First Name: Jean City/State: WA Sin Category: Other A new Start Confession:: After being without a machine for 3 years, I have just bought a Viking Lily. I think my husband is going to strangle it in a fit of jealousy. With this new machine, I hereby swear an oath on my boxes and boxes of fabric that I will become a pure and perfect seamstress. I promise I will always pre-wash. I promise I will never again wear a garment BEFORE finishing the seams or adding the lining. I promise I will make those muslin shells when appropriate and cut down on my "waddies." I promise I will never buy another project while working on my current one. I promise I will press after EVERY seam. Wait...I think I hear the sewing angels laughing their heads off. Is there a sewing equivalent of Hail Marys? First Name: Kate City/State: Confustion Sin Category: Other Pretending to have something done on time Confession:: Yup, like so many passive-aggressive people, I said yes to people who wanted clothing when they didn't need or deserve the time spent in making them. Half of them got what they deserved, half of them got clothes. First Name: Lizz City/State: outside of chicago Sin Category: Other so close Confession:: I should have put all of the above next to other. I have a room that is dedicated to my sewing habit. I now have a TAX # so I buy fabric by the bold (goddess help me). The hubby had had to make shelves to house all the fabric. I still go to the fabric stores and find fabric there as well. I'm sick. I have 3 machines a vintage singer, embroidery straight stitch machine, a singer XL 5000 and a singer basic. (can't think of the model) To the big sin I'm really good about finishing things for friends although it takes me forever, where I get hung up is finishing a project for me. I have three dresses at this very moment that have been waiting 2 years for me to finish the hem and put the zipper in. I also skip steps all the time, but usually sewing karma bites me in the butt when I do that. First Name: Debra City/State: Minnesota E-mail: jacklver@yahoo.com Sin Category: The wonders of fusing & gluing Confession:: Well, I am not a very experience seamtress.. but I have slowly gotten into more sewing since the kids wanted halloween costumes.. and now my girls have me hooked on Ren Faire! The Ren Garb is surely the hardest clothing I have attempted. I have made a lot now- everything, shirts, bodices, "kirtles" Doublets, breeches... But my sins are many. I had to adjust the patterns for diffent man sizes, and one Doublet- I forgot to add onto the lining..it was too short! I didn't have enough fabric to make new lining- so I took the scraps and used iron-tape to glue the extensions onto the lining pieces. Good thing it was for my family only! One bodice I made- the back said "cut two". I thought oh if I just cut it on the fold, it will be easier- one piece not two... Well, it turned out that DUH I couldn't turn the thing right side out after it was put together!!!! There was a reason the back was made in two pieces! I had to cut the back in two anyway- and fortunately had learned about bound hems so I covered my mistake fairly well..... I have learned the internet has a WEALTH of s ewing instruction! Sites like this one are SO wonderful. First Name: Cat City/State: Los Angeles Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: My sweetheart sews more than I do, so we are both guilty of stashing fabrics. While I must have more kinds of fabric, his are bulkier and heavier, so we're about even quantity wise. When he was unemployed, he wanted to make a pair of floor length simple white cotton curtains for our living room. Neither curtain is hemmed, one is just pinned onto the rod (people think we did it on purpose, since the pins are brightly colored) The other curtain, if hemmed would be 10" off the floor, above the dog's bed. Since it isn't hemmed, the dog sits on the bottom edge of the curtains and they are covered in dog hair. My sweetheart has currently been employed since last september, which means those curtains have been that way for over a year... my sin: I have not taken those curtains down myself and fixed them either. First Name: Shelley Kay City/State: Grace, TX E-mail: 1derwhy@usa.net Sin Category: Other Running my mouth Confession:: Heeeee! Hi Sewgeeky. I found your site from the Crafty thread on TT ;) I have a friend who is a professional seamstress specializing in antique costuming. A dear friend was getting married, and I offered to help get all of the wedding costumes out in time. She was thrilled and needed the help. So as we worked and chatted, we related sewing disasters. She told me about catching up a fold of fabric in the seam she was serging, not realizing it for a good eight inches, and the havoc which ensued. Being a snot, I laughed and said "I don't think I've ever done that. At least I don't remember it." Three seconds later, while sewing up the underarm seams of a groomsman's shirt... guess what I did? Karma's a beyatch, ain't she? First Name: Kim City/State: UK Sin Category: Other gone but not forgotten. Confession:: My boyfriend bought me a lovely bettie page tshirt as a gift. Only problem was it was too big. So, after many months of it beinf stashed away in my drawer, I got out my overlocker(serger) and began to cut and sew. My overlocker was having a fit. I broke a needle. Then my cutting blade made a great big hole in the sleeve. I was having a bad sew day. The tshirt lies mangled in a box somewhere, its on my 'to do' list. He often asks why I dont wear it........ First Name: Rita City/State: Cleveland, Ohio E-mail: hjbrfb@aol.com Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: My confession is that I am using this confessional for another purpose (although my sewing sins are many). I, too, have been chosen to sew a Dalmatic and stole for my son and, though I have spent weeks on the internet, have not been able to find a pattern for either. But lo and behold I was smiled on and led to your site. The dalmatics and stoles you have created are beautiful and, believe me, I know the work that has gone into them. I did try to do one with a choir robe pattern and that drove me crazy and I gave up. Would you please be so kind as to share with me where you got the pattern for your dalmatic and stole. I would be ever so grateful and promise that I will come back later and share all of my sewing sins with you. Have a blessed day. Rita First Name: tasha Sin Category: Other lazy! Confession:: a friend asked me to alter some of her clothes, since she had lost aprox. 50 lbs and so none of her lcothes fit her, but she was in her in between stage and didnt want to buy anything since she was still losing weight. this was a year ago. Her clothes are in a bag, all half- finished except for a dart or a seam finishing. Now I feel like such a cad for not having given them back yet that I haven't seen her in months! First Name: Susan City/State: Los Angeles Sin Category: Other I moved in and so did.....THEY Confession:: My wonderful boyfriend and I moved in to his beautifully decorated-with-help-of-his-Interior-decorator-Aunt, and the first thing I did was..... Um...take over a whole section of his kitchen drawers for fabric and park a big 'ol folding table for my serger and straight stitch machines behind his perfectly coordinated couch! I DID sew him some really neat stuff, but I think I'm the only girl I know who actually took over her boyfriend's kitchen for SEWING purposes! First Name: jennifer City/State: knoxville, tennessee E-mail: telepath48@hotamil.com Sin Category: Other Being notoriously cheap Confession:: I was combinging two patternes to make a dress with a circular skirt and princess seamed bodice with staps. I had enough fabric to make the skirt and line it but I didn't have enough for the bodice. So i fitted the pieces into the leftovers from the skirt and one side front is on the wrong grain. For the lining I used some fabric that I ripped out of a skirt I made before and didn't like. None of those lining pieces grains match. After that I added a zipper that hardely worked from the projected I ripped the lining out of the skirt. It doesn't look half bad^_~ First Name: Helen City/State: Marietta, GA Sin Category: Other sewing machine addiction Confession:: I have several machines and have given several machines and