Learning to sew part 1.
13Hello friends!
So a thing happened a few weeks ago and I'm just now able to share with you. A few weeks ago one of our Mehricans @Eris discovered a long-kept secret of mine. Despite taking Home Economics and being a girl scout, I never learned to sew.
I was told to hang tight and that I'd receive a mysterious package. So I did and low and behold guess what showed up:
That's right. An American Girl crafts Sew and Stuff Kit. Which will let me sew one bear for me and one for my (nonexistent) doll.
So I set to work. Of course I skimmed the directions and spread everything out:
Then I started, immediately broke the thing that threads the needle, kind of fixed it and started again. It took me a few tries but I eventually got the eye stuck on there.
Those cold dead eyes.
I got the beady little eyes on the little bear, and attached both noses. That's where we're at for now. I lost the thing that threads the needle over the weekend so I'll have to get a new one and then we'll see what happens. But for now let these somewhat nice looking bears lull you into a false sense of security and see how they are corrupt—err finished.
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I guess we'll find out if you are, "smarter than the average bear". (Yep, Yogi bear was my favorite childhood character.) Good luck!
@barnabee haha thanks!
This is really relevant to me. When you sew patches on Scout uniforms, do you use the whip stitch or the running stitch?
@JerseyFrank Since she didn't learn to sew, my guess is that she didn't earn any patches. Or maybe she used glue?
@barnabee Or maybe my mom sewed it for me? haha Well I found this: but my hunch would be the running stitch. :)
@JerseyFrank Ex-boy scout here (more than 20 years ago). I always used a whip stitch with thread near the same color as the patch border. The bonus is they are easier to remove if you change uniforms.
@Homechicken Can confirm, whip stitch on anything that's ever getting removed. Permanents got the running stitch through the merrowed border. Occasionally I've used contrasting heavy thread. but that requires careful spacing of your stitch.
Please keep us informed!
Purple! Nice!
I love purple.
I feel I should gift you a doll now.
@hallmike a @hollboll doll?
D'aww, these will be cute and/or terrifying when completed! Can't wait to see how it turns out!
(FYI - buy more than one new need threader.)
@Thumperchick It's all your fault the threader got lost/broken, anyway :)
I laughed so hard I almost ripped my stitches
@somf69 you needle get some new puns, that one was sew obvious.
@JonT @somf69 You're both misunderstanding the meaning of the word "thread" here. I fear you've warped the fabric of our conversation and danger's looming.
I know this is a novel thought but you could just thread the needle by hand...
@chellemonkey I tried but either the thread is too thick (and is splitting) or my dumb fingers can't get it to go through.
@hollboll Wrap the thread in a tape cone (tape cone = tape pinched flat or to a point at the end). Then cut off that bit.
@chellemonkey Yeah. I always found it harder to thread the needle threader (3 step process) than to thread the needle.
@bluedyn Oh smart! I'll do that.
@hollboll Good luck :)
@hollboll I always just lick/stick the end in my mouth and the saliva keeps the thread together... I thought this was a common method.
@chellemonkey It is, but it takes practice, too.
@hollboll all these are good sugestions, don't be afraid to trim a little off end to make it easier to thread. also if you are using the type treader I think you are they are junk. also I see chap stick at your computer and I think some people use wax, you could use that to hand tread it too, like you would with the saliva tactic
@Foxborn the chapstick is super clever! I'll have to try that.
Haha @hollboll, I am so happy you're posting the process :D
@Eris I'm having a ton of fun with it. Just wait and see how it turns out. :D
@hollboll I'm so excited!!!
So we all--guys and girls--had to take Home Ec in the 8th grade, which is totally cool, and I rocked it (especially the cooking; the men in my family have mad kitchen skillz). But the last time I really sewed was in that class; and trying to make whatever damned evil little pillow thing we had to make gave me an insanely horrible friggin' headache. I mean literally. Migraine quality. Visual anomalies (mine were always weird, empty bubbles) and all. But you go, @hollboll and @Eris. And cool story. :-)
So I should not mention the similar type kits I recently put together in one night. hmm, yep not going to mention the cute Pillow with with a Kitty outline, or the mini purse with the flower. Definitely not the ...... oh....... opps ........
Bad time to share that I quilt? Not as often as I'd like, and I'm a slacker that uses a machine.
@Mavyn Link fixed :)
@JonT I'm not sure why they never work when I paste them in. Thanks.
@Mavyn Very nice! Is that next in the series of American Girl craft kits?
@hallmike Possibly.
@Mavyn No need to use any code when pasting images, just make sure the URL ends in .jpg .png or .gif and paste it in directly.
@JonT The first paste was direct from Photobucket links: Direct. Like so:
I sew, but only manly things like motorcycle seat covers, watercraft seat covers, rear windows on convertibles, buttons....and a Halloween costume once (1/2 dress shirt + 1/2 Hawaiian shirt = "business casual" costume)