Dressmaking

Last year, a new TV programme hit our screens - the Great British Sewing Bee.  And I was completely hooked from episode one.   I did dressmaking at school - I made a red pencil skirt with little white polka dots, and a white blouse.   I was, however, so traumatised by our needlework teacher, Miss Appleton, that I have never done anything ever since!  

Last year when attempting to set up the loft into a craft room - which I have come to finally admit is never going to happen - I decided that I'd have another foray into the world of seamstressing so I finally enrolled on an eleven week evening class, starting this January.   And I am LOVING it!   Our teacher is quite a stickler - there is no cutting corners.   We have measured ourselves; had instruction on how to buy a pattern and fabric; made alterations to our paper patterns; pinned our patterns together to make a paper dress which has been tried on and altered again; pinned the pattern to our fabric; made MORE alterations; cut out our patterns and, finally, been let loose on a sewing machine this week - week six!   Not to sew our garments, but to play about with scrap fabric.  

I have been absolutely terrified at the start of every class, but come out really excited at the end, knowing that I'm not actually as rubbish as I thought I would be.  I'm not terribly speedy on the sewing machine - in fact this week I was called Driving Miss Daisy!   Everyone else was whizzing along their practice seams, while I was chugging along like an old banger!   But I'm of the opinion that I'd rather do it slowly and correctly and learn something.   I am just sooooooooooooo excited about it, I can't put it into words.  

Perhaps I need to get out more!  Devastated this week though - half term and no class or homework.   Instead I'm going to have a practice on Mum's old sewing machine - playing about doesn't really feel homework anyway as I'm enjoying it too much!