by Rita Mcconnell

Created on: December 16, 2008   Last Updated: April 30, 2010

It Really is Sew Easy

Economic times such as these often make us wonder how our parents and grandparents survived worse. The answer is easy they knew how to do things.

With all that consumes our time these days, few of us know basic survival skills things like using tools, cooking, canning, gardening, and sewing. We should be afraid of major disaster. What would we do if we couldn't buy everything we need?

With that thought in mind, I decided to teach myself to sew. That of course, and the fact that I couldn't afford all those cute pillow covers and duvets I wanted at Pottery Barn. I thought I would end up with a closet full of interchangeable home linens. What I found was a hobby that expanded my creativity, filled idle time and gave me courage to try even more new things.

I started my adventures in sewing with pillow covers after learning how to thread the machine and use it, that is. I had a few weeks of home economics back in junior high when they still thought it was important for modern kids to have a clue, so I knew enough to be dangerous. But generally speaking, if you can follow directions, you can use a machine my Kenmore came with a great manual that shows you the steps in words and pictures.

The Internet can help, too. If you're like me, and can't figure out how the fabric needs to be laid out for something as simple as a pillow cover, there are guides online. Just Goggle something like "Pillow Cover Pattern." Or do what my mom assures me is what they did before the Web, and look at how a pillow cover you already have is constructed.

This summer, I was making covers and table linens for my porch out of Sunbrella fabric. Easy as pie took all of 30 minutes for each. Soon after, I made girly valences for my two-year-olds room, complete with ribbon and pom-pom trim. Who knew? This is fun.

Having delusions of grandeur about my ability after a few great projects , I embarked on Halloween costumes for my two girls. Renaissance princesses, made from old bridesmaid dresses taking up space in my closet. After buying the pattern, I got scared, and avoided my machine for a week or two. Maybe I was being a bit optimistic. But like most things, I discovered that the Renaissance princess pattern was not to be feared. In a month, someone like me who is more comfortable in a board room than a JoAnn store, had completed two lovely princess gowns.

Here's what you need to know to do any major sewing project as a novice.

First, find a mentor, or someone you can ask dumb questions to. For me it was my mom, who hadn't sewn in 20 years. Second, have someone (your mentor maybe) teach you how to read the pattern. Three, get some sewing toys, specifically a stitch-ripper in addition to pins, needles, threads and the obvious. Four, you'll need the desire to learn something new and keep at it regardless of set backs.

Sewing should not be a lost art it's much more than a chore ladies once engaged in to clothe their families. It's a chance to create, and to understand the complexities of things you own (and maybe even why they were priced as they were when you bought them). And it's fun to share with children mine come running when they hear the machine start to stitch. I've even found it a great way to reuse things, in my effort to live more sustainably. This Christmas, I made French Country stockings for my family with scraps of my husbands old Levi's. And they look store bought not chincy as I assumed they would.

Try it soon you'll find you have all of the pillow covers, table linens, duvet covers, dress up clothes and tote bags your family will ever need. And of course the envy of your modern non-sewing friends when they ask you where you bought some thing and you can say "I made it."

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