Sewing and such

Some one told me I could sew. In Junior High I was forced to take sewing in Home Ec. In 7th grade I made a pillow case and an apron. I think it took me the whole six week period. It's a wonder there was anything left of the fabric with the amount of time I needed to rip stuff out. In 8th grade I made a jumper and top. I actually got an "O", which means outstanding. I couldn't believe it!! I loved that thing. What I made in 9th grade is long forgotten. When Emily was tiny, I made a couple dresses--one had french seams!!--while she was napping. I made the kids shorts and stuff when they were little. We were blessed with hand-me-downs for the kids, for which I continue to be thankful.

When my Martha Stewart Living magazine arrived with directions for a cute little apron, I thought, "I made one of these in 7th grade, this will be a piece of cake!" What I learned about sewing aprons must have been in the one or two brain cells that I killed off enjoying the few adult beverages I've enjoyed in my life. While Martha's apron calls for grosgrain ribbon for a waistband/sash. Just try and find 2 in. grosgrain ribbon! No doubt Martha has it all stashed at her house. So, I figured, I know how to sew, I'll just adjust! Yeah, well, one would think I could adjust. However, "adjusting" includes knowing how to do something that most folks can do--SIMPLE MATH. Long story short--after much ripping and frustration, my waistband/sash has exposed raw edges on the back side because I did not make it wide enough. I'm not sure what to do with it--I wanted to make it for a gift, now it is probably mine. If I had only known I was going to be making such a mess out of a simple project, I would not have made my "trial run" out of nice fabric. At least the next two should be done better--I hope!! I know that I need to make the waistband/sash 4 in. wide in order to have a decent width front and back and no exposed seam edges. What makes me nuts is that THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EASY!

There is at least one moral to this story...learn how to do math. My sister, Ann, and I have always said that it is a hereditary problem, but I think I just gave up a long time ago. Years ago someone told me I just couldn't do math, and I believed them. Bad idea.

I think I'll quilt today.