About The Incurable Homebody

(A.k.a. Maya.) Full-time DIY video producer, part-time blogger, socially awkward recluse, and a crafter with a purpose. I blog about crafting and the pursuit of confidence for the socially anxious.

i heart wendy

Posted on March 22, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

I’ve only used one of Wendy Mullin’s sewing patterns (I also have her terrific book, Sew U) and I’m already in love. Her designs are stylish and simple and her instructions are so easy to understand.

As a sewing novice, I thought I might have been in over my head when I began, but I just kept following the steps, which were so intuitive — and the dress turned out pretty well. I bought the fabric from SewzannesFabrics.com who shipped it over at lightning speed!

Buy the dress pattern here. I have four more of her patterns sitting uncut in their envelopes and I can’t wait to try them out.

(Photo by Cici Sutjiono.)

from sewphobe to sewholic: a junkie’s tale.

Posted on March 21, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

My mother sews and I’ve got two aunts who are professional seamstresses. Seeing them work during my childhood and teen years always made me afraid to give it a try — it looked so frighteningly meticulous. But today, thanks to modern technology giving us computerized machines and free sewing lessons on You Tube, I’ve learned how to make clothing that’s actually wearable. Outside. In public even.

I bought my Brother CS-6000 machine early last month, and to help me learn how to use it, I enrolled in Sew L.A.’s Machine Basics 101 class. It was fantastic, and I highly recommend Sherry’s class to anyone living in the LA area with a desire to learn how to sew. She’s amazingly patient and a terrific teacher. We learned the basics of machine operation and made a simple, unlined tote bag during the 3 hour session, and when I went home, I immediately made two more totes.

I am now a bonafide junkie who scours Burdastyle.com (an online sewing community) on a daily basis for pictures of members’ creations, new patterns and how-tos; searches ebay for vintage fabrics and patterns; spends far too much money on sewing notions…and who just bought a second machine (a serger/overlock).

my first dress!

Posted on March 15, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

Photo by Cicilia Sutjiono

So after sewing a couple of totes, I decided to just dive in and make a dress. I downloaded this tunic dress pattern for free from Burdafashion.com and then went to the Goodwill to buy some practice fabric. I figured it would be unwise to spend loads of money on nice fabric when I’m just starting to figure this thing out. What I found was this cute flat bedsheet with an adorable scandavian-style pattern (IKEA perhaps?) — so I bought it and started sewing away.

Here’s what tripped me up the most: the yoke and yoke facings. I ended up with two extra pattern pieces that I didn’t know what to do with! If I was a mechanic putting together an engine, I would have been in big trouble. I didn’t realize that I had to use the yoke facings on the inside of the dress in order to give that area support and so that I wouldn’t have to finish the neck edges. So then I had to teach myself how to do bias binding. Here is when I wished I was under the tutelage of someone who actually knew what they were doing!

Ah well, for all the trouble, it was definitely worth it in the end. Who knew a bedsheet could be so fun to wear?

happy hooking

Posted on February 27, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

A few years ago around Christmas, my sister started crocheting these terrific scarves for people as gifts (I love mine!). Now, my sister has a list of friends longer than my arm and both my legs, so she got in way over her head and found herself crocheting into the wee hours of the morning to finish before Christmas Eve. I so do not have the same problem as I can list all of my friends and acquaintances on one side of a folded paper napkin.

Anyway, I always said that one day I’d teach myself to crochet, so a couple months ago, I did. I’m not doing anything fancy (I’d like too soon) but I’m making lots of simple, practical things that I can actually use like handwarmers, neckwarmers, small purses and chunky house socks (my favorite!). No pics of the socks, but I promise to post some soon.

it started when…

Posted on February 23, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

My husband Dane, the excellent listener that he is, remembered me mentioning a couple of times that I’d always wanted to take up painting. I’ve sketched for fun in the past, but I’ve never painted. So this past Christmas, he got me paints, an easel, brushes and some very intimidating blank canvases. I rolled up my sleeves and dove in head first — finishing these paintings (and a few more) in about a week. Haha. Sadly, when other pursuits took hold of me, I put the paints aside. I do plan on picking the brushes up again as I’ve been commissioned by a somewhat twisted friend of mine to do a portrait of Gruss vom Krampus.

Couple... detail
Couple with Floating Head and Pedestal (acrylic)

Woman by Moroccan Window (acrylic)

Woman on Dark Red (acrylic)

A.1. (acrylic)

Monks in Snow (acrylic and newspaper)

never too late to learn

Posted on February 23, 2008 by The Incurable Homebody

I adored arts and crafts as a kid, but somewhere along the line I got this notion that I was no good at it. So I put aside the water colors, construction paper and sewing needles and threw myself, heart and soul, into music. So I suppose my recent obsession with making stuff might just be the start of a midlife crisis (I turn 35 this year—egads!) which manifests itself in anxiety over the fact that I hadn’t learned enough domestic skills. Mainly, though, I’m a recent convert to the Handmade Revolution. Oh, and, yes, I love pretty things—and if I can make them myself, well that’s even better!

So I suppose I’ll start out this blog by backtracking to relay my craft successes and failures—but there’s not much history to cover as I’ve only started a few months ago. For all you experienced craftsters out there, any advice (and I do need it) is welcome and solicited!

THE INCURABLE HOMEBODY

"Thanks, but i'd rather stay in and make stuff."

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