12 Sewing Lessons I've Learned Through Trial & Error

Aloha! Today I'm getting back to my bloggy roots and doing it crafty 'round here. With all of my recent sewing, I've had the opportunity to learn a few things. Tricks of the trade, if you will. As I've said before in this post, I am no expert. I retaught myself how to sew. I don't even know if my techniques are always right but I love trial and error. You know what I love more than trial and error? When my trials work out and are perfectly executed. Even more so when I don't even have to look up instructions or seek advice. I'm stubborn like that. These 12 tips may not be of any use to you but hey, I learned enough to share so you're going to get my helpful hints in no particular order.

1. Straight pins... Be careful where you throw those things! They really tend to sneak away so keep a box, a pin cushion, or whatever you'd like to use nearby while you are sewing and pulling those little babies out.

2. Piping freaking blows. And while I'm at it, so does making bias tape. My most frustrating sewing projects included both.

3. Sharp scissors are awesome. You know was even better than a nice pair of sharp sewing scissors? A rotary cutting tool! I just want to go give the inventor of the rotary cutter a huge bear hug. I have spent so many hours cutting strips of fabric by hand for my banners. This tool cuts down my time tremendously! Thanks for the little secret Joanne! Also a big cutting mat is necessary. They cost an arm and  a leg but they help when you are making cuts on large fabric. They also are another tool for measuring. With that being said...

4.  Measure everything a million times. Oh wait, a million and one times.

5. Good light is key. You make way more mistakes if you don't provide yourself with good lighting. 

 6. Fabric pens work a bajillion times better than any other pen, pencil, or sidewalk chalk. Yes I said bajillion and yes I'll admit it, I've used sidewalk chalk. Sometimes when you are out of tools you've got to use what you have. 

7. Iron everything before you sew it. I hate ironing. I never ever ironed until I realized that I save myself so much frustration when I iron before I sew. Not only does it cut down on errors, it makes it easier to sew evenly. It also evens out your fabric when you sew layers. Nothing is worse when you're sewing a few layers together and the fabric gets bunched and you have to rip the seam out because you didn't press the fabric beforehand. 

8. Have bobbins of your main thread color already filled with thread. It sucks when you have to stop sewing 50 times during one project to refill the thread on the bobbin. I believe the right term is respool but hey, like I said, I'm new here.

9. Sewing on a taller surface helps prevent your back from feeling like it belongs to an elderly lady. Seriously, when I get in my groove I hunch over my machine. Tall tables prevent all that hunching thus allowing me to feel like my usual 25 year old self. 

10. Ripping fabric makes me cringe. You know that one thing that just gives you the heeby jeebies? Yep, found another one of mine.

11. I love burlap. Like I seriously LLLOOOVEE burlap. On the other hand, Sheila, (my Brother LX2500) can't stand to stitch on it. We are currently in counseling about it... So far Sheils is sticking to her guns (or should I say sticking to her needle? HAR HAR) and refusing to make anymore than a few stitches on my burlap banners. Like I said, our negotiating is still in progress and she's a stubborn brat. 

Last but not least...

12.  For bigger projects that require more than one sewing sit down, it's easier to cut at a large table but to sew in an area that you can leave your project materials out. That way you can pick right back up where you left off. Some people don't have that issue. I on the other hand, cut fabric on my giant dining room table but sew on a little desk in my crafty cave. I'm very much in love with my new Crafty Cave thus the endearing room title. In my early projects, (before the Crafty Cave) I did all of my sewing at the dining room table. I had to pack up every time I was done and then break out everything the next session. This also helped me realize my very first tip of watching where you put those dang pins. 

I hope that my 12 trial and error tips have either helped you in your sewing adventures or given you a few giggles at my expense.  

Mahalo for reading.

