Learning to Sew...

[Reptilian]

Hey all-

I am learning to sew on a sewing machine and need a project idea. I thought about making a removable sleeve or cover for heat packs for emergency use when transporting reptiles.

Could I go with something that is a cotton blend, or should it be heavier like flannel or fleece?

Also what do you guys think about those handmade heating pads. All they really are is rice in a bag that is heated in the microwave. They're supposed to retain their heat for awhile. Do you think they would work when transporting a reptile to and fro? I don't mean shipping, just to the vet or to a show.

[littleindiangirl]

Hmm, whenever I have used rice packs, it hold the heat for maybe an hour. The main difference is the rice is losing the heat, where as the heat pack is creating heat. SO I think for short distances, your ok. The only thing would be to not rely on it for long periods.

As for the project, why not a purse or handbag? I love toying with the idea of making my own purse, I just have no skill for acually taking drawing to real life. lol

[tigerlily]

I've made those little packs, but I don't notice they hold heat for more than 15 minutes. I do love to make them for the kids and freeze them. They make great packs for boo boos. I used to make them for our soccer or basketball teams for all the boo boos along the way. It's not as hard as ice, and the cute patterns usually help distract them from the pain.

[Mindibun]

You could always make pillowcases. Nothing easier than that, and you'd have a ton of them lying around for a snake emergency.

Gotta go to the vet "right now"? Grab a pillowcase, throw in the snake.

House on fire? Grab a pillow case, chuck the snakes in.

Snake misbehaving? Toss it in the pillowcase.

Ok, so yeah, I'm kidding. But I remember making my own pillowcases and it only took two seconds, and allowed me to fiddle with the different stitch settings on the machine. If you really want to do clothing or purses or anything like that you should invest in a serger. I never took the time to learn properly on one and I regret that. Most sewing machine projects could be twice as fast on a serger.

[frankykeno]

If you have a really fancy new machine that does that automatic embroidery type thing you could whip up some really lovely snake bags for folks. I know when we someday start shipping out snakes I'd love to know someone I could order personalized shipping bags from.

[mlededee]

do one pillowcase and then move on to something you really want to sew. a shirt, purse, whatever. if you jump right in you'll pick it up quicker and end up with a nice final product you can be proud of and that will inspire you to do more. that said, expect to sew, pull stitches out and resew. it's all part of the learning process, and believe me, i have pulled out more than my fair share of stitches because i sewed the pieces together the wrong way or i caught a piece of the end of the fabric in with what i was stitching or whatever. i always smack myself but in the end i'm happy with my new curtains, the fixed pair of pants or whatever it might be.

[Argentra]

Ooo... personalized bags... now you've given ME an idea.

I've been a seamstress since I was 12, and I love sewing. Cross Stitch, hand sewing, needlework, machine sewing... it's all fun. I was even wanting to start my own small business making bags, pouches, hats, custom embroidery, and little stuffed animals...but I don't have any way to get my wares to fairs and shows and the like.

Bags and pillowcases are great starters that let you get used to the machine. Hats are also rather easy and there are loads of 'easy sew' patterns at places like JoAnns and WalMart.
And Have fun!