Reflection: Looking Back

Alright. So a reflection post. I suppose that interspersed between my words will be all the photos that I couldn't quite use. Perhaps there'll be a few repeats, but we'll see.

Originally, when I first began the project, I was really excited. I thought I'd be able to create this really cool final project. Never did the thought of obstacles cross my mind, to be honest, because I believed in myself and my ability to finish. It was definitely a shock for me, realizing that I would not complete my project.

(Things didn't always go as planned.)

From what I've documented, I've spent 29.75 hours on this project, as well as $54.97.

Time Log

1. 1 hour (Working on the game plan, finding a mentor, and revising revising revising)
2. 1.5 hours (At Joann's, asking about supplies, choosing fabrics, and walking around aimlessly, unsure of what to do but too afraid to ask)
3. 2 hours (Practicing sewing by making straight seams down squares and a little pincushion)
4. 2 hours (Figuring out how to cut cloth, cutting most but not all of my squares)
5. 1.5 hours (Sewing the first strip, troubleshooting the sewing machine, and removing seams)
6. 45 min = 0.75 hour (Finishing up the cutting the fabric)
7. 2 hours (Lay out the fabric and revise the game plan with Mrs. Rushing)
8. 3 hours (Sewing strip 2, removing a whole bunch of seams, trying again and again)
9. 16ish hours (Blogging... 3 hours on my first post, 1.5 hours on my mentor, 20 minutes on fabric shopping, 3 hours on day 1 of sewing, 2 hours on my second update, 1 hour on my first post about my arm, 3.5 hours on my research post, 20 minutes on Fancy Stitches, a groggy half an hour on my second arm update, and 1.5 hours on my most recent post.)

13.75 hours + 16 hours =  29.75 hours

(Sewing a seam.)

Though it didn't quite turn out the way I had hoped. I think that I learned quite a bit. For starters, my time could have probably been better used before I was injured - had I started earlier, I might have finished. I did, however, pick up sewing skills. Most of the time now (so around 80% of the time), when I sew, I can do a perfectly straight seam, even if it happens to be skewed on the fabric. However, during my project, due to the weight of the material, the thread tended to bunch up and there wasn't much I could do.

I definitely regret a lot though. I can't quite put it into words, but it definitely feels like I've failed. My parents were right in that I can't finish anything I've started, and to be honest, I don't really want to tell them how badly I screwed up. I wish I had asked for help, but most of all, I wish that this (being my arm problem) never happened. I shouldn't be blaming it, but losing the use of my left arm definitely discouraged me. Although I did my best, sewing was just really difficult. I think that, if I had to do this again, I would definitely ask for help keeping the fabric steady, and allow myself to just keep going, instead of going back and trying to fix every single mistake I made.

The thing I thought was the most difficult was staying genuine and detailing EVERYTHING, including my numerous failures and the arm situation. It was really hard being honest and opening up, knowing that everyone in my class and the entire freaking world could read this blog. And if it's discovered in several years, then that unknown person knows too.

(Quilt pattern I had wanted to achieve.)

There was one day when Sasha and I got a bit bored, and began messing around a bit with the sewing machine. That day, we not only found that the sewing machine can do fancier stitches, but also discovered a little nub jutting off the side of the sewing machine, containing a small blade machine, intended to cut thread. Well, long story short, we found that the little blade also cuts hair.

(Cutting Sasha's hair)

Although I made a lot of mistakes, I'm glad that the people around me were able to laugh with me. It made messing up a lot easier on me, I think, and allowed me to not dwell on solely the mistakes. Being able to blog and type out my thoughts was also rather therapeutic, though the majority of the blog posts I typed never did make it online. Although I'm pleased with the way the blog turned out, I regret spending so much time blogging. It was definitely part of my project, but in a way, it wasn't.

(Lavender bias tape)

I also never got to use bias tape, but did end up researching it! Bias tape is simply a narrow strip of fabric whose fibers are cut on the bias, which is 45 degrees to the length of the strip (the opposite is on the grain, which is 90 degrees). The angle makes the fabric stretchier and less likely to fray. Bias tape is usually used for borders of quilts and comes in many colors, and I'm sad I never got to experiment with it.

Even though this project is essentially over for me, I think I'm going to try to finish the quilt over the summer. It was fun learning how to quilt and I think that I did learn a lot about sewing and fabric. I enjoyed being able to talk to Sasha and Mrs. Rushing as we went through the process, and there were a lot of funny and wonderful moments to balance out those that were frustrating.

(My two biggest supporters... excluding Tammy Lee of course ;) )

Besides, the important thing is that I kept all my fingers. :)

Sew Many Issues...

