Teaching the girls (Emily and Sarah, teenaged daughters of my dear friend, Pamela) to sew remains a real treat. It is so meaningful to be able to pass on something that has brought me such joy through the years. Today I taught the girls how to do Hong Kong finishes and Flatfell seams. They made a sample of each for their sewing notebooks. I also showed them how they could tuck piping, trim, rickrack, zipper teeth, beaded pearls or whatever into a flatfell seams before the top-stitching step to create an embellished seam. They thought that was pretty cool. Hopefully, it opened up some design possibilities for them. One more for their bag of design tricks! Then we looked over their sketches from last week's Project Runway-style mystery assignment. They did very well. Both their sketches showed burgeoning design potential. They are starting to think 'outside the box' and that was the purpose of the assignment. I'll have to see if they'll let me post their sketches here.
After reviewing their sketches and making a few suggestions, we began on their current projects - Emily's sheath dress and Sarah's lined vest. Emily finished her french seams on her dress, attached the bodice to the skirt and began preparing the back opening for her zipper. Unless the zipper installation goes disastrously, she should finish her dress next week. Sarah's vest ran into a bit of a fitting snag. This is a muslin, but what we hope will end up being a wearable trial run. However, this is our first time fitting anything to her as her previous projects have been more craft-oriented. We had settled on a pattern size based on the usual chest/waist/hip measurements. However, after a pin-fitting of the half-constructed vest today, it became obvious that she needs a much smaller pattern size with an FBA. So she learned to do some simple side seam and center front pattern redrafting using the "slide and pivot with ruler" technique. Fortunately, since this is a vest, she does not yet have to tackle redrafting a sleeve to fit a redrafted armhole.
Sometimes I worry that I didn't MAKE the girls pick simple projects to begin with and work systematically through the basics of sewing. They are tackling some fairly intermediate concepts right off the bat. Lining. Darts. Fitting with pattern alterations. Zippers. I see it as the "language immersion" approach to sewing. The danger in jumping right in is that the student has the potential of getting frustrated at the steep learning curve. But after some thought, I'd rather have a student somewhat frustrated, but with plenty of gentle support to get through it, than to have them bored and creatively stifled by sewing straight lines on paper for weeks before the thrill of being allowed to move on to a drawstring bag or apron. I love seeing how proud the girls are when they've successfully completed a french seam or drafted an item from scratch. It builds confidence in a way that being on a short sewing leash does not. So I'll let them tackle whatever they think they want to try. Even if it means I'm shaking in my boots a bit myself! LOL! They'll be given the proper heads-up that they might be in for a bumpy ride (Emily want to do a chenille coat with lining, zipper, storm flap, buttonholes and faux fur trim next!!!!! Yikes!) But if they're willing to try, I'm willing to let them.
And we'll keep our seam rippers handy, just in case....
Charity
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
I'm Going for It - Skirt #1 "Saddle Up, Cowgirl!"
I've decided to go for this idea. I'm really excited about it and had to get going right away. Last night I made Skirt #1, "Saddle Up Cowgirl!". I will pick up a brown top to go with it today And a little sheriff's star that I will make into a broach for the top.
I've also settled on the charity to which I'll donate the skirts. I've settled on an orphanage in Guatemala. My parents and my MIL have spent time working there. In addition, the founder and administrator of the orphange is from Palmer, about 20 minutes from here. So there are quite a few local contacts which will be helpful in securing the logistics of shipping when the time comes. You can learn more about the orphanage's work here I know roughly the most frequent sizes of the girls they get. I was going to make 10 different sizes of Girls 3,5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and Misses Medium and Large. The community where they live is quite conservative and the girls almost always wear dresses and skirts. I'm really excited about this and already have Skirt #2 in the works.
SKIRT #1, "Saddle Up, Cowgirl!"
Charity
I've also settled on the charity to which I'll donate the skirts. I've settled on an orphanage in Guatemala. My parents and my MIL have spent time working there. In addition, the founder and administrator of the orphange is from Palmer, about 20 minutes from here. So there are quite a few local contacts which will be helpful in securing the logistics of shipping when the time comes. You can learn more about the orphanage's work here I know roughly the most frequent sizes of the girls they get. I was going to make 10 different sizes of Girls 3,5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and Misses Medium and Large. The community where they live is quite conservative and the girls almost always wear dresses and skirts. I'm really excited about this and already have Skirt #2 in the works.
Charity
Sunday, February 17, 2008
More Navel Gazing
I'M still thinking about my stash-busting efforts and where they could lead me. Whether to self-indulgence and needless accumulation or to some more productive ends. I've been thinking about this all day and have the seeds of an idea germinating...
The Hundred Skirts Project.
I would make 100 skirts, each one different. I would make 10 each of 10 different sizes. Whether I did women's or girl's would depend on which charity I decided to donate to. Most likely children's because it's easier to fit and there is less personal taste issues involved. Though each would be a simple front-and-back piece, elastic waist a-line, I would make each one special, not just a quick knock-off. There would be some embellishment, an applique, a touch of beading, a series of tucks, etc. I would buy a simple tee to coordinate. I would wrap it pretty and put it in a large ziplock with a specially crafted tag that read..."The One Hundred Skirt Project" I would then name the outfit and assign it a number.
