I sewed in the sleeves on my Halloween shirt today. I did a pretty good job, but if you look carefully, you can see a little puff on this one. I may take the seam in a bit, but I’m going to get the collar and front placket on first. If I can get it all sewn together tomorrow, maybe I will be able to make all the buttonholes this week and sew the buttons on so it’s ready to wear by Saturday!

Sleeves have always been a challenge for me in tailoring. I usually try to avoid setting them in after sewing the side seams, but sometimes you don’t have much of a choice — like with this pattern. I had to sew the underarm seams before sewing the sleeve plackets and cuffs.

Which rolls me right into Karen’s latest quiz!

1. What craft skill are you most proud of? Not an entire craft, just a little skill that you feel makes you a practicer of your craft with a capital C.
2. Do you have a secret mistake that you made for ages and when you learned you were doing it wrong you wondered how you managed for so long?
3. Is there an item that you’ve made so many times you feel like an expert? Is there one that even though you’ve done it over and over you feel like an amateur?
4. Would you like to teach your craft? Have you? Do you feel like you’re giving someone a special gift when you do?

1. I’m always proud when I can make a garment I can actually wear, and do wear. I’m proud when something fits and suits me.

2. I still get turned around on slip slip knit (SSK): Do I slip knitwise or purlwise? What is the default? Also, the first time I sewed a tailored blouse, I had the sleeves in backward. I never made that mistake again, though.

3. I don’t feel like an expert on anything, but I do feel like I’m intermediate to advanced on most sewing and knitting. There are some things I have done several times but I don’t do often enough to feel skilled. There are also some things that I do a lot of, but materials can vary a lot so the results also vary. That’s something I just go with.

4. I have taught knitting, sewing, and felting to children and adults. I’ve always enjoyed it and I think students have always learned something, as have I. Even if that something is, “Break the rules. Trust yourself. Make lots of mistakes and learn from them!” I don’t have the headspace to teach right now, though.

I hope you will join in on the quiz!