Mama’s Musings

I am a frugal woman by nature and upbringing and given the chance to save $10 by doing something seemingly easy myself rather than pay someone else to do it, I will do it myself.  Well, in the case of the reversible bolero vest I was wrong.

It is nearly 2 AM and I sit here writing as a form of catharsis from the stress of the last few hours.  It seemed an easy enough task, two construction paper pattern pieces and a dozen steps of “easy” directions, along with a yard each of music note fabric and galaxy fabric.  My sixth grader had been accepted into the school’s ambassador singing group and this vest is part of the required dress.  Easy enough.

I can sew, right?  It was one of my only C’s in college (it may have even been a C- now I think about it), but I can theoretically sew.  Not particularly well, but things stay attached, for a time.  One of my husband’s most prized possessions is the ragged quilt I made for him when he went off to college. (Yes, we have been together that far back and then some.) 

Well, procrastinating a thing does not usually make it easier and my ability to problem solve and follow directions late at night is severely impaired.  The vest is due for a concert tomorrow.  My attempts at it earlier have failed.  Ironing and sewing with the help of a 2 year old is not recommended.  By 12:30 AM steps like #7  “Turn vest right side out by pulling the front down through each shoulder and out the right side opening of the back of the vest”  hurt my brain-HUH????  By then the male brain in me was thinking can’t I possibly use duct tape or a staple gun to finish this?  The seam allowance did not seem to want to stay in one place (where the heck is 3/8 anyway?)  I only sewed the arm holes shut twice (I’ve always said the seam ripper is my friend).

 I can be creative and I could have solved some of my problem with fusible webbing, bias tape, or ribbon, but alas she has to look like 24 other kids up there and I doubt creativity with uniform is appreciated (why can’t this be a scarf?).  I ended up finishing the right armhole and the left side seam by hand in my best hidden stitch (whatever it is called) and as long as we don’t have to wash it I think we’ll be okay.

What lessons am I to draw from this experience for myself and my children?  Well, it is okay to try something even if you aren’t accomplished, that is how we learn.  It is always better not to procrastinate.  Exactness and patience are rewarded.   And sometimes it is worth it to pay the ten bucks.