I worked for three hours today (two hours for the block schedule and one hour at lunch), and unfortunately did not get much done.

I hate complaining and don't want that to be the focus of this post, but I do want to mention that, even with a sewing machine, working with one arm is nearly impossible and this post reflects a lot of frustration. Also, because I had surgery just a few days ago, I'm not allowed to really use my arm that much. So sewing was a blast... *sarcasm*

(Before I got frustrated.)

Alright, so the first thing the sewing machine did was spit out sewing machine clouds for me. The entire time, I was like, "seriously?!" I thought that the sewing machine and I had a greater relationship than that! But nope, clouds galore.

(A little thread cloud.)

I needed to cut off the side of my fabric because I couldn't use a seam ripper with one hand. It was just a crazy mess. The scissors were difficult to use as well because I was trying to hold the scissors and cut with the same hand. It really just didn't work at all. Nope nope nope.

But then I finally got the seam sewn, with just a tiny thread cloud at the tip. So that was fine, I guess. As I kept going, however, it got harder. Because I was trying to use my good hand to press the backstitch button, the seam was crooked. As the strip got longer, and therefore heavier, the seams got more and more skewed. So while the strip got longer...

(Crooked and unfinished seams.)

The seams got more and more crooked.The fabric would shift so much that sometimes, I'd only be sewing on one layer, which was completely and utterly pointless. Although outwardly, I was trying to laugh it all off, but to be honest, it was just SO INCREDIBLY FRUSTRATING. 

The crooked seams were just really annoying, which made me wonder if someone out there made sewing machines for lefties. (I realized later on that sewing machines technically favor lefties, though they don't really help out one-armed righties.) At this point, I just sort of wanted to give up and cry, but then I persevered on, hoping that better things would happen. Naturally, that didn't happen.

If spitting out way too much thread wasn't bad enough, my new enemy Sewing Machine decided to withhold thread. I think I sort of panicked - I didn't think I was thaaat bad at sewing to break a virtually unbreakable (Mrs. Rushing's words, not mine. :) ) machine! When I checked the machine, I realized that the sewing machine had completely unthreaded itself. The thing that sucked the most, however, was that the unthreading is something that's nearly impossible with only one working arm and hand. Fortunately, Sasha did threaded the machine for me. I'm glad that I didn't have to ask Mrs. Rushing for help on that one.

The sewing machine unthreaded itself not one, nor two, but SEVEN more times during the next two hours. Poor Sasha had to rethread the machine every single time.

(Thank the world for people like Sasha <3)

I spent three hours on the project today, and I only finished one strip. I spent the majority of the time ripping out seams, silently cursing myself out in my head, and trying to guide fabric through without losing my fingers. If you see the photo below, notice that my (right) hand has crossed over to try to keep the fabric in place. When I first began this project, Mrs. Rushing told me never to try to cross my hand over like that, as it'd be really easy for me to accidentally pass my hand under the needle... which, needless to say, would be bad. But well, here I am, being a rebel.

(Warning: Do not try this at home.)

I'm not going to finish my quilt and I think I've made my peace with that. I'm supposed to present on Thursday (but I have a doctor's appointment so I'll have to talk to Mr. Duvall about switching the day) so today was essentially my last day to work on my project.

(To add insult to injury, now I have to go over my pants and my arm sling with a lint roller. Yay.)

Another Update on the Arm

I had surgery yesterday on May 11th, 2016.

(Before surgery: The gown was like fifteen thousand sizes too big...)

The surgery turned out pretty well, I think. They removed a large osteochondroma (read: tumor) from my left humerus and performed a resection on a minor nerve.

(Closer "look" at the bandages.)

It turned out pretty well, I think. I was only under for a few hours and didn't even need to stay the night. I was able to get up today, and with a little help, I was able to get dressed and even drink some tea! I love tea.

(My sister did my hair and it looks really nice!)

I'll be back to school Monday and will try to sew some more. Since my arm stopped working, I really haven't done much of my project and I doubt I'll finish it. Oh well, I guess I'll figure it out later.

Fancy Stitches

Today, we tried some decorative stitches that the sewing machine can apparently do.

(Top to bottom: 1, 2, 3)

I love that the sewing machine can make such pretty looking stitches with virtually no work at all and I think that these stitches add a new decorative element to whatever is being sewn. Sasha was the one who guided the fabric (which is why the stitches are so straight) and we both love how they look. My personal favorite is the third one, with the leaves. She thinks the first one is really cool.

(Sasha's favorite stitch.)

This one, however, is her favorite. I think it looks really really pretty. but the leaves are still nicer. We both also like the second feather-like one as well.

