Remedial Sewing

The Easy Bake Ovens of Sewing Machines

I decided when I moved to Texarkana I'd officially learn to sew. Though Bonus Mom taught me the basics and I could hold my own, I didn't have a ton of skill. Texarkana College offered a five-week "Basic Sewing" class last April and I signed up. Unfortunately, the first day of class was four weeks after my father passed away, 5 days after my aunt died and two days before my cousin Eric would pass--though the first day of class I knew his end was near. I left half-way through that first class because I was a bit of a basket case. 

Nevertheless, the course was great. I learned quite a bit. The folks in the class came from all walks of life and we had a blast. Instantly I picked out the homeschool families (there were two of us plus our teacher, Val). All of us students had about the same amount of sewing experience and that sewing class was just what I needed during that crazy time. One of the students even asked me on week three for travel advice because she had a trip to Phoenix lined up. 

The course was so successful that we convinced Val to offer an Advanced Class. Last October we all took her Advanced class and had another blast. 

Val offered another beginning sewing class this past January. Though I've progressed long-past a zippered pouch and a pillowcase, I signed up. I wanted to get out of the house, meet some folks and have an excuse to sew something. 

Sewing Kit Thread

Unfortunately, Val's Basic Sewing class this time is a bit different. Now, don't get me wrong, these are lovely people. Just like I'm not cut out for acting, singing, and a whole litany of competencies, sewing rings true for this bunch. However, I think Val had some expectations for her students that just haven't been met.

 
On the first day of class, Allison brought the equivalent of battery operated Easy Bake Oven Sewing Machine to class as her personal sewing machine. She also insisted her 12 year old son, Seth, come along. The poor kid is now stuck in what I'm sure he considers one of Dante's rings of hell.  

Malory brought her sewing machine in a duffle bag, no thread and no fabric (the last two items were mentioned in several e-mails prior to the first class). Katie brought hers in a box, unopened, with the packing tape still affixed. She also brought thread. However, it was sewing kit thread--you know, those tiny spools you use when you are putting on a button--and not the kind you'd use on a sewing machine. 

It was obvious from the start Val was not expecting this level of incompetence. To keep the class moving, I jumped in and helped her. She tackled Mom and Son, I worked with the other two ladies setting up their machines. When I said, "We need to set up your bobbin," Katie grabbed her bobbin and one of her sewing kit threads and started hand-winding the thread. She marveled when she discovered her machine does this for her. 

On the next class, it appeared Val and I would need to divide and conquer again if we were going to get anything done. This time Malory brought fabric and tried to give me back the scrap of fabric she'd used the week before that I'd given her. No, not necessary. She'd already cut and sewn it. I was good. I took Malory aside to show her how to cut her fabric. Sadly, she just wasn't getting the entire concept of actually scoring the material--you know, to make it the shape she wanted. "You can't cut it like a princess. You need to cut it like a warrior." I said. "Otherwise, the material will fray." 

"I don't want to hurt it. It has feelings," she replied, and meant it. 

"You are making it cry this way," I said, not meaning it. But Malory believed me and sorta cut her fabric with more gusto and slightly more precision. 

The following week, I gave a demonstration to the group (at Val's insistence--I think she needed a moment) on how to pin. Let me explain how to pin. Match up the edges of the fabric. Pin the EDGES of the fabric in place so the fabric won't shift (no Malory, it doesn't hurt the fabric). Keep the pins in as you sew but take them out BEFORE the needle runs over them. For extra credibility, I even whipped out my phone and showed them where they could find a good Youtube resource on pinning. Someone who shall remain nameless heard something along the lines of toss two pieces of fabric into a haphazard pile, only affix one pin in the middle of the fabric, sew and expect everything to come out perfect. 

I also demonstrated how to topstich--a process I'm certain was created by Satan himself. The trick for topstiching is to go slowly. I cannot stress this enough. Otherwise the fabric pulls and the process will be repeated until done correctly. I explained this and demonstrated the "pulling" when sewing too quickly. I took the fabric out of the machine and passed it around, letting everyone examine what happened. Someone else who will remain nameless is apparently a hands-on learner and had to figure it out herself. But first she was introduced to her new tool, the seam ripper.  

