SUCCESS...and Nancy Zieman

I’d like to take a moment to share a recent discovery: Sewing with Nancy. Nancy Zieman is by far the most remarkable seamstress and teacher I’ve ever seen. For those of you who have never heard of Nancy, she has a tv show on PBS and teaches sewing, topic by topic, 26 minutes at a time. I am enthralled. She also has a store: Nancy’s Notions, which sells sewing materials and supplies.

Nancy is not only the most accomplished seamstress I’ve ever seen (sorry Aunt C. L I’m seeing other seamstresses on the side… J) but she teaches in the most remarkable way: so beginners like me can understand!!

She has a very soothing, modulated voice and explains things in a very simple, real, basic way. She is warm, funny, and doesn’t come off plastic or fake, like she’s on TV. She talks to her audience as if she is sitting in the living room with them.

You can watch her shows here. I watched all of the doll clothes ones J I watched the A to Z (which was AWESOME!!!!) and I watched the anniversary 3 part show, which was heartwarming and hilarious.

Do not go another moment without watching Nancy! She is awesomely awesome. J

PART 2

I also decided after the successes and failures I have had, my next project needed to be a sure success. So I backtracked. I used the free drawstring dress from Liberty Jane and a totally adorable fabric that my mom bought to make me something cute when I was a little girl (did I mention one of my children will be an adult next year??? More loved fabric came my way J) The fabric is white with little colored hearts all over. So cute!

This one was too easy. It’s a free pattern, but those of you who know how to make a pillowcase dress already know how to make this. I did know how already but used the pattern for measurement. The dress “whipped up” really quickly and since the fabric was so easy to work with, my stitches looked good, my seams were even and straight, the whole dress was just a good experience.

The pattern suggestion was to tie a ribbon around the waist, so I used a nice red ribbon I had laying around, but I have to say, I like the dress both ways.

What do you think? Instant confidence booster! I am sewer, hear me sew!! (sewer? Wait… is that right? Tee hee)