First Sewing Class

Last Wednesday was my first sewing class. Unfortunately I am just blogging about it now... I have excuses though! I didn't get home until 10:00 pm Wednesday and had to pack. On Thursday I had a 6:00 am flight to Atlanta where I was busy until 10:30 pm followed by an 8:00 am flight back to Houston Friday morning. No, there's more. After I arrived in Houston I had to rush back to the office for a management presentation in the afternoon followed by decorating our table for the Friendship Brunch. Saturday I had to run a 6 miler (going on 21 hours of sleep the previous 3 nights) followed by a weekend up near College Station cheering Jason on at his 24 Hours of Lemons race. Phew - someday I will learn how to not schedule myself to be so dang busy. Until then...

I digress. My apologies. Where was I? Ah, first sewing class. Our teacher Becky is a riot! She went over how to read patterns and how to take our measurements and size ourselves for purchasing patterns. (And let me tell you that is depressing - we have apparently decreased our sizing chart in stores to make ourselves feel better. Sewing has not. Therefore someone a size 6-8 in stores is a 10-12 in patterns. Ouch. Again digressing...)

She also discussed with us the types of thread we want to use and explained fabric options and grain direction to us. Most of that was over all of our heads. Fortunately she is there to answer all our questions. Afterwards we practiced for a little bit on our machines.

I am planning on using my own machine in class. I brought my sweet traveling sewing machine case which all of my friend were insanely jealous about. I told them they could get one just like mine at Walmart for only $25 on Black Friday.

They were also envious of my knowledge about my sewing machine. I told them it was because I read the manual and they all looked at me with admiration. Even the teacher was impressed at my 1976 Singer and wanted to see my manual.

There is only one place in the classroom to put your own sewing machine and so my default I am in the corner surrounded by my friends. Becky recalled having a student who previously sat in that corner and was so quiet that she never asked for help when she needed it. My supportive friends reassured the teacher that this would not be the case this year as I have never been accused of being quiet in all my 26 years. I've got such amazing girlfriends! (Please note the heavy sarcasm laced through the above paragraphs... my friends ruthlessly teased me the entire evening. I still love them though. :-) )

Becky also told us that this week Simplicity patterns were on sale at Hobby Lobby for only $.99. This is a huge deal since they are normally $16-$20. Despite being completely exhausted Saturday night after watching Jason race, I trudged to Hobby Lobby at 7:30 with precious 30 minutes to find a pattern.

I rushed around the fabric and thread and needles seeing no patterns. I asked a worker in the sewing section and she kindly replied (with rolling eyes...) that they were over there and gestured to a filing cabinet. I asked her if there were specific sections corresponding to the numbers outside the drawers. She again sweetly (not...) replied "You have to know the number ahead of time." Since I had no numbers and no time to find numbers online I began to just open a drawer intent to not miss the sale ending in just minutes. Seeing me do this she felt compelled to help this lost soul once more by informing me that the pattern books were behind the cabinet and sauntered away as though I were the biggest idiot in Hobby Lobby that night...

However, the night was a success! I walked away with 8 sewing patterns (a mixture of skirts, pants, and tops).

Next I'll tackle fabric selection. But perhaps not at Hobby Lobby...