am looking at another machine. I have 2 singer redeyes, a 201, an athena, and a 6268. I also have a vigorelli and a viking. I gave away a Kenmore to my ex-husband and his wife and a Riccar to her sister. I bought my mother an old singer portable in a case. Now I really want another sewing machine - it looks so pretty. I can only sew with one at a time, but they just seem so beautiful and each one does a different thing the best. First Name: Lauren City/State: Chi, IL Sin Category: Other sewing machine neglect Confession:: I have 2 sewing machines, both about 40-50 years old, and I haven't ever had them tuned up... I'm evil!! First Name: Helen City/State: Georgia Sin Category: Other All of above and more Confession:: I have several machines - 2 just alike with the "redeye" paint on them. They needed a good home, not some anonymous person from ebay that wouldn't give them true love. Then I needed one that was OK to sew on. And my old one from when I was 15. And the one that looked like the picture on the sewing book. And the one that I found behind the old lawnmower when I finally cleaned out the shed while moving to another home. And the one that I gave to my ex-husband and his wife. I have a fabric stash that started in the early 70's. Some of it is too ugly to sew, and some of it is inappropriate to the life I live now. Some of it (about 10 yards) is bulletproof bright red polyester from 1977. My problem is congenital - my mother has so much fabric that when she got sick one time my grandmother had someone come in from a resale store to give an estimate on how much it would be worth as a job lot. Now one of her friends told her that if you believe the bumper sticker that "she who dies with the most fabric wins" then Mom is already the winner. As to the confessional part of this trip down memory lane - when I get homesick for childhood, I have to go to the nearest fabric store that I can find and spend time among the fabric and patterns. Since I don't know where there are any second-hand places near me where I can get old patterns, 10 cent crochet books, and the like, I spend way too much time on ebay trying to find patterns. I am now really addicted to the old Vogue patterns from 1956-1958. They had style and detail back then, even in the large sizes. I wonder if 50's patterns and 70's fabrics could make a wardrobe for a 2003 woman? First Name: Jean Sin Category: Other Denial of age Confession:: I have taken up cross stitch after ignoring it for about 13 years. I was a teen when I last did it so you wouldn't think I would be falling apart at my age. My vision has always been bad, but it isn't much worse than it was at 15. Either I'm aging fast or the eight hours/day of a computer monitor is getting to me. I started a nice, easy, rose on 22 sq/inch fabric and nearly made myself black out after an hour. I need one of those magnifying glass things. But I don't want to need it. I'm really bitter over this. First Name: Catherine City/State: Berkeley, CA Sin Category: Other Just a question! Confession:: WHERE did you get that baby monkey pattern? I'm looking all over for a monkey pattern for my two-year-old for Halloween. Could you post it in your sewing diary, please? Thanks so much! First Name: Erin City/State: Fargo, ND Sin Category: Other "Oh...I don't need a pattern for this..." Confession:: Last week I was trying to sew some "viking" pants for my boyfriend...for an upcoming Rennaisance festival outing. I didn't need a pattern for something as easy as pants!. Measure waist, length, fold fabric over, and cut. First I almost ended up with an 100" waist band! After sewing everything up, the butt area comes no where near fitting him. I crumpled the whole thing up and threw it on the floor. Tomorrow I shall attempt to fix the whole mess... First Name: dee-dee City/State: Oahu E-mail: stinkalot@yahoo.com Sin Category: Other "playing" with my needles Confession:: Well, I like to "play" with my needles. All of the time. Every day. No matter what you say. With my dog. With my cat. I play with needles. And that is that. So dont make fun. Or call me weird. Or I'll play with your needle. And stick it in your ear. First Name: Neelam City/State: Miami Beach/FL E-mail: maria0024@yahoo.com Sin Category: Other Stingy me! Confession:: I'm dying to sew garments and sell them for profit. People stop me at work and ask me if I sew for other people. Still, whenever I sew something that looks halfway decent I can't bear to part with it!!! I just have to keep it for myself. I finally made a tank that looks halfway decent but I'm still too lazy to try to sell it to anyone! First Name: Ismene City/State: Reseda, CA Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: I hate to "waste time" making a muslin. For the bodice I'm making right now, the cotton lining is the "muslin" that I'm making adjustments on. Other sins: non-stop pattern hording. I have at least 10 or 12 different patterns for Renaissance bodices. And I keep buying more. (Only when they are are on sale though.) What is really wrong about this, is that I don't even use them. I draft my own patterns. And my most recent sewing sin, was that while making curtains I realized that I could avoid sewing another hem... if I lined them up right and took advantage of the selvedge. Everyone who sees them loves the "design" choice I made there. First Name: Mia City/State: Orange County, CA E-mail: www.giddy.tk Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: I'm so ashamed... I couldn't say this anywhere other than among friends... Gulp... about 6 weeks ago, I decided to make kitchen curtains. I went and bought some beautiful blue linen fabric and even was inspired and made a fabric stamp pattern all over them. This is a two part confession... 1) I am a complete geek and I decided to copy the Simpsons' curtain pattern of corn, only on a blue background. This was hand-stamped by a custom template (and it actually turned out pretty cool). 2) I hung the curtains to see how they looked... just hung the fabric over the rod and secured with straight pins. Then, I realized in my spur-of-the-moment decision to make these corny curtains, I didn't buy matching thread. To this day, the curtains are STILL HANGING THERE without being sewn. First Name: Kitty City/State: Chicago, IL Sin Category: Other I hope she doesn't notice Confession:: OK. So I admit that Kitty is not my real name but I would be absolutely horrified if this got out. Here goes. I recently made a jacket for a client that is absolutely gorgeous. Everything came out wonderfully until I got to the very end. The CB seam of the jacket is french and the jacket has a peplum. Horror of horrors, when I was putting together the peplum I attached both jacket fronts at the side seams in a doublestitched seam before I noticed that the jacket back was inside out. Since it's a french seam I continued to attached the jacket to the peplum and I'm just praying that she doesn't notice. I'm going to burn aren't I??? First Name: Helen City/State: Australila Sin Category: Other Procrastination and hoarding. Confession:: Last year, late June, My husband bought himself some lovely trousers to wear out to dinner for our anniversary. They were a bit long, but we decided that I, who can make an entire outfit, could easily take them up. For one reason or another, we changed our minds about the dinner. I can't remember why - hope it wasn't the undone trousers, but suspect it was. Anyway, the pants didn't get done right then because there was now no rush. I finally did get them done - about two weeks ago. He's a little thinner now, but the pants still sort-of fit. Oh well. I'm also a hoarder, when I can afford it. It's not too big a stash - two big plastic boxes, an old chest and some big plastic garbage bags (plus UFO box), but I just can't pass by a remnant bin - my son is still small enough for them to be useful. So the stash is growing, and the husband is my accomplice, happily buying that piece of satin or linen that I can't afford right now. There's also a few pieces of shirting in there that he bought for himself. Lucky Me! Also, I have a lovely satin circle skirt for bellydancing that's been hanging for about six months now. I think it's probably safe to do the hem! Maybe now the boy is at kindy I'll get some sewing done? First Name: eli City/State: Cold Spring