Val mostly works with Allison and Seth, but I noticed this past week Seth was a bit tired of Val's instruction. So, I took Seth aside. He was ironing his apron seams. However, as he ironed, he would whip his iron across the fabric, un-ironing another section. Plus, he kept leaving the iron face-down on the fabric. Was it on purpose? Maybe not the first time. I would like to think I speak 12 year old boy, but I'm not sure he truly will grasp the reason to iron seams (to set them in place before you stich--which is what I told him). Seth is also not a fan of sewing in a moderately straight line and I was showing him some tricks to do so (like following the guides on the sewing machine). My true opinion is that Seth would rather be anywhere else than in this class and it didn't matter what anyone said to him. I really feel for the kid. 

On the second week of class, we (well, everyone else) still hadn't completed week one's or week two's projects. This was very different than my classmates and me last April who did our homework (cutting out our fabric, reading the directions and making sure we had what we needed before class) and managed to get through our beginning projects in under three hours. After that second class, Val thanked me for my help and I said I hoped I wasn't out of line. She shook her head and said not at all. That night, I found a $5 gift card in my e-mail for an online pattern company from her and I realized how frustrated she must be as well. 

After four weeks this crowd still hasn't finished one project. None of them are all that hot on reading directions. To compensate for this, Val has changed the curriculum. This past week she had them work on everything we'd started. I brought in something I'm working on from home. I didn't have much to do, but really only came for the social interaction. 

 

The Seedling Class

Thursday morning, I checked the weather and decided the rain wasn't going to let up any time soon. I could probably adult enough and drive the 20 miles to New Boston to my first Master Gardener class. My other option was online, but there had been a request for all of us Seedlings to show up for the initial class in person. Given it was 34 degrees and it's just water, right? I could make the drive. Though, I was dreading my choices: Interstate 30 with crazy tractor trailers and one lane for three miles or the one lane country road (my usual route to New Boston) with a culvert on the side. I opted for the country road, figuring there were less bridges that could freeze. 

My choice really wasn't about going to the in-person meeting in New Boston. My choice came down to this: I needed to go grocery shopping. The place where the Master Gardener program was being held was right next to a Wal-Mart and I knew darn well if I didn't go today, my recluse self wouldn't go out to Wal-Mart (or any grocery store) that was less than a mile away. 

I needed to arrive by 9 a.m., but by 7:30, I was still fiddling around, wondering what was causing my  hesitancy. I'd miss the lunch bunch? I hate driving in general? I have enough social anxiety to live as a recluse for the remainder of my life and this was a new thing with people? All of the above?

The meeting was what one could expect for a small-town county extension office's first Master Gardener program since 2019. Those who were running it on the local level were unfamiliar with Zoom (turns out the classes are Zoom no matter where I was in the state) and the Bowie County crowd was more interested in making us Seedlings feel comfortable, offering us the best pastries Walmart had to offer and saying Howdy than getting down to business, so we missed the first 15 minutes of Texas A&M's Zoom Master Gardener class. 

The class was an interesting one and gave an overview of Texas plants and watering practices. Given how big the state is, obviously the watering practices in North East Texas--where it hasn't stopped raining in the past two weeks--aren't the same as the watering practices in El Paso. I couldn't help comparing water usage here to what I'm used to in the desert. This will take some getting used to.    

In order to earn my National Master Gardener designation, this year I'm required to put in 50 hours of education and 50 hours of community volunteer time. This was once a huge deal in Bowie County, then with COVID, all bets were off and the program fizzled in the past few years. There were ten of us in the class, which I'm told, once we graduate, will triple the amount of Master Gardeners in Bowie County. So, it doesn't sound like the volunteer time will be that difficult. At any rate, it looks like this Master Gardener program could bloom into something promising. 

  

An Imbalanced Week

The obvious takeaway is I need to be careful what I wish for. 

