Growing up my aunt and mom sewed all the time (they made all my Halloween costumes and my aunt even sewed my mom’s wedding dress) but whenever I tried to learn on my mom’s machine I broke it. Not just jammed it or temporarily messed it up, I legitimately ruined it (at least six episodes ended with my mom carting it off to the shop and paying lots of money to get it repaired). And then I wasn’t encouraged to use it quite as much if you catch my drift. I don’t blame my mom at all. I was clearly cursed.
So in an insane turn of events, I recently purchased a nice affordable beginner sewing machine of my own with high hopes of DIYing a quilt and a fabric flag banner for Clara’s first birthday (using all of the fabrics that we picked up for her weekly photo project to create them). I figured it would come in handy for things like pillow and curtain making as well.
And I specifically picked something with great ratings (4.5 stars and over 150 customer reviews) on amazon.com (a Brother XL2600I) because I wanted something good for a beginner devoid of any “natural ability” whatsoever. Of course it didn’t hurt that it was around $100-200 cheaper than most fancy machines (on sale for just $89 – down from $149 – with free shipping). You know just in case I irreparably maimed it within a week of use. Which would not have surprised me. Hence the I’m-not-going-to-splurge-for-anything-great-just-yet approach.
So it arrived a few weeks ago. It has been testing me. Oh my goodness has it been testing me. Like, walk-calmly-into-the-bedroom-and-scream-into-a-pillow testing me.
I even had a hilariously miserable and desperate text message exchange with Katie B where I basically asked her to come over and peel me off the floor and wipe away my tears and spank my disobedient machine. Yeah, she didn’t come. But she did make me laugh by comparing me to Martha. I suggested that perhaps I was Martha’s uncoordinated lesser known sister (who I dubbed Bertha) and by the end of the little iPhone fest Katie had me smiling. Gotta hand it to that girl for providing some much needed comic relief when you’re dealing with this sort of ugliness:
The actual issue was that I was having all sorts of tension problems (broken needles, loopy tangled underside stitches, etc) and then after two nights of despair and at least five solid hours of sheer misery I realized that I was using an unsanctioned bobbin. Seriously. After five hundred attempts at rethreading the needle and rereading the manual and googling around for ideas and texting my poor friends (who all had better things to do than listen to me whine I’m sure) it was my stupid one tenth of an inch too tall bobbin that was sabotaging me. But at least I got the root of the issue, which ended up being hilariously easy to fix (hilarious in that you-laugh-but-kind-of-cry-at-the-same-time-because-it’s-so-pathetic-and-embarrassing way).
But at least at that lowest ever point in my sewing career I figured it could only get better from there. So I kept on keeping on. Slowly but surely I’m getting to know “Oh Brother” (my sarcastically pessimistic nickname for the sewing machine slash bane of my existence) and I’ve actually made some decent progress in the world of novice sewing. For example, I made this little fabric flag banner for the bean’s big one year birthday par-tay using small triangles that I cut out of various weekly fabrics.
I’m not going to say that it was easy. It was harder and more annoying than The Situation’s abs. In fact, I refer to the debacle that was me attempting to sew that fabric banner as “The Real Situation.”
It took me waaaaaay too long and I probably legitimately cried ten times (we’re not talking whiny fake crying, we’re talking actual frustrated hot tears that you swipe away before anyone looks at you like you’re crazy for sew-crying). Give me a sledgehammer or a paint brush and I have no fear. But give me a robot with a motorized needle and I will show you the definition of misery. It’s just not something I can even remotely pretend to be good at. Oh well, I’ll learn. Or I won’t and I’ll get another hobby. Haha.
As for exactly how long it took, I’d guess that cutting each of the flags out took me about forty minutes in front of the TV (I used a cardstock template and placed it over the prewashed – so it was preshrunk – fabric). Then I hemmed each of the three sides of the triangle with Oh Brother, which took me well over five hours.
Yes, you read that right. Let’s just say there were a lot of do-overs and seam ripping and more tension issues but in the end I was left with around a dozen perfect enough triangles that I wouldn’t die from embarrassment if a teenage Clara looked closely at her beloved birthday banner (I hope the banner becomes a tradition for every b-day until the bean is too old to indulge me, so I don’t just want it to look not-terrible I want it to last for a while and look halfway decent). So although you see about 27 flags on the table above, so many of them were just garbage when you got any closer, so I picked my favorite dozen and tossed the rest unceremoniously into my rag pile.
Then in a stroke of desperation (or genius, you decide) I actually broke out some iron on hem tape to complete the project in about another half hour (for a total of 5.5+ hours spent).