Harbor, NY Sin Category: Other Cool! Confession:: I love those space vixens! First Name: Lucy City/State: UK Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: I have only recently developed my sewing addiction. In April I went to the Whitby Gothic Festival for the first time, and decided that, since I had no money for expensive and flamboyant outfits, I would have to make something dramatic for the main evening event. I had a large amount of white fur fabric (a sin in itself - I was supposed to sew a pair of big fluffy cat-paw-shaped slippers for a friend, and just never did it). I decided I would make a *bunny* costume. I had no patterns, no sewing machine, and not very much time. I took over the dining room of my houseshare (it leads through to the kitchen, so this isn't convenient). I made a white fur miniskirt using an existing skirt as a pattern. I made separate 'playboy-bunny'-style collar and cuffs, using fusible interfacing and a whole lot of Wundaweb (brand name for fusible hem tape). My iron still bears the scars - shrivelled brown burnt bits of wundaweb which haven't been cleaned off yet. I made pink lamé self-cover buttons, and a pink lamé bow tie (the pink lamé is a testament to my remnants addiction). I put together some rather wonderful white fur bunny-ears on a headband (based on a duct-tape and wire frame. Three cheers for duct tape!) Finally, I was ready to make the top. I stated out trying to use a waistcoat as a pattern. I was running out of fabric. I cut. I sewed. I tried it on. It was weird. I sewed darts in it, all over. And more darts. I put in the zip. I sewed *more* darts. I cut it shorter. I fiddled with the shoulder-bits. In the end, the only way to make it fit and cover my underwear was to sew it to my bra. Even then i had bra-edges peeking out of the arm-holes. It worked, in the end; it looked good, was mostly comfortable to wear, and got my photo taken four times. It was worth it (even if the headband elastic was too tight!) First Name: Suzie City/State: Bartlesville, Oklahoma Sin Category: Other Started, never finished Confession:: Several years ago I ambitiously started a crib-sized quilt for an expecting friend. I pieced it and basted it together... I even started to quilt it. At her shower, I gave her the quilt (unfinished) as my gift. After everyone oohed and ahhed over it, I took it back, saying "I'll finish quilting this and get it right back to you." It is still in my sewing room, in a box labeld 'need to finish." It has been (at least) three years. The child is probably in preschool. I have no idea where that friend even lives now. I'm a terrible, horrible person. First Name: Sam City/State: UK Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: Forgive me SewGeeky, for I have sinned. I don't stash fabric around my house. I live in a small studio apartment with my husband. I stash it at a friend's house. And she doesn't sew. And when my husband saw the stash at said friend's house and thought the colours looked like my sort of colours, he asked her who the ROLLS of fabric were for. And she said they were for her mother. And her mother doesn't sew either. Forgive me SewGeeky, for I have sinned. I was once too scared to put some lovely silk chiffon under my sewing machine. So I made up the top by hand and wore it out to dinner. And it was only BASTED together. And I wore it three times. And when it came time to send it to the drycleaner (and therefore sew it together), I threw it in my box labelled 'things to do when I'm bored'. And its still there. Sigh. I'm such a bad girl. First Name: michele City/State: modesto, ca Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: Years ago, with kids underfoot, I took a class for handprint wall quilts. I enjoyed making and giving these. I joined a guild. My enthusiasm found me stockpiling a stash so great that if I (gasp)stopped buying today, I might have enough sensuous, beautiful fabric to supply my needs for life. I used to believe one had either time OR money. For a while, I have both. No room though. Laugh and say 36 Hail Mary's. Hey, how about beautiful quilted coffin liners? You CAN take it with you! First Name: Michelle City/State: Antioch/CA E-mail: sissyjane98@yahoo.com Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I sin all the time. My biggest sin involves my checkbook. DH has a healthy appetite ,and doesn't mind checks written to Safeway, soooo I bet you can guess the entries written in my check register. They may say Safeway, but my favorite fabric store cashes the check. First Name: Let's Just say it's "Red" City/State: Atlanta, GA Sin Category: Other I hate being a plus size petite Confession:: Oh sewgeeky, I have sinned... First and foremost I hold a B.S. in Apparel Design and didn't get a goddamn thing out of that degree...I have a mannequin that supposedly I can stuff to make it look like my body, but somehow it never will... Anyways, being a size 16 petite woman is a horrid thing. Size 14 on top, 16 on bottom. Petite sizes in that range are hard enough to find clothes for, you know? I make long jackets (I refuse to make pants for myself)and I still have to engineer a way to accomodate for my short back. Jesus. Sometimes I just have the alterationist do the double darts in the back. See, that's why I need a clone! First Name: Stephanie City/State: Bethesda, MD Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I shop for fabric online all the time at work. It's all so economical compared to my local fabric store (G Street Fabrics) and much nicer than the stuff I can find at Hancock Fabrics, which is a 30 minute drive away on the interstate. (side note: I live right outside Washington, DC. Why is it so difficult to find good sources?) Anyway, I probably have 20-30 yards of fabric at home right now. I will catch up with it someday, I promise! First Name: Jennifer City/State: Los Angeles, CA Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: Where do I start? I've never prewashed, I don't even iron the fabric before I start cutting to get those wrinkles out. And I don't even bother to baste anything...not even the zippers! Actually my technique works out well...my zippers normally come out right on the first try. As for the rest, well it hasn't burned me yet! First Name: Lisa City/State: North Carolina E-mail: lisalallylollipop@hotmail.com Sin Category: Other Riiiiiiiiip Confession:: Kay guys........i was wearing a jean skirt, and i was bored so i decided to go jump on the trampoline......well, i did a round-off with my legs together, it was fine so i did another one........well, my jean skirt ripped!!! I have only worn it like 2 times and i LOVE it, is there any way to sew it back??????? (it's not on the seam, however, it is beside it) i desperatly need your help!!! e-mail me at the above address if u have any ideas or tips!! THANK YOU SO MUCH! First Name: catherine City/State: jacksonville beach fl E-mail: erinquinn33@hotmail.com Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: When I was a young single mother of two living on a very low budget, my dear brother sent me some beautiful fabric from Thailand. Since we lived by the Suwanee River I thought ah ha a bathing suit. (What was I thinking?) So I popped open my ironing board and put my Pfaff 295 on top because we didn't have a table and made myself a bathing suit. Down to the springs we went and within minutes my poor little six year old boy is screaming "Mommy, you're bleeding in the water". Well guess who had not prewashed her fabric! To add insult even as i got out of the water to get my towel the red dye continued to run down my legs. But I just scooped up my little sweeties and scooted on home First Name: Michelle City/State: Italy E-mail: cgalbreath@tiscalinet.it Sin Category: Other Poor Deb :...