Sunday, April 18, 2010

What's your ballyhoo?

I don't even know what the word ballyhoo means. I have a feeling it means that thing that you get stuck on every time. Something you're not good at or don't like or something that trips you up.



I ask the question because if there is one thing I really like about sewing, it's cutting out my projects. I could cut cut cut all day long and be soooo happy. And then, of course, I would have nothing but fabric cut out in piles sandwiched with tissue paper. (This is somehow different from my current reality how?)

I was in our little Eunice Farmer fabric shop here recently when I totally hit the jackpot and drew a 50% off your entire purchase Easter egg from the basket. So I wasted no time in amassing a ridiculous amount of beautiful cotton voiles that would make the uppity folks at Liberty drool. OK, maybe not, but they're still really pretty.

As the saleswoman was struggling to ring up my purchases, she offhandedly made a comment about how I'd have to actually cut all this out, and how much that would stink. I said something to the effect of "are you nuts?! That's the best part!" We laughed. If only there was a sewing talent pool, a club where you could bring your projects at the point you hate and have someone else who loves that particular step help you out.

For me, it would be finish work. I hate it. Hate hand sewing linings to zipper facings. Hate hand sewing anything, really. Hate hemming. If I could hand a project off at the 90-95% point and have it come back to me as ready-to-wear, now that would rock.

I'm just curious, what is it for you? What's the step in sewing you don't like?

12 comments:

  1. That's funny - I hate cutting and transferring markings! It's so tedious to me, when I just want to sew! I do love finishing work, because I do it downstairs while watching tv with my husband... I know I would dread it without distraction! And I love ironing seams too, which seems unpopular! Funny how we all enjoy different things!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love finish work...I can't think of any part I really dislike...guess that makes me a wierdo!!! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. So, I guess we should trade our projects on certain points indeed. Because I hate the cutting part. But I think I am motorically challenged. I am having a hard time cutting straight. Really. It's just some defect I have ;-) Finishing projects however I love. Those little details, very relaxing. So... we should start organizing ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love love love transfering the pattern, ,aking alterations and cutting my fabrics and sewing everithing until I get to the hem.... I hate hems! I try my best, but always at some point I lose all my nerves!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I HATE the cutting SO MUCH! And hemming... hate hemming.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I LOVE cutting! Surprisingly, while I hate ironing clothes, I love ironing during the creation process: pleats, seams, fold lines - bring it! But I HATE hemming, ugh!

    ReplyDelete
  7. You CAN hand it off at the 95% finished point and have it come back perfectly finished. There is no shame is paying someone to put in the zipper, hand sew the lining to it, and do the hem for you! If it helps you feel satisfied with the final project and excited about wearing it, why not?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pinning drives me batty. And don't get me going about zippers... luckily 95% of the time I am able to avoid zippers altogether.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I hate cutting. And zippers and buttonholes. Zippers more than buttonholes, actually. I hate ironing so much that I tend to skip that step until everything else is done!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love cutting out! I could cut out all day, and then pass my projects to someone else to finish. So much possibility and potential at the beginning of a project! Nothing's gone wrong yet :)

    I hate sewing that little hook and eye to the top of a zipper. Or buttonholes, in general.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I hate cutting out, but not as much as I hate the hand sewing parts. hooks and eyes, facings, ugh. I let it sit at my desk for weeks before I get around to it.

    ReplyDelete

 
BLOGGER TEMPLATE BY DESIGNER BLOGS