Monday, October 7, 2013

I Can't Sew Straight. Period.

I just can't!!!! 

Hello again! Two posts in one day! A rarity for me.  After my giveaway post, which you can find below, I spent most of the day trying to sew my smalls into little pillows.  You would think after using a rotary cutter, those quilter's plastic ruler thingys, measuring, pinning, etc, I should be able to sew a straight line.  Right? NO! Egads!!!! I would use stronger words, in fact I almost did a Shirlee.  You know, when she lit one of her stitching on fire? Nearly did.  But then I thought better of it because I really didn't want to deal with a mess and a potential apartment fire.  So I persevered and tried to cover up the wonky lines with trims and filled the pillows to the max.  The first one I'll show you is stitched on 28ct black lugana.  When I was stitching "Give Thanks" by PSS, I noticed that the linen was warped.  It looked as though I was stitching diagonally.  Which I wasn't because I checked a gazillion times! So needless to say, the crookedness followed me to the sewing machine.  Then all hell broke loose on the second finish.


 Ugh, even the photo didn't go my way!! Black does not photograph very well.  


Loose corners...they wouldn't get filled for the life of me!
All my autumn finishes so far.  



I used a few buttons and trims from The Victorian Motto Shoppe.  She really has lovely trims.

I've been making headway with the rooster.  I'm really enjoying stitching it so far.  




Chicken feet!!!

Titus was not the best helper today.  He was rolling around in everything and trying to eat the rick rack!! He's lying in a bit of sunshine we had today. It disappeared not too long afterwards.


No progress on Hannah since I last posted.  I should really crack on with her and start up JCS 1707.  But now with all of the Christmas gifts I'm thinking of making, JCS may take a back seat for a bit.  My quilt is also giving me a side eye and I can hear her saying "Get your panels cut!! Who cares if you can't sew/cut straight.  Get me done!!!"  Perhaps it's my sewing machine.  Yes that's it...blame it on the machine!!!!

Take care everyone and thank you for listening to me rant!!!

Hugs

Anne who can't sew straight for the life of her......

51 comments:

Veronica said...

Aww... {{{{{hugs}}}}}

If it's any consolation, I think your finishings look great. What's that saying? We're our worst critic? I for one think you did a great job :) Totally get what you mean by black being hard to photograph though.

Hugs,
Veronica.

Barb said...


Anne, you are being hard on yourself. the finishes look great to me!

Mouse said...

well I for one think they are very cute finishes ... but here is a wee tip ... cut your linen fabric of your stitched piece half inch bigger than you need it all way round and then .... where you are going to do your stitched line with the machine remove one thread all way round...
then when you pop your stitched piece face down on to the right side of the fabric as you would do normally and pin you have a straight line to follow :) can do diagrams etc if you need :) love mouse xxxxxx

Kay said...

They look great to me, but I know exactly what you mean as I have trouble making them look right too. A big thank you to Mouse for the tip above, as I shall be trying that. As for the corners, well, I always stuff each corner first before I do the rest but even then they sometimes don't look right. At least they are done.

Annette-California said...

Beautiful finishes. Love your pillow. The corners look sweet to me:) You did an amazing job stitching the rick-rack on both and the trims & buttons look wonderful.
Great Job Anne! love Annette

Valma said...

I sincerely think you're too hard on yourself sweetie
those pieces are very beautiful !!!
I love them all
pictures never pay tribute to our works =D
maybe this first pillow is too stuffed....but it's a cute piece anyway, great choice of combination for the fabrics & rick rack
I love Mouse advice
Keep continue sewing cute pieces =D
big hugs
xxxx

Sarah in Stitches said...

LOL... It doesn't show at all! Before I even read the post I saw the pillow in your header pictures and thought, wow, that's such a beautiful pillow. Really, until you told us, I had no clue it was a problem child. :P Your other fall finishes are cute too!

butterfly said...

Love your stitching , they look great HUGS .

cucki said...

awww
big HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs
beautiful stitching and very pretty finishes dear..
sending you love x

Mii Stitch said...

Anne you are too hard on yourself, these finishes are adorable! I prefer the second one with the lovely ricrac & buttons. The autumn colours are more to my taste. You really did a great job & should be proud of yourself!! xx

♥ Nia said...

Everything looks so nice!! Really :) Very pretty finishes!!
Don't be so hard on yourself, you just need to make more to feel more confident, you'll see :) Don't give up!! All your finishes look very nice, each one you'll make, you'll see it gets easier ;)

Meari said...

I think your pillows look great. I always have trouble with the corners, too. I wish I knew what the trick is to get the little pillows stuffed well.

Shirlee said...

Oh my goodness! I see more & more of this ... lol! If this keeps up, the phrase "do a Shirlee" is going to accepted by Merriam-Webster : ) I'm glad you didn't do a me because I honestly can't see anything wrong with either of the finishes! They both look perfect to me! What a good boy Titus is ... helping you by rolling around on your things & eating your trim : ) I must admit he looks very comfortable there in that sunbeam. Sophie wishes she could join him : ) Have a great week my friend!

Annie said...

Your finishes are beautiful. This is handmade work, not some precision machine stamping out one duplicate after another. It's supposed to have the human touch! Chill out and enjoy the process!

Vickie said...

Love the finishes. What great choices in color and fabric and trim.
Give Titus a big 'ol hug for me.

Margaret said...

I think you're a perfectionist -- the finishing looks great to me! We are always our own worst critics. (Love the black piece especially!) Rooster looks great too! Naughty Titus for being a hindrance rather than a help! I hear you on the projects waiting to be worked on. I get scared by all of mine. lolol!

