who ever knew making a pair of pajama pants was so difficult?

if you did know, someone should have told me :)
i found a do it yourself drawstring pants project on martha stewart's website
http://www.marthastewart.com/268829/drawstring-pants-how-to


seemed easy enough. i printed out the template and had to put it together with scotch tape. i cut a "front" and "back" piece and realized that something didn't seem right. the instructions were so confusing to me. i think i might be a dingbat when it comes to sewing. maybe there is just basic stuff you are suppose to know before using a sewing machine or using patterns/templates and i haven't found that lesson yet.

for me, i need more specific instructions. tell me how many pieces to cut. tell me what side to put the template on before i cut it. show me pictures of each step. i don't know, i was so confused. i couldn't follow the instructions. i took my 4 pieces of material and put it together the way i could. i thought of it like a puzzle.

look at the finished piece, do you see a problem? well, all of my pieces were cut the same way. i had to turn 2 pieces the wrong way to make it fit. plus, i couldn't figure out which was the front or back piece anymore. and then i accidentally sewed the crotch area on the wrong side so the middle looked like it was inside out. when i took it apart, the material is so thin and cheap, it ripped in some areas. i kept thinking to myself "i can't believe i'm having fun doing this". oh and geez, you should have seen me when i realized i didn't have holes for my drawstring to come through.

maybe i shouldn't have thrown away the template. i need to try this again the "right way". i went to the website just to see it again. i found a video for it but it wasn't very specific either. i'll figure it out :) i'm going to do some research on youtube before i do another sewing project.

putting the pattern together

final pattern pieces

fabric cut, but something doesn't seem right

something is definitely wrong but i did it!

at least it's wearable :) 

tried again and...

what a challenge! i picked something "easy". a simple card wallet. i did learn something about myself, i don't follow instructions well! this is ironic because when i cook by a recipe, i always follow it exactly the way it's written. one problem i had, i did not source the blog i found this project on so when it said to copy the template for folding and placing the velcro, well, i didn't have it available. i tried to find the blog but no such luck. so i improvised. i only had industrial velcro available and it has a tacky backing to stick it wherever you need. i tried to sew it in place and ruined my sewing machine needle! oh the shenanigans of sewing :)

my first sewing project

i was given this sewing machine from someone who didn't need it anymore. i decided to do something "easy" for my first project. coasters! it was a bit challenging at first. i was doing a lot of talking to myself, something i don't normally do. but i got through it and voila! i made 2 coasters. kudos to all who know how to work a sewing machine! i see how practice makes perfect :) i really want to make my own apron. another friend gave me a book of easy sewing projects, which is where i got the coasters idea. the apron i want to make is in this book.  i think i better practice making a few more coasters if i want the apron to look good. i now understand the importance of precision in cutting fabric too. i skipped the step where it told me to use a fabric marker and ruler before cutting. i also now understand the importance of following instructions carefully :) even through all the frustration, i really had a lot of fun doing this. the best part was that moment when "aha" happened & i suddenly figured it out. then another "aha" happened when i figured out the next problem. and then that big "oh, ok" when i really realized that i figured out what i was doing. i can't wait to try this again & discover a few more of those "aha" moments.