Oh yeah, the other project!

[temporaryreality]

 I forgot to mention yet another ongoing project that I'll add to my updates when those come around.

I've decided to learn to sew my own clothes.

I'm trying to think back to what spurred it and I think somewhere mid-lockdown I went to the big box store to see if they had some 100% cotton camisoles that I used to get from the girls' department. The XL fit me and the tops are useful summer pajama tops or for layering under shirts. They're a little short, but they mostly work for what I want.
Turns out though, that they're not longer made in 100% cotton.

• So much for that.

Also, 

• I hate shopping.

And, 

• I pretty much find I don't particularly care for the clothes I DO find when I shop

Admittedly that's mostly at thrift stores, but that's because I hate shopping and I don't like the clothes anyway, mostly (self-reinforcing circle, amirite?).

And then

• I was spending too much time online, frittering time away and doing nothing productive.
• Meanwhile despondent at the lack of beauty in the modern world.

To be honest, I wish I could build a house as part of a neighborhood, with a community in a small, similarly-built town, in a place that wasn't a blight on the land, but I'm middle-aged, unskilled, and not in any place or situation to do such a thing.

But why give up?

Oddly enough, the epiphany hit while I was online, but at least it spurred me to recognize what I was doing (simulacra of life, not living). I saw a delightful YouTube video by Elin Abrahamsson in which she makes a Medieval kirtle, and I realized that I should just do what I can.

I stopped being online in the evenings, got out my needles and thread and fabric and found some basic, beginner patterns, and I've been making clothes.

So far, I've made a linen tank top, a pair of pants styled from the traditional Japanese field-pants called monpei, and attempted a mock-up for a pair of shorts. I'm not satisfied with how the shorts turned out, so it's on hold (and anyway, the weather is turning). I also made a pair of basic leather sandals, following this tutorial.

I intend to make a linen shift and maybe eventually make a kirtle or kirtle-like dress, and turnshoes are on my to-do list too. 

I'm going to work on improving my sewing skill and technique, and to work my way into eventual wardrobe replacement. It'll be a long process (like everything I do, it seems!).

Comments

[dfr1973]

I do love me some linen, and this was even before I moved to Florida! I decided back in '09 to finally learn to sew, because I want to wear what *I* want, not what someone claims is trendy right now.

Have fun with it, and if you need, I give you permission to make however many mistakes it takes for you to get good. THAT what my one sewing "lesson," after my would-be tutor looked at my first attempt (unwearable) and my second attempt (very wearable) and declared I learned more from my mistakes than she could come up with for a lesson.

[temporaryreality]

I thought I remembered that you sew. Yay!

I'm trying to not screw up the good fabric, so mockups are a necessity. I think it helps, though, that so far I can get away with things made of rectangles (monpei, shift) or just front and back making a sandwich (tank top). I'm small-busted so that top didn't even need darts (and its twin will become the "camisole" I'd wanted), though somewhere down the line I'm sure I'll want to make something that is fitted.

It makes for pleasant evenings, a true perk.

Sewing clothes

[2sw33t]

Awesome! I went through a phase of making Regency-era clothing, but that's many years in the past (and I probably still have some mid-progress projects hanging around somewhere). I often think I should get back to clothes-making in some capacity, but never take any actual steps toward it, so good for you for getting started!

I'm hopeful that will-training will improve my follow-through on such thoughts.

Re: Sewing clothes

[temporaryreality]

There's been a real trend (in a good way) of people re-adopting handcrafts and skills like sewing and knitting. It's been kind of inspiring to see that a lot of people are connected in some way to the making of things.

My point? Maybe linking your hoped-for projects with others' (including my own if so desired) or joining an established 'maker' community (in person when possible, online if that works) would help with the unfinishing that so often happens with such projects.

And my other point? Maybe, hopefully, ifso many people want to create beauty in their lives it's an indicator that we've passed peak-ugly-everything and we're going to start seeing that beauty-sense leak back into the built environment.

A girl can dream...

(and yes, Regency era clothes ARE lovely!)

Re: Sewing clothes

[2sw33t]

Good point - there are definitely communities to connect with, for ideas and encouragement. Whether I take that step might be a good test of my true intention.

[kallianeira]

Do you sew by hand?

I share your sentiments about fabrics, wearing kids' clothes and furthering beauty in our world and our several lives. Having been a prodigal op-shopper throughout my adult years I have accrued a remarkable wardrobe which is quite orthogonal to fashion.

Today on my grocery shopping trip I wore:
a white mink hat
a lime green cashmere scarf
a camel coloured cashmere turtleneck
a cream leather overcoat
white cotton flanelette pyjama pants with a floral print
and camel coloured handmade (not by me) mediaeval style leather calf high boots.
The obligatory mask ruined the whole outfit.

Thrift shop and secondhand items seem to be diminishing in quality along with the average commercial clothing product. If well made vintage comes along I now pay more for it happily. Designer is another matter... one sees increasingly less of that now ebay has such a large market presence. My last score in that area was in March '20 at the final local primary school secondhand market before the recurring lockdowns.

Regards

[temporaryreality]

I've been sewing by hand, with "sewing time" interspersed with crochet or reading or whatnot, so I'm rather slow. I've not made anything since this post other than two rolled-hem items.

Sadly, I've always been a rather boring dresser: neither fashionable nor orthogonal. Too much time spent keeping my head down is to blame for that probably. Your shopping outfit sounds fantastic, though!

My next steps in the outfit I'm making are bloomers, and a bias-cut skirt in a natural-colored linen. I'm finishing up a crocheted tunic-vest in dark brown with butter-yellow, soft-white, and reddish-orange accents that'll go over a white linen pirate-style blouse that tops the skirt off. We'll see how far I get before the correct season arrives (autumn) - perhaps this'll be NEXT year's outfit. :D

I'm wondering if we'll be seeing peak thrift store in the near future... that's kind of what's behind my drive to learn to make (even simple) clothes.

[kallianeira]

Are those bloomers as underwear? How long are they? Do you wear knickers with them? The outfit sounds very '70s hippie-au-naturale inspired and will look fantastic. Do you think you could post a picture when it's done?

Linen is the schizz... it is supposed to be the clothing fibre par excellence. Seldom does one come across practical basic secondhand items in linen though.

Yes, I think you are right about peak thrift store. With most of them in this country run by charities and paying commercial rent for their shop spaces as well as being staffed by volunteers who are retired, they have suffered particularly acutely in the rolling lockdowns of the past year and a half. I doubt they will recover.

[temporaryreality]

Well, they're for under skirts/dresses because when it's hot, I don't like the feeling of sticky thighs :D. If I can eventually figure out how to insert a gusset in said bloomers, though, then I might consider making them as underwear/knickers. I'm going to attempt this pattern first: https://www.etsy.com/listing/739590388/sewing-pattern-for-womens-bloomers

I'll definitely post a pic of the outfit when it's done - no clue what shoes it'll need, but I'll figure that out later.

I've lucked out lately. Found a nice pair of linen pants in unbleached color and a blue linen sleeveless dress, both at the same thrift store. Also, my dark blue linen skirt that made me decide I ought to make a bias-cut one in brown came from the same store. Gee, I'd not given my local Goodwill enough credit, but I DO find decent stuff there!

I think the difference is that I'm in the US. I'm guessing by your language-use and the fact that your outfit the other day wasn't exactly summer attire, that you're in Australia or New Zealand (?), and that might explain the sorrier state of your shops given the degree of lockdown you've been under.