There are certain talents which I admire and would love to have - such as singing - but am sadly lacking in that department. Now while I would also love to play a musical instrument I can learn the skill, if I put my mind to it. Singing, however is not a talent I was born with. Excluding my girl cousin all the women in my family sew or knit or do embroidery. Or all three! My cousin's mom is a professional seamstress. Her sewing is BEE-U-ATIFUL!
When I started high school one of the compulsory subjects was home economics. Sewing and cooking! I was my teacher's nightmare. I burnt the cake - mine and my fellow students. I curdled the bechamel sauce. I jammed my shirt into the sewing machine. My simple quilting was stitched front to back with selvages and cotton thread sticking out all over the place. My poor teacher hoped I would find a wealthy husband who could afford chefs and tailors - then she washed her hands of me. In total despair I turned to my aunt. She and I both have a no nonsense approach to a situation (Unlike my mother who was in tears and locked herself in her bedroom at my first broken needle) Totally undaunted by my mad skills - or lack thereof - my aunt let me choose from any of her patterns and off we went to the material shop. Having full faith in my aunt's amazing skills and patience I chose a fitted skirt and jacket - complete with pleats and tucks and lining. The rest, as they say is history. Thanks to my aunt I am very proud of how far I have come in my sewing ability.
Not only can I make pretty and durable cloth diapers with matching clothing but also beautiful (yes, I can confidentally say that) ladies lingerie and men's jackets. The photos I am sharing with you are children's items which I have made recently for my little boy.
While I prefer making my own pattern and an original item of clothing; I have found Brindille and Twig. They have the most amazing children's patterns - and some adult. Her instructions are excellent and understandable. This is extremely helpful for a beginner. The styles are adorable. My current favourite is this footed romper. I have made a couple pajamas for my busy (as you can see) baby. I have also adjusted the pattern to include a hoodie and remove the feet for a warmer, winter fleece option.
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Every week a post titled #NeedleWorkMonday pops up in my feed. I assumed it was knitting - yes, duh as if knitting alone uses needles! Last week @corrielaine had photos of her adorable kiddos in the prettiest outfits, which she had sewed. After chatting to her and hearing about this fun project initiated by @crosheille I decided it was time to join the #NeedleWorkMonday festivities.
Sewing is pretty slow going these days. You can tell my walking almost one year old keeps me on my toes. He is such an enthusiastic little boy. I love sewing for him, although living on the homestead the pretties get filthy very quickly.
I am blessed and grateful that my aunt took me under her wing. I am blessed that my sewing has allowed me to branch out to make a small income from this enjoyable skill. For those of you who would like to learn a skill - go for it! As the saying goes: you are never too old. Our incredible brain has the ability and inclination to learn. Sure there are talents that I will never have. No matter how much I may practice singing in the shower the animals still flee! But skills? Now that is a challenge we should never refuse to take on.
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Oh how wish I had the talent to create such fabulous outfits! I could make them for my grandchildren.
@goldendawne you have achieved so much, from what I've seen on Steemit, that I have no doubt you could learn to sew too!
That brings back memories for sure. They put a needle in my small hands before I even learned to read. Started out with sewing on buttons. Moved on to needle point stitches. I still remember the mess I would make of a french knot. Crochet came next had to pull out a few stitches there as well.
It has been years since I have done anything like that. Moved on to other things and just never got back to it. You remind me of how soothing it can be, almost meditative.
Do you ever sell your stuff? I bet you would do well on Etsy.
Embroidery was certainly painful at school - hot, sticky hands; materials that wouldn't co-operate. When I was volunteering in a school we did some simple sewing with the children (six and seven year olds). They thought it was hilarious that they kept dropping the needle and someone might sit on it!
Yikes! I remember volunteering at my daughters kindergarten. On the first day they handed me craft supplies and a group of kids. I(t was an interesting year to say the least.
Wow! Did you catch on or struggle? Having a good teacher makes all the difference. My mother is not the right teacher for me which is probably why I was an adult by the time I learned. It is soothing - unless it's an order - then it ends up being stressful! I do sell off my fb page (Buckaroo Baby - the first one. There are dozens since I started). I've never tried Etsy or international marketing as our South African systems (postal etc) are so corrupt the stuff usually never reaches it's destination
My Aunt was my teacher. She did have me pulling out stitches more than once. Looking back I wonder why it wasn't her pulling out her hair lol
That is a shame about the postal system. I never noticed it much but now I see. Even though I have shipped all over the place my views from that area never turn to a sell. That could explain it.