We've been sort of messing around with the sewing machine to see what it can do. I think I'll probably try sewing with one hand one day soon and see if it's doable - I do have a senior project to complete!

(Different stitch options on the Brother CS6000i sewing machine)

Research Post: Why Did People Begin Quilting?

Today's post is a bit different than the usual posts I've been doing - it's time for research post number one! The question today is...

When did the social features of quilting surpass the functional aspects, and why?

(A piece of one of the Tristan Quilts)

The definition of a quilt comes from the Latin root of its name: culcita, meaning "a stuffed sack." (1) That is, essentially, what a quilt is. A quilt is a cloth sandwich, with filling sandwiched between a quilt top and the quilt backing, with all three layers sewn together.

Quilting apparently dates back to Egyptian times (3400 B.C), as shown by a statue of an Egyptian pharaoh wearing what seems to a quilted piece of clothing. (5) However, no actual pieces of Egyptian quilting have ever been found, which brings the history of quilts up to the 12th century, when soldiers would wear quilted garments under their armor. This clothing would eventually evolve into doublets, a "man's buttoned snug fitting jacket" worn under armor to prevent chafing. However, the quilting was not for decoration; it was to ensure that the doublet stayed intact for a long time. (3)

One of the earliest known quilts were the Tristan quilts, made around 1360, and depicting scenes from the medieval tale of Tristan and Iseult. (3) Not much else is known about these quilts, but they are the only known examples of medieval quilts.

(A wholecloth quilt)

Quilts that came after the Tristan quilts, however, were not quite as decorative. Early American colonists, for example, did not have quilts that were as intricately stitched. Their quilts were made for warmth, and made out of necessity. Because early settlers could not afford to throw things out, all fabric scraps went into these quilts. When clothing was worn out, it would be stuffed between two sheets and sewn. Although not carefully constructed, their weight made them ideal for warm bed coverings, as well as for sealing doors to keep drafts out.

In 1794, the cotton gin was invented, which helped cotton works sort through the cotton more quickly. The invention of the cotton gin increased textile production. Because cloth was less expensive to buy, women began quilting for pleasure. (4) Most quilts made at the time were wholecloth quilts, or quilts made of just one piece of cloth as the quilt top. These quilts were prized for their beautiful stitching patterns. Because there was only one piece of cloth, however, these quilts were not worked on during social gatherings. (6) That would come a little later.

(Quilt made during the 1930s in Florida)

Many quilts today are products from the Great Depression. These quilts are recognizable from their pastel-like colors and many different fabric scraps. Old clothing, worn-out blankets, and food sack scraps were cut apart to make these quilts, and often, a group of women would come together to try and finish a quilt in one afternoon. (4) Quilting was extremely popular during this time because it was an inexpensive hobby and used up many of the small scraps left over from other projects. Because many families did not have much money, this was the source of entertainment for many women out there, of all ages. (3)

Since then, quilting has evolved into a very popular hobby. More than 21 million people in the United States quilt, predominately women with an average age of 62. Quilting groups and clubs are also very popular today, showing that this activity is much more social than it is functional. (1)

(Quilts can be made in many different designs and patterns.)

1. Brackman, Barbara. "The Quilt Index." The Quilt Index. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

2. Breneman, Judy Anne. "Victorian Era Quilts From Silk to Cotton."Victorian Quilts: 
Redwork Charm, & Crazy Quilting. N.p., 2007. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

3. "History of Quilts." History of Quilts. Quilting in America, July 2006. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

4.  "Quilting in America, the Fabric of Our Past, Present and Future."Quilting in America, the 
Fabric of Our Past, Present and Future. SBI, n.d. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

5. Solis-Cohen, Lita, and Sally Solis-Cohen. "Quilting's Story Started with the Pharaohs."
Baltimore Sun. Baltimore Sun, 09 May 1993. Web. 22 Apr. 2016.

6. Wulfert, Kimberly, PhD. "New Pathways Into Quilt History." New Pathways Into Quilt
History. N.p. Dec. 2006. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.

Paying an Arm (But Fortunately Not a Leg)

(Me + Very nice new sling)

So today was the first day since "it" happened I felt well enough to talk/type about it. You see, I may have gotten a bit overconfident about the not losing fingers thing because...

Well, I can no longer use my left arm. Whoops.

Fortunately, it isn't because I'm really thaaaat bad at this entire sewing business. I have a condition called osteochondroma, and although it sounds bad, it usually isn't. For me, it causes bone bumps (known as exostoses [singular: exostosis] or tumors) to grow. These exostoses can grow anywhere, but mine like growing on my growth plates (it's part of the reason why I'm so short) and right over my nerves.

