For over a year I’ve been talking about starting a blog. Well I’ve finally bitten the bullet and here it is – my first post on Stitches ‘n’ Scribbles.

I’ve always been slightly scared of sewing machines. Not just cautious or wary – literally scared. Personally I think it’s quite valid. The only time I ever used my mother’s machine unsupervised, it fired needles at me. Well technically it only fired one, and even even then it was just the tip – but it did end up in the top of my right arm…

So I’ve avoided them ever since and left the sewing to Mum. I’ve helped cut out and pin as she’s made curtains and covered sofas, either for me or my brothers. I even watched – secretly enviously – as she made four bridesmaid dresses for my cousin’s wedding.

The whole idea of making your own clothes seems somehow incredible. You take a pile of fabric, cut out some seemingly random shapes (using what always looks like school tracing paper) and somehow it all come together to make skirts, dresses, jackets – anything you want. It’s like magic. And as for the people who can make their own patterns… Don’t get me started.

But that’s all going to change. After she treated herself to a new machine (while making the aforementioned bridesmaid dresses), I’ve inherited my mum’s old sewing machine. Yes – the one that fired the needle… Growing up I saw this machine create endless pairs of curtains, dresses and a particularly memorable pair of culottes. Hopefully it has many more dresses in it.

So I have a pattern, the fabric’s all cut out ready and, under careful supervision and with lots of advice, I’m going to make my first dress. I’ll use this blog to record my successes – and probably failures – along the way.

I’ve also signed up to an evening course in dressmaking (I figure it can’t hurt), so I’ll be telling you all about that as well.

There’ll probably be a few side trips here and there (hence the ‘Scribbles’ part) – so stick with me and let’s see how I go.