( Confession:: Poor Deb, geez you are a forgiving one. I would certainly have taken him up on the restashing WITH INTEREST! :I) If you find that pattern bank please post! First Name: Deb City/State: Contra Costa County California E-mail: sthelenawine@yahoo.com Sin Category: Other Pattern and Book Collecting... Confession:: PS Before reading:If you know of any company, on or offline who retains a 'pattern bank' going back to the(1960's would be fun too) 1970's through to the 1990's who will print out fresh copies of selected discontinued patterns, please email me at sthelenawine@yahoo.com Thanks! Hi there! I think my pattern addiction is similar to the fabric/notions compulsives here, reading everyone's stories it's good to know we're not alone! I must say I have been 'guilty' of most of the sewing mistakes/misjudgements described and think the only 'cure' is practice. As for why I think I collect and save,well,whenever I see something I like my thoughts run to, well, I might not see that again and 'gee, I would like to make that sometime.' or 'Oooh, that is such a cool [pick name of designer]evening gown,suit, etc.. what a fantasy to have that!' Anyway, here's my story, just a few months ago I had to let items in a shared storage locker 'go' because of financial difficulties due to lack of employment [and partly my roomate's own compulsive spending during the 2 months leading to the loss]-I do sporadic temp work and odd jobs now but this is not enough between myself and him who as 'payback' for years of my helping him[financial, counseling, etc..] is sharing an apartment with me now. Anyway, I managed to salvage the bulk of my items in storage but unfortunately almost 15 years of pattern collecting[going back to when I was 12!] neatly packed away in 3 large Glad Garbage bagged lined Boxes[to protect against moisture etc..] are gone forever along with many of my tailoring supplies and possibly many books that may be sewing related. As consolation for his contributing to losing my stuff this way and mismanaging the funds we were sharing through jobs, he's offered to help me 'restock' and darn it if I didn't catch myself just thinking about 'collecting' patterns for future projects and wondering just where I could go to have copies of long discontinued patterns made since sadly the patterns I'm seeing in McCalls, Butterick and Vogue are nowhere near as comprehensive as they were in the past, I could not find my old Diane Von Furstenberg or Calvin Klein jeans patterns either! I recently did a whole wardrobe of alterations for my roomate and he couldn't believe the results, plus, since he sewed canvas in the Navy now he's all interested in how to sew his own jeans and shirts and accompanied me to joann's fabrics where I picked up about 15 patterns-some men's ones in his size; many similar to what was lost and of course, some that are 'new.' I'd like to curb myself of buying patterns in the future so I'm going to try to learn pattern drafting so I can take the basic patterns I have and modify them based on the styles I see as fashion changes. I've always liked the idea of having 'my basics' and then mixing pattern pieces to make whatever pattern I'm using really have a nice custom 'fit' so maybe this will be somewhat of a curb but still, my pattern 'lust' was not curbed enough to prevent my buying the uniquely cut (you can see them at http://www.butterick.com )Vogue's Donna Karan 2539 and consider the lovely Vogue 2720 Bridal/Evening/Bridesmaid's pattern-some stuff you just can't duplicate by mixing and matching those pattern pieces.. PS:If you know of any company, on or offline who retains a 'pattern bank' going back to the(1960's would be fun too) 1970's through to the 1990's who will print out fresh copies of selected discontinued patterns, please email me at sthelenawine@yahoo.com Thanks! First Name: Kathryn City/State: CA Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Cheap and Lazy Confession:: We were pretty poor when I got married in the early 80's. My mother and I made all my bridesmaid dresses and I wore her gown. Sounds lovely, right? Well being the thrifty sloth that I am, I decided to use a nightgown pattern I had laying around the house. To add to the hideousness,the ruffles on the bottom of the dresses weren't sewn on in the proper direction of the fabric, so they all appeared a different color than the rest of the dress. First Name: Pinn City/State: Japan E-mail: fayrieland@hotmail.com Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: I never prewash. Never. I'm always in such a rush to see my finished work, I never iron either. I sometimes wind up with a complete mess but most of the time, I get away with it ;P First Name: Maia Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" First Name: Lauren City/State: PA Sin Category: Other think twice, sew once? Confession:: I was working on a dress for a theatrical costuming class - a princess bodice with piped seams, long sleeves and a 4-gore skirt. I flat patterned the dress according to my measurements, carefully lined the bodice, put a detail of sheer ruching over the center two panels, hand-stitched the bodice trim, and took three hours to hand-stitch the hem so it was just invisible. And then I put the dress up on a hangar to check out and discovered I'd sewn the sleeves in backwards. First Name: Melinda City/State: Columbia,SC Sin Category: Other Promises, Promises Confession:: I promised my grown daughter an Easter dress over a month ago. I DO have the pattern and fabric. Have even washed the fabric, but pattern cutting enertia has set in. I HATE,HATE,HATE the cutting out part of the operation. I need to take myself on a guilt trip to get started! First Name: Amy City/State: La Marque, TX E-mail: amystuff@juno.com Sin Category: Other Everything else! Confession:: Hi, Gang: Where do I start? I have so many. Had no idea so many folks thought like me, but finally, here I am. I have bought bits of fabric and occasional patterns when JoAnn's puts the Vogues on sale. I refuse to pay $25 for a pattern unless I'm going to the Academy Awards. However, since I'm a 12 on top and 14 on bottom, I have bought on sale duplicates, since the Donna Karans are sized 8-10-12 and 14-16-18. Darnit. I hope he doesn't notice. I'm afraid I do have a stash of them, and while I've disposed of most of the patterns from the 1980s, one day the 1990s will be next. I hope not. . . As far as a stash, I have scraps that I do want to use for projects. There is a neat book out there by Taunton called Quick To Make. You can read about it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1561585130/ref=pd_ir_imp/102-0756142-5718556 Miniature pincushions, overstitched things, summer skirts, all kinds of neat little things to do use up stashes and scraps. Hey, it could happen! Well, I love Threads magazine, and a few years ago they had a feature on raincoats. I was already considering making a summer raincoat, so this was right up my alley. I even used one of patterns they used, an Issey Miyake pattern (I think it's 1476.) I also made an accompanying rainhat, and used Seam Sealer just like they suggested. The edges are a bit frayed now, but it still looks good. However, it wasn't until after I watched Martha Stewart make something on the show with ripstop nylon that I discovered that. . .the shiny side is the "wrong" side of ripstop. I wish I'd know that a long time ago. It wasn't mentioned in Threads. After mine, I also made a coworker a green one just like mine when she moved to Paris (it rains a lot in Paris, I'm told, and it would be appropriate and take up little or no room.) I recently made rain hats for two relatives out of what was left of the scraps--these I did correctly. Maybe the next one will be "right." Last summer I bought fabric for 3 suits. I cut them all, and one got made but the other two didn't. Finally about a 2 months ago I finished the other two. One was a light brown "easy" pattern (it wasn't that easy but it looks good) and the other was a grey pinstripe with a black shirt with white collar and cuffs. A Vogue, naturally, more steps. I won't discuss the welted pockets that I'll "go back to one day;" no, just below one of the pockets was a little rip! After much fretting and a check to Sewing 911, I decided to patch it. The only method that seemed to work well enough was sewing a square of matching fabric over it, matching stripes, but it looked weird only on one side. So I put a patch on the other side in the same spot and it looks like it belongs there. Well, no one has questioned it. I also had another Vogue pattern for pants that I'd started last summer and they just didn't work. Lined, with pockets, and no matter what I did I couldn't make them come out right. I tossed the pants AND the pattern out and have not regretted it once. If I think of anything else, I'll be back. Amy the Redhead First Name: Cera