I always felt that, given half a chance, I would make a most excellent seamstress. There was absolutely nothing to support this theory, save a poorly-sewn and never-completed skirt project from Home Economics in 1982, which I’m pretty sure the Australian fashion world mourns to this day.
Twenty-eight years later, I’m finally getting my chance.
You see my husband – no doubt hoping to start up a sweatshop on our kitchen table and kick-start an alternative income stream – pooled together with my mother and my parents-in-law to buy me a sewing machine for my 40th birthday.
For a few weeks, the machine sat intimidatingly in its box until one day last week, I pulled it out to see if an old dog really could teach herself some new tricks.
Now, I’m not sure how hard they must have whipped us in Home Economics classes but the memory of how to wind on a bobbin and thread a machine came back to me very quickly – with the aid of the instruction booklet and a healthy continuous flow of top-shelf expletives, that is.
And before I knew it, I was sewing. Actually sewing (*weeps with happiness*).
Now I know that what I may lack in excellence as a seamstress, I certainly make up for in enthusiasm. In five days, I have made a total of four bibs and a zip-up bag – all thanks to “Sew La Tea Do”, the latest book from Melbourne-based blogger Meet Me At Mike’s. Here they are:
Now before anyone gets too excited, please note that this photo is taken from a healthy distance so as not to show my (many) sewing errors – errors which I’ve subsequently decided are entirely deliberate, made to give my work a happy-clappy folksy home-made feel. Yes, that’s my “value-add” to the world of sewing.
Anyway, excited by my successes, I decided to contact the force behind “Meet Me At Mike’s” on twitter to say how much I was enjoying her book. However, I got a little sidetracked by her twitter handle.
Which is probably something she gets a lot. Almost as often as people ask me if I’m affiliated with the NDM-1 superbug virus or the National Democratic Movement in Jamaica, which happens, like, all the frickin’ time.
And of course, me being me, I had to take it a little further:
Which pretty much stands as the textbook example for getting in contact with someone whose work you admire.Yep, that’s it right there, people. Watch and learn. WATCH. AND. LEARN.
________________________
Leave a comment on this post and get a chance to win a bib made by yours truly, which handily can be worn while you drool over my deliberate-yet-mildly-charming sewing errors.
I had to sew pants up the other day. PANTS, I tell you.
If I knew you were competant I woulda dropped them around.
*grumble*
That’s twice this year I’ve had to sew stuff. I want a refund.
Oh, and good job on your creations too. You did done good!
I saw this book in the Collins brochure yesterday actually. And I can’t sew either but it appealed to me for some reason. I have an old singer sewing machine that a boyfriend stole for me about 25 years ago that should be put to use. I’m really liking that green fabric – second on top.
Wow. Am in awe. Like you, I stopped back in Grade 8 Home Ec when the I completely stuffed the crotch on the shorts I was sewing. My husband is the go to man to sew on buttons in this house and that is quite shameful. Mother fail.
They look lovely and great materials.
Your talent has no boundaries – I am in AWE…as in SHOCK & AWE.
I myself prefer to block out all memory of Home Economics – it was a miserable time and clearly marked the beginning of my ArtsnCrafts failure.
http://juststopspeaking.wordpress.com/2010/11/19/arts-n-crafts-failure/
* Please excuse the gratuitous self promotion
Wow, I love your handy work. The material is gorgeous, really cool. Great work!
I made an AMAZING apron with the Australian flag on it when I was in Home Ec. I wish I could find it now because it would make for a great xmas gift with a case of tinnies! xx
WOW! We’re like twins or something! My husband also gave me a sewing machine for my 40th, which i had wanted FOREVER, despite the fact that i had trouble sewing an adequate button onto a shirt.
However, six months on, and I am utterly obsessed. I’ve inflicted all kinds of horrendously ill-ftting clothes upon my reluctant family and have started insisting on turning up at fancy dress parties (invited or not) in the most outlandish home made costumes.
Also, being 5’10″ and built along brick shithouse lines, it’s very difficult to find clothes that fit. But I am sitting here in a dress that fits properly that I made myself!!! The slightly odd looking bust and uneven hem do not detract from the fact that i MADE it!!
(also check out this blog: http://www.sooz.bloodspot.com She knows everything about anything to do with sewing).
Sorry, will stop gushing now. This is what happens when you blog about something i am obsessing over. Love the bags, are you planning on setting up an NDM store?
haha! sooz@bloodspot? Is that a freudian slip?
Oh FFS! Stupid apple intuitive shite. Not as bad as the time it made my husband show porn to my mother, but still not good.
I’ll try that again: http://www.soozs.blogspot.com
Hey NDM,
(Excuse the name … its really not a steal.. its just EMM is my initials and that just seemed like I was being a pretentious emma that lost the A…so ‘The’ worked.. Take is as ‘omage if you will
).
I too FAILED home ec.. and got a sewing machine for my birthday 2 years ago (while I was pregnant with my first and only so far) I think my mum thought maybe it’d domesticate me having a kid! .. and I’ve since sewed 8 sets of curtains.. and have the fabric for another set.. I think my hubby really thought I was dreaming.. and when I did it to a reasonable (just don’t look too close or you’ll see the dog legs!) standard he was like “wow you can sew!”
I’m so interested in that book. Sounds AWESOME! If you do make contact and manage to get your hands on any copies (which I think is only fair for the plug !!
) I’d love one!
EMM.
p.s. *grin* on the unreasonably angry cat.. that attacks the puppy…I have one of (each of) those two.. but its ginger girl cat and the runt of the litter so she stopped growing at like 3 months old.. so its a little cat that gets mad that people pander to it!
