This weekend I decided to try my hand at this pattern. It’s super cute and I thought, “This should be easy! I’ll have this knocked out in no time.”? I was wrong. Mostly because I am still learning. so. much. This weekend I learned things like:

• Tracing and cutting a pattern takes a LOT longer than you think it will.
• Sewing a curved line is HARD. I need to learn more about this.
• Ripping back sewing takes longer than frogging knitting.
• My animals feel that they take higher precedence than anything else that I am doing and will remind me repeatedly. And loudly.
• Sometimes your other “help” is well-meaning, but mostly just slows you down.
• A test run is ALWAYS a good idea.
• Material with print pictures requires some thought as to how to lay it out to cut it if you want it to be right side up.
• This line of thinking is usually more helpful BEFORE you cut out your pattern.
• However long you think a project is going to take you, is probably somewhere around half or less of the time you actually need.

I just want to make one of these for every project I have right now. I can get the project and the pattern in the bag without fighting either one. Also? With something in it, it’ll stand up on its own. I totally gave myself a cookie AND a pat on the back for this. I’d say I earned it.

Today, Keri showed me how to sew. She plunged me right in with the zipper,took a completely “no prisoners” attitude and showed me how to show my sewing machine who’s boss. And thanks to Keri, I made this.

Not bad, huh? And that’s the beginning of my first Anemoi mitten. And that’s the lucky project that’s going in my new bag. I’ve got some more fabric and I’m ready to make another bag! I just need to go buy some interfacing and a zipper. Whee!!

Thanks, Keri! You rock!