I admit. I avoid the sewing machine. I can sew, but without a dedicated sewing area and a better machine, I avoid sewing. I'd rather be out in the garden. Yet at times I love that you can design your own clothes, make create whatever you want.
Last fall one of my daughters (17) decided she wanted a dress for a formal dance. She found a dress online she loved but wanted a few things different. She asked if such could be sewn and could I show her how to do so.
Sewing has never been one of her priorities. She has a very busy schedule. School days she leaves the house before 6am and often not home until 5:30 or later in the evening. She is on the school's swim team, does very well, takes AP classes in high school, active in church, takes care of rabbits (pets which provide me with compost), works as an usher occasionally at local theater, favorite class is architecture design. But sure, I'll teach her to sew.
We shop for patterns similar to what she found online. Can't find the exact thing. Patterns are on sale and we found 2 that if we use parts of each we can get want she wanted. Shopped for material. Hard part is changing the pattern to compensate for her muscular shoulders (swim) and still have a slim waist. Another hard part is she wanted a lace overlay on part of the bodice. Not the best first project, esp. with a flaky machine. She couldn't believe how much $ was saved by making her own. She starts sewing, then decides not to go to the dance, didn't need the dress anytime soon. She put it away.
Now I was tempted to nag, make her finish the job over Christmas holidays, etc. but I wanted it to be her project.
This week she came down with a cold/flu, ran few 2 days. Second day she started feeling better. It'd be nice if I had that dress finished for the swim banquet Friday, she said. Can you help me?
So I cleared out some time and sat down to help her. It may not be ready by Friday. She may have to wear something else. She thought it could be just whipped up in a few hours.
She sewed for hours, needed quite a bit of help, teaching her what to do. This morning when she left for school, she said she hated going back to school. It was very nice staying home and sewing the dress. My favorite part is when she said it was so much better than just sitting there playing computer games or watching TV.
Not sure how the dress will turn out, or if it'll be finished on time, but a cool project just the same.
Yes, it'd be easier if she had a smaller project to start with, maybe an apron or something. But it had to be her idea, something she wanted to create. Works!
