It’s been a really long time since I did anything with a sewing machine - I did a little bit in home economics when I was in junior high, but otherwise haven’t touched one since then. Fortunately, I found out that Rick Rack Textiles (a new sewing place in Calgary) is doing ‘intro to sewing’ lessons.

The teacher, Cindy, was really good at getting us sorted out with the machines, and starting off with pre-cut linen helped keep the focus on getting comfortable with the process of pressing, pinning, and running the fabric through the machine.

As soon as we got back home, I read the instruction manual to the Brother sewing machine that’s been collecting dust in the closet for years, as well as Patternmaking for a Perfect Fit: using the rub-off technique to re-create and redesign your favorite fashions by Steffani Lincecum and Patternmaking for Menswear by Gareth Kershaw. I know reading isn’t the same as sewing, but I’ve found trying to get in the same head space as the writers in how to approach a problem to be really helpful (even if my hands can’t do it yet).