Jezebel's Return: She Bringeth Sewing

The story begins with the realization that our living room curtains were outdated and of completely uninspired cream material which cat hair clings to for dear life. By comparison to the simplicity of the dining room curtains (you've been introduced to these curtains in a previous post) and the new wood flooring, these were to be tossed like so much cheese rind.

With living room windows that are 94 inches tall, multiplied by 4 windows and two panels each, we were looking at $30 per panel at the very lower end of pricing, which is $60 per window, and $240 for window coverings--sans hardware or additional sheers. We decided to cavalierly spurn the high cost of retail curtains by making our own. Which is to say, David buys the material and I do the sewing. (It just wouldn't work the other way around--promise).

Did you know that Hobby Lobby has a web coupon available every week for 40% off of a single regular-priced item? You can use one per day. I used one last week to purchase 25 yards of beautiful satin the color of molten chocolate. It was the first time I'd actually bought a whole bolt of something--had the band still around it and all. I felt very greedy for taking the whole thing, but I got over it very quickly. I also bought a perfectly-matching color of thread like a girl who actually has foresight.

We did a small test inside the store to see if it would repel cat hair. At first I was disappointed that I hadn't thought to bring a small ball of fur with us. But, fortuitously enough, I just happened to have some on my jacket. Ho ho! Things are looking up! We placed it on the material and then gave it a swipe to see if it held on or let go. Happily, the cat hair floated away--probably to lodge in some flannel somewhere, but let us try not to think too deeply on this.

My dear Momma Sue loaned me her sewing machine this past weekend and, in a pioneering spirit I cut the fabric to the lengths I needed (108" each, to allow for hems, a roomy rod pocket and so that it would hang almost to the floor) and set about learning how to sew again. Did I mention it has been a few years since I've sewn anything with a machine, by the way? The valuable sewing information from my home economics classes in high school has long been hidden away in the deep recesses of my mind. What does stay with me, though, is the girl that sewed through her thumb--went right through the nail. This does not contribute to my confidence with the sewing machine, oddly enough.

At any rate, a few hours of my nose stuck in the instruction manual and doing many test runs had me thinking I could do this, despite my consternation at the fact that I had bought perfectly-matched upholstery thread, and didn't face up to the fact that it was going to be impossible to use on satin until after I'd had already filled a bobbin and had a go at it on the first test. But, after a few more tests and twiddling with dials with numbers on them, I was feeling that feeling that comes very near to the under side of confidence. Twelve inches into the first edge of the actual curtain assured me that seam ripping was a skill that also deserved some attention. "Silly girl! Why don't you actually own a seam ripper?" "Well, I don't sew often." "Exactly! Silly girl!"

Satin is a beautiful fabric. It's even very pretty in the independent way it resists being hemmed up with thread, twisting this way and that in glorious, shimmering spite. "Yes, go on and adjust that tension more, I'm sure that will do the trick" it says, mockingly and fully confident of its own position of control in the situation. "Who are you, but a naive trifling? I've made tailors weep, and given professional seamstresses nervous breakdowns. And you think you can make me lie flat? Go on, try another pin, I dare you!"

It is at this point that one realizes the importance for mood lighting in one's living room.