The first time I remember sewing was when I bought a plain white backpack for school one year. I must have been around ten years old, and had expansive plans for assorted patches I would attach to my bag. I remember the thrill I felt when they all finally arrived, sitting with my mom on her bed figuring out the best way to arrange them. As the smell of the hot iron filled the room, I carefully made my first backstitch, attaching a Mystery Machine emblem to the side of my new bag. This is one of my earliest memories of truly expressing myself, taking something plain and inexpensive and trying to create something that felt like me. In sophomore year, I adorned a messenger bag with patches I had collected over the years, using the same technique my mother taught me but doing it all on my own now. I started learning crochet in the summer of 2022, but I wasn't immersed in it until 2 years later, when I crocheted a blanket for my mother's birthday, and I haven't put it down since. I also revisited that same messenger bag, using my excess yarn to embroider roses on it.

Sewing Projects

Nico the Cat

This was my first amigurumi (a type of crochet that works in rounds/circles rather than rows/lines) creation, and one of my first ever crochet pieces! I created it using a pattern and yarn I got from Woobles, a company that makes crochet stuffed animal kits.

Alice's Dress

For Halloween in 2023, my friends and I went as characters from Alice in Wonderland. I was Alice, and took a dress I bought from an online thrift store and restructured the dress to fit me properly. I love sewing for the customization it allows for, of course, but I also adore the practicality of being able to change or fix any clothing to fit you just right. Through lots of trial, error, and ribbon, I finally got it to fit me, and not look too shabby either!

Multicolored Scarf

My most recent project, this involved switching colors which is something I've been somewhat avoiding. I decided to approach it in a way that didn't involved changing yarn every row, but just every once in a while, and I'm proud with the progress I've made. For my next project, I want to try switching colors every row to create a striped design, which I've never done before.

Denim Jacket

I consider this to be my most ambitious project yet, one that I've yet to finish. I took apart some jeans that had ripped beyond repair, combining them with my sister's old skirt to make an oversized jacket with patchwork designs and embroidered flowers. I'm still working on the final details, but I feel very accomplished having hand sewn it entirely, and I'm pleased that I persevered despite tons of broken needles and cuts on my fingers because I truly think the final product is well worth the struggle.

Blankets and Pillow

My first project after relearning crochet was a blanket for my mom's birthday. One thing I definitely learned from this was to give myself time and not give up. I, for some reason, thought I could complete it all in a few days, but it ended up stretching on for several weeks of working a few hours a day. It was also very repetitive, which I tired of easily. The next blanket I worked one was for myself; I followed a pattern this time, adding some variation to the design, and didn't set a deadline for myself. This blanket turned out bigger and better than I expected, and I'm proud of both of them.

Patchwork Quilt

This is a quilt I've been planning inspired by a character from one of my favorite TV shows and a quilt in her room. I didn't have any specific patterns in mind while shopping for fabrics, but I think I found a good mix. It shares a similar color palate with my inspiration, but I think mine has more variety and is a bit more eclectic, which I really like.