Fabric Project Basket

Last year, I made a quilt for my mom's 50th birthday. As I was trimming each block, I felt like I was wasting great scraps, but what could I do? They were so scrappy, already sewn together! So I started just sewing them all together, using a heck of a lot of pressing to keep it in some semblance of order. I did a lot of top stitching as well, to keep the fly away pieces down. I ended up with a cushion sized piece, but it was a little too intense for a cushion, and not really one that would suit our living room. It languished in a pile of languishing projects- along with clothes to be altered, fabric I can't seem to get rid of.

Fast forward a year, and in the name of challenging myself to try new techniques, I've started hand sewing hexagons for a small project. Jumping on the modern quilt bandwagon about a year too late to be en vogue- but then again, I started quilting just last year, and am starting a blog in 2012- about 5 years after the blog-wagon took off a-running! So I am a late bloomer, but even a late bloomer needs a place to lay her hexies to rest while she tends to the rest of her life. I decided to use the leftover piece I had stored. I still need to remember to take in progress pictures, because I know a before and after shot isn't that helpful... so this isn't really a tutorial, just a presentation :)

Before- my fabric stash PUKED on my floor!

After- Ready to hold hex-in-progress

DIY Fabric Nutcracker Doll

 My 2 1/2 year old is somewhat obsessed with ballet. Mainly Swan Lake, Petrouchka and the Nutcracker. In the nutcracker, she is particularly concerned with, and talks often of, the moment the nutcracker is broken. I don't think she's even processed that there is a land filled with candy or a doll that comes to life- she just talks about the broken toy.

We considered taking her to the montreal ballet nutcracker for christmas- but for $100 or more, it would be nice if she would remember it, or if we could somehow guarantee she would sit still for the whole show! We decided to wait until she is a little older.

In the meantime, we really wanted to give her some part of the nutcracker for christmas, and thought of buying her a nutcracker ornament or toy. The cheap-tacky mass produced ones held no appeal to me- plus being decorative means they are not held up to toddler friendly or earth friendly standards. The beautiful handmade german ones would be nice- except they cost as much as going to the show.

Trying to spend as little as possible on christmas gifts can be challenging when you have something specific in mind. I have no woodworking experience, so what's a crafty mom to do?

SEW! Why of course! I can't believe it took me this long to consider!

I couldn't find any sort of pattern online, so I decided to wing it. I took a doll of hers (Amber doll), and loosely traced each body part separately. I then traced that on to each piece of fabric adding stuffing room and seam allowance. I looked at a few tutorials online on basic doll construction, and put this little number together!

I had some hilarious mishaps (never hilarious in the moment, only after), like sewing the arm in and then noticing I hadn't stuffed it- then doing it again the second side! I also make the legs slightly different sizes- we'll say he is post-break but pre-becoming real. I had some tacky gold and black string, like shoe lace, which I braided to decorate his military outfit.

Hey girl.

One of the things I love about sewing things like this myself, is although it may not be as perfect as store bought, I can use incredible materials. I have bags and bags of italian wool samples, so this doll is made of those, instead of cheap polyester. What better doll to cuddle than fine fabrics? I guess L will grow up to be a bit of a fabric snob :)

Sewing Lessons Learned and Taught

I may have mentioned that I've been sewing since childhood. One of the first projects I can remember making was something I was certain would make me rich. I would cut off the bottom half of old pyjama pants, and using the removed leg, would sew up the cut hole, flip the whole thing upside down, make a little pocket and handle, and put it on a door knob. So it was basically a fabric tube. I'm not sure I ever found a really great use for it- maybe storing plastic shopping bags or, more likely, hiding candy from my older brother. I would do all the sewing by hand, and I'm can't really remember what my mom's reaction was to my cutting up most of my pyjama pants.

I've come a long way since then, and though I am still not an expert by any means, I would consider myself an "adventurous intermediate". I've made kids clothes, clothes for myself, altered a lot of clothes, either for fit or for personality; I've made bags, quilts, curtains, toys. One thing I have made A LOT of: mistakes. Mistakes abound in my sewing area. Mistakes that have destroyed projects, destroyed my confidence, destroyed my sleep cycle as I unpick stitches until 3am.

