Sewing with Friends
When I started working at the school back in 2012, somehow it came up with the school secretary that I liked sewing. I can’t remember exactly how it came up—but it probably had something to do with my self-made purse. It didn’t take long for her to show me some of her projects—all of which impressed me. She told me all about this group of ladies that got together once a month in the teacher’s lounge to sew.
She invited me several times to join them. But I was working on my MFA and I didn’t leave time for fun on Saturdays. I spent every weekend for two years working on big homework projects. Every time I declined she assured me there would always be next month. She would bring me sewing patterns and books on quilting.
Last year I finally started joining them. After three years of being invited. With my grad school behind me, and what seemed like a lot of spare time ahead, I went to the school on a Saturday.
And I met a group of women as inspiring and helpful as my graduate program—only for sewing instead of writing. It doesn’t always work out for me to join them, but I’m bummed when it doesn’t fit my schedule.
We got together this past weekend.
Saturday morning my mom asked me if the ladies work on similar projects to what I work on. Most weeks I take hand quilting to do because it’s less stuff to cart around. I laughed a little at the question because these ladies are light-years ahead of me when it comes to sewing skill. They work on quilts that are far more intricate than anything I’ve attempted yet.
I learn so much from just watching them work and listening to them talk about their projects. It’s like a writer’s workshop in some ways, because oftentimes this group allows for questions and suggestions.
“What do you think would make a good finishing touch on this table runner?”
“What do you think of this binding?”
“What about this border?”
“Is this fabric too much?”
I love hearing the stories behind the different projects.
“I found this quilt block all done in my stash but can’t remember what I originally meant it to be.”
“I’m trying to use up some of the fabric I’ve had for years.”
“My grandson loves Mickey Mouse.”
“My daughter picked out this fabric.”
“My church is donating quilts to a local charity this month.”
“I’m using all of my husband’s ties from when he was a banker.”
I love it. I love the stories. I love the creativity.
My only regret is that I didn’t say yes to our secretary’s invitation sooner. If you like sewing and ever get an invitation to join a sewing group, give it a shot. Be sure to keep your ears and eyes open. You never know what you might learn.
