for myself!
Do you have a sewing technique that drives you to drinking? Do share! Don’t let me remain the only crazy one!
Happy Sewing!