What's Your Sewing Experience?

**tomcherv** · 6th October 05, 06:25 AM

Well, when I was in junior high, all the guys had to learn how to sew. Didn't like it at the time, but now I'm grateful.

I've done mostly costumes with my sewing, but the ones I made when I worked at the Renaissance Festival were well constructed.

I did make my wife a fancy dress when she was expecting our first and we couldn't find anything suitable for the company dinner-dance.

So, I did have a bit of experience in sewing before I tried making my first kilt. It came out well, but I never really finished it. And now, I need to take it in about 6 inches before I can wear it.

**RockyR** · 6th October 05, 06:33 AM

I still can't sew... I just have Kelly do all the orders and I pretend I did them to take the credit!

**Schultz** · 6th October 05, 07:03 AM

I also had to learn how to sew while in high school and loved it. As a child, my mother always let me help her with sewing projects and it's something that I've retained. I'm not the neatest sewer, but can be if I make myself take the time to do it properly.

The other night must have been quite amusing at my house, as my fiancee was knitting and I was doing some repair work on a PV kilt. For two people who used to be hell raising bar crawlers just a few years ago, it was quite a change!

**bubba** · 6th October 05, 07:56 AM

Originally Posted by JerMc

Really, I can't figure how in the heck to make the thing sew a straight line? Any help would be appreciated.

It takes a little practice. You could lay a piece of masking tape across the bed to act as a guide and stitch somewhat slowly til you get the hang of it.

**Shay** · 6th October 05, 09:24 AM

Alright, you've shamed me into working back on that cockamamie cord kilt for cav. (Say that three times fast!)

I sew lots of stuff- my kid's always the one in the homemade-but-great-looking costume at Halloween- more a tribute to my mom's teaching than innate talent- my mom taught me to sew from patterns, but her 'on the fly' method of draping, cutting, and pinning gets me my best stuff. I sew some clothes for my daughter, mostly summer dresses. I've made dresses for myself as well, and I make curtains, rocking horse covers, you name it, I can probably bang it out. The only thing I don't do is suit-type fine tailoring, not that I can't, I just find it boring. I'm more challenged sewing by the seat of my pants.

You know those knitters that have yarn all over the house that they're waiting to be inspired by? Well, aside from my yarn stash, I also have fabric stash- I buy a lot of stuff on sale and then wait for it to be useful. Sounds crazy, but it works for me.

The first kilt I ever made was actually for my infant son, I had leftover fabric from tailoring an overbodice froma Ren Faire, and made him a little kilt almost as a joke. Then one day I got a bee in my bonnet to make my friend Fear a kilt, it turned out well, you can see a picture here. Then I started a kilt made of corduroy, but it's a pain in the *** to work with, and we've been remodeling our kitchen- my usual workspace. Now that we're done most of it (oh, will the cabinets EVER be painted?) I'm going to march downstairs and start working on the verdammt thing again, if only to get it out of my 'inbox.'

**starbkjrus** · 6th October 05, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by bubba

Sounds to me like your machine needs some fixing. Take it in for cleaning and adjusting.

Bubba, I wish I could use that excuse but the machine is brand new. It's only been used once by my Partner's daughter to make a set of curtains for the breakfast room when she was visting in August. She had no trouble with it whatsoever. But she's a dressmaker by profession.

It seems to be me but I'll keep plugging at it. :confused:

**KiltedCodeWarrior** · 6th October 05, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by Shay

Alright, you've shamed me into working back on that cockamamie cord kilt for cav. (Say that three times fast!) ...

Good luck with that! I would think that the corduroy would make a nice looking kilt, but would be a little stiff to work with , especially at the top of the pleats.