Sunday 26 August 2012

Bound buttonholes courtesy of Did You Make That?

A few weeks ago, Karen from Did You Make That? asked if I was interested in attending a small teaching workshop she was planning on bound buttonholes. Was I interested? Was I?????? I've been dreading making the bound buttonholes for my Abbey coat, so the timing couldn't have been more perfect. 

So yesterday I traversed London from west to east to meet Karen, along with Winnie from Scruffy Badger Time and Marie from A Sewing Odyssey. I couldn't think of a nicer, funnier, more stylishly dressed and just plain wonderful group of women I'd rather spend the day with!  We were lucky enough to benefit from Karen's expert tutelage in the comfort of her lovely stylish home...

Winnie and Marie hard at it
Winnie in action
Karen has all the qualities you would expect of an excellent teacher: patience, bucket loads of encouragement and extraordinary attention to detail.  Each of her 'students' was given pre-cut sections of fashion fabric and lining fabric to make the bound buttonholes with (I brought my own fashion fabric as I wanted to see how my actual coat fabric would behave), plus a professionally written and photographed ebook for us to refer to. Yes, I'll repeat that in case you can't quite believe what you're reading, a professionally written and photographed ebook….

Picture stolen from Did You Make That?

She took us through each step, leading by example and not moving on to the next stage until she was satisfied we all understood what we were doing.  At no time did I feel like I was winging it, which is usually par for the course with me. I still can't quite believe my bound buttonholes actually look like bound buttonholes!
 
My buttonholes just after they'd been turned the right side round, apologies for the rubbish colour.
This woman is BORN to teach a sewing course. Seriously, if anybody who runs courses is reading this, you have to snap her up. Being taught how to make bound buttonholes is not an opportunity you're given every day and as such, is worth its weight in gold. I for one would happily have handed over large sums of money to learn what I did yesterday. As it was, Karen very generously shared her knowledge with us out of the goodness of her heart. I'll stop there or I'm likely to start blubbing with gratitude.    

So, as well as home-made chocolate cake, numerous cups of tea, fizzy wine, a fine dinner out and the company of three fabulous sewing buddies, what else did I come away with from my joyful day?  Well, beforehand, I'd been quaking with fear at the thought of making bound buttonholes. And now?  Now, I know I can make them and I know they're going to look absolutely perfect.  How's that for confidence?  All down to you Karen. x

16 comments:

  1. Brilliant!!! Sounds like such a great time. I saw the most fabulous picture of you with your polka dot umbrella on Winnie's blog! Love it!

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  2. I can't wait to read this ebook! Bound buttonholes are on my 'must conquer' list!

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  3. Hurrah!!! It feels as if you'll be putting it into practice before me at least...I shall enjoy seeing you complete your abbey coat fearlessly. Great day Jane, lovely to spend time with you again and doing something so worthwhile :-)

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    1. Yes Jane, we'll be eagerly watching out for your bound buttonholes...they are going to be delicious! Anyway, I had so much fun with you all and feel very lucky to have been taught by Karen!

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    2. Thanks ladies, I had the BEST day too. x

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  4. Wow! Your button holes look amazing!

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  5. It sounds like an amazing day, you lucky group! your buttonholes look amazing

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  6. What a great review! Sounds like she is the perfect teacher and host. I'd love to learn this technique myself!

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  7. Sounds like a fab day! I was just reading about it on Karen's blog, and your buttonhole look great.

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  8. Oh you've all made such lovely buttonholes! Karen definitely appears to be a born teacher. Can't wait to see these new skills put in to practice on your actual coat now!

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  9. Lucky you! I would love to learn how to do this, and yours turned out marvelously! I say we bug Karen to do a blog post tutorial for those of us unlucky enough to live so far away we can't camp out on her front porch and beg her to teach us too ^____^

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    1. I think she's planning on making the e-book available to her readers. I'm sure it will be snapped up! x

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  10. Looks like you had a great day and picked up a great skill.

    Crafty lessons, fizzy wine and cake? Sign me up!

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  11. I would love to learn how to do bound button holes, but I'm a bit intimidated too! I might just have to pluck up the courage!!

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  12. Sounds like a great day and perfect for you with your coat in mind. Good teachers make such a difference, they can make something difficult seem so easy, I'm glad feel happier with your project now and good on Karen for sharing her knowledge. Bethx

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