Come Stitch With Me

Looks like winter has finally decided to show up in the ATL.  After an exceptionally mild  January, we’re expecting temperatures in the mid-teens tonight along with gusty winds.  Now to find my gloves, hat and scarf…and the bin of old sheets to cover the camellias that are in full bloom.

I’m actually glad to make it to the weekend.  I spent 5-1/2 hours in the dentist’s chair this week and exhausted my dental benefits for the year in the process.  A mishap with a watermelon Jolly Rancher resulted in broken front teeth that hastened my visit to the new dentist I’d picked out.   I have to say that they conducted one of the most thorough new patient exams I’ve ever encountered.  Yes, my front teeth were fixed and look great, but a larger (read more expensive) problem was found.  A filling I’d had redone by my previous dentist 2 years ago had failed and x-rays revealed decay under the filling.  Can you say crown?  Ouch to both my mouth and wallet.

A sore jaw and head cold (thanks to the kiddos at school for sharing their germs) meant I stayed on the couch with my laptop most evenings.  I did manage to sort through some of my pictures.  I discovered this one that I took late last summer with my vintage toy sewing machine and some vintage notions:

I didn’t really feel like doing much stitching this week.  I attempted to make a drawstring bag for a friend’s charity project, but it wasn’t my best work.  It’s in the round file.

My business cards arrived and word has started to spread that I will be teaching sewing lessons soon.  A parent volunteer asked me if I would teach her teenage daughter how to sew.  It’s a good thing that I am affiliated with a shop and am able to direct her there.  There’s not a thing wrong with tutoring or offering private instruction for pay as long as you aren’t teaching the students directly assigned to you.  You simply need to do it in a public place – school, library, fabric shop or at the student’s home.  There is a definite difference in my mind when it comes to teaching students from my school and the general public versus teaching friends, neighbors and coworkers.  I’m perfectly comfortable teaching people I already know from my home, if they choose to go this route.  Guess I need to put “scout alternate locations for private lessons” on the to-do list.

The shop owner asked me to put together supply lists for the class projects so she could assemble precut kits as a convenience to her customers (and hopefully, my students).  Oh man, what to include for a basic sewing kit?  I distinctly recall the old Dritz (or whatever brand it was) “start to sew” kit that had straight pins, a tomato pin cushion, a tape measure, thimble, wheel of assorted sewing needles, dull plastic handle scissors, a tracing wheel and carbon paper and a seam ripper.  I think it retailed for about $5.95 back in the day and you can still find a version of it today (minus tracing paper) at fabric, craft and mass merchandisers for about $10.00.   For a few bucks more and a little scrounging from sewing relatives/friends, you can assemble a quality sewing kit that will last you a long time.

Here’s what I think you really need:

1. Fabric scissors (7″ or 8″ bent handle from Fiskars, Mundial or other reputable brand)
2. Straight pins (skip the silk pins….use glass head and/or .45mm flower head pins)
3. Pin cushion
4. Assorted hand sewing needles
5. All purpose thread in white, beige and black.
6. Seam ripper
7. Seam/hem gauge
8. Tape measure
9. Container to hold your supplies

Even if you decide sewing isn’t your thing, you’ll still have a basic kit that will cover your mending needs quite well.

HOWEVER, I’m going to assume you enjoy it and want the tools that make sewing a little easier.  To the above list add: thimble, beeswax/thead conditioner, needle threader, glue stick, point turner, 4″ scissors,  1-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ clear acrylic or regular 6″ ruler, washout graphite pencil, soapstone or white chalk pencil, pencil sharpener and fine point permanent marker.

If you quilt:  45mm rotary cutter, 4″x18″ or 6″x24″ acrylic ruler and self-healing mat.

If you scrounge:  ask if your donors can spare a few safety pins, snaps, and basic buttons.  These will come in handy.

A few words of wisdom…

• Do not skimp on scissors.  Brand name sewing scissors are often discounted 50% at sewing and craft stores.  You will wind up frustrated by a cheap pair’s inability to cut fabric.
• Long, thin pins are easier to see and pick up.  Glass head pins can be ironed over (plastic head will melt).  As an added bonus, they are less likely to break your sewing machine needle if you *accidentally* sew over a pin.
• The majority of the supplies can often be had for less than $2.00 a piece or *gifted* from a friend or relative’s sewing basket.  Some could even come from the school/office supplies you have around the house.

My most surprisingly useful notion has been my 2-1/2″ x 6-1/2″ clear acrylic ruler from Creative Grids.  I typically keep this in my travel sewing kit.  I keep reaching for it so much that I need to buy a second one to keep at my sewing machine.  Unfortunately, they no longer manufacturer this particular one.  I’ll call the shop I purchased this size ruler from to see if they have any more.

As I write this, my mom and step-dad are waiting for the call that will take them to Virginia one last time.  Miss Hazel, the 89-year-old curmudgeon with whom my mom lived during her teenage years, is peacefully slipping away from this life to the next.

Miss Hazel liked fine clothing and dressed for church in 3″ heels until well into her 80’s.  She did a lot of charity work during her life, but her sharp tongue alienated many of her friends.  Thanks to her stubborn, independent streak, she resisted moving to a senior center until three years ago.  I hope I’m able to live on my own until I’m that old.

Mom made the pilgrimage twice a year to visit Miss Hazel and always had to steel herself before each visit.  Sometimes she came back very upset because of something Miss Hazel had said during their time together.  I never really understood why she continued to go when it was obvious Miss Hazel didn’t appreciate the time and effort it took to go see her.  Mom explained that she had promised Miss Hazel’s deceased husband, Mr. Ray, that she would continue to check on Miss Hazel after he passed away.  Mom said she never dreamed the promise would last 25 years.

Mom and my step-dad went to Virginia last week because they received a call that death was imminent.  When it appeared Miss Hazel would recover, everyone returned home.  Mom relayed that on her way out of town she stopped by the cemetery to visit Mr. Ray and advise that he’d better get his affairs in order because Miss Hazel would be joining him soon.

Rest in peace, Miss Hazel.

Update:  She passed away Monday afternoon.  Even in death, she continues to stir the pot and elicit  hurt feelings among family and friends.  I wish my mom would turn the car around head home.  Thankfully, she has no more reason to ever visit that group of folks again.