Hi NDM
First time reader of your blog, and this has really hit home with me. I too have just turned 40 have two littlies and am coveting a sewing machine too, with noooo sewing abilities or toching of a sewing machine since my failures of home ec!
Where does urge come from? I think it started with the birth of my second bubs 10 months ago, a little girl and the NEED to want to create and force her to wear pretty dresses every day. Only problem is that the dresses do just slightly, ever so slightly hinder her crawling ability… but I see that as a positive!
Thanks so much for your blog, I am now a an avid reader!
Sooty
Pip’s first book – ‘Meet Me at Mikes’ – is great too! Her blog has loads of craft tutorials too!
Well done on your sewing efforts, they look pretty good to me. From a distance…
When will you start crocheting?
Also, last year my hubby asked me if I wanted a sewing machine for my birthday and I asked him if he would like an early death.
I, too, am a fellow Textiles Class Failure, having made my own crop to as was the fashion at the time, and, forgetting my rather large breasts, I just measured down the middle, between them.
As it turned out, the top barely covered my nipples – which the 15 year old boys like, but I didn’t. *sigh*
I never sewed again …
I fail to see how anyone could be anything but impressed by both your sewing and social skills.
Your handiwork is topped only by your humor!
NDM, you’re sew clever, as well as being sew funny, I can only read your blog when I’m NOT drinking coffee. Your efforts are sew impressive, I may place an order for a set of place mats………..
When you get to bootscooting and taking garden cuttings from anyone you meet; call me (Or twitter or facebook me)
You’ll have completely turned into My Mother.
Though your fabric choice is far funkier and for that you get a round of applause from me.
My Home Ec teacher had to take home the teddy bear I made in class to fix it. Am sure she returned with an entirely different bear – can’t say I blame her, am sure it would have been easier than fixing the horrible mess I had made.
On the upside I too started sewing again this year and have been really enjoying it! I made the Adorable Frock from the Meet me at Mikes book and it’s super cute – if you try just make sure you cut out the back from two different sides *blush*.
Also made the baby blanket, super dooper easy!
Am terribly impressed that you made something with a zip though – you will hereafter be my sewing guru
I, too did Home Ec in the 1980s but being a boy there was little expected of me. Being a kitchen hand in the restaurant my mother owned meant I excelled at Food and Nut’, but my Cloth and Fab’ was anything but. I took so much time over my drawstring book bag – basically a folded tea towel, that my teacher put me at the back of the class and ignored me.
This sensible policy was repeated in Industrial Arts when my Woodworking teacher saw the four wooden legs I had planed and sanded over three months had zero chance of becoming a piano stool. I was stalling because dove -tail joints looked horrendously difficult.
I am essentially a brain in a dish. I have no need for practicality, however I have retained two useful skills from those long ago days of vocational training – I do sew buttons and I do darn socks.
Oooo!!! VERY clever NDM!!! I LOVE them!! Especially the fabric but even more especially, the brilliant handiwork.
As the mother of only two young children my mind boggles at where you find the time…. My baby boy has just started eating solids this month and I feel like all I do all day is feed and clean, feed and clean…. I remember after the puree phase is the ‘throwing everything on the floor’ phase so I can’t any light at the end of the tunnel, yet. Am I complaining too much? I’m sure my DD would have a ball smearing pumpkin and avocado all over one of your lovely bibs.. hint, hint, grovel, grovel…
My sewing is useless
my machine sits idle.
Hey NDM,
Loved the funky fabric – have a 3 month old nephew that would look great in one of your bibs. I too took Home Ec but was lucky that my mum had always sewn and had taught me to sew prior to Year 8 so I did ok.
I have recently re-aquired a machine but as a NQT (newly qualified teacher) I struggle to find the time to make stuff..
Love the blog btw – i often laugh to the point of snorting – esp about Genghis so have to ensure i read in private!
Keep sewing!
W
Dear NDM,
Your Home Economics Teacher has promised us that we could expect the 1982 skirt (sew “now”) for the Spring Summer collection 2012.
Any thoughts?
Yours inbated breath,
Leading industry illuminaries
I got a ‘D’ for my skirt sewing efforts in Home Ec. My mother was not impressed – particularly since I had made her sew it for me! I guess sewing is not in my genes…..
LOL… the only time my mum & dad were ever hauled in to school to discuss my *progress * with a teacher was for sewing. They couldn’t believe it when they got there….. sewing? Seriously? My mum still chuckles over it after all these years.
My name is Pip and I failed Home Ec. Sigh. But I actually CAN make things… I honestly can… and I wrote this book.. and I like Meat and Meet but not always together because I like VEGETABLES even more… and I am SO SO GLAD that you are having fun with my book! My family and I all toiled away having MUCHO fun making it.. and I think that EVERYONE is creative and crafty. I do. I think it all comes down to taking your time, having heaps of biscuits, having a good sense of humour and practice. THANK YOU for writing about my book. I really am so pleased that you like it!!! xxx
*Still applauding* although it’s been a few days now and my hands are starting to go a little red.
Whoops! What’s the point of running a giveaway if you totally forget to draw a winner?
The winner of the poorly-sewn bib is, randomly drawn from a hat, is…. WANDERLUST!!
Congratulations, Wanderlust. An email is coming your way…
oh yes, oh yes Sista, I have that same unfinished HomeEc skirt…your bibs are not just drool-catchers, they are symbols of the uprising of the downtrodden nosewers (not to be confused with the Nose We Rs, friends of Meat Mike’s), SEW ON AND SEW ON AND SEW ON…