Sewing ...

sometimes it's political

Photo by Darling Arias on Unsplash

This week I finished altering my shorts. Several needed the legs to be less baggy, some also needed shortening. Plus size doesn't always mean your legs are as big around as your waist, and you want the shorts to cover your knees. I need plus size for my belly. Otherwise, I could buy a smaller size. In future I should just make my own. But I obtained several pairs of shorts from my Buy Nothing group and they were all too big. As they were well made and good brands, I kept them, but altered them to fit me.

Altering is not quite as satisfying as sewing from a pattern, but needs must.

A while back I received (also from Buy Nothing) a bag of black leather scraps. I decided to make a leather corset and have sorted out pieces big enough for the project (the corset pattern has fourteen pieces). I borrowed my granddaughter's heavy duty machine. I bought heavy thread and sewing machine needles for sewing leather. I watched tutorials on cutting and sewing leather.

I haven't started that project yet except for getting out the pattern and sorting pieces. I hurt my back gardening, and am having to do less standing and sitting for a bit. Consequently, this newsletter will be shorter than most.

What should I line the corset with? I'm thinking maybe black cotton gauze so it will be both soft and cool.

Photo by Ярослав Гринько on Unsplash

The only leather garment I own is a jacket I bought from a thrift store. I wouldn't buy leather to make a garment. But I accepted leather scraps rather than have them go into the landfill. Most scraps are big enough only for a patch, or patch pocket. If I sew pieces together, I could possibly make a wallet or handbag. I try not to think about where this leather originated. I try to concentrate on the fact I'm reducing the landfill.

Photo by Katie Rodriguez on Unsplash

Would I accept meat to keep it out of the landfill? Only if I could feed it to my cat.

Would I accept an old fur coat to remake it into something usable? Yes. I have done so in the distant past, would do again.

Sewing can be many things. You can make your own clothes to fit your body in order to look and feel better. You can make gifts of all sorts for any reason. You can make your own home decor. You can alter, repair, create from scratch. You can sew for other people, help them see and feel the difference between bespoke and store bought.

Sewing at home helps combat fast fashion. It helps keep clothes out of the landfill. Same if you pay someone else to sew for you. That also supports small businesses.

For me, sewing for others means a bit of income I can use to pay bills, buy groceries, or buy more fabric. Truthfully, I have enough fabric for now, with several personal projects lined up. I always have time to sew for others.

I love to sew. I love my sewing machine. I love being able to clean and maintain my machine. I love to read about sewing, watch movies and television about sewing, and I love to hear about other sewist's work. Please share anything related to sewing you want to post.