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The Sew What’s New Archive
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From: akatheart
Date: 09-24-2006, 11:22 AM (1 of 9)
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Hey everyone! I have lurked here before but am only now attempting my first clothing project. I have never made any type of clothing before, but I have made some quilts and little projects here and there. Oh yah, and I have sewed patches on dh's uniforms. I have really been wanting to learn to sew clothes and decided to jump right in with both feet and let dd pick out her costume pattern. It is Belle from Beauty and the Beast and I think it is going to be a lot tougher than I expected. I still want to try it though. So hopefully no one minds if I ask a lot of questions on here, some will probably be silly to all you experienced sewers. I don't have anyone who can help me in person though so you guys are it! Oh, and my name is Desiree, my dh is in the military and we have 3 busy kidlets who are 10, 7 and 3. Nice to meet everyone! ~Desiree~
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User: akatheart
Member since: 04-23-2005 Total posts: 8 
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From: lendube
Date: 09-24-2006, 01:58 PM (2 of 9)
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Hi Desiree, Welcome and please ask ANYTHING! We all had to learn somewhere and we love helping here. With kids it's fun to sew stuff. They're not as particular and it's good practice. We're here for whatever you need, okay? You'll be amazed at the help you'll get. There is literally hundreds of years of experience at your disposal!  Take care and good luck, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: esrun3
Date: 09-24-2006, 08:22 PM (3 of 9)
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Welcome Desiree! Glad to have you onboard. Ask away-you can always find an answer here on the boards! Keep us posted on your costume attempt.
Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: akatheart
Date: 09-25-2006, 07:12 AM (4 of 9)
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Thank you! I started cutting out the pattern yesterday and hoped to cut out the material but ended up getting busy with dinner and such and I don't like working on projects I am unfamiliar with when I am tired. I have made way to many mistakes doing that, so hopefully today I will get a little time. I appreciate your offers of help and will definitely keep you up to date on the progress. Thanks again for the welcome! ~Desiree~
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User: akatheart
Member since: 04-23-2005 Total posts: 8
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From: Bekka
Date: 09-25-2006, 07:56 PM (5 of 9)
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Welcome Desiree. This is a great group of friends. Bekka Bekka
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User: Bekka
Member since: 07-28-2006 Total posts: 79 |
From: MartySews
Date: 09-25-2006, 09:50 PM (6 of 9)
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Welcome Desiree! I think you will have a lot of fun with this group of knowledgeable people. Happy Stitching! Marty 
It takes one moment to change a life.
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User: MartySews
Member since: 02-23-2003 Total posts: 504 
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From: kmccrea
Date: 09-25-2006, 11:23 PM (7 of 9)
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Hi, AK! I'm an Air Force Brat! This is a nice and helpful group of people here and you can ask anything you want. First off, when doing something new and unfamiliar is to take your time! I do hope you did not choose to make a dress you need next week. Also, do it when your mind is fresh and you're not tired. Okay, you know that part. Stop when it's not fun anymore or you get stuck. A little time off will give you some rest and clear your mind to solve the problem. TAKE BREAKS! Very important, you can seriously injure yourself (back and wrists) if you sew at length and do not stop once in a while. I've been sewing for a very long time and learned the hard way to take breaks. My back and wrists were hurting for over 3 days and it could have been prevented by taking a 30 minute break! I take breaks after every two hours of sewing of about 15 or 30 minutes. If I am in the middle of something (like putting in a zipper or facing) and cannot stop at the two hour mark then I stop right after I am finished with the step. If I sew for four hours or more I take an hour lunch or run some errands depending on my deadline and schedule. Hope this helps, Kate Katherine McCrea
Designer At Large |
User: kmccrea
Member since: 05-07-2006 Total posts: 173 
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From: Sew-blessed
Date: 09-29-2006, 12:09 AM (8 of 9)
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The previous post has some great advice. If anyone is like me, I am one that dosen't like to get up from a project until it's done. I have had a lot of neck and back aches over it too! I picked out a really hard dress pattern for my first project. Needless to say it was nearly embarrassing to show in public. But I learned as I sewed more and more. I know little now and it's been about 6 years! I am still learning. You will gain more with experience. I don't care how many things you read or look at it, experience makes perfect! I hope you have a blast and I think you will be so proud of it when you are done! Let us know how it goes! Tina www.clubcandles.com Enter my candle drawing and WIN! *~~~~(**)~~~~*
Success in the making! Tina Wells http://www.clubcandles.com 256-997-0287 Soy Makes Scents! Enter my free candle drawing and WIN! http://www.tinawells.scent-team.com *~~~~(**)~~~~* |
User: Sew-blessed
Member since: 09-05-2006 Total posts: 16 |
From: akatheart
Date: 09-29-2006, 06:37 AM (9 of 9)
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Thanks for the advice. I actually had learned some of that when I was working on quilts for my kids. My very first quilt I was trying to finish right after I had my dd, so when she would wake up in the middle of the night I would go to work. There were originally 3 different block patterns I was supposed to make and I ended up not making the original and I think I made my own up. All because I was to tired to realize what I was doing. Not such a big deal on that quilt, but there is no way I am taking any chances with clothing. I haven't had to much trouble with my wrists hurting before, so I will definitely keep that in mind, but I have had my back hurt. I work at our kitchen table and it just isn't tall enough for me to stand at for long hours. Someday I will get a tall table! Kate~I'm sorry you had pain for so many days! That would be terrible! I guess I am lucky I have a young child at home still to make me take breaks whether I want to or not. At least now I can appreciate the interruptions more! Tina~I agree with you on experience. That is part of the reason I figured I might as well jump right in, and I may be embarassed to show this dress in public too, but at least it will be for halloween when it is dark outside and then dress up in the house after that. So even if it is terrible, I just need it to get us through to November and I am good. I definitely do not have high expectations for it, I already have found things out about cutting out the fabric and sewing it all together and such that I had no idea about. I am excited for the experience though. I have other patterns that are a lot easier to try after this one, so there is no way I am giving up if this dress is to difficult!  I will just keep chugging along.
~Desiree~
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User: akatheart
Member since: 04-23-2005 Total posts: 8
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