This is it. The beginning.

My name is Kimmel. I am a 35 year old military wife and stay at home mom to 4 beautiful children. And I know nothing about sewing. Okay, maybe not nothing. My mom used to sew our clothes for us when my siblings and I were little. I have memories of watching her at the sewing machine while she worked. I used to love to watch the material as it was fed under the needle. It seemed like magic to me that a simple pass through the dancing silver could create these stitches that held everything together. It still seems a little mind boggling to me that all clothing and quilts were once just pieces of fabric that someone has fastened together in a perfect marriage. I am so intrigued, that I have decided to embark on a much anticipated and about darn time journey. I’m going to learn how to sew.

I realize that this is no easy task. I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed as I sit and really think about what it is I’m about to commit to. But with the help of this blog I know I can do it. This will be where I will capture my journey with a weekly post. Each week I will seek for and hopefully get some much needed guidance from all of you amazing quilters and seamstresses out there. (Please don’t let me down here you guys. I need HELP!) It will be slow going, and I’m sure some of you will get a little kick out of watching me stumble a bit, okay, a lot, at first, but I’m hoping that aside from the entertainment value this may provide, you will also be eager to watch me succeed.

The first step was a no brainer, acquire a sewing machine. Check!

I will be using the Juki HZL-LB5020

Isn’t she a beauty?

The next step is to collect the rest of the tools that I will need. I know I will have an extension table for my sewing machine. It should be delivered in the next couple of weeks. So excited about that! I will also be receiving the Ideal Seam Guides that Sew Very Smooth is known for along with the Gauge and Polish. I may not know what I’m doing, but my machine and table will be smooth and shiny and my lines will be straight!

I will be assembling the rest of my tools over the next couple of weeks as I figure out exactly what I’ll need. I do know that I will want a rotary cutter and self healing mat. What brands would you suggest? I briefly got online to see what the options were and holy cow, I don’t even know where to start. What is the difference between a 45mm and 60mm blade? Why would you pick one over the other or is it helpful to have both?

Seriously, I need the input so please let me know. Also, what do you wish you knew when you first started out? I will gratefully read every comment that is left for me. I’m a sponge. Fill me up!!