needle & thREAD
/
I think it's safe to say I've found my sewing rhythm again. Despite the fact that this morning began rather poorly, it's been a good sewing day. Karoline woke me at 5:00 with the announcement that she was going to throw up. And she did. Then she asked if we could please go down to the sewing room and make something for Becca's new baby. That's my girl!
She helps me to sew by pressing the pedal. Unfortunately, she didn't wait until I said, "Go!" The needle went clear through my finger and broke in two. I sat there a minute and contemplated taking a picture for Instagram (Mike has an iPhone now and he was in NC; I wanted him to be duly impressed). Then I contemplated waking Paddy to help me, but decided he's been cranky lately and needed sleep. So I pulled out one end, then the other end, then the thread. Karoline offered me a bandaid. After I pulled out the tip end, I heard it drop. I thought it dropped to the floor, but I couldn't find it. Then I went back to sewing. My machine kept jamming, so I think maybe the tip is stuck beneath the bobbin. For about a half hour, I took the machine apart, cleaned it, looked for the tip, tried again. Still nothing. Karoline wandered back into the room.
"How are those pants coming?" said she.
"I'm kind of stuck. I think the tip of the needle fell into the sewing machine after I pulled it out of my finger."
"Are we still taking about your injury, here? You need to get sewing before that baby gets too big. There are no wimps in heaven."
I thought I'd die laughing. Becca taught her that "no wimps" line and she so delivered it perfectly.
I did finish the pants and they are so cute I'd love to make a whole wardrobe of them. Pretty and pink and perfectly reversible. I love them! The pattern is Quick Change Trousers in Anna Maria Horner's book Handmade Beginnings. When I first got the book, it made me sad. I just wanted to sew for a baby. Now, it makes me happy. There are always lots of babies in my life and a little something handmade in a gift bag is just so sweet.
I also started putting Sarah's Class Picnic Blouse together. It's slow going because Katie is sewing along on her own bouse as I sew Sarah's. I have a doable deadline, though. I want this flannel blouse for her birthday. I'm toying with the idea of the All Set pants, which are like the Quick Change Trousers, only for "big girls" or a flannel Lazy Days skirt with AMH flannel and ribbon. I don't know. I'm afraid the flannel pants with the shirt will look like pjs. But the pants are so cute, I'd love to make more...I still have a week to get it finished in time. Skirt or pants, what say you?
My reading has been pretty limited to Mission of Motherhood, but, speaking of Anna Maria Horner, I got a note that my copy of Anna Maria's Needleworks Notebook has shipped. I'm so looking forward to reading it. Given the current state of my finger, I think embroidery is not in my immediate future. She's always great reading, though.
I'm sitting here tonight fighting the urge to stash fabric. I heard we might have a hurricane of huge proportions next week. I just want to be sure I have enough thread and elastic and fabric to sew my way through the storm. Totally rational, right?
~~~~
What about you? Are you starting to think Christmas gifts? Big plans for winter home dec? Or are you embroidering? Pulling a needle with thread through lovely fabric to make life more beautiful somehow? Would you share with us just a single photo (or more) and a brief description of what you're up to? Will you tell us about what you're reading, also? Would you talk sewing and books with us? I'd love that so much.
