To Serge, With Love

From sewing

I was "Lulu" and my brand new Bernina Serger was my "Sidney Poitier." My sewing life had gone astray and I needed inspiration, motivation, and a reason to sew! For Christmas, my mother in law, my sister and my mom got me gift cards to the workroom. I was finally going to get myself a serger to inspire me to do all those sewing projects that I've been meaning to do. Sure, I didn't *need* a serger, but it sure made sewing more exciting!

For those that don't know: a serger is like a sewing machine, but is perfect for overlocking the edges of fabric so it won't fray. Take a look at any tshirt: the hem is usually serged.

From sewing

On Sunday afternoon, I read through Stylish Dress Book and decided on dress 'B', which is actually a shirt. (I have to admit that Karyn's fabulous dress 'B' was most inspirational.) I had this beautiful Moda fabric that I purchased several months ago: dragonflies and hummingbirds!

From sewing

I had previously made two dresses from the book: both from taking a class at the workroom. The entire book is in Japanese, and although the tourists in Morocco would argue that I couldn't possibly be anything but Japanese, let alone Canadian, I can't read a word of Japanese. The class taught us how to *assume* what they are telling us to do: plan the whole thing out and look at the pictures. (A recipe stand comes in really handy as well: this was a Christmas gift from my sister-in-law. It folds up and tucks away like a book!)

From sewing

I spent all afternoon tracing the pattern, cutting the fabric, serging, and sewing. After many uses of the seam-ripper, I was one sleeve short of finishing the entire shirt!!!

What dedication! What progress! On Monday, not only did I finish the shirt, but I started another -- which I promptly finished the next evening. Don't I look fabulous?

From sewing

From sewing

After three dresses/shirts from this book, I realized that I was terrible at bias tape. TERR-ible. Since I had borrowed Funny Girl from the library, I decided to do all the bias tape by hand in front of the tv. Doesn't the sleeve look perfect? I also decided to keep the serged hemline: I've moved up in the world. No more frayed edges! No more double folded hems! "Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales and biting nails are gone..."

From sewing