Friday 14 November 2008

A 15 minute powernap could save your sewing

I should know better than to sew late at night, and especially after a glass of wine. But yet, I still decided to roll with it, eager to get a Christmas present out of the way. I am making a gardening bag for my cousin, from Lotta's Simple Sewing book. At one point, right before I was going to stitch the handles in, I was feeling a bit smug, thinking "Oh wow, I can't believe I have almost finished this bag without having made a mistake yet!". And then I tried to work out why the lining was fitting awkwardly. And then I realised that I had sewed the base in sideways. I have no idea how that happened. Not a biggie, but still frustrating. That's the point where I threw it down on the table and walked away. I probably would have continued had I not been so smug the whole evening about how well I was doing, getting everything right.


If you drink, then sew, you're a bloody idiot

Take a break, fatigue kills your sewing skills

Overall though, like all of Lotta's patterns, even though this is one of her more complicated patterns, it is still very straight forward. There are a few bits where you have to make some pleats, and really that's the most complex part. And again, her time estimates were spot on (or would have been had I not sewn the base in sideways).

8 comments:

Melanie said...

i tell you what, a little red flashing light and a siren on top of your machine to go off when you sew crooked, drunkish lines would be perfect. i would be pulled over for culpable sewing alot
cant wait to see it finished

Liesl said...

Hmm, yes I know this scenario well. And it always occurs just after a bit of smugness! There's usually a lot of cursing, then unpicking involved (and a second glass of wine).

The bag is going to look terrifc.

Taccolina said...

Mm, I know it well. I often say that I can't drink and drive - by which I mean, I can't hand-quilt a straight line after a glass of wine. But maybe it's the exhausted end-of-week feeling that's doing it to me, too...

CurlyPops said...

I can't sew properly at night either...it just ends up being a disaster involving lots of unpicking and re-sewing...agggghhhh

Sarah-Jo said...

im with curly pops I am not a night time sewer anymore I just cant concentrate


cant wait to see your bag when its finished and thanks for the great This is theme this week
cheers :)

Mon @ bpab said...

Having been trained on an industrial machine, you'd think I'd be rather pro-ish, but the unpicker is my faithful companion! Imagine what it would be like if you had to undo machine sewing by your fingers.... or teeth....
I love this weeks theme and I'm up early enough to do it!! YaY!

Anonymous said...

Haha I know this feeling too! I'm just taking a little break from sewing something today actually, the first time in a while but so far nothing has gone horribly wrong like it often does.

Your bag is looking great though, I love the fabric and the colours, I'm sure it will be perfect when it's all finished! I have that Lotta book too, although I've only made the apron so far.

Katy said...

Have very true.. Sewing as well as blogging shouldn't be done when drunk! The bag is awesome though, great job!

Only found your blog today and i love it, will be back!