Example: Skirt #6 "The Zelda" (and that one might have a 20s era flapper inspiration to it)
Once I reached 100 I would donate them to the charity of my choice. I might see if some of the ladies and their daughters at church would be interested in joining me. I think I would blog each skirt as I went along.
I'd use up my stash. I'd get to indulge my love of design. I'd put my stash to better use than simply warehousing a million garments in my closet. I'm loving the idea. Will continue to mull this over and consider the possibilities.
Charity
The Hundred Skirts Project.
I would make 100 skirts, each one different. I would make 10 each of 10 different sizes. Whether I did women's or girl's would depend on which charity I decided to donate to. Most likely children's because it's easier to fit and there is less personal taste issues involved. Though each would be a simple front-and-back piece, elastic waist a-line, I would make each one special, not just a quick knock-off. There would be some embellishment, an applique, a touch of beading, a series of tucks, etc. I would buy a simple tee to coordinate. I would wrap it pretty and put it in a large ziplock with a specially crafted tag that read..."The One Hundred Skirt Project" I would then name the outfit and assign it a number.
Example: Skirt #6 "The Zelda" (and that one might have a 20s era flapper inspiration to it)
Once I reached 100 I would donate them to the charity of my choice. I might see if some of the ladies and their daughters at church would be interested in joining me. I think I would blog each skirt as I went along.
I'd use up my stash. I'd get to indulge my love of design. I'd put my stash to better use than simply warehousing a million garments in my closet. I'm loving the idea. Will continue to mull this over and consider the possibilities.
Charity
Sunday Morning Contemplations
Trying to reduce my stash has been causing me to do more contemplation than normal.
I made another skirt last night. The same easy four gore skirt as below. From an equestrian print corduroy. After looking at the pattern, I realized that the front and back pieces are exactly the same. So instead of cutting out two pieces (two each for a total of four gores), why not stack the fabric four lengths high and cut out one piece four times. Then more thought...why not stack two or three skirts worth of lengths at a time and use my heavy duty rotary cutter, then assembly line production techniques and knock out several skirts at once? I'm trying to greatly reduce my stash this year and to fast from fabric purchases as much as possible (I have bought a few yards). Sewing three skirts at a time would eat up six yards in probably just a couple of hours.
Of my 750 remaining yards, probably about 400 are suitable for women's garments. The rest is home decor and children's. I was thinking that I might start sewing basic, somewhat easy pieces using assembly line techniques. Start stacking fabrics 2 or 3 lengths high, cutting with a rotary cutter and then use production technique sewing to really move fabric in the most efficient manner. Then I thought to myself, "WHY?"
Let's say that the average garment takes 3 yards. That means I could make 133 garments with the fashion fabric I have here at home. I don't work outside the home. Most of the fabrics I'm attracted to are dressier things, more suited for church and work. So how many skirts could I actually use? If I made 35 skirts this year (assuming I could even keep up that pace), how much use is each one actually going to get? And how many clothes does one person need anyway?
The fabrics aren't really suited for charity projects. I suppose I might be able to sew tons of forgiving fit skirts and easy-to-fit tops and donate them to some type of program that wardrobes impoverished women returning to the work force. Or I could send them to a girl's orphanage? Perhaps a dozen each of sizes 8,10,12,14,16 and 18?
It's interesting how this Fabric Fast is really causing me to re-evaluate the way I buy fabric. Even if I COULD sew up all my stash, do I really need to be so indulgent as to have that many clothes? How could I use my stash in a more fruitful, responsible manner? This is more than a Fabric Fast, it's really a reality check!
Charity
I made another skirt last night. The same easy four gore skirt as below. From an equestrian print corduroy. After looking at the pattern, I realized that the front and back pieces are exactly the same. So instead of cutting out two pieces (two each for a total of four gores), why not stack the fabric four lengths high and cut out one piece four times. Then more thought...why not stack two or three skirts worth of lengths at a time and use my heavy duty rotary cutter, then assembly line production techniques and knock out several skirts at once? I'm trying to greatly reduce my stash this year and to fast from fabric purchases as much as possible (I have bought a few yards). Sewing three skirts at a time would eat up six yards in probably just a couple of hours.
Of my 750 remaining yards, probably about 400 are suitable for women's garments. The rest is home decor and children's. I was thinking that I might start sewing basic, somewhat easy pieces using assembly line techniques. Start stacking fabrics 2 or 3 lengths high, cutting with a rotary cutter and then use production technique sewing to really move fabric in the most efficient manner. Then I thought to myself, "WHY?"
Let's say that the average garment takes 3 yards. That means I could make 133 garments with the fashion fabric I have here at home. I don't work outside the home. Most of the fabrics I'm attracted to are dressier things, more suited for church and work. So how many skirts could I actually use? If I made 35 skirts this year (assuming I could even keep up that pace), how much use is each one actually going to get? And how many clothes does one person need anyway?
The fabrics aren't really suited for charity projects. I suppose I might be able to sew tons of forgiving fit skirts and easy-to-fit tops and donate them to some type of program that wardrobes impoverished women returning to the work force. Or I could send them to a girl's orphanage? Perhaps a dozen each of sizes 8,10,12,14,16 and 18?
It's interesting how this Fabric Fast is really causing me to re-evaluate the way I buy fabric. Even if I COULD sew up all my stash, do I really need to be so indulgent as to have that many clothes? How could I use my stash in a more fruitful, responsible manner? This is more than a Fabric Fast, it's really a reality check!
Charity
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