Things you may or may not know about me

[muck_a_luck]

I'm a tolerable seamstress.

Nothing to compare to daisy_gamgee, I imagine, or to my Mom, either, if truth be told. But I learned at her knee, and I have the paranoid, detail-oriented paralegal brain, so I can construct a lovely garmet from a fairly complex pattern.

I'm good enough for Burda. They are the best patterns and if you're gonna sew for yourself, you absolutely must use them. The key to Burda patterns is that they do not include seam allowances. Because of that they are AWESOMESLY easy to tailor. On the down side, you have to add the seamallowances before you cut. *groan* But anyway, me, with my super-hour-glass figure and short waist - I made myself some sweet Jakie-O type sheath dresses that used to be my work uniform, back when I would still wear hosiery and heels. Can't buy that kind of fit off the rack.

Thanks to my Mom, I have two incredible Bernina machines - a sewing machine, and a serger. The serger finishes seams the way they do in a factory, and is a real luxury in home sewing.

Alas, I believe the last time the sewing machines were out was when we lived in Falls Church, *before* Charlottesville and law school. Because sewing for yourself takes space, time, and effort that I just haven't felt the need to invest in years.

So this morning, broke out the sewing machine for possibly the first time in 5 years. Was dreadfully afraid that after three moves, it wouldn't even sew anymore. But nope! In great shape, tension was perfect, everything good to go! Yay!

And then - drumroll please....

I hemmed my new pants from Costco.

*snickers*

What I really need is the perfect tailored blouse pattern. I made an awesome one once, but the neckline is scandalously low, and I am very self-concious wearing it. But suddenly, I'm in the mood for some fabric shopping.

Comments

[charlietudor.livejournal.com]

I don't consider myself a "seamstress" at all, really--that's associated with clothing in my mind, and I don't make clothes if I can at all help it (I get rooked into the occasional elaborate Halloween costume). I rather admire people who can, and who have the patience for it. I just don't give a rip about clothes for the most part (which is obvious, given the permanent uniform of jeans and t-shirts/polo shirts that I often as not buy off a clearance rack in K-Mart)--I like bags, and stuffies, and foofy pillows, and that's where I tend to put my talents. Sometimes I call myself a Maker--I make stuff. "Seamstress" is reserved for the more worthy than I.

But it's genuinely no mean feat, dear, to hem pants and get them right! And *whoot* on the sewing machine, because some of them are damned tricksy.

[muck-a-luck.livejournal.com]

Eh. It's all about measuring, ironing, and pinning. Oh. And the right color thread. Which I did not have that day. So I have one partially hemmed pair of pants. *snickers*

I, meanwhile, cannot abide handwork. Mom does it all, from tailoring suits, to quilting, to knitting, to cross-stitch. So I've tried most of it. I don't see how you people can *stand* it. Drives me crazy! :)