Erin

Holiday Crafting Frenzy

Aloha and happy holiday season!
This past weekend kicked off the official holiday crafting season and I've been a little wild with the crafting. When I say wild I mean I can't stop. Ever. I've been doing things this year a little different. Still doing my same 'ol Christmas thang but continuing to  venture out to broaden my horizons. If you follow me on pinterest you'd know that I've been pinning a lot of beachy Christmas ideas and a lot of burlap. If we are friends on facebook, you've seen a few of my creations as well. Since I finally got my little sewing machine (Sheila) back to this heavenly island, I've been putting her to so much use. Yes I named my sewing machine Sheila and yes I'm proud of her/it. Many of you don't know this but I pretty much prefer to teach myself how to do everything. In 7th grade I took a "Teen Living" class where I learned how to bake/cook and sew. About a year ago I picked the sewing back up and kind of retaught myself how to use it. I have no idea what I'm doing but I'm pretty sure my stuff wouldn't look as good if I was doing it wrong, right? I probably sound so ignorant to the sewing world, which I absolutely adore. Anyway I teach myself how to do things and I think the creating process and problem solving to get my desired outcome (along with the smiles that I get when my gifts are received) drive me to do the things that I do. Oh and the Christmas spirit. That spirit just takes me over. It all starts on that one little Friday. You know, that little last Friday of the month of November. The one where stores sell everything for amazing prices? Everyone hates on Black Friday shoppers. Everyone thinks they are crazy. I happen to be one of those crazy shoppers who pull all nighters or wake up at the butt crack of dawn. I feel on this particular Friday, if stores are willing to let me pay what my cheapo self really wants to pay for items, why wouldn't I take them up on this offer?! My bread and butter is a good Michael's store at 5 am. This Christmas elf can bring so much joy to so many people when she can buy like 300 bucks of supplies for 60 bucks. Unfortunately there isn't a Michael's on the island and I went to Ben Franklin's Crafts. I am thankful to have a craft store so similar to my usual craft store but Hawaii craft stores (just like every other store) is usually twice as much on prices if not three times as much due to it being imported. Let's just say this Christmas elf is getting more inventive and less into buying this years decorations. We're going all fabrics and lights this year. None of those hot glued creations with glamorous decorations, fancy picture tiles, big 'ol wreaths at every door, or painted and lit wine bottles. I will not post what ornaments look like this year family but I will say they are similar yet different to the usual. I do get to decorate my own home in my own rustic and burlap obsessed style. Here's the latest in my workshop.

 I built my own wreath for less than ten bucks when I bought all of these ornament thingys at walmart. Not too shabby!


I saw this crappy little stocking for a buck at a thrift store here and decided that I should make our stockings this year and use this one as a template.

I went out and bought a yard of white and red felt and traced out my stockings.

Stitched 'em right up.

Then I got all crazy and tried to embroider them with burlap. 

After that, I was like well... what the heck am I gonna hang all of our stockings on? Then the pallet addiction took over again.

I got really into the stenciling, the xacto knife, and the spray paint. Oh and the burlap, hand painting acrylics, bows, and silver paint. 

I made Brady his very own miniature fedora for his stocking, a flower for our room mate Justin and myself, and a cute little bone for Demo. They look like they are shaped weird when the stockings are empty but I don't even care! 

Sunday morning rolled around and I was looking at this beautiful stack of folded burlap dreaming about a table runner. Shortly after, I made it happen. 

I measured out on our table how thick I wanted it and pinned accordingly giving enough burlap for the seam allowance. Brady really loved the look of the zigzag stitch so I obliged and gave the man what he wanted. 

Check out Sheils hard at work.

Next, I measured a smaller strip of standard burlap color.

Sewed the seams and pinned it on for sewing...

I decided to wing it with ruffles.

Here's the finished product. Seriously impressed with myself! 

I've spent enough time blogging. I need to go get this Christmas crafting out of my system. I've got the cutest idea in my head, complements of my pinterest board. Mahalo for checking in and seeing the latest in my shop. Your Christmas cards should be in your mailbox at the beginning of this coming week family! 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.

Erin