Quote for the Day:
"Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children
the richest inheritance.
~Ruth E. Renkel
Today is Father's Day in the USA. I hope you were able to spend a little time with the fathers in your life today...either your own father or the father of your children...and let them know how much they mean to you!
A little over a week ago I got fed up with shirts that have too-short sleeves and decided to take it upon myself to try and make some of my own. I ordered a pattern and some fabric online, but also decided to go to Joann Fabrics, since they were having a sale. I picked up a pattern and a piece of fabric at Joann's at a really good price, and last week I cut out and sewed it together using the Viking serger that I had picked up at the estate auction last year.
For those non-sewists out there who don't know what a serger is, it is a special sewing machine that does the nice finished seam that you see on the inside of ready-to-wear clothing.
This is the serger...a Viking Huskylock 936.
It's computerized and will basically do everything but make your coffee for you in the morning...and if I took it downstairs and set it up in the kitchen, it probably would even do that for me! LOL
I must say that the serger sews very smoothly and quietly! However, it has more buttons and whistles than I really need or will ever use, so I think I've decided to sell it.
But...back to the shirt...
I picked up a very slinky, slippery jersey knit at Joann Fabrics. It has been about 14 years since I've done any garment sewing and I had forgotten what a PAIN in the YOU-KNOW-WHAT it is to work with slinky knits. It kept sliding off the cutting table and ending up in a puddle on the floor! :( And my pins just wanted to push the fabric around rather than actually going through it. :(
But I persisted and got the shirt all sewn together in one day except for the bottom hem. I was about to throw in the towel and swear to never again try to make a piece of clothing, but then I tried on the shirt and actually liked the way it turned out...in spite of the difficulties! Today I hemmed the bottom of the shirt so I thought I'd share a picture of it with you.
It has it's "issues"...but those are a result of a lack of recent garment sewing experience. I think that they are not things that will be noticed by 99.9% of the population...so I'm going to wear it! It actually fits nicely, even though I still wish the sleeves were a tad bit longer. (I even lengthened the sleeve by 1.5" and they STILL are a hair too short.)
Anyway, I like the fabric and the fit, and overall am pleased with myself! LOL
This week the fabric and pattern that I had ordered online came in the mail, so I will be trying my hand at more shirts in the future.
