I'm Afraid of My Sewing Machine

It is still in the box. My room used to be my closet, so part of my fear is lack of space. But mainly I'm just not sure how to use it, and I don't have the time to figure it out. So, some projects that could be finished quickly and easily on a machine instead are done painstakingly by hand. Like this change purse.

This is another half- assed project that actually works. First, I got a remnant of red velour ($1), a yard (just to be on the safe side) of black piping (50 cents), a yard of black sequins on a string ($1) and a white 6 inch zipper (79 cents). I already had a box of straight pins and a piece of chalk. I used a Cool Whip bowl (they are so useful!) as a pattern and traced two circles on the underside of the fabric. Draw a pattern on the "right" side of the fabric with the chalk (I chose a bird). Now sew the sequins along the outline, and then rub the chalk off. Okay, now comes the annoying part- pinning everything together. The easiest way for me is to pin it completely, then turn inside out. So I pinned the zipper to both sides (open), then the piping joining the two sides. Now, sew like a maniac, until your hand cramps up and you need a shot of whiskey to feel it again. Sew it AGAIN to make sure its sturdy. Then take another shot of whiskey. If you need a girlie shot, like red death or anything involving "Pucker", then consider yourself a wuss and stop reading this blog and go get your hair did or something.

Turn the purse "right" side out, and there you go. All it cost you (besides arthritis) is $3.79 , and there should be enough left over to make another one or two.

One Ugly Sweater.

I have no idea why I bought this sweater. It looks horrible on me. Knowing me, I probably bought it for the simple fact that it was 75% off. It sat in my closet, even on the coldest days. I think I wore it once to shovel the sidewalk. Sure, you may think it looks okay, but on, I looked like a nerd. A boyish nerd.

What to do? Scissors!
I originally liked the buttons detail on the sweater, so I decided to keep just that, and make a cumberbun/sash type thing. I've seen some around, but accessories are at the bottom of my list of things to buy so I decided to try to make one. I cut a good portion out and resewed it to fit my abdomen, since it was originally the bottom of the sweater. Luckily the sweater is striped, so I just cut along a stripe above three of the buttons.the bottom of the sweater. I found that I like to wear it offset, with the buttons on the side. I wear it with longer black shirts and black dresses. Its subtle but a nice design contrast.

I had alot of sweater left over, so I used the one button closure I had cut off to make a cuff. Its stretchy, so the button doesn't need to be functional, so I hot glued some plastic lips I got at a craft store onto it. Two easy projects for FREE!

R.I.P. ugly sweater. Burn in hell.