Something New - Machine sewing

Hello........... It's time for another 'something new post'.  A couple of years ago I treated myself to a sewing machine, and then well, my health fell to pieces big time, so I never really got started.

To be honest I've been putting it off a bit with flashbacks to school sewing classes, where I was never allowed passed the tacking stage by the teacher.  Any road, for my birthday last year a friend very kindly bought me a voucher for a one on one get to know your sewing machine lesson at a nearby sewing shop and after another bad year with my health and waiting to be well enough, I've just had to book it anyway before it expires.

So I'm off next week, I just hope my foggy brain, shaky hands, aching body and energy levels are up to it.  So I thought I should at least have a little play with the machine before I go........

I'm completely new to all this but I found a pattern for a pretty pin cushion in a craft magazine and thought this would be the perfect small project to start me off, now sewing it turns out is nothing like crochet and you have to be quite accurate, so with shaky hand I cut out 4 8cm squares of both fabrics. 

Then I sat with the manual and my foggy brain and tried to figure out how to wind thread onto the bobbin and then thread the needle,  after that alone I needed to lie down for a hour, but they do say that's the hardest part..........

So foot on the accelerator peddle I was off, sewing my squares together,

pressing the seams as I went, not the straightest but OK I guess for a first attempt.

I struggled a bit with the whole turning it back the right way part, mostly I think because I didn't leave a big enough gap.

Then it was onto the stuffing and sewing the last part by hand, at this point I stopped following the pattern as I couldn't resist getting creative with the decoration.

I found some ribbon and stitched two pieces around my little cushion, (the plan being to cover up any wonky seams,but looking back at the pictures they weren't as bad as I expected them to be for a first go)  then I was thinking a crocheted flower or a button, it just needed something in the middle.

Ta-Dah

Inspiration hit, I decided to pin some pretty little flower sequins along the ribbon, well after all it is a pin cushion!! 

So how am I rating machine sewing, it was fun but quite stressful, hopefully stress levels will drop in time.  I found it very exhausting as I had to sit at the table to sew, where as I can crochet and do other crafts in bed.  Plus recently I have acquired a fun new symptom of inflammation the full length of my spine, so I found it quite painful.

So I'm guessing it's a craft that you need to save your spoons up for. (Spoon theory) Unless you are fit and healthy.

Happy Crafting

Clare xx