It helped to lay out the remaining not-terrible flags on the floor to play around with order until I liked what I saw. Then it was just about firing up the iron and using my trusty hem tape to attach them to the blue ribbon that I already had laying around.
I’m pretty sure it would have easily been 10+ hours if I sewed each flag to the blue ribbon that I used for the top. But heck, I’m starting slow. I’m just glad I was able to sew those flags and not chuck Oh Brother out the slider in the sunroom (the problem with ranches is that you don’t get to dramatically drop things that you hate out of second story windows so you have to improvise). And iron-on hem tape is washable so it’s all good. And look at my little helpers. How cute were they to hang out in the kitchen while I tested my not-cursing-or-throwing-anything limits? They were some much needed sweetness for a pretty darn annoying personal challenge.
The banner looks fun and festive and it’ll be washable and hopefully will last for at least a decade or two, and best of all it was free except for the expense of Oh Brother (thanks to already having purchased each of the fabrics on clearance throughout the year for Clara’s weekly pics and using iron-on hem tape and blue ribbon that I already had).
But I’m still hoping that the sewing machine purchase will end up being worth it as I attempt more projects like a very very very simplified quilt for the bean and other house-related things (a few throw pillows, maybe some curtains, etc). I’m definitely going to start slow.
So there it is. The truth. I’m no Martha Stewart. I’m terrible at sewing and it makes me curse, sob, and scream into my pillow. But who knows, this could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship with that terrifying mechanical needle. Stranger things have happened…
Bethany says
GOOD FOR YOU SHERRY! Clara will cherish this sweet project for years to come and I bet by her next birthday you will be turning out the cutest stuff with that mean robot needle. I’m a HUGE fan of sewing, but at first it was the bane of my existance. I hated that stupid maching so much and those darn loops that would always turn up on the bottom side of my projects, but I stuck with it and in the last year I’ve made all the curtains in my house and sweet clothes for my friend’s little girl for basically zero dollars. That machine is sure to fill your little DIY lovin heart with lots of ideas. Keep with it!! Plus, we can all use a little challenge to stretch us in the patience department.
And thanks for making me laugh out loud, I really needed that today!
Liz says
I feel your pain. It took me a full 2 years to bond with my ‘Brother’ & now we are best friends :) Keep at it – go to sewing classes where you take your Brother with you & you’ll learn LOADS.
Colleen says
I think it looks great!
You’ll only get better from here!
sue says
This may be a little late for this project, but in the future… You can cut out your fabric with pinking shears and dab a little fray chek, or a similiar product along the edges, then just continue with the banner. They look great- sometimes even better with the zig zag edges!
Beano Wagner says
I hate sewing too! In my house growing up, that was my dad’s job. Maybe John has a knack for it?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, he fears for his fingers. Always says they’ll end up with a needle through them. Such a wuss. Haha.
xo,
s
heather s. says
One of my coworkers was making doll dresses for her daughters and did just that – sewed straight through her finger. She had to go to the emergency room with the needle sticking through her finger!
My mom taught me how to sew a straight line by practicing on ruled writing paper (obviously no thread – just the needle to get the hang of it). I didn’t sew for years after she bought me my machine — I got it when I was 11 and finally used it again when I was 25.
Brittany says
I totally relate! I borrowed my mom’s machine 10 years ago and had the same experience as you, except I never got it figured out. Christmas of 2009, I asked for a very basic machine for Christmas and received it. I have had it out of the box, but that is about it. First my excuse for avoiding it was that I needed oil to oil it before using, well I have had the oil for going on a year now, but it hasn’t made it out of the box again. The fear of failure has me completely paralyzed!
Christie says
I totally feel you on this one. I took a sewing class recently and felt like the instructor was going to refund my money at any moment. I kept ending up with wads of snarled thread. I really want to be able to sew but it is not coming naturally to me. I think you have gotten much farther ahead than I have. I wish you luck……heck, I need to wish myself luck. LOL
Sarah says
I just bought the exact same machine and had some tension problems. Then I realized what i thought was the tension knob was the knob to move the needle from side to side (who knew you could do that!). ha!. Needless to say you arent the only one struggling. Hang in there – you can over come the brother!!