City/State: Toronto E-mail: cmaugey@yahoo.ca Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I LOVE fabric (and yarn since I machine knit as well). I "store" my fabric in our travel suitcases (hubby doesn't look there, God forbid we have to travel soon the secret storage place will be revealed, since he does the packing). I have three suitcases full of wool suiting fabrics, and I won't even talk about the travel "bags"!! I cannot just go to the fabric store to "look", I HAVE to buy (thank God for this confession booth, I can say this knowing that people will totally understand this habit). So, I am in the stores looking at dress material, but my roving eye will go to the suiting section, and invariably there is a "sale", and next thing I know I am at the cash register with CC in hand, looking very startled, as if to say - "how the hell did I get here, was I sleep walking??" Oh yes, and I my famous line when I am leaving the store, usually on the stairs or escaltor -"thats it I am not buying anymore fabric, I have all I need". Gosh, the number of times I have told myself that lie will make even the keeper of hell blush!! First Name: candy City/State: Springfield, IL Sin Category: Other It won't show! Confession:: Being smart(for once in my sewing life!), I just did a trial run of my dd wedding dress. Got $4 worth of fabric, got the dress made, and fitted it to her. Hmm, only several minor adjustments needed! But she decided she REALLY wanted the trial dress to wear at a convention and had to take it w/her the next day. OKAY - I took visable darts in the back, shortened shoulder straps and wacked off excess, then - she stood on toilet as I hacked off bottom of dress and liner. I hemed outer layer, carefully cutting off vent thingies, and then since it was past midnight, just whacked lining shorter so I wouldn't have to mess with it. Amazingly, with a dressy little sweater to cover adjustments in back of bodice, it looks pretty good! First Name: Michelle City/State: Italy Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: My name is Michelle and I am a fabric addict. I read my husband some of these, he doesn't get it and often b*%&# at me for having the stuff trickling out of my designated area. I must also confess that I am a pig. I make messes everywhere I go. I've improved greatly, but it's like noticing a five pound loss on a 400# woman. To make matters worse my husband is a neat freak- how we survived together this long is a miracle. He's a nuclear engineer/I'm the artsy one. Anyway, we were back and forth between here and the States. We were driving by a Jo-Anns and he looks at me with disgust (the kind you reserve for people with no willpower) and says, "do you want to stop?" I said, "no" like I do when refusing dessert (another addiction, another board). So he whips in the parking lot, it's a rental, who cares about the alignment, right. I am not 2 feet in the door when I spot some neat fabric that would make...something, and ooh, what about that, and soon my arms are like fully loaded, when I spy some more. I am aware but surrealy oblivous to the shadow over me that I actually hover in case someone is eyeballing the next bolt, (back off people, I am on a binge). Oh crap-can I say that here (it's not what I said there)? The shadow had a a very deep, oddly familiar voice (have a grown a conscience-why now), it spoke and said, "What do you think you're doing?" I threw the bundle up in the air! I was so embarrassed, ashamed, and then humbled. He said, FINE, I'll be at the bar (conveniently situated 2 doors down, filled with forlorn, abandoned, hungry neglected husbands no doubt). I gathered my bundles, what was left of my dignity and soon forgot the whole ordeal while I was at the checkout, $300 lighter. He later told me he shouldn't have tempted me like that and was sorry-now this is perfect, he's apologizing for my trangressions- will it work at the Peraly Gates? He said he had a bad feeling and it was confirmed: You see I had made an illicit stop at a fabric store a few days earlier I had forgot about and had left the bags in the backseat. He found those while he was waiting in the car. I had made an illicit stop at a fabric store a few days earlier I had forgot about and had left the bags in the backseat. He found those while he was waiting in the car. I told him I forgave him, God just gave him all those brains and no common sense. I feel so much better now. Except we just arrived back after 6 weeks and our mail has really piled up. I had to make two trips to the post office to load all the boxes into the car. Thankfully DH is off on business again, well I now have to find a place in it all. First Name: Kit City/State: Virgina Sin Category: Other Lazy, lazy Confession:: I hate hems. Every other part of sewing is great, but those hems should just die. So in place of a hem on my pretty new jean skirt, I just zig-zagged an inch in and let it fray to that point. I get compliments on it and just pretend that I planned it to be all stylish. So add lying to laziness... :) First Name: Joy E-mail: joy.cormier2sympathico.ca Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" First Name: Anna City/State: Boston, MA Sin Category: Other Armchair Sewing Addict Confession:: Bless me, for I have sinned. I can't even sew, and I'm hopelessly addicted to patterns, books, and fabric. I've made a total of 4 A-line skirts in my sewing career, but have day-dreamed about dresses and quilts, slipcovers and drapes, linens and duvet covers... I buy fabric constantly and lie to the salesladies at the fabric store about how my 'projects' are coming... I read sewing books vintage and modern, draw little sketches in my project journal, furtively surf around reading sewing sites, but can't bring myself to face the menacing reality of my sewing machine (inherited from a friend's sister's ex-boyfriend's deceased grandmother... I kid you not on that one) I've ordered handmade clothing from internet seamstresses and passed it off as my own (eeek, forgive me for my pathelogical lies!!! what is WRONG with me??) and keep buying patterns and fabric and notions and gadgets... WHY, oh WHY can't I just sit down and learn how to do any of this...? I guess it's more fun to dream about perfection than deal with my own incompetancy... Help! First Name: James City/State: Arlington, Virginia E-mail: frostpup@hotmail.com Sin Category: Other No One Will See--It's A COSTUME Confession:: Forgive me, Sewgeeky, for I have sinned. FIRST, I agreed to make three Victorian gowns for the mother and grown up Wendy in "Peter Pan" even though I'm a principal in the show (Hook's sidekick, Smee). SECOND, I allowed my sewing goddess to talk me into using an authentic pattern so that the garment would be properly structured. THIRD, I decided that to get the best silhouette, I would have to make corsets--which of course drove my schedule back because I couldn't take measurements or do fittings until the coresets were done. PICTURE IT: there I was last night. I got home at midnight (rehearsal was WAY TOO LONG) and the next run is supposed to be in full dress--and I still had to finish the lining and the closures. Just as I was pulling a hank of thread through the beeswax so I could whip the lining to the facing, an evil spirit whispered to me: "NO ONE WILL SEE--IT'S A COSTUME." The next thing I knew, I was sitting in front of my sewing machine with the lining TOPSTITCHED into place, the garment held at arm's length, and me squinting and trying to figure out if it would read under the stage lights. I was horrified! And I'm positive that this is the same demon that told me: "DON'T APPLIQUE THE TRIM INTO PLACE--USE FABRI-TAC!" jc First Name: Jeanne City/State: So California Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" fabric and books and patterns and UFOs Confession:: I have so many UFOs, so much stuff. DH just catalogued books and what of the patterns he could find -- a grand total of 1026! Ebay, here I come!! When I moved to larger sewing quarters there were 169 archive boxes in the house (more bolts in the garage) and we stopped numbering the UFOs at 89. Ah me, I am assured of a long and fruitful life just so I can use all this stuff up!! First Name: Jeanne City/State: So California Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" fabric and books and patterns and UFOs