Good-bye, sewing machine! We need a break...

It's time to say good-bye, and I'm ready for a break.  In fact, I put the machine away before I finished my last two projects, one of which had a deadline.  The first was a skirt I've been excited about finishing, but I've struggled terribly with finishing the waistband.  Just look:

See that mess of threads?  This will be the fourth time I'll tear out those stitches.  I decided I'll bring the skirt to my sister's and fix it with her machine.

Overall, though, I really like the fit of the skirt and will definitely make another.  It's based on the Party Skirt tutorial at Creative Spaces.  I found her site after seeing Homemade by Jill's skirt but made a few modifications including pockets! This was my first time making inseam pockets and I'm going to do it on every skirt now.  I followed the wonderful tutorial over at ikat bag.

The other unfinished project will likely never be completed.  I was sewing a gift for a friend that recently had her fourth baby boy.  But when I make a gift for someone I like to be happy about it, and with all the swearing at my sewing machine lately, I've decided to go with a gift card instead.  I hope you understand!

The kids and I are flying out on Saturday to stay with family during the big move.  I'm secretly hoping the moving guys drop my sewing machine so I can get a new one.  It's sad to say good-bye to something my grandmother used, but it's seen better days.  And sewing is supposed to be my therapy, not my swearing session.