At a sewing class (loosely termed), my daughter was learning to sew and I was going only for the social, companion aspect. I was showing my daughter how to lay out and cut out a pattern, the "teacher" someone who has sewn for years pulled me up in front of everyone telling me I had done one thing wrong. She used her "superior" voice in an effort to make me feel small but my answer backfired on her, she was left slack jawed. I told her that I was trained in industrial methods, the way I was doing was how professionals do it. What did she pull me up on? How I cut the placement marks on patterns, I simply nick them with the tips of scissors, she wanted the whole silly tab to be cut around. Made no difference to the finished garment at all.
I always bit my tongue when she showed the others what to do, knowing that I could show better technique.
My daughter was just learning to sew and was working on a knot bag for herself. We had to go to a family funeral and were sharing a motel room with Mum and an Aunt. I had my knot bag and was showing Aunt, telling her that dd was making one herself.
Aunt then demanded dd make one for her, not the same as mine no she wanted hers different. The same but different, longer, wider bigger. Poor dd had no idea what to say, poor thing was only just learning to sew. I hoped that Aunt would forget the matter, she's gotten forgetful after suffering a slight stroke.
We saw her 2 weeks later, first thing out of her mouth was a shrill "where's my bag, I want my bag". DD hadn't even finished hers, in fact I think it traumatised her so much she hasn't sewn since.
Yea, it's irritating. It's not just soap though. I've had lots of unappreciative people received home made gifts. Oh well, they get taken off of my home made gift list immediately
One of my sisters complained that an item I had made her wasn't as good as the one I made our other sister. I had spent 4 hours on her item and 15 minutes on the other one. She'd tell me what she wanted me to make for her for Christmas and then would either turn up with a junk store $5 gift or nothing at all. One year I thought enough, no more handmade gifts and bought her a $9 tin of biscuits, the look on her face when she got it was classic. She did get the hint because from then on she at least has bought gifts for my kids.
I work in a store selling fabrics and yarn, even get customers wanting me to make things for them. One wanted me to crochet a shawl for her daughter's wedding, no pattern just a picture of exactly what she wanted. It would have been weeks of work, testing stitches, getting the size and yarn right and crocheting a full size shawl. I was curious when she needed it by was told Friday (this was a Tuesday) when I said no, she tried to get another staff member to talk me into it.
No it's not that heavy, I've only worn it twice since, over jeans. I got compliments from strangers. My husband on the other hand doesn't like it, he is very conservative and this is too out there for him.
It's been too cold to wear it, the open-ness of the crochet doesn't help on cold winter days.
Came together quite quickly, ws hoping to get it done within a week, only working of an evening in front of the tv, it took nine days but there were a couple of days when I didn't do any. The body is made in one piece from the top down and then the sleeves are crocheted onto the armholes. There is no sewing involved, which I loved.
I wore it to a wedding over a long black dress and also casually over jeans. The only thing I'd change is the length, the pattern warned it would drop when worn. Next time I will stop when it's 3 rows shorter than my measurement. It dropped so much that it ended up being ankle length, I was after 3/4 length.
The recommended yarn is not available here, online searches reccommended 10 ply but even that is really difficult to find here in Acrylic. I didn't want to spend a lot on 10ply wool until after trialling the pattern in cheaper acrylic. At a local yarn shop I was told that the tension guide meant 12 ply was used but every photo I saw the crochet was finer than 12 and even 10 ply - learned that by using 2 strands of 5ply. When I tried a standard 8 ply I found it perfect and settled on using Magnum Soft 8ply http://www.auspinners.com.au/products/browse-by-brand/panda/magnum-soft-8ply/default.aspx in Maroon - which is more purple than maroon. Used 5.5 mm hook.
As you can see in the picture I am not a small size, my measurements were for the XL but after a first fitting of the bodice I decided to go with Large instead.
Intend making this again, definitely going to try in cotton for Summer. It actually looks good when made without the sleeves too.
Oh don't you know you're not supposed to ever have plans of your own? Gleesh, that's rediculous especially if she lives right by you.
She didn't originally ask me because she had been told that I wouldn't make things for others, the one and only time I had refused a request was for my niece (her SIL), who wanted me to sew bridesmaid dresses. I explained that I find sewing for weddings extremely stressful, that I would end up in hysterical tears. Was even told by my husband to stop saying yes. I don't mind doing little fun projects, just with more notice.
I actually dropped myself into it even further - when she brought the fabric over I asked what the apron was supposed to be going over so I could get an idea of the length needed. The reply was her school uniform because they didn't have anything that looked old fashioned. Felt bad for my Great Niece seeing as she would be the only one in school uniform, actually know the feeling because I had memoried of it happening to me and how left out I felt. Sooo after searching my pattern and fabric stash, I made a dress as well.
After finishing the outfit, had just started working on the second apron, when they came over. She looked adorable in the outfit and was so happy with it. I told the 4 year old that she would get her apron today, she looked around and asked "where's my dress with flowers?". Just how do you tell a 4 year old that she wasn't getting one? The only problem being I didn't have any more suitable fabric. Will look for more today.
My Niece in law from my husband's side asked my mother if she could sew her daughter an apron for an up coming school thing. Mum said she couldn't but to ask me. Mum mentioned it to me last week, I asked when they needed it was told not for a couple of weeks. I said I could do it, thinking that she would talk to me about it, we are neigbours so it's not like she would be going out of her way to do so.
This morning (Saturday) there's a knock at the door, Niece is there, picture in hand of what she wanted made. Pioneer style apron, nothing major I ask when it's needed get told Monday. Now I know it's not going to take long but what about any plans I may have had for the weekend? She is buying the fabric today, was told that she had so much to do that I needed to wait til she got back. I say it's ok, then as she turned to leave she said "and I want the same for my other daughter".
Now I don't mind doing these things but leaving it til practically the last minute before even talking to me about it is a tad annoying.
In the past I have been known for the last minute gifts. One year I sewed a happy coat for my sister on Christmas Eve. A few years back after "losing" a day, I found myself baking about 8 gingerbread houses on Christmas Eve and still decorating them on Christmas Day.
This year when I realised that some family were away over Christmas, I left the making of their gifts until after Christmas, which took a lot of pressure off. Even then I left it til the last moment, it was the day before we were supposed to see them before I started making them.
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