Confession:: I have so many UFOs, so much stuff. DH just catalogued books and what of the patterns he could find -- a grand total of 1026! Ebay, here I come!! When I moved to larger sewing quarters there were 169 archive boxes in the house (more bolts in the garage) and we stopped numbering the UFOs at 89. Ah me, I am assured of a long and fruitful life just so I can use all this stuff up!! First Name: Jeanne City/State: So California Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" fabric and books and patterns and UFOs Confession:: I have so many UFOs, so much stuff. DH just catalogued books and what of the patterns he could find -- a grand total of 1026! Ebay, here I come!! When I moved to larger sewing quarters there were 169 archive boxes in the house (more bolts in the garage) and we stopped numbering the UFOs at 89. Ah me, I am assured of a long and fruitful life just so I can use all this stuff up!! First Name: Maryanne City/State: Chattanooga, TN E-mail: Sewbuggy423@aol.com Sin Category: Other Imaginary sewing Confession:: I have a horrible confession: I think far more about sewing than I actually DO. I buy fabric, patterns, notions, and never use them, never take them out of the package. I plan to; I intend to; I have a 'project' in mind for each purchase, but never actually do them! In fact the time I spend sewing is so miniscule that it hardly exists as I am so very busy with everything else. When I have free time, I shop...for sewing items, fabric, etc. And that is all I do! First Name: Jennifer City/State: Seattle, WA Sin Category: Other Biological Clock Confession:: I am knitting a layette set for a co-worker. I have made all kinds of cute little things for kids family and friends before. No big deal right? I made my first bootie and as it came together it was just so wee and cute that I began to gush over it. I was ready to shout, "Forget the long-term plan DH! We're having a baby now! I want to make all kinds of cute things for MY baby!" Egad! That has to be the dumbest reason to have a baby. Am I turning into one of those evil people who have babies just to dress them up? I need to be taken out and switched. First Name: Jennifer City/State: Seattle, WA Sin Category: Other Machine Envy Confession:: I want a Berina quilting machine. I want a Berina quilting machine. The model I want is $2500. Gulp. My lovely husband got laid off. We are living on my pitiful, government employee's salary. We just paid for our wedding. Our computer and stero system are both slowing dying. We need to save for a house. We've set a goal of having a child in the next five years. I won't mind having to drive an old clunky Mom-mobile. I don't care if I have to wear Goodwill. I don't mind cutting back on my eating out habit. It didn't even bother me that we did a small wedding. But I waaaaaaaaaaaant a fancy sewing machine. Gosh, I'm a spoiled brat, huh? First Name: Jennifer City/State: Seattle, WA Sin Category: The wonders of fusing & gluing Confession:: I made a BM dress for my sister's wedding. I didn't have time to hem, so I used fusable tape and everyone gushed over it. I wore the dress afterwards - in fact it lasted longer than her marraige. I hope I didn't jinx her! First Name: Jennifer City/State: Seattle, WA Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I want to sing, "I'm not alooooooooooone!" I started five years ago when I ended up borrowing my boyfriend's dead grandmother's sewing machine. I first made Christmas Stockings, than a BM dress for my sister's wedding. Within a year I was making a good % of my clothes with dreams of someday wearing my own perfectly-tailored, Armani look-alike suits. I had ideas faster than I could sew and soon my closet shelves were stuffed with patterns, fabric and notions. I had all the materials for my first suit, black velvet bought on sale to make a stunning evening gown, enough batting and little squares for three king sized quilts! Yes, I had enough fabric and supplies to fill a garage but unfortunately I was in a 450 sq. ft apartment. Well I got rid of the BF. I asked to buy the sewing machine from him since he didn't plan to use it. He wouldn't take money but insisted that I "keep it and think of him." Noooooo! I wanted to move on so I gave it back. I haven't replaced it yet, nor have I given away all the fabric that I bought. I took up crocheting. I now have added a mountain of yarn to the other collection. I did move on from the boyfriend - a few months later I was dating a lovely man who recently became my husband. Unlike others, I don't have to hide my craft horde from him. He has nearly 100K baseball cards, so we just have to be tolerant of each other. First Name: Virginia City/State: Fairfield, CA E-mail: no way Sin Category: Other lying to DH Confession:: Forgive me for I have sinned. I have lied to my husband about the time I spend sewing. I work out of my house so it is easy for me to take a day off to sew, even though I have pressing work committments. My husband has noticed that my bills are not being paid but that is due to slow business. I have gone so far as to sew all day, quickly shower, change into work clothes, vaccum up the threads, and bring in takeout because I am so tired from a frustrating day in sales. I have snuck into my house a Viking Designer 1, a Pfaff 7530, a Viking 936 serger and a Babylock Imagine serger. I have a fabric stash which I thought was incredible but based on the accounts in this chronicle, I am not so out of range. I am also a painter who has not lifted up a paintbrush in 4 years, in spite of receiving a $500 easel as a gift three years ago. Is there a sewholics anonymous? First Name: Donna City/State: Lenoir City, Tennessee E-mail: lol...no way Sin Category: Other sewing machine Confession:: To begin with i had a perfectly good sewing machine...but it did free motion quilt...so asking my husband's permission could I go and look at machines...well called him on the phone and told him the machine I want is 1200.00...He said fine...well the next week I went back and upgraded...lol...forgot to tell him..well he will never notice anyway...had that one for 6 weeks and decided to upgrade again because I needed a full size machine to free motion quilt...the reason I was buying a machine to begin with...so thought well I will have to tell him...He said fine...so I got the 165 without embroidery..I told her I may be back and purchase the embroidery...well 3 weeks later I went back and got the 180 and the embroidery...and 5 months later upgraded again...to the biggest machine they have...Now I am sitting here thinking what am I going to do now...where do I go from here...I'm addicted...and I left out the many accessories and FQ's I purchased along the way...oh but wait...this week I got the designer software and 3 days later called her back and got the designerplus....It's scary what's happened to me...I used to be so conservative...I think I have snapped...well bye all....and take my advice just get the big machine to start with....lol First Name: Liz City/State: Southern CA Sin Category: Other Fear of finishing: Fabric Stashing; gluing Confession:: I have a fear of finishing anything! My first 2 smocking projects, both beautifully smocked, all cut out & mostly sewn up for my first daughter were never completed - they are a size 2. My daughters are now 4&7. Actually, I have several smocking & embroidery projects that I have put hours of work into and are beautiful - not a single reason not to finish them & be proud. But I lose interest and go on to the next project. Which then doesn't get finished. Etc. I also have a serious fabric habit. Every piece of fabric lovingly purchased has it's own story and it's own project - I don't often buy fabric unless I have a project in mind for it. But do they get sewn up? Noooo. So my sewing room is taken over by piles of fabric and well over 20 plastic storage bins full of same. One trick I've learned is if your fabric is in a pile, and you just happen to throw more on the pile, your husband doesn't notice that the pile is suddenly a little bigger... Lastly, the last dress I made was for a meeting the next day. I had heard about the wonders of using fusible thread in the serger, so I thought I'd use that for the hem and sleeves. No one told me it was just a basting technique! The dress had a long slim skirt in a border print with a very long vent in the back and a button front. There I was with this huge, 6" faced hem (so when the skirt opened you'd see the border, not the backside of the fabric), and it kept falling down 'cause I'd only fused the !