The hardest skill I had learnt: My fashion designing journey.

Fashion designing is one of the hardest things I have ever had to learn. I did three months of basic learning, and for those three months, it was very challenging. In fact, there were times I called in sick just because I didn't want to face a repeat of my correctional mistakes.

There were eight students at that time, including me. It was a fashion school, and each student had access to a sewing machine owned by the school, which we used for practice.

Paddling on the machine was the very first thing a beginner had to learn. It looked easy but when I started paddling, I was always paddling backward rather than forward. It was so frustrating and you had to perfect your paddling before you were even allowed to try out any stitches. During the first four days, I sometimes spent five to six hours a day just learning how to paddle until I finally got it right.

Another challenge was controlling the paddles, and the fabric while sewing. It was a case of multitasking, I kept stitching backward because I could not handle all the actions at the same time. And whenever I made a mistake in stitching, I was asked to loosen the stitches and start all over again. I could spend an entire day stitching and then undoing it.

There was a time I stitched my finger, I cried like a baby. I was not even given a day or two to recover from the pain. My boss said it was all part of learning, he made me sew a short skirt that very day. You needed to see how I was pampering my finger. Everyone was laughing at me. I remember them calling me a cry baby.

But with consistent trials, I was able to make my first wearable piece, which was a bubu top. Although it's been a long time and I no longer have a picture of it, I remember it was about 60% close to perfection. The stitches were not straight, but I continued to learn because the money I paid was a lot. Not gaining the knowledge I paid for would have felt like a waste which is against my minimalist lifestyle.

Towards the middle of the second month, the class started this little competition where everyone made creative designs and wore them to class the next day and our boss would reward the best designs with either cash or fabric. It was fun seeing the eagerness and determination of the students to learn and improve.

To become perfect in basic sewing, I got my own sewing machine so that after class, I would also practice at home. Before the three months I paid for were over, I had already gotten good at basic sewing.

This was the first wearable clothes I made for myself, it is an off shoulder, three step flared gown. I made this without supervision at home and was able to wear it anywhere I pleased without being concerned about my imperfections.

The good thing is that, no matter how difficult and stressful it was, I remained persistent and willing to learn, never gave up on my strength, on how far I could go, and the reward that came afterward.

Right now, I sew for fun because I have this skill, I can make wearable clothes, and the pride that comes with the finishing of my work is undeniable.

All images are mine.

Thank you for stopping by 💕

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