Emily says
I feel you pain! Year after year I’ve attempted to “make a cute pair of pants” or “DIY Halloween Outfit” and they have all come out HORRIBLE, and made me cry hysterically until my husband agrees that spending money on whatever I’m trying to make will be much easier. Yet, every 6 months or so, I see my sewing machine, and think “I can beat this little machine! I’m a full grown woman with a good head on her shoulders! I can do this!” And every time I’m left in tears, piling everything back into my “sewing closet” until I can forget how awful it all makes me feel!
robyn says
ME, TOO!!!!!!!
same deal- same machine- same price- what THUH?!
hm. I’m going to ask my friend, a seamstress with the same machine, if she has ever had this problem.
You’re better than me. I gave up. I haven’t used it since I got it and the thread did that. Just when I found myself so proud of myself for threading a bobbin with ease.
Thanks. Best of luck.
=)
Amanda- Hip House Girl says
Aww, I know that feeling. I didn’t get “the gene” either. I did luck out in that my mom adjusted my machine for me so it stopped jamming and breaking, though, so I can sew a thing or two without swearing.
Well anyway, your banner looks great! Clara will love it I’m sure, even when she’s a cool teenager.
Erin says
You crack me up! Not that you had such a terrible time sewing, but the way you describe it… a much needed laugh this afternoon! I am the same way with somethings, but just look at what YOU made… that sense of accomplishment is exactly what keeps me coming back to the scream and cry in my pillow projects. Keep it up sister!
Lindsey says
What machine did you get? I am looking to get one. My mom is an amazing seamstress and I really want to start myself (I have sewn a few things in the past with her machine but now she lives far away).
YoungHouseLove says
I got a Brother XL2600I from amazon.com. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
sb says
Not sure if this step just got left out of the account, but between cutting out the triangles with a template and hemming the edges, did you iron the edges over? Most of the work of sewing is careful and precise ironing–my least favorite part, but it makes the actual sewing part go much smoother.
YoungHouseLove says
Nope, I didn’t iron them – just folded them over and went (no pins either because they were so small it was easy enough to fold the fabric and put the foot down and guide it through the machine in a second or two). I do plan to iron a lot more when it comes to the quilt though, since I’ve heard it can make all the difference when it comes to the “inside” part between the front and the quilt back.
xo,
s
laura says
Looks great! I have been wanting to learn to sew so I was given a sewing machine from my mother-in-law for my birthday. She gave me a lesson a few months ago and I haven’t attempted anything since…the thing intimidates me for some reason! But, like you, I also have pillows and curtains on the list to try! Good luck!
Katie says
I feel your pain! I got an old Singer sewing machine from the 60’s last year at a garage sale. I’ve made a couple baby blankets as gifts, but I’m definitely still learning. I just hope the people I gave the blankets to don’t look too closely at my crooked stitches :)
Kristina Strain says
Oh honey! That’s a heart-breaking story. I made a bunting like yours a few months ago– way less sewing required!
Sarah says
I blame the machine the machine the machine.
I sew from time to time and I have had good luck and bad luck with machines. With a good machine, I’ll have tension problems, but I can adjust it and fix ’em.
I have *never* had luck on a “beginner” machine. I also seem to have better luck with “drop-in” ones. I bought this machine a few years back and we’re partners in crime :) http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_02016231000P?prdNo=4&blockNo=4&blockType=G4
sarah
Kelly says
Brother machines are notorious for having tension problems. I know. My brother machine is sitting in my parent’s basement because I got to the point (after it wouldn’t even hold a needle– a NEEDLE, kind of an important part of the sewing process!) that I couldn’t look at it anymore.
If you think it needs some TLC/a tune up, give your local mom and pop dry cleaner a call (one who does alterations) and ask who repairs their machines. They can probably put you in touch with the best machine magician in town. And calling them magicians isn’t an understatement, they can work magic on even the most temperamental beast.
Regina says
Hi there. I have a similar Brother model (XL3750). Sewing is old hat to me and it still took me over a week to adjust to the machine, so don’t fret! Also, I know a lot of people recommend pre-washing material so it will shrink, but I don’t. Especially for a beginner. Fabric right from the store is always a little starchy and it will lay better and make your cutting and sewing easier. I’ve never pre-washed fabric for clothing or a quilt (I do wash before I use it) and nothing bad has ever happened.
Rhiannon says
Honestly one of my favorite posts! While I totally empathize with the hot tears of frustration, I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of you screaming into the pillow, which was my favorite way of throwing a tantrum as a preteen. If it makes you feel better, the banner looks awesome! I’m sure Clara will want it up for many birthdays to come. And if not, show her this post and tell her that she has to suffer the way her mother suffered 10+ years ago making it for her!
Autumn says
Setting up the machine can be the hardest part–I always felt fine sewing nice straight lines once my mom set everything up but it took me awhile to figure out tension and needle placement and whatnot….so go you for sticking with it! The banner is darling and will be loved for many years!
