Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Home Ec: Project 1

I signed up for an online sewing course called Home Ec. It's a fun little community of people that want to learn how to sew. We have one year to finish 26 interesting and practical sewing projects at our own pace.

Here are the results from my Project 1.

Single Sided Cloth Napkins


Pretty much blah and boring, wouldn't you say? I enjoyed learning to use the zigzag stitch but my corners were pretty scary looking. Backstitching on them threw me for a loop.

The next part of the project was supposed to be Double Sided Cloth Napkins.

Wanna see the impressive progress I'm making?


Yup, that's pretty much as far as I've gotten-- washed and dried the materials. I am lame-o.

My overachieving friend made 18 of them! As for myself? I think I'm going to make ZERO. I've lost my oomph and am completely unmotivated to work on something that I know I won't use.

I did, however, make the bonus project for the week.

*ding! ding!*

Does this extra credit mean I'm forgiven for getting a big fat zero on the double sided napkins?


Isn't the front of this pin cushion pretty? (Guess I should've stuck some pins in it to keep it from looking like a pillow!) I used some scraps that I had from making my niece's baby quilt earlier this year.

And I even like the back side of it!



I first learned to sew in Home Ec when I was in the 7th grade and picked it up again 7 years ago when Austin was 4. My first back-to-sewing project was this Indian costume.


You'd be amazed at how many different ways one can sew a sleeve on the wrong way, but I think it turned out rather nicely (just don't look too closely at the crooked seams).

Since then, I've only sewn the occasional baby quilt for my nieces and nephews. {Don't ask me if my own children have one made by mommy.}

I am really excited about learning to sew more than just a straight stitch in this course! As well as having an excuse to buy pretty fabrics. *sigh* I adore fabric, especially from Fresh Squeezed Fabrics.

Do you sew? Do you wish you could sew?

26 comments:

Christine said...

I took home ec in 9th grade. We were to make a shirt and I didn't even finish it. It's one of those things I would LOVE to do, but am not very good at and give up because of lack of patience. :) I LOVE your pillow. I think you should ditch the double sided cloth napkins (does anyone really use cloth napkins?) and make something else with that very pretty fabric. Love you!

Lesley Peck said...

oooohhh I love to sew and that pillow is adorable! I wouldn't have made the cloth napkins either. I mean that would just be one more thing for me to wash. :snort: I went to Wal-Mart yesterday, cause you know that's where all the cool people are, and I found a clearance bin on fabric. I was in HEAVEN. I bought like 6 different kinds. :D Now just what to do with them...that's my problem. Lots of fabric and no ideas. I'm such a dweeb.

Ruthanne said...

Oh my word. Austin and Noah are so stinkin' cute in that picture. I want to pinch Noah's cheeks. Cutie-patootie!

I never took Home Ec in high school. I had zero interest in learning anything useful.

I think I'm going to go back and make that cushion. I'm sure I have enough fabric to pull it together.

I'm *sew* glad you're taking the class, too. :D

Crystal said...

I wish I could sew!! I love the pretty fabrics also!! And I can be pretty specific about how I want a blanket of outfit to be (I like matchy matchy stuff too), so it sure would be useful if I could learn!! Maybe someday...first I need to get a sewing machine :)

abba12 said...

If you wouldn't use the double sided napkins, you could make a set for a gift for someone who would. I know some families who actually use cloth napkins for special occasions.

Jennifer {Studio JRU} said...

You are doing such a great job... your projects look great! I love the fabric you are using for the next set of napkins. That Indian costume is adorable... as are the boys! :)

Jamie {See Jamie blog} said...

I love your pillow! I wanted to sign up for that home ec thing, but I knew I wouldn't actually do the projects. :P

Milk and Honey Mommy said...

Marsha,

Man! One project finished and you're done? What. I totally feel you about needing motivation to sew. I truly have to be in the mood. Despite that, yes I sew and have been enjoying getting back into the "seam" of things w/the exception of a needle in thumb injury I experienced last month. After it was removed, I continued w/my project and finished.

I love your fabric choices for the double-sided napkins. Go on and finish them. Your pillow is excuse enough. I love it. I also like the costumes your boys wore. Isn't that why we really sew, for our children? I'm committed to three costumes by October for the annual Harvest Festival.

Also, it sounds so strange. How does sewing through online instruction really work? I'm going to have to check that out.

Shelly Reese said...

