I don’t know about you, but I like to try my hand at most crafts. There are some I’m good at, some I’m not so good at, but most are a work in progress, as there’s always something new to learn. One thing I’d really like to be better at is sewing. Or using my sewing machine, to be more accurate. I’ve watched the Great British Sewing Bee and while I don’t ever imagine I’ll make a dress, a shirt or a jacket, I would like to be able to sit down at my machine, feel confident and not get exasperated within 30 seconds. *insert sigh here* However, this is how I usually feel when I sit down at my machine. Completely and utterly exasperated. Very rarely does something go right. On Saturday, I’d planned to make a small and simple curtain. I’d ordered some lovely fabric, which just needed hemming and needed a loop at the top. Got the fabric out – too small. I didn’t realise when ordering it that the longer measurement would be the width not the length and it couldn’t be turned the other way because of the pattern. Great. Attempt 1: Fail.

Then I moved on to an iPad case. This took me ages. Why? It’s a simple little thing right? Well, I wanted to make one with a zip. I bought a zip the other day and found a lovely little tutorial on line. Put the zip against the iPad and the bloomin’ zip is too small. Attempt 2: Fail.

Fine, I thought. I’ll make a test one, without a zip. (I was determined to use the sewing machine if it killed me/it). I had this lovely fabric in my stash and thought it would make a lovely case. What do you think? Cute huh?

I thought so. After what felt like an age of measuring out, cutting out, pressing and sewing, the final product was completed. (Though the inside is a complete mess, but I’m not showing you that!) Here’s how it turned out:

Too bloody small! I couldn’t believe it – it nearly cried at this point. I always fall down with measuring (numbers are not my friend), though I am pretty pleased at how straight my stitches are! Attempt 3: Fail.

Plus, not only does my iPad stick out the top, the machine kept ‘jumping’ and it caused the stitches to look like this…

I have no idea why. When I reduced the tension, it barely sewed the fabric together. I thought the bobbin had wound quite nicely, which it doesn’t always, but I’m so annoyed. Attempt 4: Fail.

I don’t want to make my own clothing line. Nor do I want to make difficult and fiddly quilts. I just want to buy small pieces of pretty fabric and make a few bits and bobs for me and my home. That is not going to happen! Should I just sell my sewing machine and give up on the idea of making my own blind? I don’t know. I’m not sure if it’s me, the machine, the fabric, the cotton. Either way, something’s not right. It really knocked my confidence too, as I’ve got a net curtain that needs shortening, but now I’m just worried that I’ll ruin it. Maybe I should just stick to knitting – when that goes wrong, you can just unpick it and start again.

Have you got tips for me?! Any suggestions/advice on where I’m going wrong? Have you had any craft fails? Please share them so I don’t feel like such a failure :/