Hello Steemians! Welcome to today's blog about my first beginners sewing project. I would like to start this blog off by mentioning that I am not an expert in sewing, in fact in today's blog I won't be teaching you anything. Rather I will be taking you on my journey as a beginner in this craft. If you read my last blog I shared my new sewing set up in my new home with my husband @rakkasan84. Since then I have stocked my desk with all my sewing and crafting gear and I'm getting ready to rock with getting this project started.
This is my Kenmore 15202 model sewing machine. This particular sewing machine is very special to me because it once belonged to my grandfather, and now I finally have the opportunity to use it. This model is a great machine for me because it has everything I need to complete my projects but is still basic enough for a beginner like myself.
Growing up I watched my grandmother sewing all of the time. There was nothing she couldn't make and even though I never showed much interest at the time, I always admired that about her. Such a skill and talent that isn't heavily seen in my generation. I would like to change that, because one thing that is important to us is sustainability. Which leads me into my first project. Around our house we have cut out our consumption of paper towels in exchange for washable reusable cloth towels. I'd like to see that start snowballing into other things. In my experience in swapping for sustainable alternatives for personal hygiene and home care it has saved us so much money and time in the long run. However I know that with a little bit of effort and creativity I can create these things at home myself and gain a greater sense of satisfaction.
I'm armed with my crafting bible for this sewing mission. Better known as the Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts by none other than Martha Stewart. Yes that's right! No shame in my game, I love that woman. In the book it comes with 150 projects from A-Z, and I have marked a dozen projects to get started with. This book is loaded with a ton of information and comes with a CD to print at home patterns and templates.
My first project is selfishly inspired, though I do get to make my hubby something with the spare fabric so over all its a win win. We stopped by Hobby Lobby and picked up the fabric for my project since I'm confident I have everything else I need to get going. Because we want the best for our skin and our health we do our best to make cotton our fabric of choice for all of our needs, so we grabbed four and half yards of cotton flannel and cotton jersey. For my personal use I plan to make washable reusable cotton rounds to remove makeup, nail polish, etc. and with the remaining fabric I will be making handkerchiefs for my husband. These are easy beginners projects and I am looking forward to sharing the final outcome in my Part 2.
Before I get started I have the fabric washing. It is a good practice to wash and dry your fabric before you start cutting and sewing. You want the fabric to go through its shrinking process prior starting (machine or hand wash and dry) so long as you do it. Once the fabric is clean of any residues and debris press it with an iron to get out any wrinkles for precision. Cotton is a simple fabric to care for, but if you are using another type of fabric it is best to wash it according to washing instructions so be on the look out for that. Don't worry about the shrinkage as it is minimal and any frayed edges will be cut away in the process.
If this is a project you may be interested in yourself and aren't quite sure how to start, I will link the blog where I found my inspiration from to create this. In this project you will only need six tools and should only take about 15-20 minutes with step by step instructions. I'm excited to see how many of you will want to try this for yourself and I hope that you share your results with me and the rest of the steemit family in the comments below.
If you enjoyed today's blog and are inspired to make your own sustainable goods please give it an up vote, and don't forget to hit the follow button to stay tuned for part 2 where I show you my end results and introduce you to my next project. Please be sure to leave a comment if you are a seasoned veteran to sewing, as any and all advice is welcome and appreciated. Until next time steemit family, take care!
DIY – Reusable Cotton Rounds
https://mabewithlove.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/diy-reusable-cotton-rounds/