My love of fabric and clothing came much later than yours, Sandra. But then I don't have much memory of my childhood before about 4 years of age. I have a sister who seems to remember every detail since she popped out of the womb! In some tellings, even before that! But I will try to stay on topic. 😉 I was lucky enough to have had sewing classes in both junior high and in high school. Most of the girls hated it. And of course, no boys were in those classes. That was unheard of. They had to be in 'shop' i.e. automotive classes! I wonder how those classes might look today? Anyway, I loved those classes, because I loved anything with tools and construction. I had budding ideas of being either a building designer or a florist. Somehow, garment construction was going to be about as close as I was going to come to either of those dreams. Around this age Jackie Kennedy was making waves with what she wore, and I was a follower. Surprisingly beautiful little Italian 2-piece skirt and jackets were showing up in places like Mode-O'Day shops and the like. In memory, they were beautifully simple, and chic and I could get one with my babysitting money. Now, they were not for wearing to school, but I thought up excuses to show mine off there, none the less!
That was when I first wore a fine knit. And I loved the feel of it and the style of that little suit. It is among the steps I took that lead me to a living that has sustained me now for some 50 odd years.
What is that living that has sustained you all these years? Forgive me if you've already mentioned it and I forgot. I wanted to take shop in high school, but no girls allowed, just as no boys in home ec. I learned a couple of useful things in home ec, but not how to use power tools, which is what I wanted.
Sandra, what a lovely piece, on many different levels. Like you, when I was about 4, I had a favorite dress, striped taffeta. We moved, and when I was 6, I found the dress in a box. I was delighted and attempted to try it on. Of course, I had outgrown it and was terribly disappointed that it didn't fit. But that was my first real awareness that I was actually growing--that my body was changing. Thanks for the reminder of that important little moment.
For years I had quilt fabric stashes, but I had to downsize. I do love embroidery threads and knitting yarn and have embarrassingly large stashes of both.
I would love to see a coffee table book filled with little girls in their favorite dresses, from the beginning of photography to now. I can picture that striped taffeta! My mother made me a green taffeta dress with a plaid collar for Christmas one year. I love the sound taffeta makes.
I have a wife who makes her own clothes. When she does I go and hide. She is a perfectionist you see. The size of our dining table was chosen to accommodate patterns, not family or guests. She read your post and laughed. There is a tale to tell about the silk wedding dress she made 48 years ago, then didn’t wear because of a small imperfection which guests would not have seen because it was the Registrar who had her back to our family and friends - not Susan! For the record, she got married in a two piece suit she bought at the last moment.🐰
Oh, the pain of perfectionism. It can be crippling (see above example of wedding dress). Tell her the tale of Navajo women who deliberately weave an imperfection into their rugs to honor the gods, as they were taught by Spiderwoman herself. My mistakes might not be deliberate, but I justify them this way.
I picture that white with cherries dress as being made of cotton lawn, very soft and light. I like your idea of making simple catnip toys too. Happy I inspired you to write an essay about all the hobbies/crafts/arts you've tried. I look forward to reading it!
Thanks for asking Sandra. I do reknitting of fine knits.
My love of fabric and clothing came much later than yours, Sandra. But then I don't have much memory of my childhood before about 4 years of age. I have a sister who seems to remember every detail since she popped out of the womb! In some tellings, even before that! But I will try to stay on topic. 😉 I was lucky enough to have had sewing classes in both junior high and in high school. Most of the girls hated it. And of course, no boys were in those classes. That was unheard of. They had to be in 'shop' i.e. automotive classes! I wonder how those classes might look today? Anyway, I loved those classes, because I loved anything with tools and construction. I had budding ideas of being either a building designer or a florist. Somehow, garment construction was going to be about as close as I was going to come to either of those dreams. Around this age Jackie Kennedy was making waves with what she wore, and I was a follower. Surprisingly beautiful little Italian 2-piece skirt and jackets were showing up in places like Mode-O'Day shops and the like. In memory, they were beautifully simple, and chic and I could get one with my babysitting money. Now, they were not for wearing to school, but I thought up excuses to show mine off there, none the less!
That was when I first wore a fine knit. And I loved the feel of it and the style of that little suit. It is among the steps I took that lead me to a living that has sustained me now for some 50 odd years.
What is that living that has sustained you all these years? Forgive me if you've already mentioned it and I forgot. I wanted to take shop in high school, but no girls allowed, just as no boys in home ec. I learned a couple of useful things in home ec, but not how to use power tools, which is what I wanted.
Sandra, what a lovely piece, on many different levels. Like you, when I was about 4, I had a favorite dress, striped taffeta. We moved, and when I was 6, I found the dress in a box. I was delighted and attempted to try it on. Of course, I had outgrown it and was terribly disappointed that it didn't fit. But that was my first real awareness that I was actually growing--that my body was changing. Thanks for the reminder of that important little moment.
For years I had quilt fabric stashes, but I had to downsize. I do love embroidery threads and knitting yarn and have embarrassingly large stashes of both.
I would love to see a coffee table book filled with little girls in their favorite dresses, from the beginning of photography to now. I can picture that striped taffeta! My mother made me a green taffeta dress with a plaid collar for Christmas one year. I love the sound taffeta makes.
I have a wife who makes her own clothes. When she does I go and hide. She is a perfectionist you see. The size of our dining table was chosen to accommodate patterns, not family or guests. She read your post and laughed. There is a tale to tell about the silk wedding dress she made 48 years ago, then didn’t wear because of a small imperfection which guests would not have seen because it was the Registrar who had her back to our family and friends - not Susan! For the record, she got married in a two piece suit she bought at the last moment.🐰
Oh, the pain of perfectionism. It can be crippling (see above example of wedding dress). Tell her the tale of Navajo women who deliberately weave an imperfection into their rugs to honor the gods, as they were taught by Spiderwoman herself. My mistakes might not be deliberate, but I justify them this way.
I picture that white with cherries dress as being made of cotton lawn, very soft and light. I like your idea of making simple catnip toys too. Happy I inspired you to write an essay about all the hobbies/crafts/arts you've tried. I look forward to reading it!
Linen is a dream to sew. And it's a good fabric year-round, not just for summer.