the internet - it's not just porn anymore

Mum taught me to sew when I was young. I don't remember a great deal of what I learned, but the most important lessons stuck with me:
- 1) how to read a pattern
- 2) the basics of using a sewing machine
- 3) don't cut paper with sewing scissors (maybe that should be 1)
- 4) I can do it!

For years, a combination of bad/expensive local fashion, lack of good fabric sources, and ugly sewing patterns, has stayed my hand when it comes to putting my sewing knowledge to use. But finally, FINALLY, the internet has come into its potential and connected people for purposes other than arguing about politics or looking at naughty pictures. Now, thanks to Mr Internet, I can get the energy, inspiration and confidence I need to start sewing my own clothes, properly.

There's Tasia in Canada, whose Sewaholic blog started me on my path. She made it sound fun and she explained so many tips and tricks in detail that I actually got excited to try things like "bias binding"! A (very extensive) google search yielded the necessary fabric inspiration care of Tessuti in Melbourne, among others. All the fabric shops are in Melbourne it isn't fair. Tasia made some great patterns. StyleArc had some too. No more Vogue grossness. Finally, Lladybird of Nashville joined the fray. And now I have two sewing friends who don't even know I exist, holding my hand every step of the way. Did you know there is a thing called a "sewalong" now?! People literally post step by step instructions, on the internet for free, and you can ask them questions, and they come back and answer them! This is amazing!

Anyway. I finished my first wrap dress yesterday, and apart from some flaws that were partly due to the complete obtuseness of the pattern instructions (cut the pieces out, sew the shoulders together, sew the belt on, sew the seams together, interface and sew the neckline - gee, thanks for all the handy hints and tips) I am generally pretty happy with it. In another time it would have looked obviously home made, but let's face it, in a time of Supre, Cotton On, and Target, you really have to do a terrible job for it to be obvious you made it yourself. I even (almost) lined up the stripes on the shoulders - I'm really stoked with it!

Bugs/Features

• I stabilised the shoulders with some Tessuti ribbon. 
• The belts have triangular ends which I think is cute.
• The stripes almost match up at the shoulders - after three attempts I gave up.
• The fabric was a bit see-through, so I lined the back with itself. It's heavier than the rest of the dress, but I didn't want the extra bulk of also lining the fronts, and as it's a wrap it doesn't need it. 
• I think the front maybe needed an extra pleat where the belt is sewn on - it gapes if I'm not careful!
• I originally cut the sleeves so they would match each other, but like a total dolt I did them both facing the same way, so to have the right sides out, I needed to reverse one of them. I actually don't mind the end result there anyway. It works.

Meanwhile, I am now onto the Thurlow Sewalong. This is Tasia's pattern plus Lladybird's helpful hints. Honestly I love these girls! I'm making a muslin, which I think I will always do when working with a new pattern, and I've just made a pocket. OH MY GOD AN ACTUAL POCKET. You can put things in it! I'm now about to move on to welt pockets. This is a seriously fast graduation for a girl who didn't know what a welt pocket was until yesterday.

I once again have an all-consuming hobby. (You know, I actually dreamt of a better way to interface my next wrap dress the other night.)

So, the next lot of posts just might be about my adventures in sewing. It's better than another year of blog silence, right?

Wish me luck!

Also, yay for the internet! (And big fat thank yous to Tasia, Lladybird, and the whole online sewing world of creative chicas.)