Sounds like you also had a level headed aunt
Hello @buckaroo and welcome to #NeedleWorkMonday! I am so glad @corrielaine invited you to join us! I think you’ll have a good time meeting other needleworkers and hopefully you’ll make some great new friendships! We’re all about supporting each other and sharing our passion. We love seeing projects come to life so please do share some process pictures of your work. You don’t have to wait until a project is completed to post! 😃
Okay now that I have welcomed you let me get to what I need to say...I feel like I’ve known you for years just from reading this post. I say that because you remind me of myself...like as of today. I literally cried when reading this...don’t worry they were mainly happy tears. My mom tried to teach my sister and I how to sew when we were younger. We were so young and ignorant and felt sewing was boring and just didn’t realize the beauty and benefits of such a “skill” (I love how you talked about the difference between a skill and a talent). So later on in my adult life she did try to teach me again but I wasn’t well coordinated with the sewing machine and trying to read a pattern (especially when you suck at math like me) was overwhelming so I gave up and went back to my comfort zone...crocheting.
I get sad thinking about all of those years I could have been right under my mother’s wing learning from her but it’s all gone away. I could have been sewing all 5 of my children clothing. But then I read your post today and it just made me smile. To hear that most of the women in your family had a needlework skill but you didn’t learn until your adult life really gave me hope. I’ve been telling the needlework crew that I’m going to do more sewing, I even taught myself and my daughter how to sew a pillow. I just spoke with my mom last week and she said she is cleaning up her sewing room so that my daughter and I can come and learn together. She hasn’t given up on me and I am so grateful for that. I am DETERMINED to learn how to sew and I won’t stop trying until I am comfortable enough to sew on my own without her guidance. I haven’t even told anyone this yet lol!! So I say thank you for sharing this today, you just don’t know how much this just helped me. 😊☺️😢
Okay now onto those AWESOME garments you have made for your son!! I’m like in awe right now. You are so very talented and your work looks like store quality...like I would purchase one of those from you because they look so good! The materials you use look so soft and cozy and I’m sure your son enjoys wearing what his mommy makes. You have inspired me today and you are quite funny too, you made me laugh! Welcome, welcome and welcome!! I’m so glad to meet you and have you sharing with us. 😉
P.S. I’m so sorry for the long novel of a welcome lol! 😜
Happy tears @crosheille! I had to laugh though. I love it when someone can identify with me. Also that I made you laugh. Sometimes I think people don't get my humour. But it kind of just gets into the writing. And yay to me not being the only one who sucks at math!!
I am SEW excited for you. Wonderful that your mom is so keen to help you. And special that your girls can learn at the same time. Your secret is safe with me ;) But please be inspired. It's really not to difficult. Just don't be as ambitious as me and try to sew a wedding dress or something.
Thank you for the welcome. Will catch up whenever I get onto Discord.
Haaaa!! I’m glad you had a laugh too! My husband laughed at me when I told him about you and showed him my long comment lol! He said “you’re gonna run her away with that long comment” lol! So I’m relieved to know you love humor and understand where I was coming from. I always get tickled when I meet others with lots in common.
I really appreciate that encouragement! It means a lot. I am really excited to dig in and get it rollin. Looking forward to sharing some of my classes with you all. 😊
You’re very welcome! Did you join @steemitmamas?
@crosheille my husband would've said the same, with an eye roll. But he was already in bed by the time I was answering you last night. I forgot to compliment you on your crochet skills! Now that is one area I need to focus on. I'm self taught a teeny bit (making lopsided scarves) but I get frustrated as I think my tension is out. And, to be honest, I really battle to read the instructions.
No I haven't joined @steemitmamas. I do follow and often tag them but I think I need to be on Discord? I haven't signed up yet. I fear I already spend to much time as it is my husband will probably send my laptop to computer heaven if I were to start on Discord!
Haaa glad to see I’m not the only one with a husband that likes to “comment” on my madness Lol!!
