Sew Through the Journey

Last summer, approximately eight months ago, I set off on a journey to sew a dress. The journey quickly became more of an adventure expedition- setting goals, taking risks, facing endless challenges, feeling discouraged then quickly switching to hope. It was was a roller coaster of a ride but the dress is now finished, worn, and filled with character.

Do not fear. I did not embark on this risky adventure on my own. I had three comrades who also chose to face the daunting task: Caitlin Parodi, Danielle Knight, and Naomi Fitzstevens. It began with the sole idea to sew a dress because it was summer time and we were all in Chico. Why wouldn't we have time to create our dress, plan it, AND sew it?

The idea was poked and prodded and finally approved with the following rules:

Rule #1: We could not use an already made pattern. We could create our own pattern, but none of this business of getting an already made pattern that tells you where to sew and cut.
Rule # 2: The dress had to be wearable out in public


Deadlines were set, many of them. We had full intentions of finishing them well before school started. Each month we would ask each other how the dresses were coming, moaning we would talk about how the fabric had not been touched in ages. The final straw was that I would be leaving Chico at the end of January, and if it didn't happen before then it would not happen- at least not with all of the original founders of the idea.

Despite finicky sewing machines and the pushing back of the deadline January brought both cold weather and time. We had sewing dates at the warmest house (which was never mine until the very last meeting) and finally finished our dresses.

Should we ambush someone's house and crank up the heat to create the summer feeling? We were tempted but decided against it. Instead we enjoyed a night out at a Chinese restaurant and a game of pool.

As a member of the sewing club I would like to award the following:

Way to be Practical!

to

Danielle Knight

For being the most down to earth and most level headed when planning and making her dress. She was the most experienced out of all of us and was the one that often provided guidance to those of us who bounced from one extreme style to another.

Wait I changed my idea!
to
Caitlin Parodi

For having many awesome ideas for her dress. She would have an idea and sit on it, think on it, talk about it for a long while before choosing something. She is the most pensive sewer that I've met:)

I'm finished!
to
Naomi Fitzstevens

For being the first one to finished. She had an idea and was the first one cutting and going for it right from the get go. While the rest of us were still meddling with ideas she was already trying parts of her dress on for size.

I cut four separate parts to my dress. Two elastic bands. And 8 buttons. The buttons are probably my favorite. I meant for them to be crooked, really:)

For all of you veteran sewers you would probably not enjoy watching me sew, lets just say I'm not the most precise but I've learned a lot in the process!