Sew you think I can't do it?

When I was 16 I failed my textiles GCSE. When I say failed I don’t mean that “I got really bad marks” I mean that I was ungraded...basically, I flunked the class!!!

I didn’t do a bad job with my work, exams or essays and I don’t ever know why I was not graded for it. I could have appealed, I didn't.

For years it has bothered me. I grew up playing around with my mum's old sewing machine (hand turned, not with a pedal or anything!) and I LOVED making things....I adore clothes and fashion and as someone with anxiety, keeping myself busy making things is a bonus because it takes your mind off of all of those worries. I was given an old Singer a few years back and tried to get it working but failed miserably and recently my mum asked if I would like my Nanna's old Singer in it's beautiful wooden case and I was absolutely made up. My auntie is a seamstress and threads and zippers should run through my veins, but that FAIL on 5 years of high school work made me lose the belief in myself that I could have something in me. I am a creative girl afterall.

A couple of months ago I signed up to a local sewing class, a one on one session where I was taught how to sew all over again (and I was taught a lot we were NEVER told at school!). I went to 2 lessons to pick up my confidence.

This week I bought a sewing machine and over the past 2 days, I have managed to use my own fingers as pin cushions, I have accidentally missed seams, forgotten the interfacing and got my bobbin in a horrific tangled mess. I stropped and put it in the box for a bit but every now and again I looked over what I'd done and I thought "I can do this". The image accompanying this blog post shows my first solo piece. A small box bag with zipper and tabs.

Here I am, sticking two fingers up to my Textiles teacher, who had no faith in my abilities, who sat me on my own and tried to shut us down when we were trying to have our own voices.

That U grade made me think I couldn’t do it...when I could, I just needed to do it my own way.

It gave me a complex and I lost out on years of doing something I actually enjoy. I have watched numerous series of Project Runway desperate to be able to do what they do and I know, my box bag is not going to make it into the pages of Vogue anytime soon but the point is I did it on my own. I am proud of myself.

This is a lesson to all of us. Never let ANYONE tell you what you can and cannot do. You are the only one who knows what is best for you. If there is something you left behind years ago, try again today.

Embrace it.

Face it.

You could be amazing!!

*Kim*