I love your pillow. I used to sew with my mom when I was in high school. I wish I had TIME to sew now and maybe a girl to sew for:) My friends with girls are doing such cute dresses. I think that boys' T-shirts are just cheaper to buy. But costumes are a good idea. I think I'll go look for some superhero cape patterns since they are constantly having me tie towels and blankets around their necks:) Don't give up - I want to see what else your course has you make!

Anonymous said...

I fall in the "wish I could sew" camp. Love the pillow!

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Just a note to say that I'm not giving up on the sewing class, just the double sided napkin project! :)

Unknown said...

I don't sew and I think that is the prettiest pin cushion I have ever seen in my life.

Tracy said...

Cute Indian!!!

Love the pin cushion!

H-Mama said...

Super cute! You gals make this look like fun. I am tempted. But it may stop at that. ;)

Unknown said...

Yeah you should have added pins to the pin cushion! LOL I have been taking sewing classes! Our first project was pajama pants! It was fun! I am now working on a purse and curtains for my kitchen. I guess I need to blog about it and post pics huh? I think you are doing great! Don't give up! The projects you did do looked great!

Anonymous said...

I kind of sew. :) I really, really, really want to take this Home Ec class they are doing, but hubby's check keeps getting delayed. Talk about frustrating! Crossing my fingers he'll get it today - dumb bank anyway. - Kim

Stacy @Delighting in the Days said...

I love the pin cushion. Adorable! Especially the brown fabric on the back.

I only sew a little and it is usually crooked! My mother is a brilliant seamstress. I wish she could give me lessons...but she lives in Australia! We sew like crazy whenever she visits.

Your photography is excellent. Have you posted about the camera you use or how you learned? I did a little search, but couldn't find anything. I'd love to hear about it.

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Stacy, if you'll link your email addy to your account, I could reply directly back to you.

I don't think I've ever written a post about my camera. The shots you see with the yellow dates are from our old Kodak Easyshare camera (the BEST point and shoot in my opinion). Most of the nice pictures you see are from my Nikon D80. And hopefully any future nice pics you see will be with my new Nikon D300s! :)

angie said...

I love love love the pin cushion.. It turned out great, and would be a GREAT going away present... hint hint.

I am excited to start back up sewing when I get to PA.I love to sew.. I am not very good at it but I love doing it anyway. I have made a few quilts, and I am in the middle of making my beloved a quilt. Then my sister gets another one for her bed!

Sewing is my relaxations.. it is my get away in my home. I truly tune out the world.(ask my kids-haha)
Angie

Unknown said...

I love to sew and started teaching Paige when she was 4 or 5. Now we take turns. I like the fact that we can have anything we could buy, but cheaper and original, because no ones will match mine. :) We made all our curtains in the house, cowboys for the boys room, hunting camo for the living room...... And I confess, we use cloth napkins...sigh...but I never made any. ;)

Unknown said...

I guess I should post that last sewing project Paige told me to.

Stacy said...

HI Marsha,

Thanks so much for replying to my question!

I've got my email linked now :)

Sam said...

I looked into that, and I really wanted to do it...:( maybe next go around!

Anonymous said...

Your projects are all so cute!
I love to sew but of course it was a trial and error experience. When I was 12 I got the bright idea to use a pattern and make a lion costume for my brother for Halloween. I think the thing ended up being about 5 sizes too small and had an extra arm. But hey, it's the thought that counts, right? :)
Since then I have gotten better, but I still leave the tricky things, like zippers, to my Mom. :)

Anonymous said...

WOW great job! I can BARELY sew on a button.

Anonymous said...

Sorry. I'm a bit behind on my emails, so I'm just getting to this one.

I can SO sympathize with you, Marsha! I "learned" to sew in Jr.High Home Ec. But I wan't really interested in sewing then, so I didn't pay much attention. NOW, as a mom pushing 40, I WISH I could sew! I've recently inherited my aunt's sewing machine & used it for some mending. I LOVED the feeling I got, sitting at that machine & SEWING! I'm gonna have to get hooked up with someone who can teach me more.

Now about cloth napkins... Have you tried using them at your family meals? I always thought they were only for fancy meals & were too pretty & fancy to actually USE to wipe greesy fingers & mouths. But (as an attempt at "going green") I bought several sets at a garage sale for us to use at meals & hopefully stop using so many paper napkins. WE LOVE using cloth napkins! I bought some more on clearance, so now we keep a basket full of neatly folded cloth napkins by the table (an idea I adopted from a friend who also uses cloth napkins). It's so handy for meal times, and using them is much more comfy/homey than using paper napkins. Just think of them as tools & use them as intended. Don't be afraid that you'll ruin them. I think you'll enjoy it, like we do.

~Lisa Mays