Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Perfecting a Pattern

I have been asked to teach a class on my latest purse idea here in Rochester, NY. For some reason, the invitation appealed so now I am working on perfecting my pattern and writing out instructions. I suspect at the end I will have a new healthy respect for all those teachers out there!

In any event, over the weekend I finished a new version of the bag.


I still have some tweaking to do on the finishing and have fabrics lying in wait for the next version. I am definitely streamlining the construction to make it as simple as possible for someone new to sewing. At the same time, I am building in options that a more advanced sewer can take advantage of.

I considered calling the bag the 'multi-option' bag as it can be rendered in many different versions, depending upon choice of fabrics and embellishments. But, as I was making this last version, I hit upon the perfect name, the Millie bag, in honor of the woman who introduced me to sewing when I was a child growing up in Staten Island, New York. Millie worked in the garment industry for a while and taught me how to take any pattern, assess it, and simplify construction. She was an incredibly gifted seamstress with a great sense of humor and much patience. I am sure she is smiling down upon me these days when she sees how far the little girl from around the block has gone with the skills she taught me. Thank you, Millie, I think of you often!

With most of the prep work now done, I hope to be teaching the class some time this summer!  Wish me luck!

1 comment:

  1. Congratulations, Judy, on your upcoming venture into teaching! I know it will be fabulous!

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