Dani - tkdchick said...

Finishing can be so fikickey and frustrating sometimes! I think all of your finishes look great to me. We're always our own worst critic!

Wagapapa said...

I love all your finishes and I think you have done a great job with the finish.

Have a nice day! xoxo

Stitchinowl said...

That "do a Shirlee" expression has taken on a life of its own LOL Anyway, I think your finishes look great.
Carolyn

Carol said...

Problems? I don't see ANY, Anne--we all magnify the problems in our own work. At least I know I do... I often cover up "things" with trims, buttons, etc. Thank goodness they usually work :) I love your little "fall collection!!"

Melissa said...

I love all the pieces you have made Anne! I can't seem any problems with crooked lines! ;-)

There are so many wonderful to stitch and finish sometimes you just want to plug your ears and not hear them shouting at you!

Lesleyanne said...

Beautiful finishes.

Southpaw Stitcher said...

Anne, your finishes all look great! You're definitely being to hard on yourself. I find finishing very frustrating, too. I just try to tell myself that it's not perfect but so what! No one will probably notice. The worst is when you pay a professional big bucks to finish something and it comes out looking like something my dog Molly would leave in the yard!

BRD Girl said...

I think your pillow finishes are lovely!...and I really like how you finished my "Acorns and Owls" - ADORABLE with the rick rack and buttons. You should be proud of your work - it is beautiful. If stuffing the corners full is challenging you - try using a cheap wooden cuticle stick (they work great) or the eraser end of a pencil works well too!

Linda said...

I think your finishes look great Anne. They are all uniquely your own.

Linda

Michele said...

I think your finishes are lovely! I know I have a few wonky ones too :)

valerie said...

Your finishes are great Anne! We are always our own worst critics. Love the trims you used.

P.J. said...

Look at all those pretties!!! Nice job! Titus is so darn cute.

Emma/Itzy said...

Hooray! At least I am not the only one!

Your finishes look wonderful though, we are always the most critical of our own work.

Giovanna said...

They're just lovely finishes, well done!

Charlene ♥ NC said...

I think your finishes look great! Nice selection. I worried over empty corners, too, until I found a doll making tool to fill them in -- but if you can't locate that, try using a chop stick (or pencil eraser end) to push fiber up into the corners.

Annette said...

From this side of the scream your pieces are looking awesome..
I can't see strange things on them..
But only beautifull pieces!!
But in RL I can imagine you see enough..
I also have that ALWAYS.. hate it, if it's not like I want it too be

Anonymous said...

of course it's the sewing machine!
anyways, all your finishings look perfect to me. on the other hand I can't understand how you managed to accomplish all that while Titus was laying so cuddly on the floor, I would have joined him stright away! :D
hugs and happy xxx,
chiara

Teresa said...

Your finishes look wonderful. Don't know why I can't get my corners all stuffed also not to mention sewing a straight line. Both are impossible.

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

I think each and every one looks great, Anne! Better to have a slightly unfilled corner than do what I did.... Punch a chopstick thru the linen in the corner. A big hole. It was really hard to hide! Your finishes look wonderful!

diamondc said...

Dearest Titus: Blondie the Cat says helloooo: I love all of moms finishes, I love the buttons, I have a fetish for buttons.
The finishes are wonderful.Thank-you for sharing.
Catherine

Karoline said...

Your finishes look lovely, I can't see any problems with them.

Sally said...

Your finishes all look gorgeous Anne.

Melanie said...

Awwww, I think they look great. Especially all grouped together. :)

Tracy said...

I think everything looks great. And any mistakes or problems with your finishes just makes your projects unique to you....now I need to tell that to myself! LOL

What do you do with your smalls? Do you set them on counter tops or shelves during each holiday season? I never know what to do with them, so I don't usually make them...
Tracy
http://tracysstitchingblog.blogspot.com/

Catherine said...

I think your finishes are fabulous ~ and well, if you aren't happy, I would be happy to send you my address and you can send them my way!! Lol!
Titus is so cute!,

Anonymous said...

Well I personally think they look absolutely gorgeous! If you're not happy with them, send 'em this way, I'll look after them for you :)

Lillie said...

Your finishes looked wonderful.

Maggee said...

Those are lovely finishes Anne! We ARE our own worst critics, for sure! I always have angst when finishing, but it is in vain. No one is as critical as us (if they are, they are not friends, and WHY did we give them a piece anyway??!)
Lovely collection. Hugs!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Totally agree with all the comments. I hand sew everything because I don't have a machine and if I did I would sew my fingers to the fabric!

I just slip stitch everything unless I am making a little bag which is great because there are only two corners and no stuffing to worry about. Belinda's tip about using a pencil for the corners is a good one.

If you are still concerned about your finishes, send them to me and I'll do a review!

Melissa said...

I actually don't think that your finishes look lopsided at all! They all look pretty perfect in fact. Then again I'm not the best finisher ;)

Chris said...

Take it from your friends... everything looks amazing!
Hugs to you and Titus!

Chris said...

No matter what you say your stitching and finishes are lovely.
Keep Calm and Carry on stitching!
Chris x

Laurita Hall said...

Your finishes are amazing!Don´t be so hard on yourself!!!

Hugs,

Laurita

http://laurahallisnearby.blogspot.com.ar/

Natasha said...

I think you did a fantastic job!! I think we tend to be more critical of our own flaws. I think the pillows look great way better than anything I have ever sewn :)

Keep it up girl!!

Stitching Noni said...

Gorgeous finishes :)
Don't blame Titus for enjoying the sun - I am so glad that the sun is coming back to our side of the world now :)
Hugs x