Last year I was grieving, lonely and lost, walking around Home Depot/Tractor Supply/Hobby Lobby/Lowe's/Sam's Club looking to strike up a conversation with anyone who might want to chit-chat for 30 seconds. 

This week my head is swimming. In addition to the normal chores (laundry, grocery shopping, etc.), I have two Master Gardener events. This does not even include my actual class. I also have a hair appointment, a trip to the vet, a sewing class, a movie date with the Coronas and possibly the Thursday Lunch Bunch if I can sneak out of one of the Master Gardener's Agri-Fair. Plus, I have two zoom dates set up. One with a friend I miss terribly. The other with my nephew, Patrick. Neither of those zoom dates I'd give up for anything. 

I just sent a note to the lady's auxiliary telling them I couldn't make Thursday night's meeting. I doubt it was my influence, but they ended up changing the meeting to next week after my text. I can probably enlist Buck's help in cleaning the house. I can pay him in gas money and Whataburger these days. 

In addition to all that, Marty and I leave on Friday for San Antonio to hear Polly's concert. It is my intention to leave Buck with a few meals before we go. He happens to like my chicken enchiladas. I made them last Saturday night. They were gone by Sunday.

None of this is a complaint. I'm actually grateful to be wanted and find purposeful activities that I enjoy. Most of my weeks are nothing like this. They are generally quiet with time to clean the house, do the laundry and talk to an Arizona friend or two calling to say hello.   

Maybe what I need to do is wish for balance. 

Two Days Apart

 I don't remember my reasoning Wednesday when I took this picture. But it was day five gazillion of rain. This is a street two blocks from my home. 

I took this picture yesterday--the first day of sunshine we've had in five gazillion and two days, because according to the Internet (which is always correct, right?) tomorrow will be the last day of sunshine for the next two weeks. I wanted to remember what sunshine looked liked. 

 

In a Small Town

On the Nextdoor app. 

Negotiations

I'm negotiating with my brother to take Patrick for a couple of weeks this summer. I'm willing to fly (sigh... or drive) to Arizona, spend a few weeks in May and take Patrick home with me. My conditions are simple: Though Patrick doesn't get out of school until the Friday before Memorial Day, the Auntie Express leaves the Tuesday before Memorial Day. I don't want to travel close to a holiday weekend. 

Patrick can stay as long as he wants, or as long as his parents want--which, according to my brother is June 6. June 7 happens to be Patrick's birthday. Little Brother is countering that I could come in early June, stay for Patrick's birthday and then take him back for the summer. Though that sounds like a plan, it includes me being in Arizona in June. 

"It also hits 100 degrees in May, you know," Squirrel said when I pointed out one of the reasons I no longer live in Arizona. Sure it does! My original plan was to come in March but with my Master Gardener class, May is the soonest I can show up. But past May? Why would I voluntarily go to Arizona any later? 

I'm waiting to see what he throws in to sweeten the deal. Diamondbacks tickets? Mexican food? More of my father's stained glass windows? Who knows! Maybe he can change my mind. 

Hysteria

Apparently the entire East Texas population has lost their minds. Even Polly, who is Polly-on-the-spot when it comes to weather has joined in the ice-apocalyptic cult. You see, according to the Internet, which I'm told is always right, we are supposed to be in the middle of a "freezing rain" storm. Freezing rain is different than sleet, but I don't know how. 

The bank sent out a note saying their hours are questionable. My pal Cindy called and said she couldn't swing by to help me with my sewing project because of the potential of freezing rain. Facebook was full of, "God bless, stay safe and are the local schools closing?" Even my friend Jane called me from Idaho asking if we were safe from this "storm." I assured her nobody is gathering animals two by two. And it hasn't been below freezing since right before Christmas.

I cannot figure the panic out. It is raining just like it has for the past two weeks (spoiler alert: next week too). It is in the mid-30s--just like it has been for the past week. Nothing, I assure you, NOTHING has changed with the weather except for the increase in hysteria. Thursday it is supposed to have a high of 39 degrees. Friday it will peak at 43. Overnights are expected to be around 33-34 degrees. The only "freezing" I'm seeing is common sense.