I've always wanted to learn how to sew, but not until recently have I felt motivated enough to carve out an afternoon to apprentice under my mom, a very talented seamstress. When she found the time between raising us and teaching school, my mom would make dresses and outfits for me. I remember the last thing she made for me was a sleeveless dress that I wore to my brother's wedding over 10 years ago. It was so much fun flipping through the McCall's and Butterick pattern books looking for my newest outfit. And then my favorite part was choosing the fabrics and notions that my mom would transform into my new outfit in a day or so.
I never paid much attention to what my mom was doing. I just remembered her clearing off the dining room table and spreading out fabric and tissue-paper patterns. Then I remember the buzzing sound of the sewing machine. In a few hours she would request that I slip on a partially sewn garment. She would pinch and pin the garment around my body until it fit me perfectly. The sewing machine would buzz some more and a few more hours would pass. Finally she would present me with my brand new outfit. Very exciting!
Now that I have my own little girl, I'm determined to learn how to sew. I spent the afternoon with my mom and for the first time I've begun to learn each step that it takes to transform a pattern, fabric, and notions into a cute little jumper dress* for L. Sewing is definitely more complicated than I ever imagined but I'm already hooked. I've begun imagining all the adorable custom-made outfits that I can create especially for my children. And if I get good enough and we are blessed with a third child, I would love to make a custom nursery. Oh the creations I will make! What fun!
* I purchased enough fabric to make five jumpers and one sundress. My mom explained the best way to learn how to sew is to pick a simple pattern and make several of the same outfit in different fabrics. This way I will get comfortable with the process and with using the sewing machine. As I complete the jumpers I will provide some photos.