Andrea says
Favorite YHL quote ever: “I’m not going to say that it was easy. It was harder and more annoying than The Situation’s abs.”
Carol says
I feel like I wrote this and I laughed til I cried. My Mother and Grandmother also sewed beautifully but everything I ever tried to make ended up in the garbage after being hurled to the floor with me in tears. I guess I did not get the gene.
Gigi says
We get the Oh Brothers and Chinese Singers in for repair quite often. I have been sewing for more decades than I will admit and, honestly, I’d curse too if I had to sew on one. I admire your perseverance!
Bree says
Awww, hugs Sherry!! I’ve had my share of sewing machine issues. I made a quilt top a while back and everything had to be straight to it would match up. Headache!!! Please don’t give up!! I can only imagine what you could do with it once you tame the machine. :)
Heather says
CUTE BUNTING. My first sewing machine was an “inexpensive” Brother. I had the same problems. I sprung for a $200 Singer and have had no problems. Good luck!
Emily says
Your flag banner looks great!! :) Sorry about all of the tension/bobbin issues. I just picked up sewing about a year ago. I borrowed a machine from a friend and had all sorts of problems. Once I got the machine I inherited from my grandma (a bernina 1000 series from the 70s or 80s), most of my problems disappeared. It was a million times easier to sew a straight line and I know it wasn’t that my skills improved overnight.
Courtney says
I just purchased a sewing machine from Costco that will be delivered tomorrow. I’m a complete beginner and your post kind of freaked me out a little! Glad you figured it out, and hopefully I’ll have better luck!
Melissa says
Random question, Sherry, but how come Pinterest won’t let me make an acct? It says I have to be invited. :( I just want to search for fun pics and ideas! Haha…P.S. I love this post because it sounds like me. My mom, aunt, and grandma are world class sewers and I can’t even sew a button. You are at least a step ahead of me!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe try posting on our Facebook page and asking for someone to send you an invite? People do that often and get on faster that way. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Lauren Q. says
Looks great! Where did you get those fridge letters?
YoungHouseLove says
Those are from Etsy. More info here: http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/not-your-mothers-magnetic-letters/
xo,
s
Amy @ The Nifty Foodie says
OMG..I know EXACTLY how you feel…it’s always the stupidest, little things causing problems. Oh, and tangles like that make me want to throw my machine outside and go Office Space on it. Totally get it…I’m still very much a beginner too!
Elisa says
My mother was also a big sewer – so about a year ago I felt compelled to get a sewing machine. There was also much cursing involved and it took me about three hours to figure out you had to thread the machine with the presser foot UP or else the tension was all off and everything came out wonky. Three hours of my day.
Needless to say, it WILL get better. You should see the first curtains I attempted to line. Yikes.
Christa M says
Hooray! Well good for you for trying! I’ve been sewing for most of my life and I still get frustrated everytime I sit down at a machine…it’s a love hate relationship, but worth being able to create beautiful things.
The banner looks so beautiful, do you think you’ll hang it in the Bean’s room for some time, or store it away and only break it out for the annual special Spring occasion :) ?
YoungHouseLove says
Not sure when it’ll come out. Probably for anyone in the family’s b-day and maybe spring or just other gatherings as well. I do love it now that it’s done!
xo,
s
Renee Smith says
Sherry,
You’ve totally got this. I started last year on a slightly fancier “Oh Brother” that I hijacked from my mom. I sewed 50+ napkins for my class of 30 pre-schoolers to use for snack and lunch times every day (to avoid throwing away 45+ barely used paper napkins a day). They were UGLY, and I spent DAYS on them, but thankfully, kids are forgiving! You could even see the progress from napkin #1 to napkin #60! Over the past year and a half of “sewing” I made a slipcover for a curbside toddler rocking chair (not perfect, but way cooler than what was on it at the curb), some baby MC Hammer pants for halloween, two topponcinos for our new baby, 4 topponcino covers, and 11 flannel receiving blankets. I also made tablecloths for a couple other classes in the school, and have the materials to make table cloths and napkins for my own house!
I have boys, so I will probably stick to target when it comes to their clothes, but I’ve heard that pillow case dresses are super simple for girls, and that may be a really easy and precious re-use for the fabric from Clara’s pictures (maybe for another year’s worth of pictures with the same fabric!?).
Hang in there, and know that you will get better and better! Have you already learned that to easily rip whole seams, you should insert the “ball” side of the seam ripper and pull it along, and that the pointy side is for ripping out single stitches? That was HUGE in saving me time sewing!
