Wasted time

My first post! Ok, a little bit too much excitement.

Well, I've decided to start sewing and blogging at the same time. Why? So hopefully some good people out there might be able to give me a few handy hints and tips!

I've been planning on learning to sew for about 18 months now, but started this weekend. The thing is, I KNEW how to sew. I did it at school, my mum was a dressmaker and made some great stuff, but I have not done any for 20 years and feel like I am a complete beginner. I do lots of other crafts (knitting, crochet, spinning, dyeing (also started this weekend), card-making etc....), but not tried sewing yet. I must confess I am a bit scared of mum's sewing machine - it looks very complicated! And being a klutz means at some point I am highly likely to sew my hand to the fabric.

Mum in one of her creations

18 months ago I thought why not learn? My mum can teach me - she knows how to sew and would love for me to join her in her craft. So I chatted to mum on the phone and we planned to make a simple skirt. I got a pattern and some fabric and waited for a weekend when I could visit and start learning on her machine. Unfortunately, when the weekend arrived and I visited her, she was sick. Really sick. I took her to hospital and she was diagnosed with cancer. She died there 12 days later. An absolutely horrific time.

For the last year I  have not wanted to sew. It was just too difficult, and I missed mum too much. It felt like too much of a reminder. But recently I have started to feel a bit different. The missing mum part is still there, but I now feel that I should learn to sew. Mum had a lot of talent (but never thought so) and I feel I have wasted so much time not knowing and not learning from her. It's too late now to put the clock back and learn from my best teacher, but I am hoping that she continues to inspire me.

So I now have a new craft room (yes a whole room dedicated to my crafting stash!) - I know that is lucky! I plan to bring my mum's sewing supplies and machine back to my house later this month after I visit my family and to start learning how to sew. I have been out and brought some fabric to practice on. The fabrics out there are amazing! I love the Amy Butler range - however, it is not for practicing on! So I got some cheaper stuff from Ikea to start with. Ikea has quite a good range of prints and colours which surprised me - I have never looked in that department before.

And now I am ready to go!!!!