The Crafty Bug Strikes Again

After Thanksmas vacation in Kansas, during which I frolicked through the country with reckless abandon, I am back to the land of the gray and dark (though to be fair, it has been sunny lately).  I have returned newly inspired in the crafty segment of my life.  This tends to happen when I see the beautiful things my Grandmas, Grandpas and parents have made through the years: wall hangings, dolls, various wood pieces, quilts, clothes.  So here I am in my improvised sewing room, which is actually my kitchen overtaken by fabric and various sewing gear. I'm doing my best to embrace the clutter. 

Today I've returned to a project that fizzled a month or so ago: a button down, collared shirt.  Now despite my many 4-H sewing projects back in the grade school days, I have never attempted something so difficult.  For instance, before I busted open the pattern, I didn't even know what a placket was.  Actually, though I've sewed one, I'm still not quite sure what a placket is.  This is not your average 4-H pillow for beginning sewers, that's for sure.  I decided long ago that this probably wouldn't be a "wearable" article, at least not for public excursions.  That important decision has freed me to be a learner and not a perfectionist.  Whew.  In addition to the placket, I sewed darts for the first time, and a collar, and cuffs (though these were a near disaster).  Note the perky form of that collar (you can't quite see the questionable stitching). 

Yes, it's been a good day of sewing overall.  Perhaps next time I tackle a shirt, I can aim for wearability.  In fact, I may have been able to pull off casual wearability in this little sucker if it weren't for one major mistake that I currently have neither the energy nor the desire to fix: I sewed one of the arms on inside out.

 

How does this happen? you might be wondering.  Well, somehow between trying to fanagle my cuffs into the right position and pulling up the bobbin threads on the ease stitching, I overlooked another minor detail.  Next time, I'll be prepared.  This time, I think it may make a perfectly functional paint shirt, featuring long enough arms and a cheap but still quite pretty blue fabric.  Now unless I can get some expert help from mom or some Seattle Mennonite someone, I think my next few projects will be back in the quilting world.