I inherited my Mom's sewing machine, as her retinitis pigmetosa has progressed to the point that she can no longer sew. I have no history of sewing, but I'm trying some odd projects to see if I can accumulate a bit of skill. I should probably have started with hand sewing, as I'm finding machine sewing a very difficult and fussy thing.
There's just no room for error in machine sewing--a slight misadjustment of top-thread tension or poor seam choice and doom is upon you. Why does backstitching make the bobbin thread jam so hard I have to unscrew the throat plate to get it free?
It's like driving an old carburated sports car. Can it be magical? Sure, but you'd damn well better know what you're doing, or it will make you suffer.
I gripe, but I do see the appeal. I finished a pillowcase today made of old jeans, and while it is an absolutely wretched piece of work and will require a near-complete redo when I have reclaimed a bit of sanity and equanimity, it is still a product of my hands, serving my needs. There's a powerful human need that is met by that.
One thing the tutorial videos never show is just how *messy* working with fabric is. Even on a small project, shreds of fabric and thread just get everydamnwhere. I've got to go grab the vacuum.
Cheers, all.