I've been writing more than I've been posting the last few days; I have several things in the works, as well as some pictures! On Tuesday I purchased a sewing table, so I now have that set up in a corner of my room. I also have several skirts I've finished and material that was just purchased today to work on AND a pattern coming for the 40's swing dress from Sense & Sensibility patterns. In addition, I'm headed down to the beach in the morning to see my best friend, go to Mass at my priest friend's new parish, and just hang out til Sunday afternoon. While I'm gone, you might find this post interesting: http://applecidermama.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-do-you-think-of-education-for.html
The woman who writes this blog, Bethany, is a young Catholic mother and shares my viewpoints on many things. I've just discovered her blog, but am enjoying reading her archives. Happy Friday!
Showing posts with label seamstressing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seamstressing. Show all posts
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Seamstress heritage
My great-grandmother Margaret, with whom I share my given name, was a seamstress by trade. She actually has quite a fascinating story, having been sent from Ireland to America as a young woman to follow her sister, who had run away from home. On the boat over to New York, she befriended a woman who was traveling alone and, when they arrived in New York, the woman offered a ride to Margaret to their common destination of Pennsylvania. The woman’s cousin, who was a coal miner, had come to bring the woman to her family; Margaret accepted the offer and, nine months after she arrived in America, she married the young man—they went on to have 5 children.
Why do I mention her? Well, I’ve been sewing quite a bit lately and I’ve been thinking about her. She died before I was born, so I never got a chance to meet her, but from what my grandmother has told me, she was quite a talented seamstress. My own grandmother taught me how to do some basic sewing when I was a freshman in high school; a few elastic-waist skirts, but until recently, that’s been all I’ve known how to make. Last week saw the creation of a denim skirt with a zipper (!!), a major accomplishment that is not diminished by the fact that the zipper went in and out at least three times before I was satisfied :). I’ve discovered that it is incredibly fulfilling to see a project that is practical from inception to completion.
This recent sewing binge was actually brought on by a $3 pattern from Walmart, Simplicity 2955. I saw it while looking for something else entirely and thought “That might come in handy someday,” so I picked it up. It was sitting on my desk, burning a hole in my pocket, so to speak, so a few days later, Mom and I made our way to Jo-Ann’s, one of the fabric stores near our house. There, I picked out a lovely turquoise patterned fabric and the necessary notions. After that skirt was completed, I went back and bought a brown flowered cotton; then I went back for denim… You see where this is all leading. This weekend, as mentioned the other day, I went through my old “craft box” that hadn’t been touched in probably 5 years. I found the lovely toile that I’m planning to make a skirt from and enough plain blue fabric to make a simple blouse to match the toile skirt. Coincidentally (or not), there is also a blouse pattern in the Simplicity 2955 pattern, so that outfit is my next project.
My other big project at the moment is to do some redecorating in my room. The desk that I currently have is the only consistent piece of furniture (besides the treasured dollhouse that my Grandpa made for my 5th birthday) that I have had since childhood and it is no longer serving its purpose. As an English major, I have a lot of books, so many that right now, I have books stacked on top of the shelved books, as well as a 3-foot pile on top of the bookshelf. Since I have several filing boxes, I no longer need the storage space in the desk, so this weekend, Mom and I are going to try the flea market to find a smaller desk just for my laptop/printer so that I can purchase another bookshelf. I also want to get a small sewing table to put underneath my window so that I don’t have to commandeer the dining room table every time I want to take on a project. I also want a dressmaker’s dummy, but I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself.
I think my great-grandmother would be proud of me.
Why do I mention her? Well, I’ve been sewing quite a bit lately and I’ve been thinking about her. She died before I was born, so I never got a chance to meet her, but from what my grandmother has told me, she was quite a talented seamstress. My own grandmother taught me how to do some basic sewing when I was a freshman in high school; a few elastic-waist skirts, but until recently, that’s been all I’ve known how to make. Last week saw the creation of a denim skirt with a zipper (!!), a major accomplishment that is not diminished by the fact that the zipper went in and out at least three times before I was satisfied :). I’ve discovered that it is incredibly fulfilling to see a project that is practical from inception to completion.
This recent sewing binge was actually brought on by a $3 pattern from Walmart, Simplicity 2955. I saw it while looking for something else entirely and thought “That might come in handy someday,” so I picked it up. It was sitting on my desk, burning a hole in my pocket, so to speak, so a few days later, Mom and I made our way to Jo-Ann’s, one of the fabric stores near our house. There, I picked out a lovely turquoise patterned fabric and the necessary notions. After that skirt was completed, I went back and bought a brown flowered cotton; then I went back for denim… You see where this is all leading. This weekend, as mentioned the other day, I went through my old “craft box” that hadn’t been touched in probably 5 years. I found the lovely toile that I’m planning to make a skirt from and enough plain blue fabric to make a simple blouse to match the toile skirt. Coincidentally (or not), there is also a blouse pattern in the Simplicity 2955 pattern, so that outfit is my next project.
My other big project at the moment is to do some redecorating in my room. The desk that I currently have is the only consistent piece of furniture (besides the treasured dollhouse that my Grandpa made for my 5th birthday) that I have had since childhood and it is no longer serving its purpose. As an English major, I have a lot of books, so many that right now, I have books stacked on top of the shelved books, as well as a 3-foot pile on top of the bookshelf. Since I have several filing boxes, I no longer need the storage space in the desk, so this weekend, Mom and I are going to try the flea market to find a smaller desk just for my laptop/printer so that I can purchase another bookshelf. I also want to get a small sewing table to put underneath my window so that I don’t have to commandeer the dining room table every time I want to take on a project. I also want a dressmaker’s dummy, but I’m trying not to get too far ahead of myself.
I think my great-grandmother would be proud of me.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Repurposing
Today I was going through my closet in an attempt to organize my fabric and sewing things. While I don't have a ton (yet!), I've realized that if I don't try to contain it now, it will soon get out of hand. As I was digging through, I found an old project: a white and blue double-sided duvet cover; one side is toile, the other checkered material. I have since (in the 5-6 intervening years since this project was begun) switched to a smaller bed, besides having received a lovely bedspread for a high school graduation gift, so this project was no longer needed. I ripped out all the seams--why I decided to double my seams, I have no idea--and am planning to use the toile for a summer skirt. However, the blue checks will make me look like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz... I don't need curtains (my room is a rose color anyways) and I probably have 5 yards of this material. I don't want to waste it, but I'm not sure what I should do with it... Any repurposing ideas out there?
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