binge sewing

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I had the best of intentions (and the best of plans) to get all my Christmas gift sewing done before Thanksgiving. Based on previous years, I knew that it was my only chance: getting it done before the mad slide into holiday insanity of December. And just as in previous years, October evaporated into November which slipped into December with nary a bit of sewing done. There were VERY GOOD REASONS for the lack of sewing. But still: NO SEWING.

My solution was this: a sewing intensive. Me, the machine, iron, ironing board, and notions set up in the dining room for available round-the-clock work. I set myself up on Friday morning and worked furiously, ignoring housework. I let Bean watch Scooby Doo until I was singing the song in my sleep. I stitched hems and ironed seams and pinned patterns until my eyes crossed. And still, here it is six days later and I haven't even gotten to the half way point.

Last night nearly broke my resolve. I'd been working on Bean's Christmas dress all day long - I picked back the seam for the neckline FOUR TIMES. And the gathers - THE GATHERS. The thread kept breaking and I had to go back and sew it again and again and I wanted to stab myself with stick pins. STAB.

But after many hours it was done and ready for Bean to try it on. So cute! With the gathers around the neck and the tiny little fabric-covered buttons! I was so proud. I called Chip over to watch to proceedings, grabbed Bean and told her she was going to try on a brand new dress! (Again: SO PROUD.)

And then it wouldn't go over her head.

She got really upset.

But I wasn't going to give up, not after all that work.

So I tugged.
And wiggled.
And wedged.

And Bean? She wasn't pleased.

But eventually I got it over her noggin and on her body.

And it was.... not good.

Funny fitting. Tight near the arms. With a weird pinched fold up near her arms.

In a word: AWFUL.

And then there was this, from Bean: I DON'T LIKE IT. CAN WE TAKE IT OFF? TAKE IT OFF NOW?
NOW?

I stomped around the house for the rest of the evening, feeling like the biggest sewing failure EVER.

(First rule of sewing: if the recipient of your sewing project says CAN WE TAKE IT OFF within the first 60 seconds of wearing the garment, you have a problem. Second rule of sewing: if the garment won't go over your recipient's head, you probably shouldn't try to force it. ...On second thought, that might be the first rule.)



I'm heading back into the sewing trenches today. I have scrapped Christmas Dress Number One. Ugh. What's making you crazy right now? For me, it's a sewing project that wants me to die.