Today's the day we started sewing our tote bags together. We're sewing everything inside out and will flip it over when its all done which is really kind of neat because it creates an exciting sort of mystery.
We learned how to make the straps and used a cool tool called a loop turner to turn them inside out after we sewed them. That was so much fun for me because its kind of hard to make a tube turn inside out, but with a little practice, I became pretty good at it!
Its an important skill because you'll be using it when you make straps for anything. This is good because basically it means that I now know how to make straps! I also know how to hem because when you cut out your fabric you sew in the edges so that it's smooth and straight (which is good because most of us noticed that using scissors was not something we would call a "skill.") Making the totebag made me look at clothing in a completely different way. Now when I go shopping, I look at a piece and see all the different sections of the pattern that were sewn together to make the garment. Its really kind of amazing that patterns are basically puzzle pieces that you sew together and wear.
We were all really comfortable together in the class and laughed and joked around with eachother as we made our totes. We had a couple of really hilarious snaffoos. One of us (I won't mention names) happened to sew the bag shut by mistake. Another one of us (okay, this one was all me) wasn't paying attention and sewed one strap on with the seams facing out (it should face in so you can't see it when you're carrying it around, like with all bags.) But that's why you take the bootcamp, so that you get thrown into making something and learn by making mistakes and doing it again.
By the end of the class, we were all so thrilled with our new bags. Check out the pictures and you'll see why! We turned them inside out and were so impressed with how great they looked. Oh the pride!
After class, a couple of us stuck around to discuss how we could use our introductory skills to start sewing at home. Our plan is to go to thrift stores, buy dresses, chop off the tops, hem the skirt, and add straps to make easy day dresses. We can do all this just from taking this one class and making one tote bag. I'm super excited about it because who doesn't need more day dresses in their closet? While I'm out I'm going to pick up a few belts so I can belt my dresses and wear them with a great pair of wedges or slingbacks. Or a great pair of tights and boots for fall.I'm soooo thrilled I cannot even begin to tell you! But I'll post up pictures in future entries of things we make, and by we I mean the sewing circle the girls in my bootcamp and I have started! Stay tuned!
2 comments:
I was in this class and it was as much fun as Dee says. I want to make a quick comment about the tubes. I had a fabric that was really thick which made the tubes hard to pull through. In addition to that I made it harder on myself by choosing a fabric that also had decorative stitching. So the hook kept getting caught on the stitches and I pulled a few out. The fabric turned out okay and the bag looks great.
yeah I think Marisa had a really thick corduroy she was using too, which kept getting caught as she tried to turn it. I'm wondering how we're going to turn those tiny spaghetti straps for the Saloon dress class. (the gray one on the mannequin in the studio). Those straps look pretty delicate!
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