I love to sew (because I love fabric and clothes)

so why am I not sewing???

My sewing room last January (today it’s messier)

I finished a big sewing project seven weeks ago, plus a smaller project around the same time, both of which required hours and hours of hand stitching. The hand stitching caused my rotator cuff tear to flare up. I cut out some pieces for a robe only to discover I didn't have enough fabric. And now I'm waiting another three and a half weeks for another cortisone shot for my shoulder.

Meanwhile, I'm reading books about sewing. Dreaming about sewing. Planning how and when to finish my sewing projects that are at the top of my list.

When I was about two years old, someone made or gave me a cranberry red silk velvet dress. It was my favorite until I outgrew it when I was four. My mom gave it to our next door neighbor because she had a little girl younger and smaller than I was. I never forgave her for giving that dress away, and I've longed to recreate it my entire life. Three years ago, I saved up enough money to buy three yards of cranberry red silk velvet fabric and splurged.

Here is a poem I wrote about it in 2010:

Cranberry Red Silk Velvet Dress

Performed by VOX Chorus, 2011

Genesis.

The dress refuses to be

replicated, supplanted, replaced.

There will never be a substitute

for that first taste of luxury.

Suddenly at four years old I

outgrew it. And Mom gave it away.

Away! I still wanted it.

Psalms.

I find myself writing

long songs to garments, pieces of

silk, satin, taffeta. Rarest bits

of grosgrain, tissue thin lawn,

bloodied wool. Remembering my Sunday

undies, my Platex girdle in minty green

that held my already flat stomach flatter.

Acts.

Before I learned to read I raised my

homemade dress in church and proclaimed:

my slip has my name on it! the cotton

garment read: FLOUR. Three years later

I wore my favorites to school: a

drop-shoulder blouse and full circle

skirt made from our living-room

curtains and slipcover castoffs.

Lamentations.

My father died. Mom stopped

making my clothes and started making

step-fathers instead.

Revelations.

Deep pockets of lies lay in

wardrobes filled with cocktail dresses and

platform sandals with long narrow straps

made for a princess who couldn’t provide

school shoes for her daughters.

---

I watched tutorials on how to sew silk velvet. I read articles. I made sure I had the right thread, the right needles, tissue paper, a pressing cloth for silk (and read how to press/steam velvet).

Meanwhile, I moved back to Portland from San Diego, which took time to pack, unpack, settle in, create a sewing room, etc. I had lots of other sewing projects that took precedent. Besides I hadn't settled on what exactly I was going to make from the velvet. I thought I was going to make a dress, but then I realized I wouldn't wear it that often. I finally settled on a robe.

What’s your favorite clothing item?

Once I was ready to make the robe, I knew I'd make a mockup first. And then I decided I'd actually use a pattern. Patterns showed me the stark and unpleasant truth: I don't have enough fabric to make a robe. In fact, I have only half enough to make a robe. When I bought the fabric I have, it was $49/yard. Now it's $69/yard. I've already spent $150. Another $210 is too much money for a robe. I could buy one already made for $200 on Etsy. Of course I couldn't be sure it was really silk velvet like the Mood fabric, or if the nap runs the right way.

A huge part of my wanting the robe or dress or whatever is the feel, the drape, and the nap running the right way on all sides. I want to pet it like a cat, and I want the nap to lie down when I run my hand down, not up. I bought a velvet dress from J Jill. The nap runs the wrong way. Someone gave me a J Jill velvet top, same problem. In my opinion, this is inexcusable.

Now I'm thinking I'll make an unconstructed jacket, or maybe a shawl. My sister suggested a poncho. Whatever it is, the velvet HAS to be my next sewing project.

I have other projects waiting their turn: black denim jeans; golden rod stretch denim cargo pants; a green knit dress with pockets; and a few items to resize.

I have a pretty big stash of fabric I'm committed to sewing from before buying any more new fabric. And people keep giving me more fabric. I have a beautiful hand embroidered piece I plan to use somehow. And plenty of muslin and other fabric to use for mockups. I also have buttons, fasteners, zippers, grommets, snaps, elastic, thread, ribbon, and straps.

What do you have a big stash of at your place?

I want to mention three sewing books I think are amazing. The first is the Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Sewing. The second is a 1936 Singer Sewing Machine Dressmaking Guide that contains almost as much information on how to sew as the Reader's Digest book. In 1936 more women sewed, and this handy book provides step by step instruction on how to make dresses, infant's clothing, and children's clothing. Finally, the Martha Stewart Encyclopedia on Sewing and Fabric is truly encyclopedic. I gave this one to my granddaughter when she started sewing.

What are your favorite how to books?

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