One New Thing: Sewing

I can't remember ever having used a sewing machine before. Never had Home EC, always avoided the sewing machine when mom had it out... somehow I just never learned how to sew. It was way too late that I realized that sewing would probably be a really useful skill. And it took even longer for me to think that sewing actually sounded like a lot of fun. But that's the place I found myself in for the last few years! Ben's mom generously bought us a great sewing machine. Which Ben promptly put to use. But I just didn't know where to start.

Then, like so many wondrous things, the answer came to me in my daily Groupon email. A sewing class that promised me the sewing basics in two hours. And I would leave with my very own makeup bag. A bag that I made! All I had to do was show up.

I scooped up two classes for me and Meg. Then Kim bought one too. The fun was about to start! We all registered for a class, and the excitement built. But then, on the morning of the class, disaster struck. Elliot was puking. The plague had passed from little to big sibling. Megan graciously offered to stay home with typhoid Eli so I could go to the class. But the gods were not done with us yet. Over in New Jersey, Kim was scheduled to accept a big delivery. And the delivery people came late. And then she missed her train. And then, when she finally got a train, it was held at the station.

Somehow Kim and I made it to class though. And we sewed our bags, and it was a lot of fun! The class was held at the Sewing Studio, and it was nice and small--just five of us. The teacher was very nice and patient. And best of all, we got to work on the very same kind of sewing machine I have at home. So that was very useful. And I think I picked up most of the basic stuff I need to know to start experimenting--how to thread a bobbin, how to start a simple seam, that kind of thing.

Here's a picture of my bag. I picked a nice bicycle fabric, so I gave it to Ben to keep doctor things in. You can't see in the picture, but I pricked my finger and got blood on the bag. Booo. But he says he likes it anyway. And I think the blood really shows that I put my all into this project.

-Kristin