An Obsession? Perhaps.

I bought some fabric a while ago.  If you’re reading this post at my actual site then you’re looking at the fabric because it’s in my background.  I bought too much, for sure.  I still have tons and tons left.   That’s a good problem, though.

Many moons ago I found Noodlehead.   I just have to point out, even though I’ve already mentioned it on my “About Nat” page, that my name is Natalie and my daughter’s name is Anna.  Noodlehead is done by Anna (who just made an awesome dress) and her daughter’s name is Natalie.  Neat, huh? 🙂

I found Noodlehead via my friend Kari of Handmade Mommy.  Kari posted about doing Anna’s tutorial on L’il Cutie Pouches, and how they helped her overcome zipper anxiety.  “Zipper anxiety?” I wondered to myself.  “What’s zipper anxiety?”  I recognized what a great little thing they’d be to have around, though, so I got some zippers (okay, a lot of zippers) and set to work.

I decided to make one just to try it out, and then I’d make more if I didn’t break my machine.

Moment of hilarity:  I followed Anna’s tutorial precisely- it’s very well done.  But once it came time to sew around the perimeter of the pouch I froze.  “How do I go over the zipper?  Can you sew over a zipper?”  Enter:   zipper anxiety.  So what do I do?  I called Kari, of course.

Kari, who was busy building a volcano with one of her adorable boys, took the time to say, “You’ll be fine.  Just hand crank your needle through it and you’ll be fine.”  “Okay,” I said, while in my head thinking, “For reals?  I can sew over a zipper?”  And yes, my friends, you CAN.  It was fine.  Though if Kari had not told me to do it by cranking my needle by hand I think I probably would have broken something.

So after I made the first one, I cut oodles of fabric up (cutting takes forever!) and I made some more.

Okay, I made 11.

I’m officially the SWF (Single White Female) of sewing.  But later today, I am going to my first meeting of the school year and I’m dreading it.  It will give us at least a few moments of fun when I plop these on the table and let everyone pick one.

See the red, white & blue pouch?  That one is special.  A friend of ours recently got her U.S. citizenship finalized and will be sworn in this month.  I’m so excited for her, so I made her a little patriotic pouch to help celebrate.

p.s.  Like the little lion?  He’s probably older than me.  He used to be in a drawer in my grandparents’ house that we’d play with during our visits. Anna loves him now.  I just think he’s adorable and it’s amazing he still works.

p.p.s.  I have no idea what’s going on with my quotation marks.  It’s driving me crazy.

Closing question (if you sew):  How much fabric do you buy if you see something you like but don’t have an intended project yet? I need some guidelines!

Don’t forget about my giveaway! It ends on Friday- hope you can take a moment to leave a comment to enter!  Click here to check it out.