It's no secret that when we experience a craft-fail most of us lament for a moment, then move on. Perhaps we pull the item apart to cannibalise the pieces for a new project, or maybe we accept we've lost enough time already and just bin it. Occasionally, our eternally-optimistic partners might encourage us to store it away so you can 'try again later.' As a last resort, you can always boast about your failure!I can't sew. I've admitted that before, and I'm admitting it again now. Fix a button to a shirt; sure. But that involves a needle and thread, what about a sewing machine? Hmmm... let's find out.
When my first baby girl came along I got clucky and nesty like plenty of mums. It was then that I decided that learning to use a sewing machine would be a good bonding experience with my mother-in-law. (I had learnt as a teenager, but that was so long ago the skills were lost.) Happy-Husband's mom was pleased to oblige and showed me the basics of her machine. Excited by her encouragement, I said; "leave me to it."
The idea was simple and elegant - I stand unswayed in my conviction - the idea was a good one. I was going to make a "tactile stained glass window."
Using an old black sheet and some wadding, I was going to make a square 'blankie' or quilt. On top of the quilt, I was going to attach 25 squares of coloured materials, arranged in 5 rows of 5 squares, roughly like a linear rainbow. Each square was to be a different material; felt, terry toweling, satin, suede, faux fur and so on. Onto some of the patches I sewed buttons, ribbons, felt stars, fabric flowers and applique butterflies, the idea being that the end result would be stimulating in both a visual and tactile way.
I cut the squares out to equal sizes, decorated some of them, and created a cardboard template to ensure that I could quickly and easily pin the patches down at equal intervals. So far so good. What I didn't realize was that sewing around a square is not as easy as it seems if you're new to sewing machines. Furthermore, every type of fabric is a new learning experience - the worst was definitely the faux-fur. By the end of red-row-one I was worried. Row-two was confirming my suspicions, and row-three sealed the deal; it was time to go home.
Sometimes I wish I'd gone through with it and finished the blue and purple patches; after all I was designing for a daughter whose love was still unconditional. Other times, I'm glad I ditched and just played with my new baby instead.
What do you think? Did the idea have merit? Should I have given up? Do craft projects have to be a work of art or is 'near enough good enough' when there's lashings of love involved?
