Monday, October 25, 2010

Putting the Moron in Oxymoron


It was almost exactly three years ago that I received my first sewing machine as a birthday gift from my mom. Since then, I've learned a huge amount about sewing, and there are days when I feel very confident and capable about my work. However, there are also days when I feel like I don't know a thing. Lately I feel like I'm oscillating back and forth between sewing genius and class dunce. Perhaps this is a propos for being in the oxymoronic catagory of "advanced beginner". 

On Saturday, I had one of those truly laughable moments when I was working on fixing the lining and zipper of my gray pants. Everything was going fine and I was congratulating myself on so swiftly fixing the pulling problem. And then, in about a 20 second span, I managed to thoroughly destroy a perfectly good zipper. As you can see from the above specimen, not only did I manage to derail the zipper from the right track, but I also somehow managed to rip the teeth off of the tape. I have absolutely no clue how I managed to do this. Although, I will confess that I happened to be holding a seam ripper in my right hand when the trouble began. When I saw what I had done, I carefully put down the pants and slowly backed out of the Craft Lounge, being very careful not to touch or disturb anything on the way out, lest any other innocent notions or projects meet a sudden and untimely death at my hands.

Do you ever have moments like this? Either with sewing or another hobby?  That 30 seconds that take you from things going along swimmingly to utter disaster?

I did get back on the proverbial horse yesterday, and installed a new zipper. I am now attempting to finish putting in the lining. It's all basted together and (knock on wood) looking good. During the week I plan to finish sewing up these pants.  Um, cross your fingers for me, please!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes! Almost every time I sew (except the one thing I made with a Colette pattern, but that may have been a coincidence). I think the worst may have been the little tote bag I was making where I didn't realize until too late that I had the straps going across the top of the bag instead of along the sides. And last night I carefully pinned and sewed a collar onto a blouse, only to realize that I'd placed it wrong. I always feel that backing away from the sewing machine is the best policy too!

Reethi said...

Every time I sew, I do something ridiculously stupid... You are definitely not alone in this...

poppykettle said...

So glad I'm not the only one! :)