Hugs and comfort from Texas,
Renee
Christina P. says
I have to ask- where did you get Clara’s letters for the refrigerator? They’re adorable!!
YoungHouseLove says
Those are from Etsy a while back. Love them! More info here: http://blogs.babycenter.com/life_and_home/not-your-mothers-magnetic-letters/
xo,
s
Mandy says
I TOTALLY get it!! I begged for a sewing machine from the hubs 3 Christmases ago, and have used it, and f’ed up every time, like 5 times. The hubs however, has the magic touch and can get it to work every time. And thanks for the laughs, cuz I could totally imagine all the scenarios you wrote about, and have lived them all!!
Missy G. says
I feel your pain. I was gifted a sewing machine over a year ago for my birthday, and I just took it out of the box last week. I wanted it, my momma gave it to me, but I was still scared of it. Ha!
At least you don’t have to deal with John knowing more about sewing than you do. Oh, yea, my hubby was telling me what to do when I couldn’t figure out how to get the bobbin loaded with thread. Ack!
Sarah Mc says
Oddly enough this makes me want to learn how to sew and buy my own machine…
LoriD says
My husband backs out of the room slowly when he discovers that I have pulled out the sewing machine again. Nothing frustrates me more than that machine. I feel your pain.
Liz W. says
It sounds like you have some family members who could teach you, but maybe it’d be easier to invest in a little sewing class! Think of all the opportunities…throw pillows…duvet covers… a quilt for Clara’s first big girl bed… totally worth it!
amber says
I feel your pain. I love all things crafty and generally can get the hang of ’em. But sewing?!?!? I borrowed my sister-in-law’s machine last year so I could sew my own garter for my wedding. The first attempt was more like a ridiculous 1980s hair thing (band? I dunno!). The second one? I wore it. But my husband made fun of me. :) I also tried the fabric flags, hoping to add a certain panache to my best friend’s bridal shower. I only got as far as cutting out the triangles… So you should feel GREAT about your accomplishment! The banner is just lovely and I’m sure Clara will love it forever. :)
Caity says
So proud of you! The thought of using a sewing machine makes me cringe, so I can relate…and that banner turned out beautifully!! Give yourself a pat on the back :)
*pat*
Toni says
Oh man…I feel your bobbin pain! I too had an incident (w/ a Brother machine as well) with using the wrong size of bobbin! Let’s just say that instead of throwing it out of my 2nd story window I returned it to the store thinking it was the machine’s fault. I got a “more advanced” sewing machine for Christmas and wasn’t until then that I realized I was at fault (darn bobbin sizes) and not the machine! Have another Brother and LOVE it! :) Good luck on the sewing!
andrea says
Sherry!
Oh no you poor thing! Funny enough I just started an intro to sewing class last night, but we are using a singer machine with is on sale at joann fabrics for 149.99 right now! I am thinking of buying one.
Is there a class nearby where you could maybe get some help or some pointers? I am loving sewing, but only cause I had an awesome instructor!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup I definitely plan to sign up for some local classes for help. Goodness knows I need it!
xo,
s
Lauren says
I loved this post! While it wasn’t a good experience for you, your writing about it was hilarious. I could definitely feel your frustration. Your banner looks so good, even after all the heartache. The nice thing about sewing is that it gets easier with more practice. You become more familiar with your machine and how to do stuff that projects start going a lot faster. Keep at it!
Dixie Redmond says
You did a great job persevering. Sometimes it really is the sewing machine. Adorable and festive. Sewing is really fun, btw. You can make your little girl some fun clothes. :-)
Ally says
I have to admit, I couldn’t help but giggle reading this! EVERYONE who first starts out sewing goes through that exact situation… I have burst into tears at that stinkin’ machine more than I can tell you! I suggest practicing over and over and before you know it you will be whipping out all sorts of fabulous creations :-)
Jessica says
I think it looks great, and getting the points on triangles to look good isn’t always easy.
IME, tension problems–rat’s nests of thread, breaking needles, etc–are almost always because the machine or bobbin is threaded wrong. (Or because my son has been playing with the knobs.) And it can be easy to skip a threading step without even realizing it. But practice makes perfect, and I think you’ve won the first battle–persevering when you wanted to tear out your hair and throw the machine through the window, not necessarily in that order.
Michelle says
it’s not you, it’s that sewing machine. I purchased that same one to as my first sewing machine (had a little bit of experience using my mom’s) and it gave me nothing but trouble. Ended up returning for my sanity. I have a singer now that I love!