My First Zipper!

Have I stressed how much I love my local hipster craft shop, Fancy Tiger? I totally love that place. The shop is jam-packed with amazing and inspiring fabric, yarn, patterns - you name it, they've got it! AND they teach classes! 

I took a beginners sewing class probably a year ago and made a cute little iPhone cover out of some of their scrap fabric. It was an awesome way to get acquainted with a sewing machine and have someone confirm that you are indeed using it the right way. Of course, I didn't actually sew anything on my own for nine months, but that was my own fault. Then last month I took a pajama pants class with my girlfriend and we liked it so much we signed up for Sewing 201: Throw Pillow. 

So... anyway! Yesterday was the class and I made a cover for a 16 inch throw. I am aware that most people think it's silly to pay $30 to learn this simple project, and I have a perfect one word response. Zippers. I have never worked with a zipper. (I can't seem to think of a way to word that sentence in a way that makes me sounds like I can't literally use a zipper. I assure you, I can. I just had not sewn one onto anything before yesterday.)

I made one pillow cover out of some adorable fabric I bought there on sale last month:

The fabric. 

We also had to bring our pillow form and a zipper with us. The process was pretty easy, however I can't imagine that I would have been able to figure it out without instruction on hand. And even though we showed up about 15 minutes late (drove a few miles the wrong way on Broadway before I realized we were), we still finished on time and on par with the ladies who were punctual. Which means my friend and I are either geniuses, or the insturctor was awesome! (It was probably mostly the awesome instructor, but we are very intelligent.)

Zipper!!

I've always found that I have a blast at these things. There's something comforting about knowing that I'm not the only grown woman who didn't learn these things in home ec and because it's a casual learning environment, there's no pressure and it's just a lot of fun. 

Look at all the beautiful pillows we made!!

Group shot of all the ladies and our fabulous pillows!

Take that home decor companies! I will no longer over pay to change the look of my sofa pillows!! There's 6 of us who never will again!

I'm hoping to find an open spot in one of  Fancy Tiger's upcoming A-Line Skirt classes, but these things sell out fast. Keep your fingers crossed! Anyone want to join me?

PS - I just realized I put a bird on it! HA!

Pajama Pants Party!

I like to learn in a group environment. I can teach myself a lot of things by reading a book or instructions, but it seems less stressful to have someone guiding me through it. This is where crafting classes at my favorite hipster craft store comes in.

I took a pajama pants class today with a good friend of mine at Fancy Tiger. It was a small class with only two other sewers, who were a hoot. It was three hours long and when I walked out I had a completed pair of PJ pants!

I bought my fabric a few days ahead of time with the intention of washing and drying the fabric first, which of course I did not do.

My pajama pants fabric. 

It's a pretty bold choice for me, but called to me from the shelf and said "I want to be with you when you sleep." It was a creepy conversation to have with fabric, but I'm not one to say no when it's being so direct. 

I pulled my sewing machine out a few days ago and have been working on last months Amy Butler Sew Along bag (I know, I'm running behind. What are you going to do about it?) but my experience level is still on the low side. But after this class and some helpful advice from the instructor, I think I am finally getting the hang of sewing in a straight line!

Leg hem. 

All in all it was an amazing few hours of crafting with good company. Now I'm all snuggled into my new pants and ready to craft the long weekend away!

Ta-Da!