The First Skirt

This was my first sewing project on my new machine. I definitely screwed it up royally. The waist band was too big so I had to literally fold it in and tack it. And you'll see something hilarious in the next picture.

The Fix

I ran out of fabric. So since this fabric had a sense to it I had to cut it up and then sew it together to have enough to make this skirt. I did a real good job of matching the patterns so you have to look really hard to see the seam. It's there though. Win!

The Drapery Skirt

I loved this project. The print is awesome and the fabric was heavy and warm for winter. But it's definitely drapery fabric. And even people who don't know (or care) about fabric noticed it hangs pretty stiffly. Whatever. If matched with red pumps, people would avert their eyes.

The High Waisted Wonder

My most accomplish skirt project. As in, the resultant skirt is actually all what the pattern said it was supposed to be. Yay!

The Red Dress

My first dress project. I had no clue about making a dress. For example, the red fabric is a heavy cotton broad cloth meant for quilting. It attracts fuzz, hair and small asteroids which subsequently stick to it. I have yet been able to get any of it off. Still. For a first attempt at a lined dress, it's fitted really well. And the zipper is perfect. Proud!

Lesley and I

(Secret: Lesley is the real sewess.)

Cutting out the pattern

Next Project! Flowers!

The Floral Dress

This dress was my second dress project. Thin printed linen and a red silk lining. Technically the pattern I chose wasn't lined so I half-assed lining it myself. Turned out ok.... On the outside!

The Linen Dress

Probably my favourite dress out of the three. This dress went though a lot. First the BF spilt water all over the fabric for the bodice, staining it horribly. Then it got lost at the dry-cleaners. Then the dry-cleaners found it, still not cleaned, and called us once a day for three days to ask "You sure you want cleaned? Going to fray!". Eventually though, it got finished.

Fabric!

The Trio of Dresses

The #1 hobby that, despite being relatively horrible at, is the hobby I always come back too, is Sewing. Much like most kids in the Alberta curriculum, I learned to sew at school in Home Ec. And by 'learned to sew', I mean was given a square of fabric to sew a square pillow out of. (The teacher was more concerned about salmonella's over reaching power to kill everyone than to really show us how to sew. That women was raw egg crazy.) So I really didn't learn to sew until after I graduated university and wanted something to do with my new found evenings off.

I bought an old Kenmore off kijiji for $30 (steal of a deal!) and started doing regular sewing party Sundays with my friend Lesley. Spoiler: Lesley is the one who taught me how to sew.

Since 2011, I have done many projects, some I'm proud of and others I was proud of until the realization of how horrible they really were. For example, the drapery fabric skirt, yes, that I made and wear quite a lot.

I did eventually get better though. My projects got bigger and fancier and more complicated. I made dresses upon dresses and high waisted skirts. All of which were nice. The most annoying project was the floral dress, which I lined myself, to much chagrin of my fingers who had to do all the hand stitching. My best dress was the linen one. Except I put a crinoline under it. Nobody, and I mean no one, like sewing mesh. Worst.

Above are all the pictures of the projects I've attempted. Some good, some hilarious. I'll be making more of both variety in the future. Guaranteed.

-Andrea

The Half-Assed Hobbyist