On Sewing

I should be writing a paper, but instead I'm surfing the blogosphere.

This post on Ohdeedoh caught my eye this week: Celebrate the Boy. A group of bloggers noted there are not a whole lot of cute craft ideas or sewing tutorials for boy moms, so they got together and came up with a bunch. My boy's tooth sockets are just now forming in utero, but I'm already thinking about making him this monster tooth pillow.

The thing is, I don't sew. Well, I sort of do. My mom took me under her ever-patient wing when I was younger, teaching me how to sew together squares for quilts, make simple pillow cases, hem, rip seams (I remember getting paid a quarter to rip out a bunch of seams once). I even made sleeping bags for Beanie Babies at the height of the craze and sold them to my friends. But then my mom and I tried to make a dress together, and well, let's just say I thought I knew better than her. I think I'm not much of a pattern follower. A few frustrating hours later, I vowed never to sew again*.

But now I want to. And I have some GREAT equipment. I was recently given a serger and an embroidery machine, and I have a very entry-level sewing machine (though I honestly think it's broken). It seems a shame not to use the great tools I have.

I will be graduating in a little over a month, if I can ever finish the three massive term papers, two oral presentations and four mini papers that stand between me and the end of the semester. Then I'll start decorating the nursery and otherwise nesting in full force. And I'm wondering if I should look for a sewing class. I'd really like to get the fundamentals down before I find myself devoted 100-percent to all things baby. And actually, the serger and embroidery machine were given to me on the condition that I would take a class to learn how to use them. So now that I am facing the prospect of having a free weeknight, I really should live up to my end of the bargain.

*I actually bought and reupholstered an overstuffed armchair when I was in college. A lot of it was hand-sewn, but I did use my mom's machine for the long seams. That was definitely a one-off. I tried to sew a purse when I moved to Dallas, but the fabric I used was too thick and it kept breaking my needles, so I gave up. I love doing projects around my house, and I often think how much I wish I could reupholster stuff myself!  So there are many reasons to learn--baby stuff, house stuff, and just as a creative outlet. Agree? How many of you sew, or wish you could sew?