After a quick serger lesson from my expert seamstress friend Allison, I was at least ready to hem.  Cutting the bottom off this dress and turning it into a shirt was my first project.  I don’t have a nice, modern plastic ruler yet so I got out this old yard stick.  It came from my grandmother’s collection.  I’d love to know how old it is.  Check out that phone number!  Three digits? 

Also known as The Bitch.  To distinguish her from her brother cat, The Psycho.

When I went to clean up after a recent studio session I found her already posed on the stool.  She actually stayed there despite the flash going off in her eyes.  Of course, she thought I was insane but that’s nothing new.  She always seems to think the humans are insane.  In my case, she might be right.

I’ve been bitten by the sewing bug lately.  I grew up around women who knew their way around a sewing machine and then some.  My mother and my grandmother were fantastic seamstresses.  While I did learn how to use a machine, lay out a pattern and do the basics, I’ve never gotten really good at it. I have a long way to go before I get to where I want to be, able to design a bit and get more creative with fabrics and patterns.  In the meantime, it’ll be nice to make things with a custom fit, in fabrics and colors that I like.

Years ago, I inherited my mother-in-law’s Kenmore machine.  It’s very similar to the Singer I grew up using.  It’s been living in the garage, untouched and all alone, for the last several years.  We got it out, cleaned it up and it’s working nicely.It seems to be a model from the early 80’s.  Check out the stylish women on the cover of the owner’s manual!In the meantime, I’ve always been frustrated with finishing seams and wanting to do things that a regular machine just can’t do.  I called my friend Allison, another excellent seamstress, and she suggested this basic serger.  Isn’t it pretty?  Once I learn to thread it, it’s going to be fun.Allison also reminded me that there’s a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using a serger.  Knowing my love for pretty table linens, she suggested I start by  making napkins.  These are the fabrics I chose to start with.  Hopefully by the end of the week I’ll have a couple dozen new napkins on my table.