Fortunately, I was raised to see mistakes as learning opportunities. Yes, I have taken chunks of time away from sewing- like after the jacket disaster of 2005, I didn't sew for nearly a year. But I have mostly persevered and learned my lessons.

Now it's time for me to share some of those lessons. I was teaching a couple of friends and acquaintances how to sew, and I really loved seeing them go from unconfident, never having touched a machine, to a finished project they can proudly carry around. I somewhat spontaneously decided to extend these lessons to strangers and the general public, and can happily report a positive response. I've gotten a few students already, and am developing a program for each of them based on interests and needs. One student would like to quilt, one wants general proficiency, another to make clothes.

It's so exciting to be able to help people gain some confidence so that they can explore sewing on their own terms. I don't expect to help someone tailor a hand-stitched suit, and am still learning a lot about general construction of clothes, but I can at least give someone a foothold over a few months, until they are ready to push themselves further.

Zip It!

 I have literally spent a decade avoiding zippers.

Um, sewing them in, not wearing them. I think I use zippers pretty well every day.

But sewing them? *shudder*

Why, oh, why, did I have this distaste/horror? I think I can pinpoint it- high school home ec. I think that course did more to turn me away from sewing and cooking than it intended.  I took the class because I so enjoyed those things, but after that class, whoof. Interest gone. To take two such interesting and expansive subjects and turn them into the same dry information that has been taught in that school since the 50s has got to be some sort of sin...

Fortunately, the damage was temporary, and now I could, and do, happily spend entire days cooking and sewing. But I was avoiding zippers all this time. Elastic band pants, button hole sweaters, purses with flaps and buttons.

I've been teaching a couple of beginners sewing lessons, and it's been a great driver for learning. I realized I should try some things I might not have otherwise tried, in case they ask. I can't just say "Uh, well, I haven't done a zipper in ten years, but what the hell, let's see what happens!"

So I looked around for some good tutorials, and for a project I liked, something I could use. I don't have a single clutch purse- something to do with having a toddler and always carrying an unstylish backpack, I believe.

Soon, I came across this:

http://www.noodle-head.com/p/tutorials.html

I decided to make the gathered clutch, and I had just the fabric! Unfortunately, the zipper I bought was 2" too short, so I had to make some adjustments to the size, which means it doesn't fit my whole wallet- but I think the idea is to pare down for a clutch like this anyways- keys, phone, essential cards- maybe lipstick if I am feeling fancy ;)

Inside- and zipper shot!

I cut out the pieces one evening before bed, and was able to assemble the entire thing while Lena napped the next day, so it is pretty quick. I think she woke and cuddled on my lap while I trimmed the extra thread, but really- it was basically a nap time project.

The zipper- totally not a big deal. I'm going to have to do more, and practice, but this was a great project for re-learning, and to encourage me to try other things I've avoided- built-in pockets, anyone?

Ironing Board Cover

My sewing room is a nook in my living room, about 3'x9', depending on how far I push the couch out. My ironing board is pretty much a permanent fixture in our living room, and for months it's been irking me. Slightly stained ugly old grey cover, strings hanging down. In the spring I decided to cover it, and it has taken me until now. It only took about an hour.

First, I removed the old cover, and traced the shape on the new fabric, giving a generous (about 4") "wrap around and tighten" allowance. I took two long strip of spare quilt batting and sewed them together, then cut out the shape of the board. I serged the edges of the new cover, then folded it over  and did a straight stitch all the way around, to create a casing for a drawstring. Then it was simply a matter of putting the string in the casing, putting the layers all back on the board, and cinching it tight! Voila!

