1/4 Yard Less

The sewing machine is out and I’m making items for three little girls. As I’m finagling the fabric, chatting with my sister, we laughed at our mother’s admonition. “You can always do with a 1/4 yard less than the pattern says.”

I remember going to the fabric store pre-school year, picking a pattern with seven or eight different looks, having to share with it “Pindy”, and then choosing fabric. This took hours, truly, not counting the hour-long drive to the big city. It was an all day event.

At times my mom would open the pattern and lay it out just to re-work the strategy and buy the smallest amount of fabric necessary. Leftovers? If there were any, it could be a bandana or good scrap for a quilt later on. I learned a lot of math with her training. Area, measurement, corners that “could be cut,” and of course, corners that couldn’t be touched! When the arrow says “go with the grain,” you go with the grain.

Sewing always brings me back to her masterpieces, my favorite being that burgundy velour coat she made me one winter. Maybe that’s why I love to sew coats? They are a rewarding accomplishment.