Tuesday, July 15, 2008

more than i can chew?

I've spent most of the past several days slumped over my sewing machine. Considering I'm somewhat less than an accomplished seamstress, I'm not sure exactly why I've attempted to tackle so much so quickly. I finished S's curtains, and I can tell you that I did that because I was too cheap to pay for custom curtains for her oddly sized windows. They need a little tweaking, but they turned out just fine. They're seersucker with pompom trim. They'll do.

Then I made cushions for the porch swings. Again, they aren't anywhere near perfect, but I like them. I was trying to be intelligent and make the covers removable so I could wash them, but I got too excited and cut the material without thinking it through, so I just had to leave one seam open. I basted it shut, so I'll just need to snip the thread to take the cushion apart. Not perfect. But I really like the material I picked out much better than anything I found pre-made...not to mention that we bought the long swings, and you really can't find cushions long enough for them. No one but my daddy will probably even notice that the imperfections. Actually, Mr. Feathernester will probably notice them, too.

Now I'm tackling the third, and most daunting, task. A slipcover for the wingback chair we brought over from Mr. P's house. I really don't know why I'm even trying this. It's not really going so badly, but sewing in three dimensions on a large scale is a serious pain in my neck. I've got the back of the chair, including the wings, and the seat finished, but now I have to figure out the arms, which will likely drive me bananas, but if I was able to figure out the wings, I'm sure I can do something with the arms. Then I just have to finish the bottom and cover the ottoman. I'm pretty sure I can finish the whole thing tonight with any luck at all. I just have to keep reminding myself that I'm not attempting to reupholster the chair, I'm making a slipcover, and slipcovers aren't supposed to fit perfectly. That's a good thing, because this is nothing like perfect.

I promise pictures of all the little projects soon. Until then, I'm out. I'm trying to straighten out my back, which has developed a little hump from leaning over to pin and sew, pin and sew.

Oh, we rescheduled S's photographs for this week, and I picked up a super cute dress for her this morning. The one I bought was blue with a cream sash and cream lace tatting at the neckline. She's going to be so sweet.

3 comments:

feather nester said...

Good luck! And let me know if you want my slipcover book...

Kristie said...

Just wondering if you check your email... or if you have just forgotten us Lexintonians...

die Frau said...

I'm so impressed with you seamstresses ("sewers" looks like the drain pipe one, though you know what I mean). I sewed a button onto T's shorts and that's the most I've done in a while, though I may have to hem these pants I just bought.

Good luck!