Sewing To Do List

I LOVE a good to-do list. I am constantly writing little to do lists in little books, on scraps of paper and sticking them up on the fridge. Before Lena was born, we had an epic To-Do List which covered the entire surface of a piece of paper; two columns and a bunch of squeezed in things. You would have thought we would never leave the house again. Things like 'fix birkenstocks" "sharpen knives" "stock up on dry goods" "fill freezer", not to mention painting a couple of rooms and doing an insane amount of organizing. We finished every item on the list. Even "re-caulk shower" and "figure out how to open living room windows", every single thing done in 8 weeks. Then, we had two more weeks to wait, as she fattened up on poutine (maybe I did too a bit), and we had NOTHING left to do. How many times can you scrub baseboards and vacuum the ceiling? Being a June baby meant NO good movies in the theatre- we saw them all anyway. We walked and walked and walked, went to the beach often and napped. It was great, but a little boring.

In any case, eventually she came along, and I had whole new To Do Lists to deal with. Now I have To Do: the sewing edition, the home edition, the work edition, the Lena edition, the learning edition etc etc etc. It sounds so organized, but it really is not. I don't know where half of them are, I forget to add things, and am always finding scraps of paper with illegible lists.

I thought I'd add my Sewing list here, as incentive to get through it, though it grows faster than I can sew. I will link to finished projects and inspirations as well.

1. Fabric Box for hexagons in progress http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/fabric-project-basket.html
2. Ironing Board cover http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/ironing-board-cover.html
3. Fabric Nutcracker
4. Scott's Quilt http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2013/01/scotts-quilt.html
5. Flannel Butt Cloths for client's baby No need to post, just serged squares
6. Re do Backing and binding on peach quilt
7. Finish Knit Vest for Lena, before she gets too big
8. Alter/Hem Jeans from thrift store
9. Make pants from scratch
10. Zipper pouch http://canmakedo.blogspot.ca/2012/12/zip-it.html
11. Pocket Samples (http://www.ikatbag.com/2010/12/pocketful-of-sky-summary-and-giveaway.html)
12. Mittens for me
13. Make a diaper, just to know how
14. Bread bag
15. Alter Blazer that I foolishly spent money on two months after having a baby, so of course now it is huge.
16. Alter my gentlemanly vest
17. Alter Grey button up shirt.
18. Screen Cozy- to hide our unsightly and distracting computer

Why You're Never Failing as a Mother

My mom sent this to me at just the right moment:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-morrison/motherhood_b_2271349.html

I wasn't feeling terribly insecure about my parenting- that day- but I was worrying about how to structure our days at home, doing enough 'educational activities'. See, no matter how many times I read confirming articles, or my gut tells me that a 2 1/2 year olds main educational activities should be free play, reading books, and engaging with real people- I still sometimes fall into the trap of thinking she should be doing organized crafts, or number games or whatever. Even though when we do them, she usually finds a way to change the activity beyond recognition and makes it much more fun.

I had just had a dream the night before about asking a daycare worker how they structure their days. Just to see if L does enough 'real' activities. Then in the morning I was really observing her actions and moods, and thought "It would be so hilarious to track her minute by minute one day"

10:09 look at book
10:11 bounce up and down dance
10:13 climb up for a hug
10:13.30 climb down and grab a doll to dance with
...
2:15 pm read 30 books
...
8pm fall asleep contented, fed and loved

etc etc. If this is how she works, MORE organization probably wouldn't be conducive to learning, right? I should relax and roll with it- follow her instincts, maybe have simple activities for when she is ready for them, say her quiet times.

Sometimes, even when she is happily playing by herself, I feel like I need to be right there engaging with her, instead of embracing it and finally getting some cleaning, reading or sewing done on my own. Reading that article, reminded me she needs to see me doing those things, just like she needs me to read to her.

I think this was my favourite section of the article:

"You are in the trenches when you have a baby. To the untrained eye it seems pretty straightforward and easy -- you feed them, you bathe them, you pick them up when they cry -- but it's more than that. It's perpetual motion with a generous layer of guilt and self-doubt spread on top, and that takes its toll.

Feeling like you also need to keep on top of scrapbooking, weight loss, up-cycled onesies, handprints, crock pot meals, car seat recalls, sleeping patterns, poo consistency, pro-biotic supplements, swimming lessons, electromagnetic fields in your home and television exposure is like trying to knit on a rollercoaster -- it's f*cking hard."

