This year was the year of sewing. I fully intended to put my sewing machine into use, to master the art of turning cloth into finished items, and to wow all my friends and relatives with homemade gifts all year long. It’s April. I’ve made 9 pot holders.
However, they were really fun potholders!
I’ve been using Lotta Jandotter’s Simple Sewing as my guide because of all the books I’ve looked through, it seems to have the best instructions. It also really does have simple projects to start off with and slightly more complicated projects for once you get that confidence built up. I’ve done one or two sewing projects in my time, but I still need the hand-holding The pattens included–all ready printed out and just waiting for you to use me–have also been a great help.
The potholders were relatively easy to do. The trickiest part was doing the last finishing stitch. The pattern called for a topstich all the way around the edge, but my sewing machine was wimping out. I has used synthetic batting meant for heat resistance instead of the wool batting the pattern called for. This made it just that much thicker and I could get my pore old White to sew through it right at the edge. I had to topstitch further in–creating a ridge around the edge–and then hand sew the closures on the sides. It doesn’t look quite as profession as the photos in the book, but I never really expected it to.
Mother's Day presents ahoy!
I really enjoyed working from Jansdotter’s patterns. They are simple, elegant, and kinda hip. At least I think they are. I certainly felt like I made gifts that will impress recipients and make them say “ohh, nice” rather than “ah….thanks?”