Awww thank you! Lol “lopsided scarves”! Well you know you can always follow along with me with my crochet series for beginners. I’m breaking down the steps of crocheting and eventually I will teach about pattern reading. 😉
Yes on Discord is where we all get to know each other better! It’s a really fun Mama group! Lol wow something else we have in common. I had to limit my time on Discord and Steemit if I wanted to stay married!! 😂😅 No but seriously my hubs thinks I’m on way too much too so I had to do some compromising to keep the peace. I’m actually glad I did because I needed that discipline. It’s way to easy to get addicted to platforms like this and I’ve got to make sure I’m taking care of home first.
Definitely easy to get addicted! And you don't want to appear rude by not interacting, especially as there are generally so many conversations going and the disappear so quickly. But it is a good area to exercise....and stay happily married
Very true about not wanting to appear rude. It really takes a healthy balance for it all to work.
I have always wanted to make my own lingerie @buckaroo. I've bought a pattern for a bra some time ago and have been put off by all the 'special' add-ons : elastic, fasteners and so on.
Perhaps you can do some tutorials for beginners at some point...
A suggestion worth looking at.... It's like anything @cryptocariad. Looks difficult until you know how! My first bra was terrifying. All that lace and wire and hooks .... and after that it was no problem. It's so difficult to find a bra that actually fits. So I started making them. Then started getting orders. But it's not something I like doing for other people so I stick to children's clothing
Yes, learning a skill is worth all the time you spent on it, swearing and tearing you hair and throwing things against the wall (or at least wanting to do it). And I stopped saying "Oh, it's not that difficult" - because it is. Without investing all the time, the blood, sweat and tears we wouldn't be able to show us our needlework :)
Regarding your home-economic lessons: I remember the horror that fiber craft lessons were. Because girls, of course, couldn't choose woodwork or whatever the boys did which I would have preferred. Though boys could choose which one they wanted to do - don't ask me why.
Anyway, there was no sewing or cooking. Knitting, crochet, cross stitch - nothing useful, only this frilly stuff where most of the girl's mothers finished the work. Well, my mother didn't. She grew up poor before and during WW2 and for her knitting etc. was connected with having to do it because there was no money to buy it or even nothing to buy at all (because of rationing).
I took it up again after decades and was quite astonished how much I remembered :)
I KNOW! Why can't girls also do that cool crafty stuff? I would've loved to do woodwork. My dad and brother are amazing with carpentry and I think it is so rewarding making your own furniture (for example)
Thank you for sharing a little of your history. How interesting! You mother must've had a very hard life and yet she had all the skills. It's like riding a bicycle. Once you know how it comes back again
Pleased to see you here, glad you made it. Love all the toddler outfits (and the help loading the dishwasher). I'm with you on the singing, some things you can learn and some things are best left alone.
Oh thank you! Not sure I'll post every week but I do like this different group of Steemians! Thank you, he's a very helpful little boy - although he usually unpacks everything as I pack it!
Excelent you are sharing your creations with us. The pajamas are beautiful, I like them. I have never done one, I will learn to sew someday. Sure we are having fun in this beautiful community. Thank you for sharing your experience, it is inspiring
Thank you so much! I hope you do learn to sew. It is very rewarding making clothing for yourself and your family
This is amazing!!!! Your clothes look super cute and professional (and your photos are lovely) And I so feel you :-D When I was young I hated everything craft related although my mother could knit and sew beautiful. I had no patience and refused to learn. I think I did not liked the girly image these techniques had.... Today I am a bit sad, that I had to learn all this skills on my own, because i refused my mother’s instructions
Possibly I was too much of a tomboy to be interested. But I also think my mom was not the best teacher for me. She would be in tears trying to help me and I would feel bad and give up
Awwww.... They are so beautiful. I love how they are, cos they look even better than those we pick up from the malls. The patterns you choose are very cute and suitable for your child. I'm in love with these @buckaroo!!! 💓 Excellent works!
Love from @steemitmamas
Thank you so much @happycrazycon! I love making them and then seeing my little boy wearing them. It is sew rewarding ;)
Hahahah I see what you did there. You are sew talented. Keep the posts coming :)
@buckaroo these are awesome!
I LOVE B&T patterns! Are you in the chatter group?
Ive been working on several B&T items lately.
I really like Stitch Upon a Time patterns too.