Hi, My name is...

I was recently reading a children's book about courage to Lena, and found the line "Courage is being the new kid in town and walking right up to someone and saying flat out 'Hi, my name is Wayne, what's yours?"

I immediately flashed to my first day of third grade. A new school in a new town, I hadn't met anyone from my school yet because we were bused to the french school across town. I was so nervous in the days leading up- an awkward freckly thing with big glasses and a mushroom cut. "How will I make friends?"

"Just pick a person, smile and say 'Hi, my name is Nicole, what's yours?", my mom advised. It sounded crazy, but maybe it would work.

I can so distinctly remember the feeling as recess approached. All the other kids seemed to know one another, and so I picked a small girl who had a friendly face and also sat in the front row. When the bell rang, I took a deep breath and flung myself in her direction before she had a chance to run over to someone else. With single minded focus, I blurted out "Himynameisnicole,what'syours?".
I was rewarded for my courage with a bright smile, and a new friend.

I'm so grateful that I had that experience, and that lesson is one I have carried with me for-by golly, twenty years. Each move to a new city is so much easier for having broken that ice within myself, so that I can break the ice with new people. Some of the people to whom I introduce myself become friends, some do not; but I have never regretted approaching someone, or intentionally making myself approachable to someone who seems to want to connect.

Today I went to a small party for a friend's birthday, and she would be the only one I knew. In the car out front, I started to feel a bit queasy. "Will they like me? Will I make an idiot of myself?". And then I remembered. Just smile, and say "Hi, my name is nicole, what's yours?".



If anyone reads this :)
Your homework is to introduce yourself to a stranger this week. Admit it, we all feel drawn to certain people, why not follow your instinct?

On Being a Jack-of-All-Trades

I am in the midst of my yoga teacher training at Naada Yoga, in Montreal. It's a pretty incredible and thorough program, in which each subject is it's own module, and each module is taught by a specialist. It's a far cry from what is maybe more traditional, finding a single teacher or guru and learning everything from them; but I find it more appropriate for our culture of yoga.

Sometimes I find myself baffled by the sheer amount of information available on any given subject. All it takes is a few passionate people to make great headway in the research of anything. This is true of coffee, a trade I've spent the last seven years in. People dedicate themselves to the tiny little details of coffee, details that most people would find not only mundane, but insane. "What direction do you stir your bed of grounds in?" "Who cares?". When I was training baristas, everyone once in a while I would pause and think "This is just silly, isn't it?"  But it is precisely because someone cares that the overall quality of the coffee people drink improves and improves. We don't have to think about it, or read coffee magazines, because someone out there is doing that for us.
Same goes for any topic. Model trains. Light bulbs. Bicycles. Dung Beetles. Aromatherapy. Whatever.

All this to say that people can be extraordinarily specialized. And the people teaching these modules are such specialized people. For philosophy, we were taught by Dr. Mark Singleton, anatomy was taught by Dr. Baxter Bell, and asanas are taught by the owner of the yoga studio, Elizabeth Emberley.

I entered the program planning to eventually teach. Once I saw the incredible dedication, passion and focus of the faculty, I wavered- could I have this dedication, this drive? I am more jack-of-all-trades than master of one. On my bookshelf of in-progress books I have a yoga anatomy book (), a green building book(), a doula manual, a chess book (), a novel (), a book about Oscar Wilde, and Eating Animals.
How could I ever get that focused, absorb so much historical information and anatomy, and forward the ideas?

As I have continued along the course, I am realizing that maybe I am not suffering from lack of focus, and should celebrate how well-rounded my interests are. That maybe, I don't need to be an expert to teach beginners, and to share these wonderful things I am learning.  I only need to be sure that students know that, although a teacher I am also a student, that there will be limits to anyone's knowledge and that I will always try to be sure that the information I present represents the best of my knowledge. That they should always listen to their own bodies and instincts and not conform to any teachers ideas of how they should practice, and that they are always welcome to join me in the exploration of a wide variety of topics.