First off, I'd like to explain that Crafting Through The Alphabet is still a work in progress and I still intend to finish. But I have a new bee in my bonnet with Sewing Through The Alphabet and I'm too excited to wait!
So, I've been sewing bits and pieces of things (see above link to view some of my previous projects) but sewing often winds up intimidating me and I don't do it. I love buying fabric and adore buying patterns but when I open the patterns and start reading the instructions, I get totally freaked out and I don't do anything. I need to push past that. There are way too many things I want to make and I don't have time to hunker down, away from my sewing machine, afraid to screw up. One thing I know about myself is that I really like structure. I do a lot of fairy tale adaptations because there's a limit and a freedom in that, all in one. Restricting myself to the alphabet gives me a tangible goal: 26 projects; definite parameters: each project has to represent a different letter of the alphabet; but a freedom within those very parameters, given my own taste and preferences.
I had originally planned to mix styles with basic sewing techniques in order to teach myself basic sewing (A for A-Line Skirt and Z for Zipper, for instance). But, then it got confusing really quickly. I don't mind repetition but even doing the items listed above, A-Line Skirt and Zippers, could easily be one project. And in discussing the whole thing with my mom, she argued that the techniques are something I should be learning anyhow, and I can use the A-Z parameters to explore different styles and different pieces. I still don't know what I'll do for Z but we'll get there.
Today, we made a list of all of the potential techniques I could/should learn. I titled this list Sewing 101. To be honest, some of these techniques are more Sewing 102 but I'll figure that out when the time comes.
Here are the project goals:
- I will sew one project for each letter of the alphabet. These projects will not, however, be completed in alphabetical order.
- There is no deadline for each project and no deadline for the project as a whole. This is a learning experience and there's no sense (as far as I'm concerned) adding undue stress to something I'm learning for fun.
- Each project will include at least one of the techniques listed below.
Techniques to be learn:
- Buttons
- Collars
- Darts
- Flounces
- French seams
- Gathers
- Hems
- Invisible Zippers
- Lining
- Patch Pockets
- Pin tuck
- Pleats
- Princess seams
- Quilting
- Reversible pieces
- Ruching
- Ruffles
- Scallops
- Sleeves
- Stripes
- Welled Pockets
- Working with stretchy fabrics (i.e. lycra)
- Zippers
- Pants - these are both a style and a technique but they're a very specific and potentially challenging piece in and of themselves so I'm adding this to the list of techniques - this may change and become its own project.
If anyone reading this has any techniques they think I should add, please feel free to comment below! I've already started working on my first project: W is for Wrap Skirt! I will keep you posted on when I finish it!
If anyone is interested in joining me on this adventure, let me know and I'll link to your progress!
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