The Little Black Desk and My First Tutorial

As you know, I have been looking for some time for a small table to go downstairs, between the couch and the snuggler chair. We have about a gazillion remotes, so I really wanted something with a drawer and something to be able to set things on. Well, I found this cute little desk at Hidden Treasures, where everything I like generally starts at $100. At first I was sure this desk was wayyyy too short, so even though I loved the shape and color and it was only $24, I passed it up. Later, on reflection, I realized my mistake and went back and got it. Boy, am I glad I did! It is just the right size, any taller or larger would have been all wrong, and I already love having a place for the remotes!! Yeah! It seems to add a lot to the room and is one step closer to finishing it. Maybe someday I will finish it all the way. :)

I would like you to notice the lovely fabric runner, thingy, on the table. Yes, I made that. So now, for my first tutorial, I will teach you how you, too, can make a lovely runner thingy for your table. This is a fairly simple project, and if you use my instructions, you should be finished in about two hours.

Step One- Find your sewing machine. Here is a picture of one in case you can't remember.

Step Two- Pull out your cutting board and other items used for cutting fabric. Since you will undoubtedly have lost your clear, plastic thing used for making straight cuts, find some other item with a straight edge to use instead. As you see, I used an old matte I had on hand. Long books work well, too.

Step Three- After cutting your fabric, you will need to locate your instruction manual. It looks like this-

Refer to your instruction manual and use the next fifteen minutes relearning how to wind your bobbin. After bobbin is done being wound, realize that you used all of your thread on the bobbin, and you now have none left for sewing with. Rummage through your 6"x6" sewing box and try to find another thread color that is close enough to the color you just put on the bobbin, so that no one will notice you used two different colors.

Now your machine is threaded and you are ready to go. You should always start sewing on a piece of scrap fabric, to ensure that your stitch length is what you want.

Step Four- Sew slowly on your piece of scrap fabric, and feel a sense of satisfaction that all looks right. Pull out scrap fabric and try to figure out why the thread didn't sew on the back.

Step Five- Rethread bobbin. While you have the bobbin out, touch various pieces of the machine that surround the bobbin until they fall out. Spend another 15 minutes trying to figure out how they go back in. It is helpful at this point to have an innocent bystander around, preferably a husband, to randomly yell sarcastic and rude comments to about how poorly sewing machines are made.

Step Six- After testing on your scrap fabric again, try to spend at least 20 minutes learning what all the dials are and how to change the settings. After the 20 minutes, spend at least another 5 minutes putting all the settings back to where they were when you started. You are now ready to sew.

Step Seven- Sew approximately one inch on your fabric. Break your sewing machine needle. Look in various drawers until you find something that looks like more sewing maching needles. Using your manual, replace the needle, being sure to break it at least 2 more times in the process of getting it out. Put your new needle in and say a prayer that it is an actual sewing maching needle. While you are praying, apologize for all the mean things that you have been thinking, but had the sense enough not to say out loud. Pray for strength.

Step Eight- Sew to your first corner. This is where it gets tricky. You should try to break your thread at least once while navigating the corner. When you get to the corner, stop while the needle is in the down position, lift the presser foot, rotate your fabric and begin sewing again. Stop sewing, rethread the machine, and this time lower the presser foot before you begin. It is helpful to have needles in your fabric, so that you can stick one into your finger and occassionally sew right over it.

Step Nine- By now you are onto your last corner. If all has gone well, you will have rethreaded the upper and lower parts of the machine at least 4 times, as well as replacing at least one part. When you get to your last corner, it is important to reverse your stitches to keep them from coming up. Be sure that when you reverse, you make a new line of stitches next to the old ones. When your last corner is done, you may pull your fabric off, cut off the third and fourth unnecessary strings that are coming out of your fabric, and decide which parts are the worst. Strategically place flower or a picture frame over these parts so that no one will be able to see them.

Now you can stand back and enjoy the fruits of all your hard work. Now, that wasn't that difficult, was it? Join me next week, when we tackle checking the fluid levels in your car. And remember, with hard work, patience and endless tears, you, too can have a home as lovely as mine.