Women with ADD and sewing

[Salsa]

I went out of town yesterday with some women (all but one of whom is about 10 years older than me). After lunch, they went shopping at an antique shop and a quilt store.

I just can't get into that sort of thing. When I go shopping, I like to buy practical things. (I get bored so easily). I'm learning how to pretend that I'm interested, but really, I would have rather stayed at home....and yet I know I need to get out and do things-- socially.

The worse part was the quilt store. (Oh, I hope nobody I know is reading this-- LOL). They were looking at the sewing machines and the patterns. I NEVER COULD get myself to use a sewing machine. I've used one on occasion to mend clothes but that's it!! And patterns???? Are you kidding? Me have the patience and concentration to follow a pattern??? No way!!

What few things I've made with a sewing machine, I put together on my own-- not by following a pattern. And we're talking simple things here. (Like book covers, purse/pouches, pillow cases). Really simple. Sort of like the way I play music by ear rather than following sheet music. Too much concentration involved-- which for me leads to frustration and anger. (Not exactly a fun hobby).

Can anyone relate to this?

[Mary]

I hated sewing in high school. But we had to turn something in. I made a skirt..barely any shape to it. The easiest thing I could find.

I have been asking hubby for a new sewing machine because all of my other ones would only work for my Mom. Each time I ever used one.. it messed up the thread, the bobbin, and the material.

So I gave up.

I'll let you know when I get a new one how I feel about sewing then.

[Salsa]

Oh yes. The thread and the bobbin. ARRGGGGHHHH!!!!

[Mandz1129]

I'll have to admit, I have never even USED a sewing machine. They didn't have home ec. or anything in high school, and my Mom never really taught me. I can't cook either. I am going to be a horrible wife someday...haha.

[Jellybean]

I can sew, I sew sloppy, sooo sloppy. I love sewing machines.
But I also have an aversion to them. They are such nitpicky things.
Yet, I sewed most of my sons clothes for a few years. I pretty much make it up. Patterns are definetly torcherous, (I know I can't spell) (That is another nitpicky thing in life!)
I have sucedded in using them on rare occassions. I just don't follow the directions. I admire those who do.
My son is a cool kid as he would wear anything I made up till last year. It was all old stuff that didn't fit anymore and was ripped up cause he loved the clothes so much. I wonder now that he hangs with other boys around his age if he still would? I will have to get out the stings and bobbins and oh yah, the advil.

[Jellybean]

Me again, Sewing machines remind me of women and slave labor.
Yet creativily I think they are neat tools.

[Energizer_Bunny]

My mom was a home economics school teacher and taught for 12 years. On my side table right now is one of her old sewing machines, and guess what I have no clue on how to use it. I can't even sew on a button very well. I brought it with me so that a friend may be interested in coming over to use it and while she sewed, I thought I could do homework for school. Because if someone else is doing something like that, I have tendencies of wanting to do my homework, but she has not wanted to come over and use it yet. Well, I even thought about taking sewing classes, sounds like fun, but the classes conflict with my school hours. Maybe one day I will get around to the basics of it. I actually went with my friend to pick out some material for her to make a blanket for a baby shower. Well, I ended up knocking over a shelf with my purse and eventually got bored while she was getting the material measured. But we got the material wrong and had to go back and buy something different. But I did discover how creative I was in matching things up. The blanket turned out cute.

[krisp]

I hated sewing in home ec. The bobbin was nothing but an instrument of torture. I couldn't even tolerate the precision needed to cut out a pattern... it took so bloody long that I'd start hacking away at it in a frenzy so I could get to the next step. And basting? What's up with that? Sew it twice -- are you kidding!?

Fast forward a gazillion years... and I think I should learn how to sew, just to do some simple stuff like window treatments. I picked up an old machine super-cheap, and it still sits downstairs in "the scary room" where we store unwanted items. Will meds make a difference? Am I older and wiser now? Will I ever take the cover off the **** thing? Tune in tomorrow for the next installment of As The Bobbin Turns....

[Jellybean]

That is hillarious! "the scarey room"
Do update if you go into the scarey room and take the cover off the s****g Machine. Mine has been ignored by me for about 2 years. Occassionally my son wants to sew and then we have to do the bobbin and thread details which I dread.

[Tara]

I don't have great fine motor skills. That and the fact that I want instant results doesn't make sewing to appealing to me.

[D.Lerious]

I have no idea on how to sew. One of my grandmothers can do the whole 9 yards by making clothes, although now she just sticks to doing repairs, making alterations and knitting.


I myself didn't take home ec, and it wasn't available at my school(not that I would have taken it).

[Ace]

I was into sewing by the time I was, oh, 6. I have my mother's 70-year-old sewing machine and a newer one. A while back I realized this and have never changed my mind: I hate the act of sewng! But even more, I hate trying on ready-made clothes and looking in the mirror. And I like what I get when my sewing project works out (not all of it does!) So three or four times a year I go on a sewing binge. I have even made neckties for my father and clothes for my husband (not advised!) I have designed and sewn several leather purses using Mom's ancient Singer. The only thing I have NOT ever made is shoes.
Patterns? I can't read or follow directions. Might as well be in Chinese. If it isn't immediately obvious how it goes together, then forget it.

[Jellybean]

Sounds like me Ace, but your obviously a more patient and better sewer, ok lets try this again "seamstress."
I also started sewing around 6. I still hate hemming and details.
My son was very interested in sewing since 2 or 3. But he won't plan or cut anything neatly. Wonder where he got that from.
I have an old machine I spent 15 $ on, it doesn't even go backwards. We put it in neutral for backwards.

[MRB]

The SHORT story is, I almost sewed up my hand (!) when I was 12 and my mom had to finish my home ec project for me. KlutzVILLE. Good thing I had the "I'm a pianist" mini-diva excuse to fall back on. Otherwise I would have flunked home ec and ruined my A average. Hee.

Krisp - ROTFLMBO at your soap opera "The Bobbin Turns." Have you tried crochet? Only one needle, and it's kind of meditative, and your friends "ooh" and "aahh" when you make them blankets. Praise ... dopamine rush ...

[krisp]

Um, yes .... but would I have to think about it while I was doing it? That way lies disaster....