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

[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.