Origin StoryWhen I was in middle school in 2005, I asked my mom and grandparents to buy me a sewing machine so I could take sewing classes with my friends. I vaguely remember going to Target and purchasing my first machine, a Janome DC3018, which I still have and is what I learned on when coming back to the hobby in 2020. At the time, I assumed this was a very basic machine, but the fact that it's still going strong and has tons of decorative stitches, buttonhole options, an automatic threader and whatnot, I realize how privileged I was to get such a great machine as a beginner. I mean, this machine made multiple backpacks and pairs of jeans! I took a few classes at F&S Fabrics in Los Angeles, I have memories of cutting out a simplicity pattern, vaguely remember making something sparkly, and for sure remember hanging out with two of my friends in the back room where classes were held at this now closed shop. However, the only evidence that I actually sewed or completed any project during this time of my life, is the image above. I sewed "Mom" and "Vic" (short for Victoria, a nickname she hates... this might have been sass poorly disguised). I sewed this on what appears to be an old t-shirt and my mom still has it! Anyway, when I say I learned how to sew in 2020, I really do mean it. Becoming Reacquainted With My Sewing MachineWhen Kevin and I moved to Salt Lake City from Memphis in late 2019, it's the closest I've lived to my parents since age 17, so they jumped at the opportunity to drive out all my childhood stuff they'd been storing for a decade. Among them: my sewing machine! This machine had been borrowed by aunts and cousins over the years, and there was a little art bin full of thread, bobbins and miscellaneous notions that family have collected while using the machine. I didn't think much of it, and put everything away with no plans to sew. I was actively knitting during this time, and just starting to level up from scarves and hats to sweaters and color work (pictured below) so my crafty energy was put to good use. Early 2020 knitting projects! Then, the pandemic hit, and I found myself bored out of my mind trapped at home during my "working hours" which meant sitting on a zoom for optional office hours that students didn't attend, checking my emails waiting until 3:20pm when I no longer had to pretend to work for the day. I knit a lot during this time, churning out sweaters, socks, hats, cowls, you name it. By May 2020, I finally pulled out the sewing machine and the rest is history! First, I made some masks using a template I found online and fat quarters I found at Nuttalls. Then I decided to unpack the dozens of soccer shirts from my 8 seasons coaching in Memphis, to make a T-Shirt quilt. The only positive thing I have to say about Nuttalls is that they did walk me through how to make a t-shirt quilt, including how to interface the shirts, sew on the minky backing and quilt the pieces together. Then came the project that really kickstarted the hobby, a backpacking quilt. Kevin and I spent every waking hour of 2020 when we weren't on zoom, outside. We were fly fishing and hiking, but come Friday at 5, we headed up to the Uintas. With weather changing dramatically, high winds and freezing nights, I wasn't sleeping very well in the backcountry. We decided to upgrade our sleep system, but lead times were way too high for custom double quilts. Kevin is too tall for most quilts offered ready-made, but even those were mostly sold out. So we head to r/myog and decided to make our own! Making the quilt was the first time I realized that I can sew things that will hold up to lots of use, and be practical for my day to day! That t-shirt quilt was promptly put in a box in the shed and hasn't seen the light of day since. We switched from those handmade masks to KN95s as soon as we started doing things in person again, so the quilt really was the gateway to sewing as a practical and fun hobby. Garment SewingAfter making the backpacking quilt, I immediately wanted to start making other gear for backpacking and hiking. I was hearing lore of Polartec Alpha Direct becoming the go-to ultralight base layer, but I always heard about "drops" after they'd sold out. So I decided to learn how to make clothes so I could eventually tackle these mysterious fleeces. I went to JoAnn's and bought a pattern that I thought would be beginner friendly, as well as some fabrics to start with. I ended up making Simplicity S9107, a basic woven top, about 8 times. Each time improving slightly over the first. I made many mistakes at first. I didn't know about pre-washing fabric, so my first four shirts shrank into oblivion after I'd finished them. Then I bought a knit fabric, not knowing you needed to use a stretch stitch, and it basically unraveled from stitches popping. Y'all I was a hot mess, three of these were made out of quilting cotton because I didn't know about drape or anything. Big 4 sewing instructions are so vague, that the first one had this as the neckline bias binding, which I totally thought was correct because I didn't know any better! Here are the other versions, I don't have any of them anymore. They've all been donated or cut into other projects because nothing fit right. I definitely highly recommend picking one pattern, and making it multiple times until you master it! This was a really helpful way for me to practice the skills over and over again without introducing new or confusing concepts. I would NOT recommend starting with a Big 4, if you can avoid it, but unfortunately that's what is easily accessible to most people. Soon after knocking out multiple S9107 blouses, I decided to make me and Kevin matching button downs (I guess matchy matchy has always been a part of my sewing journey 🤣). This is around when I created my sewing instagram in October 2020 and was starting to learn about Indie patterns. I'd seeen several folks make the Colette Aster Shirt (now the Seamwork Aster) and decided to give it ago. I can not stress enough, this pattern is awful. The fit in the bust and arms is horrendous, and now matter how hard I tried I couldn't get it right. (Still made it four times in each view, trying to get it right!). For Kevin's I just McCalls M6044, this is actually a great pattern that I've made him several times now, and even used to make both of our dads a shirt too!) Despite the fact that most of these makes aren't around anymore, I'm glad I spent the time practicing over and over again to get these right! There was a lot of trial and error, but at at the end of the day that's how you learn! In December 2020 I'd been sewing enough to invest in a serger, which I bought locally. It came with a class on how to use the serger, which really helped me hit the ground running. By January 2021 I was knocking out the fleece's I'd been dreaming of, and started making clothes that fit better, using (some) better materials. I made my first 50L backpack in July 2021, and started building my handmade wardrobe that fall. Almost everything I've made since July 2021 is still in rotation. It took about a year to get to that point, and that's ok! Pictured above is the Fabrics-Store.com Sloan Jumpsuit. This was the turning point for me. I took it slow, made sure to unpick and redo any steps I made mistakes on, and I nailed it. Still wear it all the time! I finished this on December 28, 2020, using my new serger. All the practice on my other patterns had really paid off!
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About FrancescaI got my first sewing machine middle school, circa 2005 (although I don't remember learning much in the way of sewing). After a long hiatus, I was reunited with my machine in 2019. I re-entered the hobby through gear-making, and have been crafting a handmade wardrobe since late 2020. I have a real affinity for comfy clothes (secret pajamas) and all the colors! Archives
August 2023
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