@#$ thing up. You'd think I'd learn, but two weeks later I grabbed the same dress to show to a group of online sewing friends I was meeting for the first time. I could tell they were appalled..... Boy, confession sure IS good for the soul! Thanks!!!!! First Name: Cathy with a C City/State: Michigan Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" Confession:: Where do I even start? I have fabric everywhere in the house....the linen closet, kitchen cabinets, under the bathroom sink, car, beneath the bar, on the pool table, you name it. I do have a sewing room also with plenty of storage and I believe I keep Rubbermaid in business. I have a horrible habit of piecing quilt tops, but rarely finishing them. One time, DH had the nerve to comment on this, so I went to Big Lots, bought a cheapie quilt, cut off the tags and told him I made it, he never knew the difference! I also collect sewing machines, I'm up to 31 at last count. A few years ago, I bought a serger, but told DH that my friends cousins MIL gave it to her as a present, but she didn't want it so she gave it to me (he believed it!!!). I told him I paid $100 for my Handiquilter and $200 for the Brother machine to use with it, in reality, that set-up ran me $1200. I once bought a Featherweight sewing machine on Ebay, then handed it over to my friend who then told my DH that she found it at a garage sale for $25 and would he like it? He gave her the cash which she returned to me which I in turn went to the fabric store and traded it in for more fabric. I'm sure I'll be going to Hell with I die, where the streets are paved with bright orange double knit polyesther and sewing machines with no bobbin case....I just know it! First Name: another Kathy City/State: Ohio Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" skipped steps and fabric addiction and ufo Confession:: I was sure I could finish the skirt and blouse before I was to wear it that night. As the time to leave approached everything was done but the hem on the blouse. I guess if it was a skirt or pants hem, I might have had to think about tape or glue but I just tucked it in. Forgot I had not finished it the next time I went to wear it and wore it the same way again. Did finish it before I washed it. I was lucky it had not frayed more than it had as it was a loose weave woven. I think I need to make living room curtains. Took a class in curtain making at least 20 years ago. Bought a bolt of fabric for the curtains and another bolt for the lining. I did finish one panel. Unfortunately, I need 4. The "temporary curtains from my grandma have been up those 20 years. I know they have to be replaced. First I got a letter from a stranger wanting to take my empty house off my hands. Then I could not figure out why my neighbors were getting grocery ads on their porches and I wasn't. Snow has been a real pain in the butt in normally pretty snowless Columbus but at least once the ads delivery person saw that the sidewalks were shoveled regulary, they realized someone does live here. Now if we ever get spring in Ohio, I first have to paint the living room, change the curtain rods and then make the curtains. I no longer want the original pleated curtains that I planned. The fabric is white thankfully so it will go with any changes in paint color. Fabric addiction: Some confessions: As I sit at the puter boxes are piled behind me. Six to 8 feet tall. This is not all the stash. A friend put up three 6 and a half foot long shelves for me in the sewing room. He did not believe me that I really needed more until he saw how quickly I filled those up. After a few weeks he had to do repair work. They collapsed under the weight! There is more but we would have to think about all the places it is hidden. When I return from vacations my mother always asks, "How much fabric and how many books?" Yes, I did have to mail some home once, it would not fit in the car. She went through a spell where she tried to pin me down to a numeric number on how much fabric I had. Told her I had no idea. This went on at least a month. At least once a week I was asked. Finally I came up with at least one answer. "I really have no idea but just to give you an idea, you know that quilt shop I go to in Missouri (I live in Ohio) when I pass by on vacations (and I had only been past about 3 times)?" She remembered me talking about it. "Well they have a 50 yard club. I have made it once, maybe twice or I am well on my way to twice." And I don't even quilt. And I am the Salvation Army for fabric donations from people who don't sew and have somehow ended up with fabric. They know I can't say no. And when fabriholic friend died (who had her mother's stash also) her daughters do not sew and I quickly doubled my stash. I try to use something of their grandmother's in anything I make for the friends grandkids even if it is just a trim or buttons if not fabric. Do I feel guilty? No. Sue Hausman (not spelled right but it is almost 4 AM) put in all in perspective for me several years ago when she said, "There is some fabric you will never find a pattern worthy of and stamp collectors don't use their stamps on letters nor do spoon collectors use thei spoons to stir their coffee." First Name: Kathy City/State: Syrause, NY E-mail: krcole@twcny.rr.com Sin Category: Other Sewing Engineer - No Train Confession:: Dear Kindred Sinners. I must confess I too am a pattern,fabric,book,notions,quilting,sewing, cross stitch and knitting sinner. Sorry I can't crochet. I have three embroidery machines two of which will actually sew, one actual sewing machine that is in my sewing room (which my husband said I could never have the living room with cabinets and a laminate floor, uh huh) and one great serger. Okay now downstairs I have a beautiful Wilcox and Gibbs treadle, a beautiful White Treadle, a featherweight (um not sure where that one is) and another singer that was my hubby's gram's in the garage... Sorry can't find room for it yet. I am trying to weed out my pattern collection. Yes I hear the screams; and have been considering taking them to the Rescue Mission/Salvation Army. I have had three bags in my trunk now for about three months and probably have about another 200 patterns to go. I figure with the winter weather they will carry some weight/traction. I have one pattern cabinet that is absolutely full that now must be emptyied to make room for my handiquilter and oops another Janome sewing/quilting machine. The patterns came from a long line of discontinued patterns and midnight raids on dumpsters. What fun it was flashlight and garbage bag in hand and the fun of putting them all back together and not being able to walk across a 20 x 80 family room floor. Well I thought it was fun. My children think I am obsessed and so my cleaning must start to make room for new. I have glued fingers together, glued fabric to pants, often used wonder tape to hem a dress and then can't figure out why it didn't work after the wash(duh). I sewed the skirt I was wearing into a dress I was serging on a side seam. It doesn't pay to stand while you are doing this. I once showed my wonderful brother I could stitch on leather and then ended up pulling the needle out of his eyebrow... I think he still has the scar. So who says you have to use a new needle for every project. First Name: Kathy Sin Category: "No one will notice if I skip this step" First Name: Rena City/State: Woodstock GA E-mail: renaanne@attbi.com Sin Category: Other All the above Confession:: Let's start with the fabric addiction....to date I have 2 dressers, a closet, a trunk, and have started running into the unfinished storage under the eaves of our roof! So when I made my daughter a new dress the other day did I use some of this fabric? NO...I used my old worn out jeans because I thought it would be cuter! Moving on to laziness....My daughters had beautiful heirloom Christmas dresses this year with gorgeous embroidery however they were safety pinned in the back because I didn't bother to put buttons. Guess I should buy some beauty pins??? Now for my wonderful drawer of misfits...I