Long story short, there's an exostosis in my shoulder, and it got a little bit annoyed. So ever since Monday night, it's been pressing quite enthusiastically on the nerve that controls my left hand, and now, my hand, and really my arm in general, is out of commission until the tumor comes out sometime in May. Because my arm isn't really doing much at the moment, my doctor prescribed me a really nice sling, which keeps my arm pretty much immobilized, which is cool, I guess! I just have to edit my game plan a bit to get everything done, so let's get started!

(Rearranging squares...)

-- Game Plan Revision --

I sewed my first strip on Tuesday, which was much much easier. However, even keeping the fabric aligned made my shoulder ache, my elbow complain, and my hand throb. I realized that if sewing was so difficult, then cutting would be a nightmare (not that it wasn't when both arms still worked!) So once I finished my first strip, my mentor and I sat down and revised my game plan.

Instead of working on two quilts, we decided to just stick to one, but make it more decorative. To do this, I decided that I would  cut one of the squares in half for strips two and four so those two rows could be shifted over by 4.25 inches. We also considered putting strips of white satin in between each row of blocks, which would make the pattern look a bit more complicated, and also bring the entire quilt together (as I had planned to use white satin fabric for the backing as well). As for the border, we had originally planned on using bias tape, but we decided to pierce together a border from my scraps of fabric, which would be easier on the arm and require less cutting.

Although I didn't intend on changing my project, I think that doing a quilt this way will be more beneficial, as it will allow me more time to heal. It's definitely frustrating, however, because I had a lot of high hopes for this project and now I won't be able to complete everything I wanted to do, and in a way, it feels like giving up on what I wanted to do.

(Putting pieces back together again)

Something Went (Almost) "Seamlessly"

Today, I sewed my first strip, To my delight, it was "sew" much easier than cutting... Well. Sort of. You see, I kind of forgot that I'm not that great at sewing.

(It's pretty much my height.)

But first, before sewing, I had to lay my pieces out today and sort them, which I did. Then, I grabbed my first stack, and sat down in front of the sewing machine that I am borrowing, the Brother 60-Stitch Computerized Sewing Machine, CS-6000i. Oof. That's a bit of a mouthful.

Immediately, I remembered that I'm really not that great at sewing. Hm. Well, I guess I can sort of fake my way through this, right? I knew I needed to have quarter inch seams, and Ms. Rushing told me to have the fronts/print side of the fabrics facing each other. Then, I was supposed to sew the edges together with a quarter inch seam. After a bit of fiddling, I realized that a quarter inch seam is when the thread is a quarter inch from the edge of the fabric. Who would have known?

(Walking myself through sewing another square)

When I first began sewing, I practiced on a scrap piece of fabric. I thought it would help if I pushed the fabric along, but well... it really didn't. The sewing machine jammed a bit (okay, so it jammed a lot), and produced what I called "sewing machine clouds." Basically, the machine bobbin got stuck because the fabric was moving too quickly, and tension was off or something like that. When Mrs. Rushing came over to take a look, she patted me on the back and told me not to push it along. And when I didn't try to force the fabric through, it was much much easier!

(Seam #1...doesn't it look good?)

Anyway, the sewing went very quickly once I knew what I was doing. It was really just guiding the fabric through the needle and keeping it straight. The first seam I did was wonderful. It was very nice and straight, and I thought, "Hm... maybe I am sort of good at this thing. I was super proud of myself, so I excitedly started seam #2.

Have you ever heard the phrase "pride goeth before a fall"?

(Seam #2)

Yeah, well. Here's seam #2. to the right. Unfortunately, it seems like my favorite fabric (the cream fabric with the little green leaves) always happens to be the one that I mess up on. But yeah. Because I wanted to get my seams done quickly, I didn't line up the fabric properly, and it just got worse the farther I went. So... I tried to go over the seam (see the video below) and messed up even farther. I had to use a seam ripper and resew the square. So I learned another maxim today...

Haste makes waste. Good thing Mrs. Rushing has plenty of thread!

Once I was able to sew the square correctly, I sewed the next square, more slowly this time. Then, I did the next, and the next, keeping the fabric squares rolled up neatly so they weren't just lying in a pile next to the sewing machine. And then, Before I knew it, I was done with my first strip!

The first strip was 7 squares, which I thought was a lot, but really wasn't all that bad. However, it had taken me almost half an hour to sew, mostly due to the fact that I spent fifteen minutes fixing the second and third squares.

(Warning: I was frustrated and the camera was right

next to my face... turn the volume down!)

However, when I finished the first strip, I realized that I needed to change my game plan. (Check out my next blog post for information on why...) I just spent the rest of class talking with my mentor and relaid out my squares, with the completed strip on the very top.

(Done laying out my squares!)