Those of you who visit our photostream on Flickr might have noticed that recently, I've been taking many pictures of my loft, my creative space. I originally thought I might do a bit of a creative space tour here on the blog, mostly because the space has really transformed... really as my sewing has transformed right along with it. The celebration of my blog's first year (and what a meagre celebration it was... more to come on that in a bit) has me thinking of evolution, transformation and the long road that has been my entry into this wonderful world of sewing. Blogs and the amazing creativity I've seen on the web have been such a part of that journey, I thought I'd leave a little something out there for the beginning sewist... things I wish I had known as I began very helter-skelter, very trial by fire (literally) which I think is almost the best way... dive right in, figure out what works for you, how you work and what feels right. I hope this post will be helpful in its own way... a simple guide to what I've found works for me and what I've picked up along the way. So, here we go...
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Books:
I thought I'd start with some of the books that I really couldn't do without. Granted I have many, many sewing references... and I love them for their inspiration and imagination (I even did a little, ok big, book review last summer) some have been really exceptional in their teaching... which is always near and dear to me.
Ruth Singer's
The Sewing Bible is a recent find, and I just love this book. Filled with techniques and how-tos, it really is the perfect starter book... or the perfect book for those that jumped right in and are now figuring out the easier way to do things... ahem.
And my old standby Lotta Jansdotter's
Simple Sewing... has sentimental meaning for me, Rob purchased this along with my first sewing machine (smart guy!) and the projects were accessible to my newbie skills... I keep coming back to this book. A good sign indeed...
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Tools and Organization (or lack thereof in my case)
When I first started sewing I bought tons of brightly colored thread, to match each project. Now, I buy mostly thread in natural colors (whites, tans, greys) when they are on sale, and mostly Gutermann because my machine likes it. I use Polyester thread for piecing and 100% cotton thread for quilting. I do buy colored thread but for top stitching projects only.
... Fabric, oh fabric. Again, I used to buy several yards of fabric I liked, now I buy a small bit (or swap for small bits) that I love. Backing fabric still gets me... using yards of it gets spendy, so I try to use a solid or a fabric I have a lot of.
My machine... what can I say... I love it. It has, even a year later, yet to cause me a problem. I love that it sews through just about anything, and that I can spend hours using it and enjoy every moment. When it comes to a machine, I think it has to be the right fit. Having said that, I did learn an enormous amount about tension and simple sewing from my first machine... invaluable lessons really.
My machine came with a Patchwork foot (#57) that acts as a guide for the perfect 1/4 inch seam... as I was leaning about control and sewing, this was truly a life saver. I would recommend guides (though some people hate them) they were so helpful in my learning to sew...
I use a very big mat, very bit rotary cutter and very big ruler (5'') when cutting fabric. I like that the mat allows me the ability to cut without moving the fabric. The big ruler prevents me from having another rotary cutter vs finger experience. For that I am grateful. Be careful with those cutters! One more thing... my hot little MacBook which burns my legs on occasion, also does horrible things to cutting mats... just FYI, I keep a hot plate near the mat so that I can have my computer nearby to read patterns (or truth be told watch period films) while I'm working... this one is from Anthropologie.
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Have I told you that I'm messy? Especially mid-project, cooking, correcting... things fly I tell you. When living with another person who is more concerned about stepping on pins (I'm getting better at this Honey!) I've found that unconventional things work for my unconventional style... That bowl above hangs out on my sewing table. A pin cushion works for some, I made one as a first project... but not for me. I know that looks deadly, but I'm really careful and I love that I can just throw pins and things in there as I'm sewing without really being distracted from the task at hand...sigh, there's probably a personality profile in this post somewhere...ahem. My philosophy, if everything has a place, it's tidy, therefore less messy. Things can be a bit untidy in their place... if that makes sense.
I keep a crate of fabric that I'm using for projects I'm working on. This again, allows me to be messy without being a wreck. And that is unusually folded and orderly I tell you... underneath those folded bits is a mishmash of fabric scraps and bits that need to be put into scrap bins or re-folded... just not right now... I'm mid-project you see.
... more organization (from Ikea)...
...even more...
... mid project (sometimes months later, ahem), I also love a hook to keep finished pieces nicely pressed and organized... again, the hook is from Anthropologie.
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InspirationI keep an inspiration board near my sewing table, right now it's a little empty but a lot of my inspiration is unpostable... on the board at least. I have found fellow bloggers to be incredibly inspiring. Some of my favorites are always listed on my blog, but I should mention RedPepperQuilts, Soulemama, SewMamaSew, and OhFransson! (who has the most amazing free tutorials) as really special inspirations, each in their own way. I also used to throw away selvedges... until I saw this from Tallgrass Prarie Studio... now I keep them... someone once sent me an email asking if I would mail them to her when I posted that picture to Flickr... hmm...
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I know there will be other little bits of inspiration and new ways of doing things as my evolution as a sewist continues... and I love that. Until then, thank you for stopping in to share in this little journey and these little corners of our world, I'm so glad you're along for the ride!
