Sewing From A Beginners Perspective

Sewing is hard.

I took sewing in high school and I admit to forgetting how hard it was. I passed the class with maybe a C because I just couldn't sew a straight line. Plus, don't get me started on curves! So when I decided to try sewing again....after too many years to mention...I went straight to Pinterest to get ideas. I pinned for hours! A found numerous tutorials, projects and patterns that claimed to be for a sewing beginner. After many trials and errors, with very little success, I give you my list of what I have learned so far.

1. Bias tape is sewing hell.

    I spent hours trying to figure out how to get it on a simple blanket. All straight edges would make you think it would be easy. Nooooo...I think I stabbed myself with pins a few hundred times and had to deposit enough money in the curse jar that we could  just buy a new blanket! I will definitely have to look up some easier ways to do this.

2. Quality scissors make for better cuts.

     I caved and bought a good pair of scissors at the craft store and my cuts are definitely nicer and my fingers are thanking me. Dull craft scissors are not great for material. The new scissors I bought though, are glorious! Cuts like the material is butter!

3. Curves throw me a curve ball.

     If you think sewing a straight line is difficult, then sewing on a curve is worse. My curves were so wonky that you would think I had one too many drinks before starting. Nope....the drinks came after I saw how horrible they turned out.

4.  Knits are definitely NOT a beginner fabric!

     I found this super easy looking pattern for a baby beanie! I wanted to make a few for a friend who had just had a baby recently.  I found some cute knit material and thought I would give it a try.  Well, little ole me didn't realize at first that there was a special needle for this type of fabric. I also learned that there is even a certain presser foot you should use.  (yep, I bypassed those little typed instructions) and quickly had a mess of thread and chewed up knit material. Sadly, those beanies became cleaning rags.

5. Start with scrap fabric, not pricey material.

     Remember that knit fabric I was telling you about? Lets just say that they are the most expensive cleaning rags I have ever bought!  I have now learned the art of recycling in the sewing world.  That old flannel pajama top can become am apron. Those old cotton sheets and pillowcases can now become curtains, bibs, or even a toddler dress. I even take the scraps from those projects for sewing practice lines, curves and tension settings!

Got any tips you think I need to know?? Leave it in the comments for me to try!

Keychain Chapstick Holder Tutorial

I am always trying to find my chap stick in my purse.  I end up digging around for minutes only to give up and decide to look later. I use to have the same problem with my keys until I got a hook fob to attach them to my purse straps. That is when it hit me to make some sort of pouch for the chap stick that could be on my key ring!

Now I just started to sew with a sewing machine. I am in no way an expert at sewing. I don't even know the proper terms, stitches, or process of making things with a sewing machine. So this tutorial is completely from a beginners perspective! I did take bits an pieces from multiple searches online on the steps and adapting them to what I wanted and needed.  There are plenty of other "professional" sewing tutorials for this project out there, but I thought I would share how I did it.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

Fabric scrap (cut to 10in x 4in)

Key Ring

Thread

Sewing machine

Chapstick

STEP ONE:

First you are going to find a scrap of fabric that you want to use and cut it into a strip. Mine measured approximately 10 in tall by 4 in wide. 

Iron it nice and pretty!

STEP TWO:

Fold the strip in half lengthwise with right sides of the fabric together.

Sew the strip down the unfolded side to make a tube like strip.

(there goes that fancy and totally beginner sewing term talk)

Turn the fabric inside out to where the front of your fabric is now showing.

STEP THREE:

Take one end of your strip/tube and fold it a quarter of an inch 2 times. Iron it down flat and then sew a straight line to hold it in place.

It should look like this:

STEP FOUR:

Flip it over and do the same thing to the opposite end - turning, ironing and sewing the straight line to hold it in place. I only flipped it once on this end because the raw edge won't be showing. Folding it once or twice is up to you.

Now it should look like this:

STEP FIVE:

Take the last end you folded and fold it to the center of your strip.Pin it down if you need to for sewing.

STEP SIX:

Sew the folded section around the edges so that it creates a pocket. 

DON'T sew the center that creates the pocket though. 

STEP SEVEN:

Take your key ring and thread it through the top folded hem.

TAH DAH!!!

Now your chap stick holder is ready to be attached to your key ring! If you don't want to weigh your key ring down with it, you can also attach it to your purse strap. 

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!