actually have a dresser drawer full of things that didn't quite work out but I couldn't bear to throw them away so I've kept them thinking someday, maybe I could fix them or return to the size I was when I was 8 to fit into the pants that were too small? I recently was working on a crazy quilted jacket for my daughter and actually made 2 of the same side of the jacket because muslin has no apparent right/wrong side! Guess now I'm making 2 jackets! Now for the just plain embarrassing... I actually sewed a pair of pants I was hemming to the pants I was wearing. I have serged sleeves shut while trying to stitch the side seam. I put fraycheck in an heirloom Christening Gown for a friend when I accidentally cut a HOLE in the gown while trying to trim off the stabilizer. I have used wonder under to hem things. I have made pants for my daughter that fit "SO WELl" she couldn't get them off to go potty...I skipped the chapter on ease! For all these things, I'M NOT SORRY! I have learned a lot in the last 10 years and collected more fabric than I could ever possibly do something with but I save it all....my girls will someday want to make baby clothes right? First Name: Mary City/State: Califnornia E-mail: Maywin333@yahoo.com Sin Category: Other Lying to husband Confession:: Oh sew geeky, forgive me, for I have sinned. It has been aeons since my last confession. My sin is a big, big, big one. For months I've been learning how to sew and sinning by stashing fabric and not telling hubbie. But now the big sin came. Yesterday I bought a $1200 Bernina Activa 135 and a $1500 Bernina Serger (with a coverstictch!!!!) and I opened a private line of credit and lied to my husband and told him it was a gift from my mother. Sewgeeky, this is an unforgivable sin, the dreadfulest sin I can think of, especially because I have no clue how I'm going to hide the payments from him (one year, no money down, no interest, lol) But, Sewgeeky, the machines are my dream machines and I let greed and lust get the better of me. Forgive me if you can sewgeeky, I am a humble sinner, a hopeless addict, and must turn over a new page and start at least being honest! It helps to type this out, you have no idea how bad I feel about this. First Name: Jackie City/State: Somewhere in the Rocky Mountains Sin Category: Other can't leave it behind Confession:: My husband and I are in the process of moving out of state for my job. So I'm driving out with what I can fit in my car until the husband sells the house; then he'll pack up, grab the dogs and drive out to our new home. Anyway, I'm insisting on taking my sewing machine with me. Apparently, I can get by with leaving behind my husband, dogs, friends and house, but not my sewing machine? This has become an obsession ... First Name: Julie City/State: Dallas/TX E-mail: PatternNFabricAholic@yahoo.com Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I started sewing when I was 3 years old -- a vivid memory of running over my finger on the machine, and my mother having to remove the needle through my finger with a pair of pliers. Then I got right back to work on making my doll dress. I go to the Quilt shows with a huge garbage can on wheels with a sign on it that says "FabricAholic On a Binge". Women stop me and take my photograph so they can show it to their husbands and/or quilt guild members at home, because they will never believe it without photographic proof. So my photograph is up on bulletin boards in meeting halls, quilt stores, etc. all over America -- I guess that makes me officially a certified nut. Sometimes, I have to take the can back to the car at lunchtime to dump it out into the trunk to make room for what I buy in the afternoon. I have taken up TWO large rooms in my home for my garment and quilt fabric, notions, patterns, yarn, cross-stitch, silk ribbon, crochet and miscellaneous craft items, plus all those books, magazines and leaflets. I have snuck fabric in the house while the Fabric Control Officer was not looking. I have LIED TO MY MAMA about buying fabric [my family nickname is "Ohhhh, Honey!!"]. I have carried it around in the trunk of my car, hidden it in the garage, and in the back of my closet to conceal my purchases. I once took a part-time job at a quilt shop for extra money. I spent what I made plus more. When I quit, the Owner's husband figured it up and found that even with my 20% employee discount, I had been the store's best customer for the year I had worked there. I became so addicted to buying vintage dress patterns on eBay, I got fired from a job for spending too much time on the web. It was a really boring job -- I am not very sorry. You know you are an addict when you spend some of your unemployment check buying vintage patterns and lace on eBay. My fabric stash started when I worked at Hancock's in high school, and now that I can buy on the Internet in my jammies, I have several hundred photocopy paper boxes full. And I just love it, and I am not ashamed, AND I AM GOING TO WIN THAT CONTEST ABOUT HAVING THE MOST WHEN I DIE!!! :-) I love your site. Rock on, sewers! First Name: E.Rak City/State: VA E-mail: leenathetomboy@aol.com Sin Category: Other Pattern? What pattern? Confession:: This is a big BAD sin, I'm sure.....I'm 15 years old, working on my first big sewing project as a costume for a convention, and I'm doing it all OUT OF MY BRAIN! I'm not using any pattern, muslin, or anything, I'm just running into Jo-ann's, running out with fabric, going home, and sewing everything up on my little beloved Toyota. Stupid? Yea. Disasterous? Yea, probably.. Wish me luck. (PS- It's not that bad so far! It's just a pleated skirt, but, sheesh, we never did skirts in Home EC, just pillows and boxer shorts....) First Name: Joanne City/State: Ottawa, Ontario E-mail: jtait@iwsinc.com Sin Category: Fabric Addiction Confession:: I can't believe the timing in finding this site. It's kismet! Just two nights ago my hubby laid it on the line and said I had to go through the stuff in the basement or it was all going to the Sally Ann (Salvation Army). I looked him square in the eye and told him that if he did that, I'd kick his a**. The "conversation" continued in this vane for a few minutes until he said, "OK, don't worry about your sewing stuff, just go through the other boxes and separate out the things you want to keep." What a doll! I'm still mad at him, though. What nerve, giving me ultimatums!!! LOL. Guess it's time I went through the stuff though. First Name: Renee City/State: Warner Robins, GA Sin Category: Other Didn't the MIL Prewash this before she used it? Confession:: My MIL had bought lovely red fabric and a white printed with red & other crayon colors with a design of little girls......she made a print quilt with a red ruffle, crib bumpers in the print with red piping and ties, and print sheets. Lovely crib set for the expected grandbaby. I got the leftovers so that I could make doll clothes for the cousins (one of whom was the big sister). Since MIL had been sewing since the 1950s or so - I figured that she had already pre-washed it and just cut & sewed doll clothes galore for my daughter and the other two granddaughters. Daughter promptly got the doll clothes grubby - so I threw them in the wash......which came out dark pink from the red dye. I called MIL and asked her if she had had to wash the crib set yet? Then I took the pink clothes over to show what I meant. (I had gotten a "duh?" comment on the phone call.) This was before Dye Catcher sheets for the washer & dryer - so those baby things got washed seperately for weeks until they quit bleeding red dye. MIL quit buying red fabric.....she still didn't see why she should wash the fabric before sewing with it - she likes the way that NEW fabric handles and looks so crisp...... Me - if I no longer remember if something was prewashed - I wash it AGAIN. I am allergic to dust mites, any way, it can't hurt me to work with freshly laundered fabric! First Name: Knotty Sin Category: Other Cheating in general? Confession:: I'm a boy. And when I was a teenage boy and very much impovrished,.. I would repair my ripped and torn clothing by hand. I lacked in thread and would use dental floss,.. I am assuming that this would qualify. KK! First Name: Melissa City/State: Traverse City MI E-mail: Iconfess@hoppintots.com Sin Category: Fabric Addiction