Finished the MLP quilt top the other day! One of these days, I will eventually save up to buy a long arm machine to do the quilting a little easier.
The first picture is the middle of the quilt. Its a lap size quilt. The second picture is adding the 2″ by 2″ blocks to the border. I added those all around to the edging of the quilt. It will be backed in white, I think, and the quilting will be done with purple thread.
Anyone ever try cutting 4 feet long strips of quilting binding using a 12 inch long self healing mat, 14 inch long straight edge ruler and rotary cutter? Yeah, curse words slipped out and I was glad my son was not home, especially when the cutter slipped during repositioning of everything and almost sliced off the tip of my finger.
This got me thinking about my dream sewing room design. What would be in the room? What tools would I have?
The room itself would be about the size of an average bedroom with a large walk-in closet and would be set up in a way that even my mother, the woman who taught me to sew, who could sit down and 5 hours later have a full formal dress planned out, fabric needed calculated, pattern in mind, finished product sketched out, and fabric swatches either pulled from her stash or ordered. To say she has talent is an understatement. My mother is truly gifted with a Singer!
So, my dream sewing room….
The basics, of course, tons of lighting, lots of throw rugs that can be removed easily if needed, peg boards, cork boards, dry erase. A quilt frame in the corner for my latest quilting project.
Along one wall would be a banquet size cutting table, at least half of its surface is a self healing mat with different size cutters lining the peg board on the wall with clear plastic templates above them on the wall.
The other half of the table is set up for cutting patterns and fabric, with lots of cutting tools hanging on peg boards on the wall.
Between the cutting table and the sewing tables is an over sized ironing board with three different irons, one for regular use, one for dry ironing, and one for fuse-able stuff. There is also a free standing steamer.
In the corner is a dress form. There are several sewing tables with a few machines also.
Tucked behind the quilting frame is a foldable three part mirror and fitting stand for apparel projects.
Now for the closet. There are shelves, bins, baskets, and cabinets along the walls of the closet with everything and anything a well stocked sewing room would need.
The closet can also be used as a fitting room, it’s that big! There is, of course, a radio in the room and a large magnet that can be used to find dropped pins.
What would you have in your dream sewing room?
I have realized that there has been a decrease in the domestic arts, at one time called the womanly arts. I don’t know if it is the demand for instant gratification of the “me generation” or just the availability of things for purchase, the quicker pace of things, or a combination of all three. I was in Wally World yesterday and I was shocked to see that a simple 2 panel kitchen curtain is $60! I enjoy standing at my kitchen sink to do dishes. Yes, I am weird, but, it is time I use to think, meditate, and wind down the day. Especially during the summer, it is starting to cool off for the day, dinner is done, and the day is ending. A major bonus for me is having a window over my sink.
It just amazes me that a place where so many wonderful things are made by hand, that most people would prefer to go out and spend $60 for a set of curtains, a set that would take an hour and a halk to make, maybe three hours if you don’t have a sewing machine.
There was a time when every woman would have a sewing machine on her bridal gift table, when she would take pride in the appliance, and know how to use it. Now, what a surprise a newlywed man has when he pops a button off a shirt and he finds out his young bride doesn’t know how to fix it! Heck, even my ten year old son can sew a button on!I have a friend who doesn’t know how to fix a simple seam on her work apron and has asked me to fix it several times. People look at us weirdly when we look at places to live and my husband asks if the extra bedroom is big enough for a sewing room for me because he knows the enjoyment I get from sewing things for my family.
This is an issue that I, a single seamstress’s daughter, can’t fix on my own, but I can damn sure do my best.
So, my challenge to all of you out there in cyber land is this. Choose one thing, a dish towel, a dish cloth, a set of placemats, table cloth, curtains. Choose one item for your own kitchen, and make it yourself. I’m not asking you to become the Vera Wang of kitchen textiles, or the next Martha Steward, just something simple. Something for you to get the joy and satisfaction of knowing you created it, start to finish, from first measurement to final hem.
Ok, I am done with my rant. I think I am going to make myself some new curtains for my kitchen window, something light ans summery.
Country Yankee 