Sewing stuff

Since I ended with a sewing post last time, it seems appropriate to start with another sewing post. I did finish the curtains in the offices but never did do any curtains for the main conference room as there was a change of plans and it was decided curtains weren't needed there (the main reason was for the projector usage and the tinted windows were deemed to be sufficient). The trampoline is set up again and was in use regularly for a while until the child using it went to his passport country on furlough. Since then I've sewn up one more hole in a different trampoline and am trying to source locally more thread to do a full restitching on another one.

I stopped sewing for a while as there wasn't any more to sew (and I was kind of sick of it after that many curtains). When we returned in mid September I was approached by some ladies from church regarding helping them learn to sew as a way to increase their income. This started soon after and have each made one. They are now each making 3 at a time which I have actually found to be more useful in teaching them due to the repetition of 3 at once. One person joined a week after the first two which was also interesting as I noticed that some things weren't initially understood by the first 2 ladies. I changed how I explained things and it seemed to be understood better for the 3^rd person. Its a learning process for all of us.

I'm also learning more Arabic working with them as their English is limited. this forces me to use my Arabic more and look things up later on. I also find myself using “shoya shoya” a lot for a few different reasons. It basically means “little little” or “slowly slowly”. so whether its used for telling ppl I don't speak arabic well or use the sewing machine more slowly... it works well. I've also learned about “baraow” which is used in a similar fashion. 2 of the ladies bring kids with them sometimes and the kids are getting used to me. This can cause a bit of a stir at church when they want to come to me instead of their caregiver (someone other than the mother). During the service one little girl decided that she wanted to sit on my lap so reached for me. I initially thought it best to take her so she'd stay quiet.... It worked to keep her quiet but not the kids behind me....I quickly heard loud whispers about the “kawaja” (white person) with the baby.

4 of the dresses I made before the ladies started the sewing lessons. They are making similar dresses in different sizes and patterns. I'm hoping in the next week or so they will have another 6-8 completed. Then we'll start making boys shirts. One thing I love about them is that I can adjust the length to what I need for each kid. Most of the kids are really tall and very thin so I find that the dresses are simply too short for their body structure. What fits on the top results in the dress being too short, and if its long enough then it doesn't fit up top.