First Fabrics and Stitches

     There has been a lot of changes during this last week. I now have a mini sewing kit of my own, thanks to my wife. While I was off working at my paid job she spent some time assembling this sewing kit. Her creativity paid off and as she pointed out, this is a "mans' sewing kit. The kit contains the basics and should prove to be a great start to this new challenge. The things that she included in the kit are:

• Needles
• 3 colors of thread 
• 2 marking pencils
• Pins 
• Pair of scissors
• Seam ripper
• A few lengths of fabric
• And a mini "tackle" box

This is a great start, but I know that I will be quickly expanding and will soon have a multitude of new toys flowing out of the box.

    This morning I was already practicing with stitches. I did that basic running/basting stitch and the back stitch.They are both straight forward stitches but definitely it takes a bit of practice to become good and proficient with them. Keeping the stitch size even comes with some practice. The other thing that will have to be practiced is making the stitches tighter so that the thread is not loose. It seems that even though it appears that I am pulling the slack out of the stitch there is just some play in the thread, which is very evident on the back. Practice, practice, practice is the order of the week. I am really looking forward to this challenge.

     As I said, my wife is creative. She was able to think outside of the box. I guess that comes from having a couple of daughters that she has helped with teaching the basics of sewing to. The fabric choices that she made were thoughtful, especially the Star Wars fabric that she selected. She chose this one so that I could cut out the different framed pictures on the fabric and use them as practice sewing the boxes together. I will be working on that this week and hope to have a couple of pouches that are sewn together by the next posting.

     I have been hitting the books and the videos hard during the last few months. I have a few places that have been my go to for learning this new art form. I have a few links that I have shared of my favorite sites so far. I have already learned so much and look forward to learning a lot more. Have a wonderful week and never give up on whatever you are reaching for.

• http://www.madetosew.com/
• http://sewoverit.co.uk/
• https://issuu.com/himeko_aiko/docs/sewing_for_dummies___2c_3rd_edition/1

The Birth Of A New Hobby

     Growing up in among the rolling bluffs in southeastern Minnesota, I never considered that sewing and the craft world could be of any interest. Now here I am, nearly forty years later and I am looking in the face of a new hobby. This is the literally the birth of a new hobby. I am starting out with nothing, except for a few ideas as to where I want to be heading as my hobby grows and takes shape.

     Just like a baby when it is born, my hobby to starts with nothing. As of right now I do not even own a single needle or spool of thread, and there is no material or even a pattern. I will be learning as I go as to what I need, though I have already done a bit of research and have amassed a wealth of knowledge from YouTube tutorials that I have spent the last month or so watching.  My first task is to go out and purchase a set of sewing needles and some thread so that I can start to create my first project.

     I am building my sewing kit from a list that I found in the "Sewing for Dummies" book, by Jan Saunders Maresh. Her suggestion was to have the following things in a basic sewing kit:

• Tape measure
• Seam guage
• Shears
• Trimming scissors
• Fabric markers
• Pins 
• Needles
• Thimbles
• Seam ripper.

In the book she also listed sewing machine needles, which I have decided to not purchase. I will purchase these when I move to the sewing machine and feel that this is not critical in a basic sewing kit. What I have added is some thread basic colors will do for now.

     In the interest of saving some money which I can eventually invest into projects, I have decided to utilize some of the supplies that my wife already has. This will get me started with everything that I need to start with. The photograph that I have taken is just a sampling of the things that I have to use from my wife's sewing room. Now to practice a few stitches and finding my first project.

Ready. Set. GO!

     The keel has been laid and the hull has been constructed. Now it is time to give this ship a purpose, It is time to drop the lines and push off from the shore. It is time to sail into my uncharted waters. The journey that I am pursuing has been attempted by many, but only a few succeed, yet that does not discourage me from trying. The waters that lay ahead will be plagued with furious seas and calm waters. Am I ready for the challenges? That is yet to be determined. What I do know is that if I do not push off from the shore I will be forever be land locked with so many what ifs.

     By no means am I an expert in the fashion world. I am, as far as the fashion world is concerned, a nobody. What I do have to offer is ideas of what I like and do not like. I have ideas that are in line with the industry and realities that go against what has been ingrained into our minds as being fashionable. I do not expect everyone to agree with what I am saying, nor do I want everyone to agree with me. These are my ideas. So let the journey begin!

     I believe that the name I have chosen is what I am seeking to accomplish. I forging my own pathway into the fashion world. Without a solid frame to build upon the whole structure of what I seek to accomplish will come crashing down. As I said in my introduction paragraph there will be furious seas and calm waters. This project will take a lot of work to make it a success. I am ready to set "Fashion Framework" sailing.